Maybe you’ve been there or maybe not.  You could be the lucky type who’s managed to find your way down life’s roads without any major crash, wreck or notable incident.  But anyone who’s ridden long enough knows that no matter what precautions you take, what type of bike you ride, or how safe you think you may be, you’re going to have an accident.

We’re not saying this to be alarmist nor is this meant to say we think you’re not a smart cyclist.  Rather we’d like to remind you that on the streets there’s plenty of things over which you have no control.  And sometimes that includes getting hit.  Having been there we figured we’d share our experience on what to do in the event you find yourself in an accident.

We always encourage taking all the necessary safety precautions before and during a ride.  This includes checking your brakes, the air pressure in your tires, and lubing and inspecting your chain.  Here is the step-by-step of what to do if you or someone you’re riding with is involved in a serious accident.

Keep cool.The most difficult thing to do after an accident is control your emotions. You may feel angry, scared, hurt or just pumped up on adrenaline. Stop, take a deep breath and take in your situation. Do not let your emotions control your actions. If you’re alone, call a friend or family member who would be able to assist you and mediate the situation.

Don’t Move.If you’re riding and struck by anything—another bike, scooter, car or bus—first safeguard the area.  Make sure that the involved parties, even if it’s just you and the perpetrator don’t move.  If you or anyone else is injured, stay still.  Call for medical attention and stay calm until medical attention can be provided.  Remember: Stay calm.

If you’re alone ask for help in making sure the area of the accident is secure and out of the way of traffic or the disruption of outsiders.  Don’t try to just “walk it off” or play tough guy and try to handle the situation alone.

For serious medical emergencies call 120.

Assess Damages. Once you’ve got yourself in a secure surrounding, assess damages. If it’s a lighter incident it’s important you not take cash offered on the spot. Even if it sounds like a fair amount it may not be. The best way to handle this situation is to get a mediator involved. Chengdu is swimming with traffic police who’s sole job is to mediate these situations.

Call 110 to report an accident.  Note the time, location and seriousness of the accident.  Oftentimes police will arrive within minutes and be prepared to assist you and the other party.  It’s important that the responsible party is clear.  There is a pecking order in traffic in terms of responsibility.  As long as you’re following the rules of the road larger vehicles hold greater responsibility to protect against accident.

Once the person who’s at fault has been determined, the offender is responsible to recompense all costs including medical bills and damages to equipment.  Again, don’t take cash on the spot unless damages to your bike and associated costs have been clearly assessed.  If you’re not sure, have your bike inspected by a professional mechanic at a trusted shop.

Follow The Rules. Follow these rules, have whoever is helping you follow these rules and do your best to make sure every involved party is following these rules.  Don’t let an ensuing argument create audience.  This only allows for greater confusion in mediation.  Be sure to seek help however you can.  Be sure to contact the appropriate authorities.

Once you have a report filed you can leave the scene.  Make sure every cost, whether it’s bandages from the clinic or the repair estimates from a bike shop, is clearly recorded and shared with the offending party.  If there’s no report it’s much harder to recoup damages so if you decide to leave the scene without mediation have the offending party accompany you.

Keep Cool! We can’t help but repeat this point.  Being in any kind of accident can be extremely scary and leave you emotionally charged.  Do not allow your emotions to get to you and take other serious actions such as escalating a fight, starting an argument or inflicting other damages.  Nobody wins when this happens, yourself especially.

If the situation is the reverse and you find yourself in an accident in which you’re at fault, do your best to aid its resolution.  No matter the seriousness of the situation, it’s always best to call someone for support in such an accident.  Unfortunately if you approach this in a way in which you feel you can handle it on your own you run the risk of being exploited.  Once you’ve got someone who can help you, notify the appropriate authorities to come and mediate a resolution.

If the other party is injured, take care of them.  If their vehicle is damaged, offer to accompany them for repairs or an accurate quote.  Again, if you’re worried about being taken advantage of, be sure to call someone you can trust who has more experience in handling such a situation.

Most importantly we can’t help but urge everyone to be safe on the streets.  If you’re in an accident don’t let fear or anger overtake you.  At last, whether you’re hit or you’ve pegged someone else, remember that it’s always best to be kind and fair with others.