Bike Accidents – What you should know

Bike Accidents – What you should know

Bike accidents can be very destructive, especially when cars and other vehicles are involved. While riding your bike is a very healthy alternative to driving, it can be very dangerous if bikers do not know safety expectations. Nearly 700 cyclists were killed and 48,000 were injured in 2011 according to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration.

Here are a few things bicyclist should know:

As a cyclist, you must maintain and know the rules of the road. Georgia law states that a bike is a “vehicle” and general traffic rules still apply to cyclists as they do drivers. The majority of bike accidents happen at intersections. Typically parties fail to observe the right away or the driver does not see the cyclist. Make sure you know the rules of the road, especially for cyclists, before you ride.

If you are injured in an accident, negligence will have to be determined. It is important to realize that many people could be at fault for an accident: the driver, cyclist, or the city for failure to maintain road. There can even be a combination of negligence from different parties. In Georgia, you can only recover damages if you are less than 50% responsible for the accident. A court will determine the percentage of fault between parties. Damages are then awarded and reduced based on the percentage of fault.

Know what your insurance covers. If a vehicle hits you and the driver is uninsured it is important to have under-insured or uninsured motorist coverage. Even if it costs you more, it is worth considering if you ride your bicycle frequently.

Be sure to talk to an attorney after you have been injured. An attorney can help you protect your rights and can get you the help you need.