Bicycles are often a convenient and cost-effective mode of transportation for individuals living in Georgia. Unfortunately, it only takes a moment for a negligent driver’s actions to turn catastrophic or even deadly for a bicyclist. If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash, a Georgia bicycle accident lawyer from the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm can help.
Attorney Ali Awad has made his mark as one of the youngest attorneys to bring a brand new firm from nothing to 8-figures in three short years! He and his team will lend their experience to your case, helping you focus on the factors that matter most when it comes to earning settlements. We are prepared to help you recover as fully as possible from your bicycle accident and understand the stressors you are experiencing due to the accident. Let us help you take the appropriate steps to ease the situation and fight for your right to compensation for your accident-related losses.
Reach out to our offices by contacting us online or calling (470) 323-8779 to book a free, no-obligation consultation with an injury and accident attorney near you. We will review the details of your case and get started on the steps needed to seek compensation for all of your losses.
Why Accident Victims Need a Georgia Bicycle Accident Attorney
If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, you may not know who to turn to for help. If you pursue a claim through the driver’s liability insurance policy, you could find that the company is more focused on protecting its profits than helping you get the compensation you need to recover. Insurance companies do not want to pay out large settlements or admit fault. They want to keep their costs low and undermine your ability to claim all of your losses.
To recover as fully as possible, it is imperative to work with an injury attorney. The sooner you contact Ali Awad Law after an accident, the stronger your case against the driver will be. If you wait, vital evidence could be lost, and accounts of the incident could change.
If you’re unsure whether to pursue a claim, here are some situations where it’s clearly in the accident victim’s interest to seek legal representation:
- Severe or permanent injury occurred
- Low liability insurance limits
- The insurance company involves its own attorney
- Complex medical or technical issues are involved
- Wrongful death of a loved one
- Being accused of contributing fault to the accident
Even if your situation does not fall into one of those categories, we can still evaluate your claim and help you determine how most effectively to proceed based on your unique circumstances.
How Ali Awad Law Can Help After a Bicycle Accident
There are numerous benefits to seeking help from a lawyer after a bicycle accident. To start, if you contact an attorney within 24 hours of your accident, they can send out professional accident-scene investigators to conduct independent analyses of the crash scene. The information gathered could be imperative in proving fault on behalf of the negligent driver.
If your injuries are significant and you are having trouble reaching the proper medical specialists, your lawyer can help with that as well. You could receive prompt medical attention from specialists who are fully aware of what you will need to do to recover as much as possible.
Bicycle Accidents in Georgia
In Georgia, bicyclists and pedestrians are considered non-motorists. Bicycle accidents are more common in urban areas like Atlanta, Savannah, and Augusta. According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, 21 bicycle accidents in 2019 resulted in fatalities. While non-motorist traffic accidents only accounted for 0.4% of all car accidents, they accounted for 17% of all traffic fatalities.
In regard to cost, motor vehicle bicyclist-related hospitalizations and emergency room charges totaled $17 million for Georgia residents in 2019. If you were injured in a crash and are watching the medical bills roll in, it is important to learn about your legal rights and options as soon as possible.
Common Types of Bicycle Accidents and Injuries
The type of bicycle accident you are in can say a lot about what happened and who is liable for your injuries. Not every kind of accident is clear-cut, though, so your lawyer will perform a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of what happened.
Most bicycle accidents occur when a cyclist is crossing a vehicle’s path. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that nearly 30 percent of bicycle accidents involve bicycles crossing vehicles’ paths. This happens in and out of crosswalks. Even when a bicyclist takes the necessary precautions when riding through or near traffic, a moment of driver inattention can result in a serious collision.
The second-most common bicycle crash type involves the left hook. This is when a vehicle turning left fails to yield to a bicyclist in an oncoming lane. In some instances, the vehicle collides directly with the cyclist. In other cases, drivers cut cyclists off and cause a crash. Left-turn crashes are considered particularly deadly because they often involve vehicles traveling at high speeds.
The right hook is another type of common bicycle accident. This happens when a vehicle traveling in the same direction as a bicycle turns right at an intersection and collides with the bike and its rider in the nearby lane.
Other common causes of bicycle accidents in Georgia include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
- Fatigued or intoxicated driving
- Disobeying traffic signals
In regard to bicycle accident injuries, contusions, lacerations, broken bones, head injuries, and traumatic internal injuries are common. In order to maximize your chance at physical recovery, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately following a collision. Your doctor will conduct a thorough evaluation to properly diagnose your injuries and help you establish a treatment plan moving forward.
No matter the cause of your bicycle accident or the event of your injuries, our attorneys are here to make sure you get the legal guidance you need to make the most informed decisions for your future.
Filing a Claim After a Bicycle Accident
If you are considering filing a personal injury claim after a bicycle accident, get in touch with an attorney. Even in the simplest of cases, it is often advisable to discuss your case with a lawyer so you learn about what you may be entitled to and what laws apply to your claim.
If you choose to move forward with a claim, you will likely file it against the allegedly at-fault driver’s insurance company. To be successful, you need to present a strong case. An aspect of your injury claim involves proving negligence on behalf of the driver who hit you. To present a successful claim, there are four elements you must prove:
- Duty of care — All motor vehicle drivers must share the road responsibly
- Breached duty — The driver failed to abide by their duty
- Causation — The driver’s failed responsibility resulted in your accident
- Injuries — You sustained injuries and losses as a result of the accident
In addition to proving fault, your lawyer will also value your claim based on your losses. While most bicycle accidents resolve through negotiations via a settlement, there is a chance you could need to pursue a lawsuit to receive the compensation you deserve. If that is the case, our attorneys are here to guide you through the lawsuit process and fight on your behalf to achieve a favorable verdict. While proceeding with a lawsuit will extend the time it takes to resolve your legal matters, obtaining all of the compensation you need to recover is often worth it.
Maximize Your Recovery With an Attorney
It is important to consider the total scope of your losses when valuing a bicycle accident claim. The value of your bicycle accident claim is based on your total damages. Damages include both financial losses and compensation for physical pain and emotional distress. There may also be additional damages for intangible losses.
Common types of compensation victims request include the following:
- Emergency room bills
- Ambulance transport costs
- Medical equipment
- Prescriptions
- Follow-up care
- Lost wages
- Property damages
- Emotional distress
- Scarring or permanent disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
While determining the economic damages to your claim is as straightforward as adding up all of your financial losses, non-economic damages are more complex. Valuing your pain and suffering depends upon the activities you are unable to perform, as well as the amount of documentation used to prove how this pain and debilitation affected your day-to-day.
When you work with a Georgia bicycle accident lawyer, you can rest assured that your case will be appropriately valued. They will take the necessary steps to ensure you receive full and fair compensation for your losses.
Contact Our Georgia Bicycle Accident Law Firm
Drivers owe each other, pedestrians, and bicyclists a duty of care behind the wheel. When that duty is breached, and someone is injured, the negligent driver should be held accountable for their actions. A Georgia bicycle accident lawyer from the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is ready to stand up for you if you have been injured.
Accident victims have every right to understand their legal options after a crash. With an experienced Georgia personal injury attorney by your side, you will be on the fast track to receiving the compensation you need to get your life back in order. Remember: the sooner you contact us after an accident, the better your chances are of maximizing your compensation.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our law firm when you are ready by calling (470) 323-8779 or contacting us online. We have a high success rate with our personal injury clients, and we are prepared to take your case on to help you get back to your normal life.
