You could get financial recovery to help pay for expenses related to your Clarke County bicycle collision. Georgia law allows you to file an insurance claim or sue the at-fault motorist if they hit you while you were riding your bike.
At Kaine Law, our Athens personal injury lawyers can help gather evidence and prove your case. You deserve to receive compensation if a motorist caused you physical, emotional, and financial harm. Let our team review your case and explain your next steps during a complimentary consultation today.
How Much Is My Bicycle Collision Case Worth?
You should know there is no such thing as an average bicycle accident settlement. Every crash is different, and we have to evaluate each case based on its unique facts to determine fault and the value of the victim’s losses.
When an accident occurs, the potential payout for the victim depends on many factors, including:
- The diagnosis and necessary medical care
- The circumstances that led to the collision
- How much time the victim missed away from work and other activities
- If they have a long-term or permanent disability
- Their quality of life going forward
- The insurance coverage of the driver
Damages in Georgia do not have a cap. We will prove the value of your accident-related damages. We have to do the following, though:
- Establish that there is enough insurance coverage
- Get a financial award from the other party
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accident lawyer serving Athens, call 404-214-2001
Identifying and Documenting Your Recoverable Damages
If our attorneys manage your case, we will gather the documentation necessary to show the harm you suffered because of the liable party’s negligence. Some examples of the losses and costs that may support recovery include:
Medical Care
Typically, the victim can recover the reasonable cost of the medical treatment needed for his wounds. For example, we could include the following in your claim:
- The ambulance
- Emergency room
- X-rays
- Doctors
- Hospital
- Surgery
- Physical therapy
- Pain management care can get included in this category
Future Medical Needs and Support for Long-Term Injuries
You might need additional medical procedures down the road, like skin grafts or other surgical procedures. Also, a bicyclist can suffer catastrophic harm when struck by a motor vehicle and need long-term care services as a result.
Missed Work and Related Income
If the accident, medical treatments, and recuperation time caused you to miss some or all of your regular income, we could include this financial loss in your claim. Lost wages, salary, self-employment, and other forms of regular income can qualify.
Diminished Ability to Work
After a severe injury from a bike crash, you might not be able to work the long hours that you did before getting hurt. Also, residual impairments could diminish your ability to perform certain tasks required for your job. Reducing your hours or taking a lower-paying position could be factors in your settlement.
Property Damages
This category includes property that got damaged or destroyed in the collision, including your bicycle, helmet, safety equipment, and items you transported on your bike.
Scarring, Disfigurement, and Disability
Extensive scars can cause a person to suffer a disfigurement, which is an intangible loss that can be worthy of compensation. Inability to perform activities because of your injuries can lead to loss of enjoyment of life.
Pain and Suffering Damages
This category addresses the physical discomfort and emotional distress you suffered from the crash and your injuries. These do not come with receipts or bills that provide their value in terms of dollars. However, we know how to calculate these money damages.
These are a few examples of the different kinds of money damages you could recover in your bicycle accident case. The types and amount of compensation you could pursue will depend on the unique facts of your situation.
Athens Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 404-214-2001
How Our Kaine Law Lawyers Help Bicycle Accident Victims in Athens
At Kaine Law, our attorney Evan Kaine has decades of experience seeking and securing payouts for our clients hurt by another person’s carelessness or recklessness. Our previous clients report feeling less stressed and more confident about the outcome of their case once we were on board. You can learn more by reviewing our client testimonials.
You can count on our team to:
- Investigate what happened
- Obtain records and documents crucial to your case
- Manage case communication with the insurer
- Reconstruct the accident, if needed
- File your insurance claim and negotiate for a fair agreement
- Sue the at-fault party, as necessary
- Represent you at trial and throughout the legal process
Our team never asks for money upfront from clients. Instead, we get paid a portion of the recovery we get for them, whether a settlement or a verdict.
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Areas We Serve in Georgia
In addition to Athens, we represent clients in:
- Atlanta
- Conyers
- Lawrenceville
- Stockbridge
- Other areas of Georgia
If we can prove the motorist who hit you caused your crash, we could hold them responsible and recover money for you. You may also qualify for a financial recovery—even if you contributed to the crash per O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33. This statute lets you seek damages as long as you were less than 50 percent liable. However, any fault assigned to you will reduce your compensation.
For example, let’s say you have damages of $100,000, and the court found you were 20 percent at fault. Your negligence of 20 percent will reduce your recovery by 20 percent; in other words, by $20,000. You could collect $80,000 for your damages after reducing your fault.
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How Can I Prove the Driver Who Hit Me Was Negligent and Caused the Crash?
You could recover compensation if you were partially at fault for your injuries. However, this can make it more difficult to recover the money you need to pay your bills. The best option is to have strong evidence proving the other driver acted negligently. This can mitigate any accusations against you.
We will need to gather and present proof of the four elements of negligence to show fault and liability. Under Georgia law, these elements include:
- Duty of care: The driver had an obligation to take specific actions to keep others safe, usually following traffic laws.
- Breach of duty: The motorist failed to do what they had an obligation to do. Failing to measure up to a legal standard of care is negligence.
- Causation: The driver’s carelessness or recklessness caused the crash.
- Damages: You suffered financial losses and physical and emotional harm.
For example, imagine a driver turning right did not first look to see you in the bike lane continuing straight. We will need to prove that the driver had to look for anyone in the bike lane, failed to do so, collided with you as a result, and you suffered losses. When we can prove all four factors of liability, we can pursue the at-fault party for compensation for your losses.
Timeline for Suing the Driver Who Hit You
A two-year time limit applies in most car accidents, bicycle accidents, and personal injury cases in Georgia. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, you may not be able to begin a lawsuit after this deadline. The law could forever bar you from seeking compensation from the at-fault party if you do not file a lawsuit before the deadline on a case that has not been settled.
If the liable party was a federal or state worker, university employee, or municipal worker who was on the job, you might have less time to act. Kaine Law may be able to help based on the specifics of your case. We provide consultations for free. You do not even have to leave your home. We will come to you.
Speak with an Athens Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
At Kaine Law, we offer free case consultations to victims of Athens bicycle accidents. Our lawyers can help you better understand your legal options, answer your questions, and determine the best path forward for you.
You do not have to tackle a multi-billion-dollar insurance corporation on your own. We can fight your legal battles for you. Our clients can rest and focus on getting better because they know we are taking care of their legal matters. Call (404) 214-2001 to talk to a team member about your accident and injuries for free today. There is no obligation.
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