Atlanta Bicycle Accident Attorney

Even if Atlanta is a great biking city, accidents and injuries still happen.

Bicycle injuries can approach nearly 500,000 in a single year in the United States. Across the nation, more than 800 bicyclists died in bicycle accidents in just one recent year. The vast majority of bicycle fatalities occur in urban areas like Atlanta. In a recent year, there were 30 bicycle fatalities in Georgia, making up 2% of the vehicle accident fatalities for that year. Atlanta alone saw 40 bicycle accidents.

When a car collides with a bicycle, the car is the clear winner. The rigid exterior of the vehicle, its airbags, and its other safety features protect car passengers.

Bicyclists do not have the same protection. (In fact, only bicyclists under the age of 16 are required to wear a helmet in Georgia.)

Bicyclists are likely to suffer a broad spectrum of injuries if they find themselves in an accident with a vehicle. Common injuries include:

• Head injuries: When cyclists are not wearing a helmet, concussions, lacerations, skull fractures, and other head injuries are common in a bike accident. Given the lack of protection, cyclists are likely to come into contact with the road.
• Brain damage: One of the most common and serious injuries resulting from a bike accident is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). If your head strikes another object, like pavement or an oncoming vehicle, it can cause irreversible brain damage, including becoming comatose, entering a vegetative state, or suffering from brain death.
• Spinal injuries: The spinal cord allows the brain to communicate with the body. That’s not something you want to see injured! Damage to the spinal cord causes a wide range of symptoms, from changes in the victim’s strength or sensations to the ability to perform necessary bodily functions. Victims of a spinal cord injury often experience numbness or even paralysis.
• Neck and back injuries: The trunk of the body is often twisted or contorted in a bike accident, is hit by a vehicle, or is slammed against the ground. This can result in back and neck injuries that can plague victims’ lives for years. Extensive and ongoing physical therapy is often required.
• Internal damage: The outside of the body isn’t the only thing to take a beating in a bicycle accident. An impact on the body often causes damage to internal organs, including the heart and lungs. These injuries may go unnoticed but can have deadly consequences.
• Broken bones and fractures: Broken bones and fractures are all too common after an accident. A severe break often requires surgery or long-term rehabilitation.
• Road rash: Bicyclists aren’t always wearing protective equipment. If they fall off their bike and make contact with the road, their skin will scrape against the pavement. This causes a painful injury known as road rash. The severity of the road rash will depend on the force and speed with which you hit the road.
• Dental injuries: Even if the cyclist is wearing a helmet, their face and mouth are still susceptible to damage. If your face strikes pavement or another hard surface, your teeth could chip or crack, or you could experience damage to your jaw or other facial bones.
• Cuts and bruises: While not as dramatic as a TBI or spinal injury, cuts and bruises can still impact a victim’s life. A cut can require stitches and limit mobility, or a bruised tailbone can keep the injured biker off the road for quite a while.

One thing is certain: no matter the extent of your injuries, you deserve compensation. Make sure you take all the necessary steps to attend to your health and maximize your case for recovery.

Once you’ve addressed your own safety, keep the following tips in mind:

• File a police report. A police report is an important piece of evidence. It will include photos of the accident scene, witness information and accounts, and citations issued for traffic violations. Even if you get a police report, make sure to take your own photos and collect witness information.
• Stay organized. While paperwork can seem tedious, it is very important for your case. Paperwork like medical bills, insurance communications, and other documents are vital pieces of evidence when building your case. Consult your lawyer before throwing away any document.
• Watch your words. Be cautious of what you say about the accident. The defendant can take an innocent statement out of context and use it against you. Imagine how the defendant could take a statement like, “Well, I was feeling a bit unstable on my bike today.” It is especially important to be cautious about what you post on social media. Even if your accounts are private, the defendant could demand the production of certain records during discovery.
• Don’t delay. Atlanta’s statute of limitations states that you must pursue a bicycle accident injury lawsuit within two years of the accident. This might seem like a lot of time, but keep in mind that your attorney might need a lot of time to research and prepare your case. So act quickly! If more than two years have passed since your bicycle accident, we can discuss whether any exceptions apply to your case.

One of the most important things you can do to ensure successful recovery for your injuries is to work with an experienced Atlanta bicycle accident attorney that you trust.