Using a bicycle for transportation is great for the environment, healthy for the rider, convenient, and fun. Riding bikes in metro Atlanta or congested areas of the state can be quite challenging. Cars and trucks pass dangerously close to bicyclists, and even the most skilled riders can be injured because of careless drivers.
The injuries and outcomes to cyclists are often much more severe than those from a typical Marietta automobile wreck. Marietta bicycle riders being injured due to a car accident often experience broken bones, spinal cord injuries, head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal organ injuries, and severe skin injuries.
Need an attorney for an injury case in Marietta, GA? If you or someone that you know has been injured or killed in a bicycle accident, contact the experienced bike wreck attorneys at Jones & Swanson today to ensure you’re safely and fairly compensated.
Need an attorney for an injury in Marietta, GA? If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in a bicycle accident, contact the experienced bike wreck attorneys at Jones & Swanson today to ensure you’re fully and fairly compensated.
Bicycle Accident Numbers May Surprise You
Each year, about 540,000 bicyclists visit emergency rooms throughout the country because of injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
- 840 bicyclists died on U.S. roads in 2016. These deaths represented 2% of all traffic fatalities that year.
- Each year 45,000 – 50,000 bicyclists are injured in traffic accidents.
- In 2016 alone, Georgia roadways saw 25 deaths as a result of a vehicle and bicycle crashing.
Important Safety Reminders for Bicyclists
The most common causes of bicycle accidents include:
- Vehicles failing to yield at intersections
- Turning directly in front of a cyclist
- Sideswiping a cyclist
- Forcing a cyclist off the road
- Pulling out from a parking space or driveway
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Pulling out without properly looking
- Being intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle.
When bicycle accidents occur, it is often due to the negligence of motor vehicle drivers. However, motorists are not the only ones that can be at fault for bicycle accidents and injuries. Bicyclists have the same amount of responsibility to keep themselves safe as drivers of traditional motor vehicles, which means educating yourself on proper roadway biking safety procedures.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides a few tips to ensure the safety of Atlanta bicycle riders:
- All bicyclists should wear properly fitted helmets every time they ride, no matter how short the ride is. Helmets are the most effective tool to prevent head injury resulting from a Marietta bike crash.
- Bicycle riders should obey traffic signs, signals, and lane markings. Bicyclists are considered vehicle operators and are required to follow the same rules of the road as other drivers.
- Motor vehicle drivers should share the road with bicyclists. Be courteous and allow at least 3 feet clearance when passing a bicycle rider on the road. Also, look for cyclists before opening car doors or pulling out from parking spaces, and yield to them at intersections and as directed by signs and signals. Be especially aware of Marietta bicycle drivers when making turns.
- Georgia bicyclists should increase their visibility by wearing brightly colored clothing, especially at night.
- Bicycles should never be operated by individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol, which creates circumstances where bad decisions are made.
- For more bicycle safety information, visit www.NHTSA.gov/Bicycles.
In 2011, the General Assembly of Georgia passed a new bicycle safety law, House Bill 101. The purpose of the new law was to further define the responsibilities of both motorists and bicycle riders.
The new guidelines include:
- Instructions for motorists to allow a distance of 3 feet between cars and bicycles while following and passing.
- Defining bike lanes and paths define the use of updated bicycle equipment and many other regulations.
- Most importantly, implementing this new law provides law enforcement officers a firm definition of what is considered safe so that fault can now be determined.
Need a Lawyer for a Bicycle Accident Case in Marietta?
The severe, debilitating, and permanent injuries resulting from bicycle accidents result in financial losses to the individuals involved and their families. Georgia law provides injured persons the right to recover their damages from the responsible party.
Areas of compensation for those injured in a bicycle wreck can include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages due to the inability to work
- Loss of earning capacity
- Physical and mental pain and suffering, and physical impairment as a result of the bicycle accident
Our attorneys can also assist the families of catastrophically injured victims in recovering for the wrongful death of their loved one.
The Marietta bicycle accident lawyers at Jones & Swanson are experienced in handling bicycle crash claims. We understand the laws for bicycle accidents and will obtain the compensation that you deserve on a contingency basis, which means there are no attorney fees until a settlement or verdict is obtained.
- What to Do After An Accident
- Property Damage
- Diminished Value
- Medical Payments
- Accidents Involving Pedestrians
- Uninsured Motorist Accidents
Need an attorney for a bicycle accident case in Marietta? There are many unique aspects of bicycle accident cases, so contact the Marietta bicycle wreck lawyers at 770-427-5498 today to discuss your potential claim.
