Wilmington & Delaware Bicycle Accident Lawyers

What should I do after a bicycle accident in Delaware?

Get medical care first, even if you feel able to get up—some injuries surface later. Call the police so a report gets started, and preserve what you can safely gather: scene photos, your bike and gear, and the driver’s information, along with witness names. Save your medical records as treatment begins. Be cautious about recorded statements to an insurer, and get a prompt Delaware case review.

“Bike-blind” drivers are every cyclist’s nightmare—a driver who never looked, at an intersection, in a bike lane, or in a crosswalk. Once you’re safe and being treated, the facts you preserve now are often what a case review looks at later.

What evidence should I preserve?

The evidence that matters most tends to disappear fastest. Where it’s safe to do so:

• Photos of the scene — vehicle position, road conditions, signage, and skid marks
• Your bike and helmet — don’t repair or discard them; damage can show how the crash happened
• Clothing — what you were wearing, including any damage
• Medical records — from the scene, the ER, and any follow-up care
• Witness names and contact information
• The driver’s information — name, insurance, and vehicle details
• The police report — get the report number if officers respond
• Any communications — texts, calls, or letters from an insurance company

Can I still have a claim if the driver says I caused the crash?

Possibly. Drivers and insurers often dispute how a bicycle crash happened, and a disputed account is common—it doesn’t automatically end a claim. Delaware law addresses situations where an injured person may share some responsibility for a crash, and how that applies depends on the specific facts—talk to us about how it may apply to your crash specifically.

What if the driver fled, wasn’t insured, or was driving a commercial vehicle?

Hit-and-run crashes, uninsured drivers, and crashes involving a delivery van, truck, or other commercial vehicle each raise their own questions—about your own insurance coverage, who else may be responsible, and how to identify a driver who didn’t stop. These are fact-specific issues worth flagging in a case review rather than guessing at here. If a commercial vehicle was involved, see Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyers in Wilmington.

What injuries and losses may matter?

Bicycle crashes can cause road rash, fractures, head and brain injuries, and joint or soft-tissue injuries that surface over the following days. What may matter in a case review includes your medical care and diagnosis, missed work, ongoing symptoms or limits on daily activity, and damage to your bike, helmet, and gear. We can’t tell you what a case is worth from a description alone—that depends on the medical record and the full set of facts, which is part of what a case review is for.

Should I talk to the insurance company or give a recorded statement?

You are not required to give a recorded statement to an insurance company—including your own—before you understand what’s being asked and why. Insurers sometimes call quickly after a crash. It’s reasonable to get medical care and a straight answer from a lawyer first, then decide how to respond.

What happens when I call?

That first call is about understanding what happened, not committing to anything. Tell us about the crash, your injuries so far, and anything an insurer has asked of you. We’ll walk through whether the facts point toward a case and what a next step could look like. It helps to have a police report number, photos, and any insurer correspondence on hand, but you don’t need all of it to start—calling does not, by itself, hire the firm.

When should I get a Delaware bicycle accident case reviewed?

Sooner is generally better. Evidence fades, witnesses’ memories change, and Delaware law sets time limits on when a case can be filed—an attorney can tell you what applies to your situation once you’ve talked through the facts. For the broader picture of what to do after being hit while walking or riding, see our Delaware Pedestrian and Bicycle Accident Guide.

Does my case count?

That’s the right question to ask before you accept an insurer’s version of events. Murphy & Landon’s trial lawyers have spent decades handling Delaware injury claims, including bicycle crashes where the driver disputes what happened. We work with accident-reconstruction and other experts to test that account against the evidence.

Call 302-472-8100 or use our contact page for a free, straight answer about whether your situation may be a case. We charge zero attorney fees unless we obtain a recovery for you. For related Delaware injury and case-fit information, see our personal injury and auto accident pages.

This page is general information about Delaware bicycle-crash claims. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship; whether you have a case depends on the specific facts.