Cycling is a favorite pastime of many people. Riding a bike is an environmentally friendly way to commute, is good for your health and is easy and affordable. However, with road congestion, a consistent problem in Fayetteville, GA, cyclists can often be at risk of accidents. If you have been in a bike accident, you should speak to a bike accident lawyer near Fayetteville so that they can help you recover any damages that you may have incurred because of the bike accident. Contact our personal injury firm today to learn how we can help you.
Why Do Bike Accidents Occur and Why You Need a Bike Accident Lawyer
A large majority of bike accidents occur because drivers fail to give cyclists the right of way. Drivers can be quite negligent when it comes to cyclists and then to other overlook or ignore them on the road. The problem is that a bike is much smaller than a car. It does not have the structural strength or protection that a car offers. In areas where there are bike lanes, the risk of accidents is lower, but where bikes share the road with cars, trucks, and buses, accidents can and do occur. If you were a victim of a bike accident because a driver of another vehicle failed to give you the right of way, you should speak to a bike accident attorney as soon as possible.
Since bikes offer little protection to the cyclists, serious injuries can occur for those involved in a bike accident. Helmets go a long way in preventing head trauma but even then if a major collision occurs, there is no saying what kind of injuries can be sustained by the victims including spinal injuries, muscle, and motor function loss, fractures, and head injuries. Bike accidents can be very unfortunate if the cyclist in question is a child or a young adult. Speak to bike accident lawyers to find out how you can get compensation for any injuries you might have sustained in a bike accident.
Bike accidents often occur at turnings when drivers overlook an oncoming cyclist or fail to slow down as they make a turn. In such situations, the cyclist can be thrown on to the pavement or can even be run down by another vehicle increasing the risk of serious injuries. It is important to get medical care and also speak to a bike accident attorney to find out how you can get justice for the other driver’s negligence.
Types of Bike Accident Injuries and How A Bike Wreck Lawyer Can Help
Injuries sustained by bike accident victims depend on the type and severity of the accident. However, the following are some of the most common bike accident injuries include:
- Head trauma
- Fractures
- Spinal injury
- Broken bones
- Muscle injuries
- Lacerations
If the collision is very serious and involves a bigger vehicle like a bus or a truck or if there are multiple vehicles involved, some bike accidents can also prove to be fatal. It is generally recommended that since cyclists are driving a vehicle that does not offer them the same protection as that offered by a car or an SUV, cyclists should take all necessary precautions. They should ensure they wear proper headgear; they should also avoid taking unnecessary risks on the road. This would include not driving too close to other vehicles, staying on their side of the road, not crossing when there is a vehicle approaching, be careful on turns and other similar precautions. But if you live in Fayetteville, GA, and if you were in a bike accident, you need to speak to a personal injury lawyer to find out your legal options.
Different Types of Bike Accidents
All bike accidents can turn out to be serious, but in particular, these are the most common types of accidents that occur on the roads in Fayetteville, GA:
Street Turns and Corners
This can happen when drivers and cyclists collide either at an intersection or when they are making a right turn. It is important to note that at an intersection, a cyclist has the right of way. But it often happens that drivers become negligent and do not carefully monitor that a cyclist may be approaching. Sometimes, drivers fail to give signals when they are turning right. Also, people on a bike can also be careless sometimes. Since a bike is less protective for the cyclist, they should ideally be more careful of the vehicles around them. No doubt drivers need to act more responsibly, but cyclists also need to play their part. They should dress visibly if out at night, and they should be more vigilant about traffic. In any case, crush injuries are often the consequence of bike accidents at street turns and corners. If you are a victim of such an injury, speak to a bike wreck lawyer as soon as possible.
Car Doors
Again, these door-related accidents are due to the negligence of both those in the other car/vehicle and the cyclist. People who ride bikes should know that if a vehicle is parked, there is a risk that somebody – whether it’s the driver or the passenger – could open the door. They need to watch out for this, and they need to slow down if they observe such a movement. Similarly, drivers and passengers of other vehicles should also be careful when opening the door, especially if they are parked in a street or a lane which is very busy or which has people on bikes or walking. Such accidents can lead to bruising, abrasions and lacerations. Speak to a car accident lawyer if you were hit by a door of another vehicle while riding your bike and suffered injuries.
Cyclists not Braking for Red Lights
This is one type of accident that can be considered as one which is completely due to the cyclist’s negligence and irresponsible behavior. Overlooking a red signal may seem like a small act of defiance, but it can end up with some very negative consequences. If you break a red light, you put yourself at risk of a collision with oncoming traffic. You also put pedestrians at risk as they would expect you to stop. If you have been in a bike accident, speak to a bike accident lawyer today.
Cyclist Negligence
Sometimes, cyclists ignore other rules of the road as well and put themselves at risk of a head-on collision. Similarly, head-on collisions can also occur when the other driver is careless and does not demonstrate the duty of care that is expected of them. Head-on collisions can be very serious and can result in significant injuries. Contact a bike accident lawyer if you were involved in a head-on collision.
Cyclist Tailgating and Speeding
If you are riding your bike too fast but need to stop suddenly, the driver behind you may not anticipate your sudden stop. This may result in a rear-end collision. It is important to keep a certain distance from other vehicles. Remember, a bike offers less protection as compared to a car. It is thus the responsibility of the cyclist to not only take care of how they ride their bikes but also to anticipate the mistakes other drivers could make that could affect them negatively. If you were in a rear-end collision, speak to a bike accident lawyer immediately.
Discuss Fault, Liability, and Settlement with your Bike Wreck Lawyer
The amount you claim is dependent on the type of accident, its severity and the injuries that are sustained by the victim(s). More importantly, the fault is a major factor when determining who is liable to pay the damages. You should discuss in detail this aspect of a compensation claim when you speak to your bike wreck lawyer.
It is true that often bike accidents occur because the cyclist was careless but there are situations where another driver failed to see the cyclist or was negligent, careless or distracted. If the bike accident occurred because the other driver was at fault, this would have to be established when you file a claim. If the fault is obvious, the claim will be easy to approve. But sometimes, things can get complicated. That is why a bike accident lawyer will be able to help you determine how to proceed with your claim.
Keep in mind that when a driver hits a bike, they might try to settle the matter without involving the police or their insurance company. Don’t fall into this trap. What they may offer might not be what you can legally claim if you follow the proper route. Talk to a bike accident lawyer in this regard.
If you were in a bike accident and if it was your fault, you are likely to be held liable for the role you played in causing the accident. That is why it is important to obey the rules of the road. Don’t break signals. Don’t tailgate. Don’t speed up. Don’t try to overtake anyone. Watch where you’re going and learn to share the road. However, if you end up in an accident and if you are found to be at fault, you may not be able to get compensation for any injuries that you may have sustained. However, there are many factors that can be considered in such a case. Speak to a bike accident lawyer to find out more about this.
How Bike Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Cyclists often complain that they don’t have equal rights and that other drivers don’t know how to share the road with them. There’s no actual proof of this allegation, but the reality is that drivers do tend to be careless when it comes to cyclists. It is the same behavior that is often seen in trucks and cars. Truck drivers tend to think they own the road and cars end up being the “weaker” vehicle per se. The same is true for a bike and a car. Car drivers seem to think that they own the road and that cyclists should either stay away from them or watch where they’re going. This type of attitude can cause accidents. If you were hit by a car, speak to a bike accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Our bike accident lawyers at The Weinstein Firm firmly believe that everyone has equal rights and everyone needs to respect one another when they share the road. Unfortunately, sometimes drivers fail to show this respect, and sometimes cyclists fail to obey the rules of the road. Accidents thus happen, and injuries can occur. We promise to provide you excellent legal representation if you were in a bike accident. Our bike wreck lawyer will ensure that you are able to recover the damages that you incur because of the accident, especially true if you were seriously hurt.
Contact a Bike Accident Lawyer Near Fayetteville Today
Our legal team understands that for accident victims, it’s a long road to recovery. Bike accident victims have to pay huge medical bills, and if injuries are serious, they have to miss work and may also have to go through rehabilitation. While these are the physical aspects of a bike accident, there are also emotional consequences with which bike accident victims and families have to deal. It is our goal to help you deal with this situation and to provide you the necessary support at this time. You need to focus on your recovery, and we need to focus on providing you the justice you deserve. Call our bike accident attorney today, and they will be happy to assist you. Don’t hesitate. Call us now and see how our legal team can help you.
