Steps to Take After a Bicycle Hit-and-Run Accident

Getting hit while riding a bike is traumatic and worse if the driver flees the scene. If you’re searching for an accident lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana, you already know you cannot ignore what happened. 

At the office of Vaughn A. Wamsley, we act as your ally. In this article, we walk you through what to do next after being involved in a hit-and-run bike crash, and how an Indianapolis, IN accident attorney helps. The sooner you act, the stronger your position becomes.

1. Ensure Your Safety and Get Medical Attention

If you’ve just been in a hit-and-run while riding, your first move is to check for injuries and ensure you are off the road. Even when you “feel fine,” hidden injuries (like head trauma or internal damage) can surface later.

• Move your bike (and yourself) off the roadway if possible.
• Call 911 to report the crash and request emergency medical help.
• At the hospital or urgent care, explain you were struck by a vehicle that fled. Ensure specify that fact.
• Keep all medical bills, treatment records and follow-up plans. These documents matter when seeking compensation.

Contact us for a free review of your injuries and next steps as soon as you can.

2. Report the Hit-and-Run to Police and Document the Scene

In a hit-and-run, getting official documentation early matters for your ability to pursue damages. Indiana law treats cyclists as vehicles, and you have rights.

• Call the police on site (or from the hospital) and request an official report be filed.
• Provide the responding officer with everything you remember: description of the car, direction it fled, time, place, any witnesses.
• If you or someone else can safely take photos of the scene; your bike, skid marks, vehicle damage (if any left behind), road conditions that will strengthen your case.
• Get the police report number and keep a copy of it.

3. Gather Evidence That Will Support Your Claim

To work with an Indianapolis, IN bike crash attorney, you need to be ready with detailed information. The stronger your evidence, the better your chance at recovery. 

• Photographs of your injuries (immediately after the crash and during recovery) and your bike damage.
• Names and contact information of any eyewitnesses who saw the crash or the fleeing vehicle.
• Any surveillance footage (nearby houses, businesses) that might have captured the hit-and-run.
• Your treatment records and lost wage documentation if you could not work.
• Notes or a journal of how the crash has impacted your life (pain level, mobility, emotional/mental health).

Let us review your evidence and identify gaps before insurers or opposing parties start talking.

4. Notify Your Insurer & Let Us Handle the Legal Parts

In a hit-and-run, complications arise: the driver is unknown, the insurance may be under-insured/uninsured, and fault must be established clearly. That’s where we step in as your bicycle accident lawyer in Indianapolis.

• Inform your auto/health insurer that you were involved in a hit-and-run while bicycling.
• Do not give a recorded statement to the other party’s insurer (if they contact you) before consulting with us. Their goal is to reduce your payout.
• We will evaluate whether uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage applies, or whether a claim against the fleeing driver (if caught) or other parties is needed.
• We will also assess whether Indiana’s modified comparative fault rules affect your case. 

5. Understand Your Rights and Responsibilities under Indiana Law

You must know both sides of the coin, what you are owed and what you are obliged to do. In Indiana, cyclists have rights but also duties. 

• You are legally considered a “vehicle” when cycling on the road, so you must obey traffic signals, ride in the correct direction, and use required lights if riding at night.
• If you share any fault in the accident (for example, failing to signal, riding against traffic), your recovery may decrease. Under Indiana’s modified comparative fault rule: if you are 51 % or more at fault, you cannot recover. 
• A hit-and-run can complicate fault, but also strengthens your argument that you were struck by a negligent driver who fled.

We will explain how these legal rules apply in your situation.

6. Build Your Case for Compensation

Your injuries, lost income, physical damage, and emotional trauma all add up. As your Indianapolis, IN hit and run accident attorney, we guide how to turn that into a valid claim.

What you can ask for:

• Economic damages: medical bills (past and future), lost wages, bike repair or replacement.
• Non-economic damages: pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress.
• In some cases, punitive damages if the driver’s conduct was intentional or grossly negligent (though rare).

What to focus on:

• Keep treatment records active (doctor, physical therapy, medications). Gaps in treatment may hurt your case.
• Document every impact the accident had on your life: work, hobbies, family.
• Let us handle settlement talks or a possible lawsuit. Don’t rush to accept a “fast” offer from an insurer, those often undershoot your real damages.

Contact us to evaluate how much your claim could be worth and how to maximize it.

7. Take Care of Yourself and Plan for What Comes Next

A crash and hit-and-run don’t just leave physical wounds. Emotional and financial impacts linger. As your legal partner, we encourage you to treat your recovery, mind and body, as part of your claim.

Tips:

• Follow your doctor’s recovery plan fully. Skipping appointments or giving up early can signal weakness in your case.
• Seek mental health or counselling support if you’re struggling with trauma, anxiety or loss of confidence after the crash. That is part of your loss.
• Let us handle the legal stress so you can focus on healing. We handle communications, evidence collection and insurer pressure.
• Stay in touch with us regularly. Update us any time you get new bills, new symptoms, or think of new witnesses.

Why Choose Us for a Bicycle Accident in Indianapolis

We at the firm of Vaughn A. Wamsley take bicycle crashes seriously, especially hit-and-runs. Our track record in Indianapolis, Indiana positions us to act fast, gather evidence, and close the gap when the at-fault driver tries to vanish.

When you call us:

• We offer a free consultation.
• We work on a contingency basis (you pay nothing unless we win).
• We know the local traffic laws, how hit-and-runs complicate a claim, and how to press insurers and other responsible parties.

Don’t wait. The sooner we get involved, the better your chance of full recovery.

Let Vaughn A. Wamsley Help Protect Your Rights

A hit-and-run bicycling accident can feel overwhelming, but you are not powerless. Step by step: tend to your health, get the police involved, record what happened, let us manage the legal side, and plan for your long-term recovery. If you were hit in Indianapolis on your bike and the driver fled, reach out. Together, we can turn what happened into a pathway to justice and recovery.