Augusta
Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicycling is a fun, affordable, and eco-friendly way to travel or stay fit. However, bicyclists are often seriously injured in the Augusta area. Even a low-speed accident can leave you with broken bones, scrapes, and a concussion. More severe incidents can be fatal or cause lifelong injuries. If you or someone you care about has been in a bicycle crash, an Augusta bicycle accident lawyer can help you receive fair compensation.

Seeking legal counsel from an experienced Augusta personal injury lawyer is not only about obtaining financial relief but also about ensuring such accidents are thoroughly investigated, and the responsible parties are held accountable.

If you are on the fence about obtaining legal compensation, allow our firm, which has over 20 years of legal experience, to discuss your case with you in a risk-free consultation session. Together, we can calculate the value of your claim and explore your legal options. 

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident: A Step-by-Step Guide

Being involved in a bicycle accident can be a traumatic experience, and knowing how to respond can significantly impact your recovery and any potential personal injury claim. Here’s a step-by-step guide for cyclists to follow after an accident, ensuring you take the necessary actions to protect your rights and well-being.

• Check for Injuries and Seek Medical Attention: The first and most crucial step after a bicycle accident is to assess your condition. Check yourself for any severe injuries, and if you or anyone else is injured, call for medical assistance immediately. Prompt medical attention creates a record of your injuries, which is vital for any future claims process.
• Document the Scene: Once you have ensured that everyone is safe and medical help is on the way, begin documenting the accident scene. This includes:
  • Taking Photos: Capture images of your bicycle, any vehicles involved, the surrounding area, and any visible injuries. These photos can serve as crucial evidence for your personal injury claim.
  • Gathering Witness Information: If there are bystanders or other cyclists who witnessed the accident, collect their names and contact information. Witness statements can be invaluable in supporting your case.
• Report the Accident to the Authorities: It’s essential to report the accident to the police, especially if there are injuries or significant property damage. The police will create an official police report, which is a critical document for insurance claims and any legal proceedings. Ensure you obtain a copy of this report, as it will contain important details about the accident and the parties involved.
• Consult With a Personal Injury Lawyer: Legal representation can help you manage the stages of the claims process, ensuring that your rights are protected. Even an experienced Augusta car accident attorney can assist you in understanding your options, negotiating with insurance companies, and pursuing fair compensation for your injuries and property damage.
• Notify Your Insurance Company: If you have bicycle insurance or if the accident involved a motor vehicle, notify your insurance company about the incident. Provide them with the necessary details, including the police report and any documentation you’ve gathered. 
• Keep Records of All Medical Treatment: As you receive medical care for your injuries, keep detailed records of all treatments, prescriptions, and medical bills. This documentation will be essential for substantiating your personal injury claim and demonstrating the extent of your injuries and related expenses.
• Follow Up on Your Claim: Stay in contact with your lawyer and insurance company throughout the claims process. Be proactive in providing any additional information they may need and follow up on the status of your claim. Your attorney can help you understand the timeline and what to expect as your case progresses.

Why Are Bicycle Accidents So Serious?

When you ride in a car, you are surrounded by protective features. Seat belts, airbags, reinforcements in the car body, and even a car’s size help guard against the effects of a collision. Unfortunately, bicycles have no protective gear to cushion the crash.

The following are more reasons bicycle accidents are serious:

• Bicycles are smaller and lighter than other vehicles. This means that in a crash, they can easily be pushed around or become airborne.
• Bicycles must balance on two wheels. Even a minor impact can upset a bike’s delicate balance and send the rider to the ground.
• Many cyclists don’t wear helmets, which increases the risk of a head injury.
• Bicycles are vulnerable to tipping over because of potholes, debris, or other hazards on the road.
• Bicycles are harder to see than cars, especially at dusk and after dark. When other motorists can’t see a cyclist, they don’t slow down or maneuver to avoid a crash, hitting the cyclist at full speed.
• Bicyclists can be the victims of overly aggressive drivers who don’t think bicycles belong on the road.

Follow traffic laws and safety tips to decrease your chances of injury. For example, wearing protective gear can protect your body during an accident, decreasing your risk of injury.

If you were involved in an Augusta bike crash, call our firm, and a personal injury attorney will discuss your options.

What Kinds of Injuries Are Common in Bicycle Accidents?

In a typical bike accident, cyclists may fall sideways, hitting their shoulder, arm, or head on the pavement. The cyclist may also put a hand out to break the fall. Often, the cyclist skids along the roadway. Some of the common injuries we see from bicycle accidents include:

• Broken wrist, hand, arm, and elbow bones
• A broken clavicle or collarbone
• Brain injuries
• Neck injuries
• Dislocated joints
• Nerve damage and spinal cord injuries
• Scrapes and bruises

If you are in a bicycle accident, see a doctor as soon as possible, especially if you have pain or hit your head.

The shock of the accident can make it almost impossible to tell how badly you have been injured, and the safest course of action is always to seek immediate medical care.

Who Is Liable for My Bicycle Accident?

Liability will depend on how the crash happened. Most of the time, the party liable in a bike accident is the one whose carelessness caused the incident. This is known as “negligence.”

Common types of negligent driver behaviors that cause bike accidents include:

• Passing too closely
• Tailgating
• Turning into the path of a rider
• Drunk driving
• Being distracted by a cell phone
• Not seeing a cyclist

 While a negligent driver is usually the at-fault party in a bicycle crash, other possible liable parties should be considered.

Depending on the circumstances of the incident, several other parties could be responsible, including the car or bicycle manufacturer, car or bicycle parts manufacturer, or government agencies.

What Damages Can I Recover After a Bicycle Crash in Georgia?

If someone else’s negligence caused your bike accident, you could recover your accident-related losses, including:

• Medical expenses
• Physical therapy
• Cost of fixing or replacing your bike
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

We know that money won’t bring back your health. However, we also know that fair compensation can make a difference in the type of medical treatment you receive, your ability to recover, and your ability to put your life back together. Our team’s bicycle accident attorney in Augusta, GA, can help.

Punitive Damages

These are considered “vindictive damages” because they punish the at-fault party for their wrongful behavior. Not all personal injury cases qualify, but if you were hit by an intoxicated driver while riding your bicycle, you may be eligible.

While Georgia caps punitive damages at $250,000, the amount you receive will be in addition to your economic and non-economic damages. Also, there are exceptions to this rule. Discuss your case with an Augusta DUI accident lawyer from our team.

Does It Matter Whether I Was Wearing a Helmet in Augusta?

Cyclists in Richmond County and the rest of Georgia must follow certain rules. For example, riders under 16 must wear helmets, and all riders must use front and rear lights when riding on the street at night.

Riders are also expected to follow the rules of the road, including riding on the right (with traffic), stopping at stop signs, and signaling when turning. If you weren’t following the law at the time of the crash, you might be considered negligent.

However, this does not necessarily mean you don’t have a claim.

Georgia’s Comparative Fault System

Georgia uses a system of “comparative fault.” If you and another person were negligent, the insurance company or the local courts would assign each of you a percentage of fault. You could still recover damages for your injuries if you were 50% or less at fault.

You have to be careful not to sell yourself short, though. The insurance company will look for any excuse to avoid paying your claim, including finding ways to blame you for the accident unfairly.

For example, an insurance company may claim you are partly to blame for a nighttime crash because you didn’t have a rear light on your bike.

However, if the other driver ran a stop sign and hit you from the front, your rear light had nothing to do with causing the accident, and you should not recover less money because of it. This is why you need to talk to a lawyer about your bicycle claim.

Why You Should Choose John Foy & Associates

Our personal injury law firm was founded with a simple vision: all accident victims deserve the best chance of recovery. For the past twenty years, we have worked to make that vision a reality by putting money in the hands of injured people.

We want to help you with your bicycle accident claim, beginning with a free consultation to discuss how you were injured. Call our legal team and get your free case review today.

Talk to an Augusta Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today

At John Foy & Associates, we want you to have the money you need to get back on your feet, and we know how to get maximum compensation. Our bicycle accident lawyers in Augusta work on a contingency fee basis. Therefore, we will never charge a fee unless we help you obtain compensation.

Let us give you a free consultation and explain what we can do for you. Contact us today.