We Go The Extra Distance For Our Clients
Auto Practice Areas
Sandy Springs Bicycle Accident Lawyer
The Sandy Springs bicycle accident lawyer group at Ashenden & Associates is dedicated to helping cyclists who have been injured in accidents involving other vehicles. Many bicycles are hit by negligent drivers, leading to serious or fatal injuries. If you’ve experienced a bicycle accident in Atlanta or Sandy Springs, our Sandy Springs personal injury attorneys can help hold the driver responsible for your injuries. We work tirelessly to ensure that victims of bike accident injuries receive fair compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and suffering. Our team of bicycle accident attorneys in Sandy Springs is here to guide you through the legal process and fight for your rights.
Call us at 770-394-8909 to schedule a free consultation with one of our bicycle accident attorneys today.
How Many Bicycle Accidents Happen in the U.S.?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 1,000 bicyclists die and over 130,000 are injured on U.S. roads every year. In 2021, there were 966 bicyclist fatalities, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of those fatalities, about 6 in 7 occurred in urban areas, and about 61% of those fatalities occurred on weekdays.
Georgia Bicycle Accident Statistics
The NHTSA also reports that, in 2021, there were 15 bicycle fatalities in Georgia, making up 1.5% of the nation’s bike accident fatalities that year. While cities like Atlanta continue to make their roads more bicycle-friendly, 71% of 2021 Georgia bike accident fatalities occurred in urban areas.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Sandy Springs and Atlanta, GA
Most bike accidents occur as a result of auto accidents where bicyclists are struck by other motor vehicles. Motor vehicle drivers can cause bike accidents if they:
- Fail to yield to bicyclists
- Open car doors in front of bicyclists (these are called dooring accidents);
- Drive distracted;
- Drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
- Drive with excessive speed; or
- Hit a bicyclist intentionally out of rage.
Bicycle crashes can also be caused by poor visibility or a cyclist ignoring the rules of the road. Our Sandy Springs auto accident lawyers have extensive experience handling dooring accident claims in Georgia. Additionally, if you’re a cyclist who was injured by a negligent or drunk driver, contact our Sandy Springs bike accident lawyers for a free consultation.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Sandy Springs and Atlanta
Bicycle accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, and since most bike riders only have a helmet to protect them, they often suffer from catastrophic injuries. Common bicycle accident injuries our Sandy Springs catastrophic injury lawyers see include:
- Road rash;
- Lacerations;
- Contusions;
- Muscle sprains;
- Joint injuries;
- Broken bones;
- Facial injuries and fractures;
- Traumatic brain injuries;
- Spinal cord injuries; and
- Wrongful death.
Bicycle accident victims can suffer from serious injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence, which can leave them with costly medical bills, as well as physical and emotional pain. Our Sandy Springs bike accident lawyers help victims pursue personal injury claims and bicycle accident lawsuits to help victims recover compensation from the person responsible for their injuries.
If you or a loved one were injured in a bicycle accident, our Sandy Springs bicycle accident lawyers can help. Call 770-394-8909 or contact us online for a free case evaluation with a Sandy Springs bike accident lawyer.
Georgia Bicycle Laws
Georgia bicycle laws classify bicycles as vehicles, meaning they are subject to the same traffic laws as cars and other motor vehicles. There are, however, specific guidelines for bike riders regarding where to ride their bikes, as well as how they can and cannot ride their bikes.
Right to the Road
Since bicycles are considered vehicles, they have every right to be on the road as other motor vehicles do. This also means that they have a responsibility to limit harm to other drivers, just as other drivers have a responsibility to limit harm to them.
Where to Ride
Georgia bicycle law requires all bicycle riders to keep as far to the right of the road unless they are turning left, overtaking a vehicle, or avoiding a hazard. Bicycle riders must also travel in the same direction as traffic, even in bike lanes.
How to Ride
Bicycle law prohibits bike riders from riding more than two abreast, meaning that a bike rider cannot ride alongside two other bicyclists, unless on a bike-designated path or part of the roadway. Additionally, every bike rider must stop at any stop sign or red light they encounter, just like every other vehicle. They must also signal when turning or coming to a stop.
Equipment
All bicycles must be equipped with brakes that can make the bike skid on dry, level pavement. Any bike rider traveling at night must have either a red light or red reflector on the rear of their bike, as well as a front-facing white headlight visible for at least 300 feet.
All bicycle riders under the age of 16 are required to wear a well-fitting helmet. While not every bike rider is required to wear a helmet, helmets can seriously decrease the risk of injury in a bicycle crash.
Prohibitions
Bicycle riders are not allowed to attach themselves to any other moving vehicle while riding. They are also required to keep at least one hand on their handlebars at all times. Since bicyclists are required to signal when they turn and stop, and they have to keep one hand on the bars at all times, they are not allowed to carry something that requires them to keep their hand off the handlebars while they ride.
Alcohol
Bicycle riders are subjected to the same alcohol-related driving regulations as other drivers but may face lesser penalties than drivers in cars, trucks, boats, etc. Bicycle accidents occur as a result of both drunk bicyclists and drunk car/truck drivers, so all drivers must be sober and aware of their surroundings on the road at all times.
If an intoxicated cyclist caused you to have an accident, contact our Sandy Springs DUI accident lawyers for a free consultation.
Can You Sue for a Bicycle Accident in Atlanta or Sandy Springs?
Yes, if you have been involved in a bicycle accident caused by another person’s negligent actions, you may be able to sue them for financial compensation. Georgia is what is called an at-fault state, meaning that when an accident occurs in Georgia, the person at-fault for the accident may be held liable for any personal injuries or property damage they caused.
Injured bicyclists have a few options on what they can do after their accident: they can either file a claim with their own insurance company, file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, or sue the at-fault driver in a bicycle accident lawsuit.
Car insurance companies may provide compensation for any bicycle accident injuries their policyholder causes. If the driver did not have insurance coverage at the time of the accident, the injured cyclist may receive coverage if they had uninsured motorist coverage or MedPay insurance coverage. Additionally, they may also be able to receive coverage from their own health insurance or life insurance provider.
In serious bicycle accidents, however, injured bike riders may want to consider taking legal action to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and more. A bicycle accident attorney can help accident victims understand their legal options, help them file a claim, and even negotiate with insurance companies on their behalf. Bike accident lawyers can also help victims file a lawsuit, and will investigate the accident, review documents, and gather witnesses to help ensure they receive fair compensation for their damages.
The Sandy Springs bicycle accident lawyers at Ashenden & Associates are prepared to help you through every step of the process and can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Call an experienced bike accident lawyer at 770-394-8909 for a free consultation.
Compensation for Bicycle Accident Victims in Sandy Springs
Like other auto accident cases, victims in bicycle accident cases are able to recover compensation for both economic damages and non-economic damages. Injured bicyclists can recover compensation for things like:
- Past and future medical bills;
- Lost wages;
- Lost earning ability;
- Assistive care, like in the case of a traumatic brain injury;
- Property damage;
- Emotional distress; and
- Burial costs, in the case of wrongful death.
If your loved one was killed in a fatal bicycle accident in Sandy Springs or Atlanta, contact our Sandy Springs wrongful death lawyers for a free case evaluation.
Georgia Statute of Limitations for Bicycle Accidents
Like other personal injury cases, a bicycle accident case must be filed within a certain time frame, known as the “statute of limitations.” In Georgia, an injured bicycle accident victim must file their claim within two years of the date the accident occurred. If they wait for more than two years to file a claim, they may forfeit their legal rights to compensation and cannot file a claim or lawsuit.
Sandy Springs Bicycle Accident Attorney
If you suffered from serious injury as a result of a negligent driver, you should hire an experienced bike accident attorney in Sandy SPrings who can help you seek justice. The bike accident lawyer group at Ashenden & Associates, P.C., has experience representing injured cyclists and can help hold at-fault drivers liable for the injuries they’ve caused.
Over the years, our Sandy Springs bicycle accident attorney team has recovered millions of dollars in financial compensation for our clients, and we want to help you recover compensation as well. Call us at 770-394-8909 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer in Sandy Springs regarding your case.
