Lawrenceville Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Skilled Bicycle Accident Lawyers Serving Lawrenceville, Georgia
Bicycle accidents can result in anything from slight injuries to extensive, long-lasting trauma. Whether participating in one of the annual rides at Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial or enjoying a day at Rock Springs Park, Lawrenceville cycling enthusiasts face the peril of a bicycle accident every time they ride.
That peril is stressful enough, but there may be a reason to stress further in Georgia. Under Georgia law, there is a two-year statute of limitations for any bicycle accident claims.
Unfortunately, there are many reasons that you may need to file your claim sooner (e.g., if an uninsured motorist was involved in your accident or if your accident involved a city-owned vehicle).
This means that you may not have a lot of time to act. When you’re recovering from a bicycle accident or any personal injury accident in Lawrenceville, you need to be able to focus on healing, not investigating an accident or filing paperwork as quickly as you can.
The Lawrenceville bicycle accident lawyers at Scholle Law will be happy to handle your case for you. Call us at (866) 592-1296 or contact us online, and the team can help you with a free, no-obligation consultation.
Georgia Bicycle Laws
Bicycle riders in Lawrenceville and throughout Georgia are subject to the same rules of the road as motor vehicle riders. Bicyclists over the age of 12 may not ride their bikes on sidewalks in Lawrenceville. They must obey traffic lights and stop signs, ride with the flow of traffic, use hand signals to indicate turns, and yield to pedestrians.
However, unlike motor vehicle riders Georgia law requires bicycles to be equipped with a brake that allows the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level pavement.
Additionally, unlike motor vehicle riders cyclists must ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except when passing another vehicle, preparing for a left turn, avoiding hazardous conditions, or if the lane is too narrow to share with a motor vehicle.
On July 1, 2021, Georgia law changed for when a motor vehicle passes a bicycle. Georgia drivers are required to approach a bicycle with due caution, change into a lane not next to the bicycle if possible and slow down to 10mph less than the posted speed limit or 25 mph, whichever is more. Georgia drivers must leave three feet between their vehicle and the bicycle at all times.
Georgia Bicycle Accidents Statistics
In 2018, there were 857 reported fatalities across the United States that involve bicycle accidents, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This is a rate of 2.5 deaths per million people and represents a 3% decrease from the 2017 figure of 882 fatalities. The IIHS notes that this is the second consecutive year of decline after two years of increases.
Georgia had a total of 28 reported bicyclist fatalities in 2018, giving the state a rate of 1.7 deaths per million people. This places Georgia 29th in the nation for where bicycle accidents occur most.
The Lawrenceville Police Department has reported four bicycle-related fatalities since 2015. Three of these involved collisions with a motor vehicle, while the fourth was caused by a fall from a bridge. In each case, the bicycle riders were not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
sources:
https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/bicyclists
https://odmp.org/search/incidentsstate=GA&city=Lawrenceville&page=1
Factors Contributing To Lawrenceville Bicycle Accidents
Motorist negligence is one of the primary causes of bicycle accidents in Lawrenceville (although, in some cases, victims may be able to hold the bike manufacturer partially liable).
If the accident was caused when a car struck the victim, typical contributing factors include:
- The driver was operating the vehicle recklessly
- The person responsible was driving under the influence
- The driver was distracted
- The driver failed to yield to the pedestrian or follow appropriate signage
What to Do After a Lawrenceville Bicycle Accident
If you’ve been involved in a Lawrenceville or any bicycle accident, there are a few steps you should take to protect your rights and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
First, seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you don’t think you’ve been seriously injured. Some injuries may not be immediately apparent, and it’s important to get a full evaluation from a doctor.
Second, gather evidence at the scene of the accident if you can. This may include taking photos of the damage to your bike or any injuries you’ve sustained. If there are witnesses, get their contact information so they can be called upon to testify later.
Third, contact a bicycle injury lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the legal process and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
What Injuries Are Associated With Lawrenceville Bicycle Accidents?
Unlike motorists, bicycle accident victims don’t have a metal frame protecting them in an accident. This makes it more likely that they will sustain severe injuries such as:
- Road rash
- Lacerations
- Fractured or broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Disfigurement
- Amputation
- Brain injuries
While many people underestimate the costs associated with bicycle accidents, it’s clear that the experience can be traumatic (and the recovery, lengthy).
Making sure that you have the resources you and your family need to thrive is essential.
What Damages Can I Collect After A Lawrenceville Bicycle Accident?
There’s an incorrect perception that bicycle accidents are less painful, disastrous, or damaging than car accidents.
In reality, the injuries that follow a bicycle accident can be devastating. You may require fair compensation to cover:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Any damage done to your bicycle or property
- Pain and suffering
- Even wrongful death
To help you work towards fair compensation, your bicycle accident lawyers will review the accident, your medical bills, local signage, and more to determine the extent of your damages.
There are three types of damages you may be able to recover. These include:
- Economic Damages, or verifiable monetary losses or expenses
- Non-economic Damages, or subjective (yet equally important) subjective losses, such as pain and suffering
- Punitive Damages, or damages awarded at the court’s discretion to punish an individual whose actions were especially reckless.
To determine negligence and assess damages, your lawyers will need to collect as much evidence as possible surrounding your bicycle accident. This may include:
- Visiting the scene of the accident
- Reviewing police reports
- Reviewing your medical bills
- Speaking with insurance
- Examining the state of your bicycle
- Examining the state of the car
- …and more.
Can a cyclist claim on my insurance?
Yes, a cyclist can claim on your insurance if they were injured in an accident caused by your negligence. In Georgia, cyclists are considered pedestrians and are therefore entitled to the same protections under the law. This means that if you hit a cyclist with your car, you may be liable for their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To learn more about your rights and responsibilities after a bicycle accident, contact an experienced lawyer today.
Personal Injury Lawsuits for Bicycle Accidents
A personal injury lawsuit may be an option if you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident. This type of lawsuit allows you to seek compensation for your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
To file a personal injury lawsuit, you must first show that the other party was at fault for the accident. This can be done by showing that the other party was acting negligently or recklessly.
If you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident, contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the legal process and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Proving Negligence in a Bicycle Accident Case
In order to win a bicycle accident case, you will need to prove that the other party was negligent. This means that they failed to exercise the level of care that a reasonable person would have in the same situation.
There are many ways to show that someone was acting negligently. For example, if they were speeding or ran a red light, this would be considered negligence. If they were texting while driving, this would also be considered negligence.
To win your case, you will need to gather evidence to support your claim of negligence. This may include eyewitness testimony, photos or videos of the accident, and more. An experienced bicycle accident lawyer can help you collect this evidence and build a strong case.
Should you speak with the other sides insurance company?
After a bicycle accident, you may be contacted by the other party’s insurance company. It’s important to remember that the insurance company is not on your side. They are interested in protecting their own interests, which means they may try to get you to settle for less than you deserve.
If you do choose to speak with the other party’s insurance company, be sure to have an experienced bicycle accident lawyer by your side. An attorney can help you protect your rights and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Free Consultation With a Lawrenceville bike Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. The best way to find out is to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Lawrenceville bicycle accident lawyer. At Scholle Law, we don’t get paid unless you do. This means there’s no risk for you to schedule a free consultation with us. Contact us today on (866) 592-1296 to learn more.
How Can a Lawrenceville Bicycle Accident Lawyer Help?
A bicycle accident lawyer can help you in many ways. First, they can help you investigate the accident and collect evidence to support your claim. They can also help you negotiate with an insurance company and file a personal injury lawsuit, if necessary.
An experienced bicycle accident attorney will fight for your rights and ensure you get the maximum compensation. If you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident, contact Scholle Law today.
The Most Dangerous Intersections in Lawrenceville
Cyclists need to be aware of intersections where accidents occur the most. When approaching an intersection it is important to come to a full stop and be particularly aware of right of way signs. Some of the most dangerous intersections in Lawrenceville, Georgia are:
– Ga-316 and Sugarloaf Parkway
– Ga-316 and Lawrenceville Suwanee Road
– Ga-20 and Buford Drive
– Ga-20 and Sugarloaf Parkway
Bicycle riders should take particular caution when riding in and around these intersections as they are often congested with busy traffic and distracted drivers.
Consult With A Lawrenceville Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
When you or a loved one is healing after a traumatizing or painful bicycle accident, it’s imperative that you can trust your lawyer to take care of matters for you.
At Scholle Law, that’s exactly what we do. We will prioritize handling your case as efficiently and effectively as possible. Once we learn about the details of your case, we will:
- Investigate your Lawrenceville bicycle accident
- Examine the evidence to determine fault accurately
- Discover your economic and non-economic losses
- Determine your damages
- Fill out paperwork quickly (so you can get your benefits faster!)
- Negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf
- Represent you in court, if necessary
Ultimately, it’s our goal to get you the compensation you need in a timely manner. We’ll start shortly after you give us a call or contact our team online for a free, no-obligation free consultation with a Lawrenceville bicycle accident lawyer.