Macon Bicycle Accident Lawyer

The Road Features in Macon That Make Cycling Especially Hazardous

Bicycles are an increasingly common sight on streets and roads across Macon, whether they are being used for exercise, commuting or taking in the scenery. Hitting the road on a bike can be liberating, but it also comes with some significant risks.

Bicycle accidents tend to cause more severe injuries, especially when they involve cars and other motor vehicles. Although cyclists who are wearing helmets are much more likely to survive these crashes, they have little other physical protection from oncoming traffic. They also have little time to dodge cars and other vehicles that fail to properly share the road.

Unfortunately, roads and streets across Macon were not designed with people on bicycles in mind. Drivers often have little experience sharing space with bikes, particularly in heavy traffic. They may underestimate how much space cyclists need or overlook them altogether.

The Macon bicycle accident lawyers at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm help cyclists who have been injured in collisions. Our attorneys understand the pain and stress that can come with being involved in an accident, both for the person injured and his or her family. We are experienced attorneys who have dedicated our careers to getting our clients the full compensation available under the law.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, you are not alone. Our Macon bicycle accident lawyers are just a phone call away. Call us today at 478-845-6464 to speak with an attorney about your rights and options.

Why Bicycle Accidents Happen

Bicycle crashes often seem random. One moment you are cruising down the street and the next you are picking yourself up off the ground or waking up in a hospital room.

The truth is that many of these crashes are all too predictable. They follow patterns dictated by driver behavior, road design and visibility issues and result from split-second decisions. Despite what anyone says, these crashes routinely have little or nothing to do with careless cycling. Instead, they are the result of drivers failing to spot, predict or properly respond to cyclists on the road.

Driver inattention is an acute hazard for anyone on a bicycle. Drivers often claim they “did not see” cyclists in the moments before collisions, even when the rider is clearly visible. The truth is that drivers are used to scanning for other cars, not bikes. Bicycles are easier to overlook than vehicles because they are smaller and may hug shoulder lanes.

More than half (56%) of all fatal bicycle accidents nationwide happen when visibility is low, during dawn, dusk or overnight, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The highest proportion of deadly crashes happen between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Common Bicycle Crashes

These are some of the most common bike crashes that our Macon bicycle accident lawyers see:

Left-Turn Accidents

These are among the most severe bicycle crashes. Bicycles often move faster than drivers expect. Motorists may assume they have time to turn, only to strike the cyclist head-on or from the side.

These accidents routinely occur while cyclists are riding straight through intersections and vehicles turn left across the bike’s lane of travel.

The majority of fatal bicycle crashes across the country and in Georgia happen in intersections. Left-turn accidents are particularly dangerous because the cyclist has little time or space to avoid impact.

Right-Hook Collisions

A right-hook crash happens when a bicycle and vehicle are traveling in the same direction. The vehicle passes the bicycle and then immediately turns right, into the cyclist’s path.

These collisions often happen near intersections or driveways. Cyclists typically are injured when their bikes collide with vehicles or in trying to avoid a crash.

Drivers are often to blame in right-hook crashes. They may fail to check mirrors, underestimate how quickly cyclists approach or wrongly assume that cyclists will stop or yield.

Dooring Crashes

A dooring accident occurs when a parked driver or passenger opens a vehicle door into a cyclist’s path. These collisions commonly happen in urban areas with street parking and bike lanes adjacent to parked cars.

Dooring accidents often cause serious injuries because cyclists have nearly no time to react. Cyclists may make matters worse by swerving into moving traffic to avoid doors or may be thrown into traffic after making contact with doors.

Unsafe Passing Accidents

Many bicycle crashes happen when drivers attempt to pass without leaving enough space for cyclists. Even if a vehicle does not actually collide with a bike, passing mistakes can force cyclists off the road and into curbs or other obstacles.

Passing too closely at high speed and squeezing between cyclists and oncoming traffic are some of the most frequent mistakes. Crashes can also happen when drivers safely pass bikes, but then cut back too soon.

Rear-End Collisions

These accidents typically are caused by distracted drivers who plow into bicycles ahead of them. Drivers who are not paying adequate attention may not spot cyclists or brake when bike traffic slows or stops ahead.

Understanding how a crash happened is crucial for getting compensation for your injuries. Our attorneys have significant experience using all of the available evidence to develop a clear and compelling picture of what caused an accident and identify those who are to blame.

Road Features That Create Hazardous Conditions for Cycling

Sometimes bicycle accidents happen because of hazardous road conditions. Even when cyclists and drivers are paying attention and acting safely, construction and design flaws can lead to catastrophic consequences.

Roadways in Macon and across Georgia are designed primarily with cars in mind. Cyclists and pedestrians, sadly, tend to be an afterthought. Roadways are designed in ways that increase conflict between bicycles and vehicles, reduce reaction time for cyclists and eliminate their escape options. This is a recipe for disaster that can turn small mistakes into devastating accidents.

Some of the most common road construction and design flaws that we see include:

• Bike lanes: Non-existent, disappearing and inconsistent bike lanes cause chaos for everyone on the road. Many bike lanes end suddenly without warning, narrow at intersections or merge directly into traffic lanes.
• Intersections: Intersections are among the most dangerous places for cyclists, and road design often makes them worse. Wide, multi-lane crossings increase exposure time for people on bicycles. Turn lanes that allow high-speed turns or cut across bike paths increase the risks.
• Narrow lanes and shoulder space: Many roads simply do not provide enough space for vehicles and bicycles to safely coexist. Narrow lanes force drivers to pass cyclists too closely or drift into bike space unintentionally. They also limit escape routes for bicycle riders.
• Poor surface conditions: Hazards like potholes, cracked and uneven pavement and sunken utility covers are all too common across Macon. They are especially dangerous when vehicles are traveling at safe speeds and during low-visibility hours.
• Door zones: Roads with street parking create a unique hazard for cyclists, especially when there are no bike lanes or lanes run closely next to parking spots.

The fact is that bicycle accidents are entirely predictable – and preventable – on poorly designed and constructed roadways. Crashes are often not simply a matter of “bad luck,” but the result of poor choices by government agencies and contractors responsible for creating and maintaining streets and roads.

Proving Fault in Bicycle Accidents

People who are injured in bicycle accidents in Georgia have the right to seek compensation from those responsible for the crashes. This includes money for doctors bills, missed wages and property damage.

To get compensation, a person injured in a collision has to be able to identify those who are to blame and establish their legal liability.

Negligent drivers are often at fault in bicycle accidents. Drivers in Georgia have a “duty of care,” which requires them to operate their vehicles in a manner that is reasonably safe under the circumstances. When a driver does not live up to this duty of care, he or she is likely to be considered negligent and liable for any crashes that happen as a result.

Government agencies and other entities may also be on the hook when they create hazards that contribute to crashes. Cases against these entities often have tighter deadlines to file claims and require more evidence, including expert testimony, to prove liability.

When Cyclist Error Contributes to a Crash

Cyclists may also be to blame for causing certain crashes or making their injuries worse.

Bicycle riders are required to obey traffic signs and comply with other rules of the road, just like drivers. Blowing through stop signs and traffic lights or hopping on a bicycle while impaired are good ways to end up with serious injuries.

Although adults are not required by law to wear helmets while riding bicycles, there are plenty of reasons to do so. About two-thirds (62%) of cyclists killed in collisions every year are not wearing helmets, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

So, what happens when a cyclist is at least partly responsible for his or her injuries in a crash? It depends.

Georgia operates under a modified comparative liability standard in accident cases. Cyclists and others who are injured in accidents can seek compensation for the injuries, so long as they are less than 50% at fault. Their awards will be reduced, however, based on the proportionate fault.

Merritt & Merritt Law Firm Helps People Get Back on Their Feet

At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, our Macon bicycle accident lawyers are dedicated to helping people and families who have been injured through no fault of their own. We fight diligently to protect and defend our clients rights.

Our goal is to help you move on with your life after an accident by getting the full compensation available under the law. Call our team at 478-845-6464 for a free, no-risk consultation.