Injured While Biking? Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers Offer a Free Consultation
Experienced Bicycle Accident Lawyers
If you were injured in a bicycle crash, you should contact bicycle accident lawyers who understand what you are going through and are motivated to help.
A collision between a bike and a motor vehicle often ends in catastrophic injuries that can be life-threatening or fatal injuries. These types of accidents usually have a devastating impact on bicyclists, who lack the structural protection provided by automobiles. Bike riders often need extensive medical treatment, resulting in substantial medical bills.
Often, motorists are not paying attention or are distracted by things such as their cell phones or other passengers. These negligent drivers are not aware of the cyclists and bicycle riders around them. It only takes 20 to 30 mph of impact to create a devastating crash resulting in a rider suffering severe injuries.
If you are the victim of a bicycle accident involving a vehicle in Georgia or South Carolina, contact The Brown Firm right away.
Our bike accident lawyers have offices in Savannah, Atlanta, Athens and Okatie to serve you.
The Brown Firm is a wonderful firm! They came to my case in the middle and had to untangle a mess. They did so with great dedication and skill. They are thorough, decisive, and very knowledgeable. I was grateful to have them in my corner. Thanks to them, we won. Even after our case was finished they made certain I understood what my future options were, and how to navigate things going forward. They are a lifesaver.
Common Bike Accident Claims We Handle
Bike accidents can involve motor vehicles, other bikes, or hazards due to roadway neglect. No matter the cause, a personal injury attorney at The Brown Firm is ready to represent you.
We handle a range of case types, including:
- Hit by a motor vehicle on a bike while in a bike lane
- Bicycles and road rage
- Dog chase/bite bicycle accident
- Hit and run bicycle crashes
- Defective roadways (potholes, etc.)
- Wrongful death
- Drunk drivers
Cyclists need a competent lawyer who understands the dangers of cycling and is well-versed in bicycle law. The Brown Firm will work tirelessly to settle your personal injury lawsuit through settlement negotiations, arbitration or mediation, and aggressive trial advocacy.
Contact our top bicycle accident lawyers to hold the at-fault driver accountable. We are passionate and committed to protecting injured cyclists’ rights and obtaining the compensation needed to recover fully from your bicycle accident injury.
Ready to Talk to a Lawyer Who Has Your Back?
Common Injuries Suffered From a Bike Accident
As the popularity of bicycling to navigate congested cities and busy business grows, so does the number of bike wrecks.
Every year, thousands of bicyclists suffer injuries such as broken bones, bone fractures, concussions, punctured wounds, road rash, total or partial paralysis, spinal cord injuries, eye damage, lost or broken teeth, severe brain damage, internal injuries, and death.
To increase bike safety, many cities have implemented more bicycle paths off major roadways and more bicycle lanes on the roadways. Although they reduce the risk of automobile wrecks, they present other risks. These paths are not always well designed, maintained, or supervised, creating hazards and possibly severe accidents. Common wrecks prone on bike paths include bicycle/pedestrian accidents, bicycle/bicycle accidents, and falls due to path conditions.
While various injuries are possible in a motor vehicle accident involving a cyclist, the most severe is a head injury. Brain injuries are the leading cause of death in bicycle accidents and can leave survivors with permanent disabilities. The complexities and severity of traumatic brain injuries make it imperative that cyclists obtain legal representation to help them recover financial compensation in a bicycle accident case.
The Brown Firm will use all necessary resources to prove and demonstrate to the jury the implications of the injury. For example, we’ve used the expert testimony of neurophysiology physicians to demonstrate the personal and financial challenges our clients endured due to the seriousness of their injury.
How We Can Help Your Bike Accident Case
It’s common for a bike rider to be hit by someone making a turn illegally or without looking, getting struck by a side mirror, backed into, or even grazed by a car door opening in their pathway. Accident victims who have suffered a bicycle injury have a lot on their plate, starting with recovering emotionally and physically.
At The Brown Firm, we will handle all administrative and legal complications of your case so you can focus on reclaiming your life and health. The Brown Firm’s experienced personal injury lawyers will manage all legal case procedures against the at-fault party, including:
- Pursuing a property damage claim and evaluating the proper value of your damaged bike
- Filing a personal injury claim
- Sorting out insurance payments and medical bills
- Reversing improper traffic citations from police officers confused by the rules of the road for bicycles
- Negotiations in achieving a favorable settlement
- Appellate advocacy if a judgment is appealed
- Recovering deserved damages
- Handling all communications with insurance companies and medical providers
From the time an injured bicyclist retains us, our bike accident attorney begins a thorough investigation into the circumstances that may have caused or contributed to the accident.
The Brown Firm has a team of specialists and experts experienced in retrieving evidence and securing witness statements from the scene. They build a strong case to seek the highest settlement possible and a favorable outcome for your bicycle accident lawsuit.
Bicycle Traffic Laws That Determine Liability
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 600 cyclists perish each year and over 52,000 are hurt in accidents with motor vehicle drivers.
Bicyclists are expected to obey all traffic laws. That said, drivers of cars, trucks, and SUVs are obligated to follow specific guidelines and undertake certain safety precautions outlined to protect bike riders due to their increased level of vulnerability on roadways.
A few statewide precautions constructed to protect bicyclists include:
- Drivers of motorized passenger vehicles must yield to cyclists in bike lanes.
- Drivers of motorized passenger vehicles must yield to bicyclists on a sidewalk.
- Prohibitions on reckless vehicular assault of bicyclists.
- Drivers must stay to the left of a bicyclist when they pass at a safe distance, and only come back to their original lane a safe distance away.
What Cyclists Can Do to Prevent Biking Accidents
As an avid cyclist, you should use protective gear, including:
- Helmet
- Shoulder and knee pads
- Bright colored clothing
- Reflective clothing
- Fitted clothing that won’t get caught on the bike or anything you pass
Equip your bike with safety tools:
- Headlights
- Bells
- Reflectors
- Horns
Always bike defensively and be aware of your surroundings. Be cautious of distracted drivers and try to make yourself known or slow down if they can’t see you.
Most importantly, never ride against traffic; this is a hazardous bike riding practice that should always be averted. Year after year, bike riders are injured and killed because they choose to ride down the wrong side of the road.
Helpful Tips After a Bike Accident Injury
Your bicycle accident attorney will likely ask about documentation at your case evaluation.
As with all personal injury cases, the more information you can provide, the better:
- Always carry a cell phone to take pictures of the accident scene, get license plate numbers, and contact the authorities.
- Try to obtain any witness statements and record their contact information.
- Have a copy of your insurance information, emergency contact, and personal information.
- Call the authorities and make an accident report. A police report provides documentation of the accident and proof of the witnesses.
- Photograph your bike, the vehicle involved, and the state your bike was in after the accident. Don’t move it until the police arrive on the scene and inspect it.
- DO NOT negotiate with the drivers.
- DO NOT make any statements, written or recorded, without consulting an attorney.
As a means of helping to avoid accident-related injuries, it is essential to wear the proper protective gear while cycling, including helmets, shoulder pads, and knee pads.
Also, properly equip your bike with safety paraphernalia such as headlights, bells, reflectors, and horns.
How Our Personal Injury Attorneys Handle Your Property Damage Claim
Always contact an experienced bicycle accident lawyer before speaking to an insurance company.
Be very cautious if you interact with an adjuster, agent, or anyone from the insurance company. Remember, they are not your ally, and they have been thoroughly trained to pay out as little as possible on injury claims. They do not want you to receive maximum compensation.
It’s customary for insurance companies to record all of their calls, and your statements to them can certainly be used against you. Any innocuous statements you make to them may harm your case later on.
By law, cyclists have rights and are entitled to compensation for the cost of repairs or even replacement of their damaged bicycle.
If your bike wreck was significant enough to total your bike, you are entitled to be compensated for your bike’s replacement value. Don’t let insurance companies trick you into settling for a depreciated value of your bike.
There is no standard procedure for determining bike values—before you have any repairs done to your damaged bike, schedule an adjuster from the insurance company to inspect it themselves.
In most circumstances, the insurance company will send an adjuster to inspect the bike and try to value it as low as possible. Remember that the adjuster will probably have no clue about bike values as they are used to looking at vehicles after a car accident. They will take plenty of pictures, so be prepared to point out the damage, the expensive parts, what they sell for, etc. It can only help your claim.
If you or a loved one were injured in a bike-related accident, you might need immediate assistance obtaining medical care and dealing with insurance company hassles and legal issues.
The dedicated personal injury lawyers at The Brown Firm can help you recover damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitative therapy
- Loss of income
- Disability or disfigurement compensation
- A decline in earning potential due to a permanent injury/disability
- Pain and suffering awards
- Payments for other physical and mental injuries
The Brown Firm has over 30 years of personal injury litigation experience and the skill and knowledge to provide influential and respected legal representation throughout your bike accident case.
Our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, so our clients don’t pay our law firm a dime until a settlement or lawsuit judgment is reached. This is just one of the many ways we put our client’s needs first, ease their distress, and prioritize the attorney-client relationship.
Contact our top bike accident injury attorneys today to get the compensation and justice you deserve.
If you or a loved one have severe injuries because of a negligent driver, our skilled personal injury lawyers will be at your side every step of the way.
Fill out our simple online contact form or give our office a call at (800) 529-1441.
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Contact The Brown Firm
Get the Answers and Compensation You Deserve
You’ll notice the difference when you contact The Brown Firm! Our local dedicated attorneys want to help you recover and rebuild.
Schedule your free consultation by calling (800) 529-1441 or completing our simple online form.