There are many benefits of riding a bike in Redan. The transportation is much cheaper than driving a car, easy to navigate the city, and a great way to get extra exercise. However, cyclists face additional hazards on the roads compared with motorists—and they are less protected in the event of an accident.
If you were hurt in an accident on your bicycle, you’re likely facing medical bills and other costs, such as lost wages from having to miss work. If you did not cause your accident, you shouldn’t have to bear the expenses. A Redan bicycle accident lawyer can help.
Our bicycle accident lawyers have the experienced (20+ years) and resources needed to take on injury cases and win results for our clients. That’s why you’ve become some of the most respected attorneys in Georgia. We’d love to assist you after your accident—starting with a FREE consultation. Call us today at 404-341-6555, or fill out the form on this page to get your free consultation.
Whose Insurance Is Going to Pay for My Injuries?
The person who pays in a bicycle accident case depends on fault. Georgia is an “at fault state,” meaning the person or entity responsible for an accident is liable for all costs of that accident. Someone is determined to be at fault for an incident if they were being negligent. In other words, their careless actions (or inactions) led to the accident and resulting damages.
So, the person who was at fault for your bicycle accident is legally responsible for the costs of your injuries. Most of the time, this means it’s actually their insurance company that will be responsible for paying. You’ll need to submit a personal injury claim to the at-fault party’s insurance company for the losses you face from your accident.
Bicyclists often face more pushback in insurance claims than car drivers for a few reasons:
- There are unfair biases against bicycles. A lot of drivers do not understand that bikes have the same right to be on Redan roads as anyone else
- Plus, although car drivers are usually at fault for accidents involving bikes and cars, drivers are more inclined to think the bicyclist was to blame. In reality, the driver may have simply not been watching their surroundings carefully enough or giving the bicyclist enough room on the road
- In addition, insurance companies will often try to blame the bike rider for riding unsafely or irresponsibly—even if the bicyclist was following all laws
Even police officers can hold biases against bicyclists or not be up-to-date on the legal rules for bicycles on Georgia roads. That’s why it’s important to remind the officer who responds to your accident that bicycles have the same rights to be on the road as motorists.
To protect yourself, it’s best to contact a bicycle accident lawyer as soon as you can after your accident. They can help prevent the insurance company or the at-fault driver from taking advantage of you. The person who caused the accident should be held responsible—and their insurance company should pay you what you deserve based on the costs you face.
What Costs Can I Recover from a Bicycle Accident in Redan?
Like any other personal injury accident in Redan, you can make a claim for all losses you face from the bike accident. That includes the following damages:
- Medical and hospital bills
- Prescription medications
- Other ongoing and long-term treatment costs for accident injuries
- Lost wages from having to miss work because of the accident
- Costs of repairing or replacing your bicycle
- Pain and suffering damages
Most of the time, the bulk of damages in a bicycle accident case comes from medical costs. Bicycle accident injuries can be serious, especially if the collision happened with a car or truck where the other driver was operating a vehicle much larger than a bicycle. However, the exact damages and value of a bicycle accident case depend on the specifics. To find out for sure what your case is worth, contact a Redan bicycle accident lawyer.
What if I Hit an Obstacle in the Road and Crashed?
If your accident did not directly involve another vehicle or person, you may still be entitled to damages. Bicycle accidents with obstacles are actually quite common, and liability depends on the details of the accident.
If you were hurt because of an obstacle on a road or street, such as a sewer grate or pothole, the city, state, or county government is likely responsible because they handle road maintenance and safety. However, the government may try to deny fault by saying the obstacle was easily visible or it was new and they didn’t know about it.
If you hit an obstacle while on someone’s private property or outside of a business, the owner or that property or the business on it is usually responsible. But again, keep in mind that they may also try to say they weren’t to blame for your accident. They might say you were biking in a place you shouldn’t have been or that you exaggerated the hazard.
Don’t let these situations deter you from justice. You’ll want to contact a bicycle accident lawyer who can fight on your behalf. You can also help protect your case by taking pictures of the hazard and the setting right after your accident. Even if someone cleans it up or moves the obstacle later, you will have picture evidence of how it looked at the time.
Talk to a Redan Bicycle Accident Lawyer for Free Today
Bicyclists have to deal with more bias and threats than the average motorist, so if you were in an accident, you should consider getting a bicycle accident lawyer on your side. Our team has 20+ years of experience helping cyclists gather evidence and file insurance claims for damages from accidents they didn’t cause. We’d love to help you, too. For a FREE consultation to talk about your case, call us today at 404-341-6555, or fill out the form on this page to get started.
