While there are clear advantages to choosing a bicycle as a mode of transportation on the public roads of Georgia, it is often not without its share of risks. All over the country, thousands of individuals figure in bicycle crashes and deaths annually. If you have been involved in a bike crash in Dunwoody, GA, calling a trusted bike accident lawyer should be one of your priorities.
Depending on whether the bicyclist or the vehicle driver has been the negligent party, an injured individual may seek to recover for damages due to a bicycling accident. And despite the various state laws that govern bicycle crashes in the state, a bicycle accident lawyer near Dunwoody can help to ensure that you obtain the compensation due to you, at a time when you need it the most.
What a Bike Accident Lawyer Can Tell You about Dunwoody, GA Bike Accident Statistics
Despite the fewer number of bicyclists compared to motor vehicle drivers, bicycle riders undoubtedly face a higher risk for serious injuries and deaths while navigating public roads and bicycle lanes.
In a report made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been as many as 1,000 bicycling fatalities in the country for 2015. In addition, a total of 467,000 injuries have been reported for the same year. The report also showed that the age group with the highest bicycle death rates involved adults aged between 50 and 59.
In Georgia, there were a total of 29 reported bicyclist deaths for the year 2016. Between 2010 and 2012, moreover, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported a total of 49 bicycling fatalities in the state.
This ranked Georgia as the 22nd deadliest state for bicycle riders per capita for the given year period.
If you or a loved one has suffered from bicycle-related injuries or deaths in Dunwoody, GA, you should consult with a bike accident lawyer immediately.
A bike accident lawyer will be able to explain the various legal options available to you, so you can start working on your accident compensation claims as soon as possible.
Serious Bike Accident Injuries and the Need for a Bike Accident Attorney
Some injuries arising from bicycle accidents are often far from simple, even in the state of Georgia.
In 2014, 50-year-old bicyclist Greg Germani had had to be admitted to intensive care after a vehicle ran him down a public road in Georgia following a traffic altercation. The motor vehicle dragged the bicyclist to a distance of fifty feet, resulting in serious head and body injuries.
If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, the help of a personal injury lawyer near Dunwoody is crucial. Bike injuries can range from simple bruises and fractures to long-term head injuries and nerve damage.
A bike accident lawyer may have dealt with the following injuries as the basis for seeking a compensation claim in Georgia:
Head injury.
This type of injury often happens to bicyclists without helmets or those wearing less durable types of head protection gear. A cyclist traveling at fast speeds may have little time to protect his or her head during a collision. Some of the injuries arising from these accidents include concussions, open head injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.
Joint dislocation.
Dislocations typically happen when bicyclists attempt to support themselves during a collision, where their hands or other body parts bear the impact of a fall. Thus, dislocations can take place in the wrist, ankle, shoulders, hip, or jaw.
Some dislocations, such as those involving a hip bone, may require extensive rehabilitative care. If your injuries demand this kind of long-term care, it is important for your bike accident attorney to include all present and future medical costs into your compensation claim.
Facial injury.
Sudden accidents that leave no time for the cyclist to protect his or her face may result in facial injuries, some types of which are broken cheekbones, broken jawbone, or even dental injuries.
Neck and shoulder injuries.
Falling off a bicycle due to a collision may leave your neck and shoulders unprotected. Although simple injuries often result in swelling and stiffness and may be easily treated by pain relievers, some cases such as shoulder fractures can be more serious.
It is important for anyone involved in a bike crash to consult with a bike accident attorney on how to recover for damages.
Spinal cord injury.
According to the U.S. Spinal Cord Injury Facts & Figures, almost 10% of reported spinal cord injuries in 2015 have been attributed to sports activities, including bicycling. What is potentially dangerous about a spinal cord injury is that a seemingly harmless sprain may result in permanent paralysis.
Anyone suffering from spinal cord issues after a bike accident should consult a doctor for treatment and a bike wreck lawyer for the best steps to take when claiming for compensation.
Amputation.
Traffic-related accidents can lead to serious injuries that result in the loss of limb or other body parts. Individuals who go through this experience often suffer from a significantly reduced quality of life.
When on the road, bicyclists often need to maintain their balance while navigating at fast speeds. The reasons for bicycle accidents are numerous and varied, and these include being hit by a motor vehicle, falling while riding, poorly maintained roads, committing riding errors, and trying to evade an animal or a fixed object on the bicycle lane or road.
Car accident lawyers near Dunwoody, GA are able to provide trusted legal help on the following kinds of bicycle accidents and collisions:
- Collisions at stoplights and intersections
- Dooring accidents
- Distracted driving
- DUI
- Rear-end collisions
If you have been involved in any of these types of bike accidents, it is important for your bike accident lawyer to establish negligence, as this will also be crucial determining the compensation amount available to you.
Depending on operational state laws, you may still be able to recover even if you are found to be partially negligent in the crash. Consulting with a trustworthy bike accident lawyer is an important first step.
Filing for Accident Compensation with the Help of a Bike Wreck Lawyer in Georgia
Being involved in any kind of accident is costly. The expenses are calculated not only in terms of hospital fees but also in terms of other losses such as lost wages and the loss of the same quality of life prior to the accident.
It is thus crucial for any bike wreck lawyer to factor all significant losses into your compensation claim.
The amount that you will be able to recover as compensation after a bike accident will depend on several factors such as the following:
The at-fault driver’s liability insurance coverage.
In Georgia, such as in many other states, all drivers are required to have liability insurance coverage.
The minimum amount of coverage for every person injured by a negligent driver is $25,000. For accidents involving several individuals, the minimum amount for coverage is $50,000. For property damage due to a collision, the minimum insurance amount is $25,000.
The amount that you will be able to recover may depend primarily on the insurance coverage of the at-fault driver. If the negligent driver’s coverage is not sufficient to compensate for your serious injuries, the help of a dedicated bike accident lawyer is crucial.
The degree of negligence of one party or multi-parties.
The amount entitled to you as compensation may also be dependent on your shared liability, if any, in the accident. Accidents often occur because one or several parties in a collision have been negligent. In cases where multi-parties have shared liabilities in a bike accident, various state laws may apply.
For you, this may mean having your compensation amount reduced or altogether forfeited. To guide you through the process of having your claim granted in the maximum amount possible, you may get the counsel of a dedicated bike accident lawyer.
Supporting evidence on police reports, hospital fees, etc.
During settlement discussions and even court proceedings, you may be asked to produce sufficient evidence to prove that your accident compensation should be within a certain amount.
If you claim that you need to be compensated for your intensive rehabilitation but fail to produce any documentation from a licensed physician, there may be no basis in the granting of an amount for long-term rehabilitative care.
Some of the damages for which a bike accident lawyer may help you recover are the loss of present and future wages, hospitalization costs and possible rehabilitation expenses, loss of quality of life, pain, and suffering, and others.
Also, in cases where the malicious intent of the other driver can be established, you and your bike wreck lawyer may pursue a case in court and sue for punitive damages. This may result in the rewarding of a higher amount as compensation and the possibility of a longer prison sentencing for the irresponsible driver.
From Bike Accident Lawyers in Georgia: a Settlement or a Lawsuit?
There are several options available to you when it comes to making a compensation claim due to a bike accident injury.
You may decide to opt for a settlement or to pursue legal action by going to court. A committed bike accident attorney should be able to discuss with you the advantages and disadvantages of choosing either route.
In a settlement, you and your bike wreck lawyer will discuss compensation matters with the other driver out of court. From the term ‘settlement’ itself, it means that the deal should be agreeable and beneficial to both parties. The at-fault party will propose a settlement amount that ideally covers all the damages suffered through the accident.
If you and your bike accident attorney believe that the proposed amount is already sufficient and fair, you may proceed with the settlement without having to pursue litigation.
Although hiring a bike accident lawyer is not highly necessary in settlement discussions, you will still benefit from the valuable advice of a bike wreck lawyer during discussions with the other party.
Not all insurance companies will work for your best interests, as they may also be concerned with keeping their expenses and disbursements to a minimum.
The presence of a bike wreck lawyer or a team of bike accident lawyers during settlement discussions can provide you with the support you need at a most trying time.
In the event that the settlement discussion fails to result in a fair agreement, your bike accident lawyer may advise that you proceed to court. Most of the time, this decision is better than settling for a compensation amount that fails to cover all losses.
One drawback to the decision to litigate, however, is that it is usually a lengthy process compared to an out-of-court settlement. With some cases, it can also be more costly.
This is why you will need the representation of a committed bike accident lawyer, should you decide to pursue a case in court.
Why You Need the Help of a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Dunwoody, GA
While it may be less costly for you to seek compensation without the help of a bike accident attorney, obtaining the counsel and services of a bike accident lawyer will undoubtedly pay off in the long term.
To be involved in a bike crash is often a stressful experience, especially if you have sustained life-threatening and life-altering injuries. The last thing that you would want to deal with, as you recuperate, are various documentary requirements for a claim and challenging discussions with the other driver and his or her insurance representatives.
At this point, you will benefit significantly from the sound advice and committed legal assistance of a bike accident lawyer.
Talk to a Bike Accident Lawyer at The Weinstein Firm for Your Accident Claim in Georgia
Compared to drivers and passengers of motor vehicles, bicyclists face higher risks of grave physical injuries during a collision. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in Georgia, you are within your rights to claim compensation from a negligent driver.
Here at The Weinstein Firm, our bike accident lawyers are ready to hear the circumstances of your bicycle accident case and devise the most appropriate legal course of action.
Don’t wait too long before you start taking action against the negligence of irresponsible drivers. Contact a bike accident attorney at The Weinstein Firm today for your compensation claim in Dunwoody, GA.
