If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle crash caused by a negligent driver, you deserve justice and fair compensation. At Van Sant Law, our Atlanta personal injury lawyers are committed to protecting the rights of injured cyclists throughout Georgia.
We understand how serious bike accidents can be and know how much injuries can impact your life. We fight tirelessly to hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions and pursue the compensation you need to move forward. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and get started on your case with a dedicated bicycle accident lawyer in Atlanta.
Compensation from a Bicycle Accident Claim
If you’ve been injured by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. In Georgia, accident victims can seek both economic and non-economic damages, which may include:
- Medical Expenses: These damages can cover your current and future hospital bills, rehabilitation, and therapy costs.
- Lost Wages: This form of compensation includes income lost while you recover and reduced earning potential if you can’t return to work in the future.
- Pain and Suffering: You may also receive compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life caused by the accident and your injuries.
- Property Damage: This can cover the cost of repairs or replacement of your bike and gear.
- Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme negligence, such as DUI or reckless driving, the court may award additional damages to punish the at-fault driver.
How Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Atlanta Will Help You in the First 72 Hours and Beyond
When you hire the Atlanta bicycle accident attorneys at Van Sant Law, we move fast. Within 72 hours of signing on with us, our team initiates a comprehensive preservation process designed to protect your case from day one. Here’s what the process includes:
- Bike Preservation: First, we ensure your damaged bicycle is documented and preserved as evidence before it’s repaired or discarded.
- Scene Documentation: Our investigators work quickly to photograph and catalog the crash scene, road conditions that were present when the accident occurred, damaged signage, and any contributing hazards while the evidence is still fresh.
- Medical Records: We send records requests to every treating provider you see after the accident so your injuries and medical costs are properly documented.
- Insurance Hold Letters: We put the at-fault driver’s insurer and your own carrier on notice ASAP after a crash.
Once we take these steps, we’ll use all available evidence to build your claim. Our Atlanta bicycle accident attorneys will negotiate with insurers and, if necessary, take your case to trial to get the compensation you deserve.
We will also handle the complicated legal and financial issues that make bicycle accident claims challenging, including:
- UM coverage for cyclists: Many cyclists don’t realize they may be covered under their own auto policy’s uninsured motorist coverage even though they weren’t driving a car. We identify every available source of coverage to maximize your recovery.
- Medical liens: If you don’t have health insurance, we can connect you with medical providers who will treat your injuries on a lien basis. That means they wait for payment until your case resolves, so you can get the care you need now without having to worry about any out-of-pocket costs.
- Subrogation: When your health insurer pays your medical bills, they may demand reimbursement from your settlement. We handle subrogation claims to protect your recovery from being eaten up by your own insurance company, allowing you to keep as much compensation as possible for your accident-related costs.
- Bad-faith insurance claims: When an insurer unreasonably delays or denies a valid claim, Georgia law allows you to pursue a bad faith action. We hold insurance companies accountable when they don’t play fair after a serious accident that deserves compensation.
Common Causes of Bike Accidents
Even when cyclists follow every rule, negligent drivers can cause catastrophic crashes. We know how to investigate your crash, find out who and what caused it, and file a strong claim based on solid evidence. Our Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers have seen numerous collisions caused by:
- Distracted driving: This can involve texting, using a phone, or adjusting in-car devices while operating a vehicle.
- Failure to yield: Many accidents occur when drivers fail to yield at intersections or while turning.
- Dooring accidents: A parked driver opening their car door without checking for cyclists can cause a sudden and severe impact.
- Speeding: Excessive speed reduces a driver’s reaction time and increases the severity of injuries when collisions occur.
- Unsafe lane changes: Drivers who merge or change lanes without checking blind spots may sideswipe or cut off a cyclist.
- Driving under the influence: Alcohol or drug impairment often leads to reckless driving and poor judgment.
Identifying the cause of your crash is one of the most important steps of the claims process. Van Sant Law thoroughly investigates every case, reviewing police reports, gathering witness statements, and working with accident reconstruction experts to determine fault and file a compelling claim for damages.
Common Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries
Because cyclists have little protection compared to drivers, injuries from a bicycle crash can be catastrophic. Even with a helmet and safety gear, the impact from a vehicle can result in catastrophic harm such as:
- Head and Brain Injuries: This includes concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that can lead to cognitive and emotional challenges. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury like this, our Atlanta brain injury lawyers are here to help.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Spinal damage can cause paralysis or long-term mobility issues.
- Broken Bones and Fractures: If you’ve suffered fractures in the arms, legs, or ribs from impact or being thrown from the bike, our team can pursue compensation for you.
- Road Rash: This includes severe abrasions that can lead to scarring and infection.
- Internal Injuries: Internal injuries refer to serious damage to internal organs from blunt-force trauma.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: We can seek compensation for sprains, strains, and ligament damage that may not appear immediately after a bike accident but cause chronic pain.
Our team understands the medical, emotional, and financial challenges these injuries bring. Our Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers will coordinate with your medical providers and expert witnesses to document the full extent of your injuries and losses.
Filing a Bicycle Accident Claim in Fulton County
If your bicycle accident occurred in Fulton County, your personal injury claim will typically be filed in Fulton County State Court. This court handles civil cases involving claims for monetary damages. To get started on your claim, you’ll need to file a complaint with the Clerk of State Court, pay a filing fee, and ensure proper service of process on the defendant.
Our Atlanta bicycle accident attorney has handled countless cases like yours and has an in-depth understanding of the local court system. We’ll draw on our unique knowledge and skill sets to guide you through this process and get the best outcome possible.
Understanding Georgia Bicycle Laws
Learning about Georgia’s bicycle laws will ensure that you stay safe on the road and help you understand the claims process if you’ve been hurt in a collision. Our Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers have a deep understanding of Georgia’s bicycle laws. We’ll use this knowledge to guide you through your case and get the best results possible.
Familiarizing yourself with the following laws can help you protect yourself and your claim:
- Road position: According to O.C.G.A. § 40-6-294, cyclists must ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, except when turning left, avoiding hazards, when the lane is too narrow to share safely, or when traveling at the same speed as traffic.
- Bike lanes and passing: Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-56, Drivers must yield to bicyclists in designated bike lanes and maintain a safe distance of no less than three feet when passing a cyclist. A violation of this “Three Feet Law” is strong evidence of negligence in a personal injury case.
- Passing law: Georgia’s “Three Feet Law” requires motorists to leave at least three feet of space when overtaking a cyclist.
- Helmets: Riders under the age of 16 are required to wear helmets, though helmets are recommended for cyclists of all ages.
- Night riding: Bicycles ridden at night must have a white front light visible from 300 feet and a red rear reflector visible from 200 feet.
- Right of way: O.C.G.A. § 40-6-56 states that motorists are required to yield to cyclists when their paths cross, particularly at intersections and in bike lanes.
- Statute of limitations: Injured cyclists have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. Missing this deadline, which is outlined in O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, could mean losing your right to compensation entirely.
- Uninsured motorist coverage: Under O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11, every auto liability policy issued in Georgia must include uninsured motorist (UM) coverage unless the insured rejects it in writing. If the driver who hit you was uninsured or underinsured, or fled the scene, your own UM coverage may provide compensation.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Atlanta
If you’ve been hurt in a bike accident, call 911 immediately. If you’re injured, request transport to Grady Memorial Hospital or Piedmont Atlanta, which are both trauma centers equipped to handle serious cycling injuries.
When APD responds, make sure a formal crash report is filed. For non-injury crashes where officers don’t respond to the scene, you’ll need to complete a Georgia SR-13 form yourself to document the accident. Either way, you should photograph the accident scene, write down the driver’s insurance information, and ask witnesses for their contact details.
Even if you feel fine after an accident, you should still see a doctor, as some injuries, like concussions, may take time to show symptoms. Once you’ve taken care of your health and documented the incident as best you can, reach out to our bicycle accident law firm in Atlanta to get experienced help with your personal injury claim.
Dangerous Areas for Cyclists in Atlanta
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and City of Atlanta crash data identify Peachtree Street, the Atlanta BeltLine crossings, and Piedmont Avenue as high-bicycle-crash corridors in the metro area.
These stretches see a dangerous mix of heavy vehicle traffic, limited cycling infrastructure, and frequent right-of-way violations by drivers. If you were injured riding on one of these corridors, the documented crash history may help strengthen your claim.
Our bicycle accident attorneys in Atlanta will gather evidence from the accident scene and use all available records and data to make your claim as successful as possible. Schedule a free consultation with us today to learn more about how we can help you.
Why Choose Us?
At Van Sant Law, our Atlanta bicycle injury attorneys have substantial experience in assisting individuals through similar claims as they fight for compensation in a personal injury case. As you search for a lawyer to handle your case, it is important to remain highly selective to ensure the success of your case.
Our bicycle injury lawyers have a significant amount of experience that can be put to use for your benefit. Our firm’s skills and recognition can be put to use for your benefit. Our firm’s founder has a 10.0 “Superb” Avvo rating. He has also obtained the Avvo Client’s Choice Award for reviews from past clients.
If you are looking for an attorney with the credentials that can be put to use for your benefit, look no further than Van Sant Law. When you hire us, you also benefit from the following:
- Before founding Van Sant Law, David Van Sant represented major insurers and some of the largest motor carriers in the world, so he knows the tactics they use to minimize your claim.
- Our team is available 24/7.
- We offer services in Spanish.
- We offer home and hospital visits for clients recovering from serious injuries.
- You won’t pay us anything unless we win, because our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis.
- We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in case results for injury victims in Georgia and know how to recover maximum compensation for you.
- Our attorneys bring decades of combined experience to every case.
Cyclists have every right to be on Atlanta’s roads, and when a negligent driver takes that away, we make sure there are real consequences. We don’t just file a claim; we comb through crash data, secure valuable evidence, and go after every source of recovery available.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Atlanta
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a bike crash, you’re probably worried about being able to cover your medical bills and are unsure about what happens next. Our team can map out your claim, answer your questions, and fight for the justice and compensation you need to move forward with your life after an accident.
Contact Van Sant Law to schedule a free consultation and get started on your case. We’ll meet with you to discuss your options and explain how our bicycle accident lawyer in Atlanta will help. We look forward to meeting with you soon.
We never settle a case unless the client is happy with the result; that is the Van Sant Law client satisfaction guarantee.
