A bike ride can end suddenly in pain, suffering, and medical expenses, but with an expert Atlanta bicycle accident lawyer on your side, you can get the compensation you deserve. Having recovered more than $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for clients since 1959, our personal injury attorneys will investigate your accident, work with expert witnesses, and fight for justice on your behalf.
The best bicycle accident law firm in the region, Munley Law is regularly honored for our ethics, trial excellence, and relentless pursuit of justice for those who cannot seek it on their own. Lawyers of Distinction named partner Daniel Munley a Lawyer of Distinction. He also won Martindale-Hubbell’s Platinum Client Champion Award. Additionally, all five of our partners have AV Preeminent Ratings in this respected legal directory. When you choose us to fight for compensation for you, you choose a legal team with more than 250 years of combined experience.
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident in Atlanta, Georgia, the last thing you need is the stress of trying to obtain fair compensation. Trust Munley Law with your case so you can focus on recovery. Contact us to schedule a free consultation. We’re available 24/7, and you won’t pay a fee unless we win your case.
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How Do You Determine Liability In an Atlanta Bicycle Accident Case?
More than one person or entity may be responsible for a bike accident in Atlanta. In busy places like the Atlanta Beltline or Ponce City Market, there can be countless factors that may affect liability in your accident. We will bring in accident reconstruction experts, speak to other witnesses, and examine all the details of the incident to determine liability in your case. Depending on the details of your accident, you may find several possible points of liability. Some of the possibilities include:
At-fault Driver
In many accidents, the other driver is responsible for the accident. They may have failed to yield to oncoming traffic, run a red light, or violated any number of Georgia’s traffic laws.
Employer
If you were hit by a company with an employee driving, responsibility may fall on the driver, or the employer may be responsible. An employer may be responsible for your accident if they failed to take basic safety measures to adequately vet or train the employee who caused the accident.
Product Manufacturer
When a component of a vehicle or your bike is faulty, you may find that the manufacturer of that component is considered liable for your injuries. This can happen when you have evidence that they failed to take necessary precautions to ensure quality work or knowingly manufactured and distributed faulty pieces.
County or City Government
If overgrown landscaping, faulty traffic signals, or poorly maintained roads caused your accident, responsibility may land on the local municipality, whether that’s the city of Atlanta, Fulton, or DeKalb Counties.
Why Should I Be Cautious of Atlanta Insurance Companies?
Insurers and agencies often try to shift responsibility onto someone else, leaving you in the middle, trying to figure out how to get your bills covered. Our Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers frequently see carriers lean on drowsy driving myths and misconceptions, or outdated stereotypes about cyclists. Detailed records with clear timelines help counter those claims.
Injuries in bicycle accidents tend to be significant due to the lack of protective infrastructure on a bike. These serious injuries often mean higher medical bills that make the insurance company push back. Don’t let them push you into a settlement amount that is less than you deserve. Hold your ground, stick to the facts, and contact a lawyer at Munley Law for support and your best chance at justice.
“For more than three generations, our family has been fighting for justice. It’s more than a career choice—it’s written into our DNA.”
Robert W. Munley, III
What Injuries Do Cyclists Commonly Sustain In Bicycle Accidents?
A bike gives you freedom, but it doesn’t give you much protection when a car crowds your lane. Even a low-speed impact can throw you from the frame and send you to the ER. Knowing how these injuries happen can help you spot symptoms early and plan follow-up care appropriately. Some of the most common injuries our Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers have seen include:
Broken Bones and Soft Tissue Damage
Cyclists often brace with a hand during a fall, which makes wrist or collarbone fractures common. Ankles and knees take awkward twists, and ligaments can tear when a foot sticks to a pedal during a slide. Swelling can hide a fracture for a day, so an X-ray is worth considering if pain makes weight bearing hard. These injuries often resemble common pedestrian accident injuries because the body absorbs force in similar ways.
Internal Injuries and Hidden Bleeding After a Crash
A direct hit to your ribs or stomach can injure organs without a visible wound. Watch for pain that spreads or a tight feeling in your belly. Lightheaded spells are a warning sign. If any of this shows up, go to a clinic or ER the same day.
Tell the provider exactly how the impact occurred — for example, a car door hit or a fall onto the pavement. Write down when symptoms start and whether rest changes them. Keep discharge papers and imaging orders in one folder. If soreness lingers, ask whether an ultrasound or CT is needed to rule out internal bleeding.
Head and Spinal Injuries From Bicycle Collisions
Head trauma ranges from a mild concussion to a traumatic brain injury, and either one can affect memory or balance. Helmets reduce risk, yet a sharp hit can still cause nausea or light sensitivity later in the day. Spinal harm is also common when a rider lands awkwardly — a bulging disc can press on a nerve and cause shooting pain down an arm or leg.
Establishing Negligence in Your Bicycle Accident Case
The key to any personal injury case is establishing the negligence of the other party. Munley Law’s bicycle accident lawyers in Atlanta do this by providing evidence of negligence in four parts, including:
- Duty of Care: Georgia law recognizes a general duty of care under O.C.G.A. § 51-1-6, which means drivers have an obligation to follow traffic laws to protect themselves and those around them, including pedestrians, other drivers, and cyclists
- Breach of Duty: We must show that the responsible party failed to fulfill their duty of care through violating traffic laws or failing to safely maintain their property in a way that caused the accident.
- Cause: After establishing that the individual violated their duty of care, we must show evidence that the person’s violation directly caused your accident. This connection is key to showing their responsibility.
- Damages: An accident without damages or injury does not make a successful lawsuit. Therefore, you must demonstrate how the accident harmed you. This may be done by providing repair estimates, medical bills, and other evidence of your losses
Contact an Atlanta Bicycle Accident Lawyer
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Bicycle Accident in Atlanta?
You have some time to determine whether you want to file a lawsuit against the responsible party. However, you must make this decision within the provided statute of limitations. These timeframes can vary significantly depending on the responsible party. For example, O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5 requires quick notice to the municipality, setting the statute of limitations to 6 months. However, if you pursue a lawsuit from a private citizen, you may have closer to 2 years to file a claim. Your bicycle accident attorney in Atlanta can help you determine the statute of limitations for your case.
Why Should I Choose Munley Law as My Atlanta Bicycle Accident Lawyer?
If you’re injured and/or your property is damaged in a bicycle accident, you need a law firm that takes you seriously, listens to you, and puts every effort into ensuring you receive fair compensation. Munley Law is that firm.
Partners Marion Munley, Daniel Munley, J. Christopher Munley, and John Mulcahey have certifications in Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy from the National Board of Trial Advocacy. In addition, Marion and Daniel are members of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and all our attorneys are members of the American Association of Justice. Along with these accolades, our lawyers have been honored by Lawdragon, Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers for their expert handling of various cases and their commitment to justice and the highest ethical principles.
Our tireless work on behalf of our clients has resulted in multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. Among these were a $4.3 million jury award for a motorcycle accident victim, a $2.8 million settlement for a pedestrian accident case, and a $1.5 million settlement on a newspaper delivery accident. We will put the same effort into maximizing your compensation and fighting for justice for you.
Common Causes of Atlanta Bicycle Accidents
Riding a bicycle in Atlanta often means sharing narrow lanes with heavy traffic. Gaps in bike lane infrastructure and construction detours can squeeze you next to moving cars operated by people who are not always paying enough attention. When a driver glances at their phone or rushes through a turn, a near miss can quickly become a crash. Helping victims seek justice over almost seven decades has given us various insights into common causes of bicycle accidents in the city, such as:
Interactions Between Cars and Cyclists on Busy Streets
Drivers often misjudge a bike’s speed and cut in too close on busy streets. Right turns across bike lanes or sudden door openings can leave little time for you to react and cause an injury. Though cyclists are expected to take the lane through a tight stretch, cars can get impatient and try to pass without enough space. These are just a few of the ways that vehicles can pose a threat to cyclists in crowded Atlanta streets.
Georgia bicycle laws require a safe passing space and a full stop before turning across a bike’s path. Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-56, cars must leave at least three feet of space when passing a bicycle. Cars must also stop fully before turning across a bike’s path. Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-55, cars must yield to cyclists in bicycle lanes. Officers can issue citations for failure to yield or improper passing. Those records can support your claim. If a report notes a blocked view or a driver who did not signal, that detail helps explain why you had no time to avoid the impact.
Construction Zones and Bike Lane Detours in Atlanta
Work crews often close bike lanes during resurfacing or utility work. Cones can push you into a live lane with fast-moving traffic that does not expect you. Detour signs move, and painted lines can fade in the rain. A driver who expects a clear lane and fails to check their blind spot may drift into your space because of unclear construction boundaries.
Protective Measures Required for Georgia Cyclists
Safety equipment rules in Georgia can affect how a crash is evaluated. The gear you used and the condition of your bike may be included in the report. Knowing what the law requires helps you ride more safely and avoid citations that can complicate a claim. In the Peach State, protective measures required for cyclists range from speed limiters to safety gear:
E-Bike Classes and Safe Operation in Georgia
Georgia recognizes different classes of e-bikes with limits on assist and top speed. Check the class label on the frame because it can affect where you ride and how an officer records the crash.
If you are using an e-bike, do not modify speed limiters. Keep the battery securely in place and charge it using the cord that came with the bike. After a crash, the class label and your setup may appear in the report, so compliance helps avoid confusion about how the bike was being used.
Registration and Compliance in Atlanta
Atlanta does not require citywide registration for personal bikes. However, police still encourage riders to record the make, model, and serial number. A quick photo of the frame and the number can help with proof of ownership. Many riders also enroll their bikes in a free online registry for theft recovery.
Local enforcement focuses on equipment and safe operation. Officers may cite missing lights after dark or failure to stop at a sign. Those entries can show up in your paperwork after a crash. Keeping lights in good order and using reflectors reduces risk and avoids a ticket that adds stress on a hard day.
Helmet Laws and Safety Gear Rules
According to O.C.G.A. § 40-6-296, Georgia requires helmets for riders under 16. A helmet reduces the risk of head injury, even at city speeds where most bike crashes occur. If you have a helmet after a wreck, keep it as evidence. Dents or cracks can help expert witnesses identify what happened.
State law also sets basic equipment standards. Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-296, bicycles must be equipped with:
- A front light at night and a red rear reflector.
- Brakes must work on dry pavement.
- Handlebars must be low enough for the cyclist to grasp the normal steering area without raising their hands above their shoulders.
What Other Georgia Bicycle Laws Should I Know About?
There are several other Georgia bicycle laws you should know about, as these may be used when determining liability. These laws include:
- Generally, bicycles are subject to the same rules of the road as cars are, under C.G.A. § 40-6-290.
- While some exceptions are made for babies and young children, bicycles may not carry more people than they’re designed for, under C.G.A. § 40-6-292.
- Bicycles should stay on the right side of the roadway, under C.G.A. § 40-6-294(b).
- Cyclists may ride on the paved shoulder of the road, under C.G.A. § 40-6-291, although this is not required.
- Bicyclists may not ride bicycles on sidewalks unless permitted by local ordinance, they’re under the age of 13, and they yield to pedestrians, under C.G.A. § 40-6-144.
Our experienced Atlanta bicycle accident lawyer will take all relevant laws, along with your testimony, eyewitness testimonies, and evidence from the scene, into account when determining fault and compensation and building your case.
What Should I Do After a Bicycle Accident in Atlanta?
There are several steps you should take to protect yourself and your rights if you’re involved in an accident while cycling in Atlanta. These include:
- Call Emergency Services: Call 911 or other emergency services, even if you and/or others involved in the accident don’t have visible injuries. It’s essential that you get checked out by medical personnel, as you might have internal injuries. Obtaining a medical report at this time can help link your injuries to the accident, which will come in handy if you decide to file a personal injury claim.
- Report the Accident to the Police: Contact law enforcement and report the accident if someone was injured, killed, or there’s property damage worth at least $500, as under C.G.A § 40-6-273. If you report the accident to the police, stay at the scene until they arrive and ask them for a copy of their report. If the police don’t arrive, go to a police station and report the accident as soon as possible.
- Document the Accident Scene: Take photos and video of your bicycle and the vehicle you collided with, of the road conditions, and of any other features that may have contributed to the accident. Ask all other parties involved in the accident for their names, contact details, and insurance information. Limit your conversation with them and do not admit fault.
- Get Witness Contact Details: Ask any witnesses for their names, contact details, and a brief description of what they saw. Don’t claim responsibility for the accident when speaking to them.
- Speak to an Atlanta Bicycle Accident Lawyer: Contact one of Munley Law’s bicycle accident lawyers and tell them what happened. They will listen to your story, inform you about your rights, offer valuable guidance for dealing with insurance companies, and schedule a case evaluation.
- Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company: Report the accident without admitting fault or volunteering additional information to your insurance company, which should cover your medical expenses and property damage in keeping with your policy limits.
- Keep a Record After the Accident: Document your experience after your accident, including medical treatment, ongoing care, bills, lost work and earnings, and mental health impacts such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Your lawyer can use this information when building your case.
What Types of Compensation Are Available for Bicycle Accident Victims in Atlanta?
A modified comparative negligence rule applies to bicycle accidents in Georgia. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, if you’re found partially responsible for the accident, your compensation may be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you.
For example, if you’re awarded $10,000 in damages and are found to be 10% at fault for the accident, you will only receive $9,000. If you’re found to be at least 50% at fault, you cannot receive any compensation at all. If you’re less than 50% at fault, you can claim compensation such as:
- Medical Bills: Emergency transportation, hospitalization, medication, rehabilitation, and follow-up visits/ongoing care.
- Loss of Income: If your injuries prevent you from returning to work after your accident, you can claim for the wages you lose.
- Pain and Suffering: Emotional distress, such as PTSD and chronic physical pain.
In addition to potentially being impacted by the modified comparative negligence rule, the amount of compensation you receive may also be affected by other factors. These include the amount of property damage you suffered and the longevity and severity of your injuries. Your Atlanta bicycle accident lawyer will demand a settlement from the liable party and begin negotiations as soon as they have all the facts. Rest assured, we will aim to get as much compensation as possible for you.
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Atlanta Bicycle Accident FAQs
You likely have quick questions after a bike crash in Atlanta. The answers below can help you get a more general understanding of what to expect from a bicycle accident case. You may get more detailed answers related to your specific situation by speaking directly with an attorney.
What should I do if a driver flees after hitting me on my bike?
Call 911 and share any plate numbers or details you saw. File a written report and ask for the case number. Your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage may apply when a driver leaves the scene, and our bicycle accident attorneys in Atlanta often point to these benefits.
However, uninsured motorist coverage is not part of Georgia’s required minimums, so you may want to check your policy to see if this is an option for you. Otherwise, you may find yourself paying out of pocket for injuries and repairs.
Can I get compensation if a pothole caused my crash?
If poor road conditions, such as a pothole, caused your accident, you may still be able to recover compensation. In situations like this, determining the responsible party is a key part of your case because lawsuits against government bodies often allow less time than against an individual.
Do I need a lawyer if my bicycle accident injuries are minor?
Small injuries can still interrupt work or sleep. Your car accident lawyer can help organize bills and handle calls from adjusters. Claims can include medical costs and emotional distress damages when symptoms affect your daily routine. This type of claim may benefit from a log or journal entries discussing your symptoms and experiences.
What if I am partially at fault for my accident?
Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, fault can be apportioned among all parties involved. This modified comparative negligence model means that you can still recover compensation for your injuries as long as you are not found to be more than 50% responsible.
However, it also means that your recovery is reduced by the percentage of fault you assume, so working with an attorney to limit the blame you take can go a long way in protecting your compensation.
Are there other resources where I can learn more about my rights as a cyclist?
Atlanta has quite a few advocacy groups that can help you learn more about your rights as a cyclist and provide resources on how to best protect yourself and advocate for more bike-friendly paths and roads. One of the best known is Propel Atlanta, but places like Georgia Bikes can provide additional information on local groups.
Get Help From a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Atlanta Today
With decades of results for injured cyclists, an Atlanta bicycle accident lawyer can help you understand what comes next and keep your claim on track. We are not just an anonymous personal injury law firm; we are driven to provide service that aligns with our core values and commitment to our clients.
When you work with a bicycle accident attorney in Atlanta from Munley Law, you get focused help with calls and deadlines so your care does not get pushed aside. If you are ready to talk, you can contact us today to schedule a quick call and get answers you can use right away.
Robert W. Munley, III
Robert W. Munley, III is a seasoned personal injury attorney and award-winning courtroom advocate. While he regularly handles a range of personal injury cases, his focus is on truck accidents and workers’ compensation cases. Bob has served thousands of accident victims and workers, winning them millions with his bold advocacy.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
1764 Rockland Dr SE
Atlanta, GA 30316
(404) 949-8249
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