Using a bike for daily transportation is a great way to be more eco-conscious and improve your personal health. Unfortunately, East Point sees bicycle accidents happen every year. Many times, it’s because other drivers are not paying close enough attention or giving bicyclists the room they need to share the road. If you or a loved one was hurt in a bicycle accident, you should know that bike riders have rights—and you may be entitled to a substantial amount of financial recovery. But to know for sure, you need a good East Point bicycle accident lawyer on your side.
Our attorneys have more than two decades of experience helping injured cyclists recover the money they need to pay for their expenses from the accident. We know the Georgia laws that require drivers to share the road with bikes, and we know how to support you. For a FREE consultation to discuss your case and how we can help, contact us today. Call 404-341-6555, or fill out the online form to your right to get started with your free consultation.
Should I Call the Police if I’m Hit By a Car While I’m on My Bike?
Yes. Georgia law requires you to report an accident to police if there is a personal injury and/or property damage over $500. Even if you feel okay initially, you may have injuries that haven’t fully manifested yet. And bicycle damage is very common in these types of accident. It’s in your best interest to call East Point police and report the accident, even if the motorist doesn’t want to.
When officers arrive at the scene, tell them exactly what happened and how you were hurt, including any other damages. You might also remind them that bicycles have the same right to be on Georgia roads as car and truck drivers.
How Much Money Can I Recover in a Bike Accident in East Point?
In Georgia, bicycle accident victims are entitled to financial recovery for all damages they suffer as a result of the accident. This includes expenses like:
- Medical bills, doctor visits, tests, and surgeries
- Prescription medications
- Ongoing treatments like rehabilitation or physical therapy
- Lost wages from time you had to take off work because of the accident
- Repair or replacement costs for your bicycle
- Wrongful death costs, if you lost a loved one in a bicycle accident
These are just some of the main costs that are covered with a personal injury accident. You may also be able to recover for other damages like emotional pain and suffering or permanent disabilities from the accident. If your injuries and other damages are severe, your chances of recovering more money are even higher. This is the law’s way of trying to compensate you for what was lost.
The exact amount you can recover varies widely depending on the accident severity and your full damages. A car accident lawyer can help you calculate all of your losses and determine what your financial settlement should be. This is crucial because the other driver’s insurance company will likely try to lowball you with a settlement amount that doesn’t come close to what you deserve. Don’t get taken advantage of; hire a good bicycle accident lawyer who can represent your needs.
What if the Driver Who Hit Me Didn’t Stop?
Drivers are legally required to pull over if they are in an accident. If they don’t, it’s considered a hit and run accident, and it’s a serious offense.
If a driver doesn’t stop, it typically means they have something to hide. They may be uninsured or have a criminal record that would send them to jail if they’re in an accident. Or, they could be a drunk driver who doesn’t want to get caught or isn’t sober enough to even realize they hit you.
Either way, they should have stopped and they didn’t. This can feel like a hopeless situation, but don’t give up. Call police to report the accident and tell them what happened. The more information you can gather, the better. Try to get their license plate number, and write down anything and everything you remember about the driver’s appearance and details of their vehicle.
Then, call a bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. They can start investigating the accident and work to hold the hit and run driver responsible.
There Was No Bike Lane. Do I Still Have a Valid Claim?
If you were hit and there was no bike lane, you almost always still have a valid insurance claim. This is because Georgia drivers must share the road with cyclists and treat them like any other vehicle—bike lane or no bike lane. A lot of drivers don’t realize this, so they may try to blame you for the accident or claim you were in a location you shouldn’t have been. Their insurance company may also try to place blame on you in an effort to undermine your insurance claim. But don’t let this intimidate you. Chances are, you were well within your rights to be riding on the roads with other drivers.
That being said, if you happened to be riding on a road where cyclists were specifically prohibited, it may impact your case. However, this is extremely rare and probably not the situation. You should contact an East Point bicycle accident lawyer even if you’re unsure.
Talk to a East Point Bicycle Accident Lawyer for Free
Cyclists aren’t always taken seriously by motorists and their insurance companies. Usually, it’s because they don’t understand East Point bike laws and know what rights you have. But our attorneys know better. We have been representing injured cyclists and winning them the financial recovery they deserve for more than 20 years. We don’t back down to insurance companies, and we only represent accident victims. For a FREE consultation with one of our lawyers, call 404-341-6555 today, or fill out the quick form to your right. We’ll discuss your case and walk you through your best options.
