Atlanta Bicycle Injury Attorney
In case you haven’t noticed, there are a lot more bicycle riders on the Georgia roads these days. The increase in bicycle lanes coupled with many workers now bicycling to work to save on gas has fueled an explosion of bicyclists. One of the most common causes of injury and death in Georgia is bicycle accidents. About 540,000 bicyclists visit emergency rooms throughout the country with injuries every year. Of those, about 67,000 have head injuries, and 27,000 have injuries serious enough to be hospitalized. Injured bicyclists often suffer serious injuries when they collide with cars and trucks. Other times, bicyclists are traveling at a high rate of speed when they are cut off by drivers and they are either run off the side of the road or collide with bridges, roadway barriers, curbs, traffic signs or trees.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents on Georgia Roads
We all know that today's drivers are often distracted from watching the road while they talk on the cell phone, send text messages, read emails, listen to the radio, apply makeup, drink coffee, eat meals, and watch television (yes, some people actually watch television in their car or truck) while driving.
The Law in Georgia Requires Drivers to Exercise Reasonable Care
All drivers in Georgia are required by law to exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian on a roadway. Needless to say, Georgia drivers who cause an accident while being distracted by any of the above activities are NOT exercising due care for the safety of others. That is why these drivers would be considered negligent under the laws of Georgia.
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Drivers must also exercise due care to avoid colliding with bicyclists or running them off the road. Too often, drivers fail to exercise the degree of care to avoid a serious accident. Now, with the implementation of many bicycle-friendly laws and regulations (and an increased number of bicycle lanes in Georgia), bicyclists sharing the road with cars and trucks is more common than ever. This raises the chances of bicyclists being hit and injured by inattentive drivers.
Types of Damages Resulting From Bicycle Accidents
If you have been seriously injured in a bicycle accident, you are entitled to be adequately compensated for all of your injuries. This includes special damages such as:
In addition to special damages, you are entitled to recover general damages such as:
Of course, the facts of every injury case are different, but these are the most common types of damages most people in Georgia recover. In some exceptional case, you may even be able to recover punitive damages. In order to be successful, however, a timely investigation and case workup is critical.
There are many unique aspects of a Georgia bicycle accident case. We welcome the opportunity to discuss these with you and to answer any questions you may have about your particular case. We take great pride in helping our clients through difficult times. We welcome the opportunity to help you as well.
If you would like to discuss your case with a Georgia bicycle accident lawyer, call Robert J. Fleming at (404) 525-5150 or contact us online.