Bicycle Accidents

What to Do Immediately After a Bicycle Accident in Ohio

A bicycle crash can change everything in an instant. If you’re reading this, it likely means you or someone you care about was just involved in one. In Ohio, these accidents happen more than they should. Drivers often don’t see bikes until it’s too late. After a crash, you’re hurt, shaken, and unsure what to do next. Let’s walk through the steps you need to take, right now, to protect your health, your rights, and your future.  

 

Make Sure You’re Safe and Call for Help

If you can, move off the road and out of traffic. Your safety comes first. If you’re hurt badly, try not to move unless you’re in danger. Ask someone nearby to call 911 or call yourself if you can. When help arrives, follow the directions of the emergency crew. You may feel okay at first, but bike crashes often cause injuries that don’t show up right away. Don’t skip getting checked out. It’s always better to be safe.

Let the Police Do Their Job

When the police come, give them a clear and honest report of what happened. Even if it feels like a blur, share what you do remember. Ask the officer to take a report, even if your injuries seem small. That report will help tell your story later. Make sure to get the officer’s name and badge number. Ask for the crash report number so you can find a copy later.

Get the Driver’s Information

If another person was involved—whether they hit you or caused you to fall—you need their name, phone number, address, driver’s license, and insurance details. Try to write it down or take a photo. If there are witnesses, ask for their names and numbers too. Their memory of what happened could help your case later on.

Dan Ryan

Attorney

Thomas Ryan

Attorney

Elizabeth Fitzgerald

Attorney

Our objectives remain clear in every case we pursue: To give every client, without delay, excuse or equivocation, our full attention, sound advice and forceful representation.

About Our Firm

Take Photos and Keep Your Bike as It Is

If you’re able, take pictures before anything is moved. Snap photos of your bike, the car, the street, your injuries, and anything else that shows what happened. Don’t fix your bike. Don’t clean your clothes. These broken pieces help show how serious the crash was.

See a Doctor as Soon as You Can

Even if the EMT said you seemed okay, see a doctor. Many injuries from bike accidents don’t show up until hours or days later. Seeing a doctor also starts a medical record, which will matter if you need to prove your injuries down the road.

Do Not Talk to the Driver’s Insurance Alone

After the crash, the driver’s insurance company may call you. They may sound friendly. But remember, they’re not on your side. You don’t have to talk to them. In fact, it’s better if you don’t. What you say might be used against you. Tell them you’re getting legal help and let your lawyer do the talking.

Write Down Everything You Remember

As soon as you can, write out your own memory of what happened. Where were you going? What was the weather like? What did the other person say after the crash? The longer you wait, the harder it is to remember. Keeping your own notes helps tell your side of the story with details that matter.

Keep Track of Every Cost

After a crash, costs add up fast. You may miss work. You may need care. Your bike may need to be replaced. Keep receipts, doctor’s notes, repair bills—everything. You may be able to get money back, but only if you can show what you lost.

The attorneys at Ryan Injury Lawyers treat you like family. They are extremely professional, kind, respectful and intelligently know the law. Highly recommend. They are well above par.

- Zora S. 

 

Great service and very professional. They actually make themselves available when you call. I will be referring Ryan to all of my friends and colleagues.

- Lashawn H. 

 

Ohio Laws Protect Cyclists, but You Have to Speak Up

Ohio law says bikes belong on the road. Drivers have to share the road and give bikes safe space. If someone broke the law and hurt you, they should be held responsible. But that won’t happen on its own. You have to act. That means getting medical care, gathering evidence, and having someone by your side who knows how these cases work.

Why Acting Fast Can Make All the Difference

In Ohio, there’s a time limit for filing a claim after a bike crash. If you wait too long, you may lose the chance to get help. That’s why it’s so important to act right away. The sooner you begin, the stronger your case can be. Don’t wait until things get worse or bills pile up.

Your Voice Matters, and So Does Your Healing

After a crash, it’s easy to feel small. Maybe the driver blamed you. Maybe someone said it was just an accident and told you to move on. But here’s the truth—what happened to you matters. You have rights, and you deserve to be heard. This isn’t just about fixing a bike or covering a hospital bill. It’s about being treated with care and respect. And that starts by speaking up and getting help. In the days after a bicycle accident, pain can grow. So can fear. You might wonder if you’ll ever feel normal again. That’s why it’s so important to surround yourself with people who care and know how to help. Getting legal help isn’t about starting a fight—it’s about building a path to healing. It’s about making sure someone stands beside you when things get hard.

Don’t Let the Crash Be the End of Your Story

You’ve already been through the worst part. Now is your time to take back control. That starts with making good choices today. Keep your doctor appointments. Save your records. Rest when your body needs it. Stay strong when people ask you to move on too fast. Most of all, talk to someone who knows the law and can help you plan your next steps. In Ohio, bicycle crashes are taken seriously—when people speak up. If you stay quiet, the truth may never come out. But if you stand up, you not only help yourself, you may protect other riders from facing the same danger. Roads are safer when drivers are held accountable. That starts with you taking that first brave step.

We’re Here to Help You Move Forward

If a bike accident in Ohio turned your life upside down, you don’t have to face it alone. At Ryan Injury Attorneys, we help people like you every day. We know what it feels like to be knocked down—and how to fight to help you get back up. Your recovery matters. So does your peace of mind. Let us help you get both. Reach out to Ryan Injury Attorneys today. Let’s talk. Let’s build your case. And let’s help you get the care and justice you deserve.