Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Columbus

The two-year deadline to bring a Georgia bicycle claim

For a crash that happens on the Georgia side, you have two years from the date of the collision to file a lawsuit under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. A bicycle case is often won or lost long before then, because the physical evidence is fragile. Paint transfer on the vehicle, the position of the bike, and marks on the road are cleared quickly, and drivers who struck a cyclist tend to minimize what happened. We investigate immediately to lock down the proof.

Georgia's fifty percent rule and the blame drivers shift to cyclists

For a crash in Georgia, O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33 bars recovery if you are fifty percent or more at fault and reduces it by your share below that line. Drivers almost always claim the cyclist swerved, ran a light, or came out of nowhere, trying to push the cyclist over that line. We use the physical evidence and any available video to show the driver was the one who failed to share the road safely, and the most seriously injured cyclists are treated at Piedmont Columbus Regional, the region's Level II trauma center.

A cyclist's right to the road, and the driver's duty to share it

Under Georgia law, a cyclist has the right to use the road, and drivers are required to give riders room when passing. Many crashes happen when a driver passes too closely, turns right across a rider's path, or opens a door into the bike lane. We investigate how the crash happened, including whether the driver gave the legally required space, to establish the driver's liability rather than let the blame fall on the rider.

Georgia's bicycle helmet law

In Georgia, only cyclists under sixteen are required by law to wear a helmet. Adult riders are not, and a driver's insurer cannot use an adult's choice not to wear one to defeat the claim. If an adjuster tries to blame your injuries on the absence of a helmet, we keep the focus on the driver who caused the crash.

Serving injured cyclists across the Chattahoochee Valley

Our Columbus team represents injured cyclists across Muscogee, Harris, Chattahoochee, Russell, Lee, Troup, Marion, and Talbot counties. We handle claims for riders hurt in Phenix City, Fort Moore, Smiths Station, Midland, Cataula, LaGrange, Auburn, Opelika, Valley, Buena Vista, Ellerslie, Waverly Hall, Pine Mountain, West Point, and Hamilton.

Reports, treatment, and filing your case

A bicycle crash inside the city is investigated by the Columbus Police Department, which prepares the official report, while one on a highway is handled by the Georgia State Patrol. We help you obtain your report and your records from Piedmont Columbus Regional, and for a Georgia crash we file in Muscogee County State Court, with high-value claims heard in Muscogee County Superior Court.

Contact a Columbus bicycle accident attorney

If a careless driver left you injured on your bike, you deserve dedicated legal help. Call (706) 608-5231 for a free, confidential case review. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Speak with a Columbus bicycle accident attorney

Common questions

A driver passed too close and clipped me. Is that against the law in Georgia?

Yes. Georgia law requires drivers to give cyclists a safe passing distance, and a driver who fails to do so and strikes a rider has breached that duty. We use the point of contact, the damage, and any witnesses or video to show the driver did not give you the room the law requires.

I was hit by a car door opening as I rode past parked cars. Who is responsible?

The person who opened the door into your path is generally responsible, because they have a duty to check for traffic, including cyclists, before opening a door. We identify the vehicle and the person who opened the door and pursue the claim against them.

Can I recover for damage to my bike and gear along with my injuries?

Yes. The full replacement cost of your bicycle, along with a damaged helmet, cycling computer, and other gear destroyed in the crash, is part of your claim alongside your medical care and other losses.