Common Causes Of Bicycle Accidents In Georgia

In this article, you will learn…

• What the common causes of bicycle accidents are,
• What types of injuries are common in bicycle accidents, and
• What three rules you need to follow in order to get the best possible outcome with an attorney.

What Are The Common Causes Of Bicycle Accidents In Georgia?

Some common causes of bicycle accidents are…

• Inattentive drivers,
• Speeding,
• Failing to yield, and
• Traumatic brain injuries.

When drivers aren’t paying attention or even when they’re only looking out for cars but not for pedestrians, it can lead to bicycle accidents.

Possibly the most common cause of bicycle accidents is speeding. When a driver is driving too fast, they’re often not able to avoid a collision with a bicycle even when they see it.

Drivers often fail to yield to bicycles, pulling right out on top of them. This is a huge cause. Drivers are often so focused on looking for other cars, they fail to see or yield to bicyclists.

Another common cause of bicycle accidents is actually intoxication. An intoxicated driver may swerve into a bicyclist, which can cause a lot of damage.

What Types Of Injuries Do Bicycle Riders Generally Sustain In Accidents With Automobiles?

Much like motorcyclists, bicyclists don’t have the same protection on the roads as individuals who are in a car. As a result of this, we tend to see a lot more serious and significant injuries. These can include…

• Neck and back injuries,
• Sprains,
• Fractures, and
• Traumatic brain injuries.

Even when the bicyclist is wearing a helmet, the force of being thrown from the bicycle or hit by a vehicle can cause serious damage. A helmet helps, but doesn’t always completely prevent injuries to the head.

What Are The Rights And Responsibilities Of Bicycle Riders On Georgia Roadways?

Georgia has a statute which states that a motorist must give a bicyclist at least three feet of space when passing them on a roadway. If the driver didn’t give that three feet to the bicyclist, they broke Georgia law and liability will be clear.

There are specific requirements for bicyclists under the age of 18. These include wearing a helmet. As a general rule, whether you are riding a tricycle, bicycle, or motorcycle, you should always wear a helmet. It needs to be secure and properly fitted.

You can also only have two bicycles per lane riding next to each other. If you have more than two, the bicyclist can be found at fault. The roads are only a certain width and if three people are riding side by side, it can cause more incidents.

If I Am Partially At Fault For The Bicycle Accident That Caused My Injuries, Will My Compensation Be Reduced Accordingly?

In Georgia, as long as you’re less than 50% at fault, you can still recover partial compensation depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding your case. If you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you’ll have a taller hurdle to jump before receiving any amount of compensation.

Does The Severity Of My Injury From A Bike Accident Enhance The Likelihood Of Getting A Larger Settlement?

You aren’t necessarily entitled to a larger settlement just because your injuries from a bicycle accident are severe. Typically, there’s less safety and caution with a bicycle and if you are injured, your injuries are most likely to be more severe than if you were inside of an automobile.

Most policies in Georgia are minimum policies, which means that the most any one individual can recover from the insurance company is $25,000. Having $100,000 in medical bills doesn’t automatically entitle you to receive $100,000 in recovery.

Will Future Medical Costs Be Taken Into Account When Calculating My Bicycle Accident Settlement?

Future medical costs can and should absolutely be taken into account before any settlement is achieved. There’s a difference of opinion on exactly how much future medical costs are reasonable and relatable to the specific breach of the duty of the party to recover the victim.

The amount of future medical costs may discourage settlement. If you have a huge future medical cost and the relationship directly to the person’s negligence is very thin, they may not want to reach a settlement.

Likewise, if it isn’t foreseeable that you’ll have a lot of future medical costs, then it may not be a big factor in your settlement at all.

Compensation really depends on all the facts of the case, the injuries, and the projected future medical costs.

How Can I Assist My Attorney In Getting The Best Possible Settlement In My Bicycle Accident Case?

We tell all of our clients that they have to follow three rules in order to be represented by us in their bicycle accident case. These rules are…

• Don’t lie,
• Don’t make anything up, and
• Be honest.

The best thing you can possibly do for yourself is to be honest and forthcoming with your attorney about…

• Your injuries,
• The facts of your case, and
• What your goals are for your case.

Only then can your attorney really tailor the best possible case for you to present.

For more information on Bicycle Accident Injury Claims In Georgia, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (404) 383-8835 today.