Atlanta Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me

5 STEPS TO TAKE AFTER A BICYCLE ACCIDENT

STEP ONE: REMAIN AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE.

Call 911 and report any injuries immediately. If you can do it safely, move your bicycle out of the road and wait in a safe location for first responders to arrive.

STEP TWO: GET WITNESS INFORMATION.
Get as many details as possible from all parties involved, including the other driver, passengers, and witnesses. If you can, obtain the following information:

• Name
• Contact information (phone number, address, driver’s license number, etc.)
• Insurance information (company, policy number, etc.)
• Vehicle details (tag number, make/model, etc.)

STEP THREE: DOCUMENT THE ACCIDENT.
Take photos and video of the scene, including shots of property damage and injuries. Don’t rely on the police officer’s accident report to include every key detail.

STEP FOUR: SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.
If emergency medical care is needed, get it on the scene. If not, visit your doctor as soon as possible – even if you don’t think you are injured. Failing to get checked out after your bicycle accident could negatively impact your health – and your personal injury claim.

STEP FIVE: CONTACT A BICYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER.
Seek legal representation from a personal injury attorney with experience handling cases like yours. Do not speak to the insurance company before your lawyer. While the adjuster may chat to you like a friend, it’s crucial to remember that they are not on your side.

GEORGIA BICYCLE LAWS

BICYCLES ARE LEGALLY CONSIDERED “VEHICLES”

According to Georgia’s Office of Highway Safety, a bicycle is legally considered a “vehicle.” This classification is the same in most states and means that general vehicular traffic law applies to bicycle operation.

Keep in mind that wherever the code or regulation mentions a “vehicle,” that section applies to all vehicles, including bicycles. But when the term “motor vehicle” is used, the code does not apply to bicycles.

WHERE BICYCLISTS CAN RIDE

Bicyclists are required to ride as close to the right side of the roadway as is safe, when riding below the speed limit – except when overtaking vehicles, turning, avoiding hazards, or riding in a substandard width lane. Bicyclists must also ride in the same direction as the flow of traffic, even in bike lanes.

While Georgia bike lanes are designed exclusively for bicyclists, bicyclists are not required by law to use them unless a local ordinance requires it. Motor vehicle drivers must yield to a bicyclist within a bike lane.

Bicyclists over age 12 are not legally permitted to ride on sidewalks unless a local ordinance allows. Check local ordinances to learn more.

MANNER IN WHICH BICYCLISTS CAN RIDE

Bicyclists may not ride more than two abreast, except on paths intended exclusively for bicycle use. They are also required to stop completely at stop signs and red traffic signals and must signal to indicate stopping or turning.

RIGHT OF WAY FOR BICYCLISTS

Bicyclists may pass motor vehicles on the right only if conditions permit the movement safely and it can be done without riding off the roadway. Otherwise, bicyclists should pass on the left.

RIDING DISTANCE

Motor vehicle drivers are required to pass bicyclists at a safe distance, keeping at least three feet of space between the two.

EQUIPMENT

Bicyclists under the age of 16 must wear a properly fastened helmet. When riding at night, a bicycle must feature a front white headlight that is visible from 300 feet away and a rear red reflector or red light visible from at least 300 feet away. Every bicycle must also have a brake that ensures quick, efficient stops.

PROHIBITIONS

The following actions are not permitted:

• Holding onto motor vehicles while bicycling.
• Carrying more than the number of persons for which it is designed.
• Bicycling with children under the age of one as passengers unless in an infant sling or properly affixed bicycle trailer.
• Raising bicycle handlebars so that the operator must elevate their hands above their shoulders in order to ride.
• Bicycling without at least one hand on the handlebars.

POLICE INSPECTION

A uniformed police officer may stop and conduct a bicycle inspection at any time if they have reasonable cause to believe that the bicycle is unsafe or not legally equipped.

ALCOHOL

Georgia’s DUI statute applies to those riding bicycles, although the penalties for bicyclists differ from those for motor vehicle drivers.

COMMON CAUSE OF BICYCLE ACCIDENTS

• Blocked view of the oncoming rider
• Defective traffic lights or signs
• Distracted driving
• Dooring
• Drunk driving
• Failure to check blind spots
• Failure to signal
• Failure to yield
• Improper lane changes
• Poor lighting
• Potholes
• Speeding
• Unrestrained pets
• Wet or icy roadways

COMMON INJURIES IN BICYCLE ACCIDENTS

• Amputations
• Broken bones and fractures
• Bruises
• Cuts and scrapes
• Disfigurement
• Paralysis
• Soft tissue damage
• Spinal cord injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

WRONGFUL DEATH IN BICYCLE ACCIDENT

If you lost a loved one in a bicycle accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses, such as funeral costs, loss of companionship, and more. Here at Ross Moore Law, our experienced bicycle accident lawyers will handle every aspect of your case, offering trusted legal advice and support when you need it most.

Legal Counsel for Wrongful Death

DAMAGES YOU CAN RECOVER AFTER A BIKE ACCIDENT

• Lost wages
• Diminished earning capacity
• Medical expenses (current and future)
• Property damages
• Pain and suffering
• Other intangible losses

BICYCLE ACCIDENT STATISTICS

These statistics prove that bicyclists face a significant risk on Georgia roadways:

• Nearly 1,000 bicyclists die and over 130,000 are injured in crashes that occur on roads in the United States every year.*
• 932 bicyclists were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2020, an 8.9% increase from 856 in 2019.*
• Bicycle-related deaths peak in the warmer months (May through October). In 2020, the most deaths occurred in August (157) and the fewest in February (53).*
• Males accounted for 89% of all bicycle deaths, over eight times the fatalities for females.*
• Of the 1,260 bicyclist deaths in 2020, 806 died in motor vehicle traffic crashes and 454 in other non-traffic incidents, according to National Center for Health Statistics mortality data.*
• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 932 bicyclists were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2020, an 8.9% increase from 856 in 2019.*
• Bicyclists’ deaths accounted for 2% of all motor-vehicle traffic fatalities.*
• The costs of bicycle injuries and fatalities typically exceed $23 billion in the U.S. each year. Costs include health care expenditures, lost work productivity, and non-economic damages like loss of enjoyment of life.**
• Adults ages 55-69 have the highest bicycle death rates.*
• Adolescents, teens, and young adults have the highest rates of bicycle-related injuries treated in emergency rooms. People ages 10-24 make up almost one-third of all bicycle-related injuries seen in emergency rooms nationwide.*
• Male bicyclists have death rates six times higher and injury rates five times higher than females.***
• Most bicyclist deaths occur in urban areas.*
• About 64% of bicyclist deaths occur on sections of roads away from intersections (where higher speeds might occur) and 27% occur at intersections.*
• About one-third of fatal bicycle accidents involve alcohol for the motor vehicle driver and/or bicyclist.*

*Helpful Sources: CDC: Traffic Safety & NHTSA: Bicycle Safety