Georgia Bicycle Accidents at Intersections – Determining Who is At Fault

Georgia makes for a beautiful place to ride your bike, as both the weather and scenery are very attractive during the warmer months. Bicycles have always been a great mode of transportation, and continue to be an outdoor activity that families can enjoy together. Bicycles can be extremely safe when used on designated trails and sidewalks. However, when bicycles and motorists are sharing the roadways, there is always a chance that accidents will occur. Further, given the fact that bicyclists have much less protection than a person driving a car, injuries associated with any bicycle accident have the potential to be severe and even fatal, at times.

Many Bicycle Accidents Occur at Intersections

Learning to share the road can be difficult when there are not always designated lanes for cyclists, but even with bicycle lanes, intersections are still a common location for bicycle accidents to take place. Any motorist or cyclist on the road must follow the same Georgia traffic laws, and this includes stopping at red lights, and stopping at stop signs, among others. Many people are not aware that both cyclists and motorists must follow the same laws, and this can contribute to some bicycle accidents. Additionally, bicycles are less visible than larger vehicles, which may be another contributing factor sometimes leading to serious bicycle accidents.

It isn't always easy to determine who is at fault for causing a bicycle accident. Such accidents occur for a variety of reasons including, but certainly not limited to, the following:

• Failure of a vehicle and/or bicycle to stop at a red light or at a stop sign;
• Failure of a vehicle and/or bicycle to have proper lights or visible reflectors;
• Failure of a vehicle and/or bicycle to signal when turning left or right;
• Failure of a speeding vehicle to come to a complete stop, causing a collision; and
• Riding a bicycle against traffic in violation of Georgia law.

In each of the situations above, fault can be attributed to either the vehicle or the bicycle, or both. For example, bicycle accidents can occur in cases where a cyclist ignores a red light, and in such a case, the cyclist may be found liable for any injuries suffered by others. On the other hand, bicycle accidents can occur in cases where a vehicle fails to stop at a stop sign, striking a cyclist who has the right of way. The driver would likely be found liable for any injuries suffered by the cyclist. Overall, the only way to determine what party is truly at fault for causing a bicycle accident is to discuss the matter with an experienced personal injury attorney right away.

Put Our Law Firm's Over 39 Years of Legal Experience to Work For Your Case!

Our experienced and knowledgeable personal injury accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates have been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast for over thirty years, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.

No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.