Fulton County Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Traffic in Atlanta is notoriously difficult, and can often drive people to find alternate methods of commuting. Depending on availability and the length of the commute, traffic may render cycling to work or for after work activities the best option.
It does not matter whether you are a serious or casual cyclist, being injured during a collision with a motor vehicle while riding your bicycle throughout the streets of Atlanta can be deadly.
Drivers are obligated to share the road with bicycles and when they opt not to follow the law while sharing public streets and it leads to injury, cyclists have legal options. If you were injured because of a motorist’s negligence while sharing the road, contact a Fulton County bicycle accident lawyer before attempting to deal with an insurance company. A skilled personal injury attorney can work towards a positive outcome for you.
Cyclist Laws
Everyone that is using a public street, road, or highway in Fulton County is obligated to follow traffic laws; however, cyclists should make additional effort to obey traffic laws because they are primarily designed to protect, and the risk of serious injury or death to a cyclist following a collision is higher.
Other important laws pertaining to cyclists in Georgia include:
- Bicycles are vehicles in Georgia, so cyclists have many of the same obligations and rights as motorist on public roads
- Bicyclists that are under the age of 16 are required to wear helmets that meet federal safety standards
- Cyclists are required to use bike lanes when they are available; when bike lanes are not available, cyclists must use the street. Cyclists are prohibited from using the sidewalk once they are at least 21
- Bicyclists must stay as close to the right side of the road as possible, but they can migrate to another part of the road when road conditions necessitate such use, such as when there are large pieces of tire tread blocking the right side of the road
- In the front of all bicycles, bikers must have a white front light; all bicycles also must have a red rear light that is visible from at least 300 feet away
Violating traffic laws increases the risk of bicycle accidents.
Comparative Negligence
Georgia follows a comparative negligence standard in personal injury cases, which includes bicycle accident cases. Under a comparative negligence standard, injured victims have the right to recover for injuries they sustained as a result of negligence caused by another person as long as the victim is not found to be 50% or more responsible.
Using this standard, injured victims are not prohibited from recovering if they were a partial cause for the accident that resulted in their injuries. A cyclist’s partial fault in causing their injury may include not complying with the legal requirement to maintain a light on the front of rear of the bicycle, which led to a motorist injuring them while cycled at night.
When an injured victim has some fault in the accident or incident that led to injuries, the damage award is reduced by the percentage of fault that is attributable to them. If the parties reach a settlement agreement outside of court, however, the injured victim’s fault will likely factor into the final agreement, but there is no legal requirement that the final settlement be reduced further to accommodate fault. A Fulton County bicycle accident lawyer can further explain comparative negligence and the role it can play in an individual’s case.
How a Fulton County Bicycle Accident Attorney Can Help
If you or a loved one were involved in any type of bicycle accident and you sustained injuries through the negligence of someone else, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering.
Please make sure to contact a Fulton County bicycle accident lawyer right away who can help you navigate through the personal injury legal system to try and get you the compensation you deserve.
