Bicycles rarely reach the speeds of the vehicles around them—but bicycle accidents in Brookhaven can still be very serious. This is especially true when a vehicle hits you. Even with a helmet, bike injuries can require surgery, pins and screws, or a cast, and may affect your range of motion for the rest of your life. When your bike accident was caused by someone else being careless, you need a Brookhaven bicycle accident lawyer to help you assert your legal rights.
Our lawyers never represent insurance companies—they are experienced, vetted professionals who only serve victims. All of our bicycle accident attorneys have a passion for helping those who may not be able to get the compensation that they deserve on their own. Let us put more than 20 years of experience to work for you—and help you get the money you need. Call us at 1-404-341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get a FREE consultation today.
Do I still have a case if a road hazard caused my bike accident?
Road conditions often lead to bike accidents. A bicycle is a two-wheel vehicle that is usually somewhat unstable, which means that even small debris in the road can cause serious problems for bikers. Below are just a couple of road condition examples that could lead to legal liability.
- Hose over the path
Imagine that you are riding down the hill and suddenly there is a two-inch hose over your bike path. You may not have time stop even if you do see it ahead of time. If you hit the tube and lose control, the person or entity that placed the hose there could be liable for your injuries. This is especially true if there are local ordinances that require workers to set hoses through drain pipes or avoid putting them over paths. - Grate placement
Consider another example. Grates in some cities are required to be installed in a certain way so they do not injure bikers and pedestrians. When they are placed the opposite direction, there’s an increased chance that a biker will be harmed because the wheels can actually sink into the grants, causing a sudden stop. That type of stop will often throw the rider from the bicycle, resulting in serious injuries. If grates are not installed properly, that can mean a city or private construction company is responsible for your injuries. - Gravel or debris on the roadway
In some situations, construction companies cause gravel and other debris to get on the road. In a car, this gravel might not be an issue, but it can cause problems for a bicyclist. The biker may lose control if the gravel appears suddenly and cannot be avoided. If that type of crash causes injuries, the construction company may be on the hook for your medical expenses, lost wages, and more. - Newly erected barriers
Barriers or barricades that control traffic should be set up in a way that bicyclists can get around them if they are permitted. When boundaries are set up, they are often only geared toward larger vehicles, which means that although bicycles may be allowed, they are dangerous to pass through. When a barricade has a strong potential to hurt a cyclist, it can trigger a lawsuit. Barriers that are supposed to keep out everyone including pedestrians and cyclists should provide a warning.
Do I have a case if I was in a bicycle accident involving a car or truck?
Yes—absolutely. Sadly, you are not alone, and car-on-bike accidents make up the majority of bicycle accident claims we take on.
The most common cause of bicycle accidents is driver inattention—from motorists, not cyclists. Drivers are not always on the lookout as they should be for bikers. And many don’t understand the laws that bikers should follow, so they aren’t sure how to predict what a bicyclist will do next. As a result, motorists are not only a major threat to cyclists, they often end up wrongly blaming a bicyclist for an accident that the motorist themselves caused.
Our team has successfully recovered money for injured bicyclists in all kinds of vehicle accidents. Some of the most common that we see include:
- Failure to yield. Bicyclists should be treated just like cars under Georgia law. That means that cars should yield to bikers in some situations. When they don’t, and that results in a crash, the driver is usually legally responsible for your injuries and damage.
- Hit by a mirror. Bike lanes are a great way to keep bikers safe from faster-moving traffic. However, when drivers are in the bike lane, or they are too close to the bike lane, that can be a problem. Many drivers don’t realize just how far their mirrors stick out from the sides of their vehicle. Merely driving by a biker too close can result in a collision with the driver’s mirror.
- Opening car doors. A suddenly opened car door can be disastrous for a bicyclist. When the timing is very poor, a bicyclist will not be able to veer out of the way and will often fly from their bicycle when they slam into the door. Serious injuries often result.
If you’ve been hit, don’t make the mistake of giving up your rights. Always take the time to talk to an attorney.
What should I do if the driver that hit me drove away?
Hit and run accidents involving bicycles are unfortunately more common than when a driver hits another car. Some drivers don’t take a collision with a cyclist seriously—but they definitely should because the injuries are often more severe than in car accidents.
When a driver hits you and drives off, you should try to remember everything you can about the vehicle and write it down immediately. This could include things like:
- The make and model of the car
- The color of the vehicle
- Anything you can recall about the driver
- Whether there were passengers
- The license plate number
- The direction they were heading when they drove away
Even if you get none of this information, you should still report the incident to the police. They can be on the lookout for cars that have damage that may be from a bicycle collision. Finding the right person is the first step in your personal injury case, and the police will be a valuable resource. Your personal injury attorney can also provide helpful investigative services as well.
Talk to a Brookhaven Bicycle Accident Lawyer for Free
You don’t have to go through this alone—and you don’t have to take the first lowball offer that an insurance company provides. Let us connect you with some of the top Brookhaven bicycle accident lawyers available and give you a FREE consultation. Call us at 1-404-341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
