Cobb County Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Cobb County contains miles of bike trails and can be a beautiful place to ride. When bicycles share the road with cars and trucks, however, they face the threat of severe bodily injury in a collision with larger, heavier vehicles.

A Cobb County bicycle accident lawyer may be able to help you obtain compensation if you have suffered injuries in a cycling crash. When an accident is caused by the negligence or wrongdoing of a motorist, that driver could be financially liable. At a consultation, a skilled personal injury lawyer could evaluate the circumstances of your case and explain your options for recovery.

Recoverable Damages After a Bicycle accident

Just as there may be more than one cause for a bicycle accident, there may be more than one effect resulting from it. The injured bicyclist may be entitled to recover damages to make up for pain and suffering, emotional distress, inconvenience, and other consequences of an accident. Although it can be challenging to assign a value to these effects, an experienced Cobb County bicycle accident lawyer could use knowledge of prior case law to devise an appropriate amount.

In addition, the injured bicyclist may be eligible to receive compensation for economic losses such as medical bills and reduced income due to time missed from work. An accomplished attorney may help recover damages to cover future expenses as well.

Contributory Negligence May Play a Role

Most bicycle accidents can be traced to more than one cause. If the conduct of the bicyclist contributed toward causation of the accident, then the state’s contributory negligence statute may limit the amount recovered.

The Statute

Official Code of Georgia Annotated §51-12-33 specifies that if the person filing a claim against another for personal injuries and the person bringing the claim is “to some degree responsible for the injury or damages claimed,” then the court must determine the percentage of fault of the person bringing the suit and reduce the amount of damages in proportion to the amount of fault.

How it Works

For example, if a truck hits a bicyclist after passing another vehicle, the court may find that the driver of the truck is 95 percent responsible for failing to watch for the bicycle and the bicyclist is 5 percent at fault for not riding closer to the shoulder of the road. In that case, the plaintiff’s awarded damages would be reduced by 5 percent. The contributing negligence of the person injured will not completely prevent recovery of damages unless the injured person bears 50 percent or more of the responsibility.

Contact a Dedicated Cobb County Bicycle Accident Attorney

If you are considering filing a personal injury case, consider reaching out to a lawyer. Regardless of whether a case reaches a settlement or proceeds to trial, it is necessary to obtain evidence to demonstrate that the negligence or wrongdoing of another caused the accident. The best time to collect evidence is shortly after the collision, so it is wise to begin working with a Cobb County bicycle accident lawyer promptly after an accident.

A dedicated accident attorney could also represent your interests when dealing with insurance companies and other attorneys, saving you the hassle of negotiation and helping avoid errors or oversights. In a free consultation, a bicycle accident lawyer could explain your options and the advantages an experienced legal advocate could provide in your situation. To get started, call now.