When a bicycle is involved in an accident with a motor vehicle, it is often going to result in serious injury or death for the bicyclist. At our firm, we have handled bicycle accident cases with success. We can help any person truly in need of help from a bike accident. We’ve recovered millions for our injured clients. We have defended some of the biggest companies in the world. With our shared experience, you get a lawyer with unique insight, credibility, and perspective.

How Often are Folks Injured in Bike Crashes?

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) is an agency of the federal government with a mission to improve traffic safety, prevent injuries, and save lives. NHTSA maintains statistics on bicycle accidents in the United States.

  • Deaths. In 2017, there were 783 fatalities involving bicycles in the United States. This represented 2.1% of all fatalities from vehicle accidents. While there are less bikes on the road than cars, bicyclists face a higher risk of injury and death.
  • Injuries. The CDC reported that, in 2015, there were over 467,000 bicycle-related injuries.
  • Damages. It is estimated that bike-related injuries and deaths impact the economy by billions in medical costs and productivity losses.

What are the Common Factors in Bike Accidents?

The NHTSA has identified some common factors in bicycle accidents.

  • Cities. The majority (75%) of all bicycle fatalities occur in urban environments. The remaining (25%) occur in rural areas.
  • Roadway. The majority of accidents involving bikes do not occur at an intersection. Approximately 63% of bicycle accidents occur on other areas of the roadway.
  • Time of Day. The percentage of fatal accidents with bicyclists during the day is approximately the same (48%) as at night (47%). In night instances, there are specific pieces of equipment that a bike rider is required to wear.
  • Age. Children under 15 accounted for 7% of all bicycle fatalities in 2017.

What are some important laws in bicycle accident cases?

In Georgia, there are a number of laws specific to bicyclists. Below are some of the more commonly used rules. There are, of course, other rules that may apply in a bike accident claim.

  • Three Feet. In Georgia, a driver is generally required to pass a bicycle with a minimum of three feet in distance.
  • Yield. In Georgia, a driver must yield to a bicyclist operating in the bike lane.
  • Driving Laws. In general, the same rules that are applicable to cars are applicable to bicyclists.
  • Right side of roadway. Bicycles are required to be ridden on the right side of the roadway in Georgia.
  • No sidewalk. A bicyclist cannot ride on the sidewalk, unless under 12 years of age if provided by local ordinance.
  • Equipment. Bicycles are required to have certain equipment, including a white light at nighttime.
  • Helmet. No helmet is required unless the rider is under 16 years old.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Atlanta, Georgia

If you are involved in a bicycle accident, here are the steps you should take.

  1. Check on everyone. The first step is to make sure everyone is OK and help in any way you can. This includes making sure you, the other driver, and any other passengers are OK.
  2. Call 911. Calling 911 is essential if there is a serious bicycle accident. Call 911 immediately after checking on folks. This is key to ensuring that the facts are properly persevered.
  3. Preserve any evidence. Take photographs of the accident scene, the vehicles, the roadway, the conditions, the skid marks, anything accident related. Make sure that you speak with witnesses and get their contact information. Do not rely on the police officer to get the contact information of witnesses, as they may not speak with the same folks you do.
  4. Get medical help. After a bicycle accident, the bicyclist should be checked out by a doctor. The bicyclist is too exposed to risk not receiving a full assessment.
  5. Notify your insurance company. Many insurers require immediate notice after an accident. Failing to notify them can result in a loss of coverage. You should call your insurance company as well as the other driver’s insurance company. That said, before signing any documents or giving a recorded statement, it is best to consult an attorney.
  6. Research and Find an Attorney. Finding an experienced bicycle accident attorney in Atlanta can be hard. We have a step by step guide for how to separate attorneys that know what they’re doing with those that don’t.

How Much Does an Atlanta Bicycle Accident Attorney Cost?

If you are the person injured in a bike accident, then a bike accident attorney in Atlanta will generally charge a contingency fee. This means that you will pay the lawyer a percentage of the recovery, if there is one.

This also means that you do not pay anything up front and do not pay anything if there is no recovery. If you are the defendant in a bike accident case, you will generally pay an hourly rate to your Georgia biking accident lawyer.

If you were hurt in a Georgia bike accident, please don’t hesitate to give our firm a call at (404) 793-0026 or send us an online message. We offer free consultations.

What Areas Do We Serve?

We service all of Georgia, including Atlanta, Gainesville, Columbus, Savannah, Albany, Macon, Decatur, Augusta, Athens, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Johns Creek, Warner Robbins, Alpharetta, Marietta, Smyrna, Dunwoody, Peachtree City, East Point, Newnan, Douglasville, Kennesaw, LaGrange, Lawrenceville, Duluth, Acworth, Cartersville, Snellville, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, DeKalb County, Cobb County, Cherokee County, Henry County, Richmond County, Muscogee County, Hall County, Forsyth County, Bibb County, Paulding County, Douglas County, Coweta County, and Clarke County.

Case Results

Here are some example case results:

  • In defense cases, all our cases have resolved (either by way of settlement or trial) for less than or equal to our valuation.
  • In plaintiff cases, we have recovered over $1 billion for our clients. You can read more about our case results here.

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