It is not uncommon for bicycle accident victims to suffer devastating injuries when hit by negligent drivers. Fortunately, victims can recover compensation for their damages in a Macon lawsuit.
Our Macon bicycle accident attorneys can help you navigate the difficult road to recover the compensation you are entitled to. Knowing who to sue for your injuries might not always be obvious. In some cases, multiple drivers could be responsible for your injuries and will be liable for their share of the accident. You can still pursue damages even if you partially contributed to causing the accident.
Our Macon bicycle accident attorneys are dedicated to helping victims recover the compensatory damages they deserve against negligent drivers. Call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a free case review.
What to Do After Being Injured in a Macon, GA Bicycle Accident
There are a number of things you can do after being injured in a Macon bicycle accident that can help your chances of recovering compensation later. First, the police should be called. You can also document the scene while you wait. After you receive medical care, call our Macon bicycle accident attorneys to learn more about how a lawsuit might be the best way to recover damages.
Call 911
After being injured in a bicycle accident, call the police. In fact, Georgia requires accidents to be reported to law enforcement if the accident involves injuries, death, or over $500 in property damage. The police will investigate your accident, after which the police crash report will be made available. Your police report can be an incredibly important piece of evidence that can help locate more evidence and witnesses to use in your case.
If the driver that injured you refuses to provide their insurance information, wait for the police to arrive. They will question the driver and get their information, which can be taken from the police report later.
Document the Scene
If you are able, document as much of the scene as you can. Most of us have phones capable of taking photos and videos, which can significantly impact the outcome of a bicycle accident lawsuit. Be sure to take photos of your damaged bike, damage to the other car, and any injuries you sustained.
Pictures of the scene can also preserve important details like the time of day, the weather, and how the scene of the accident appeared on the day you were injured. If the at-fault driver states something inaccurate in court, your photos can be used to challenge their assertions. Our Macon bicycle accident attorneys can use these photos to paint the most accurate picture of how your injuries came about.
Seek Medical Treatment
No matter how severe your bicycle accident injuries may seem, seek medical care after your accident. It is not uncommon to have injuries that might have gone unnoticed initially but can cause significant pain hours or days later. Your medical records will serve as vital evidence in your case and will be used to evaluate the amount of damages you can claim in your lawsuit. It is important to get medical care as soon as possible since any delays in treatment can be used to argue that your injuries were not that serious.
Call Our Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Once you have received the proper medical treatment, speak with our Macon bicycle accident attorneys to determine the next steps. We can evaluate your case to see if you have a valid claim and come to an accurate estimate of your damages. Our Macon bicycle accident attorneys can also negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf and gather evidence to build your case.
Determining Who You Can Sue for a Bicycle Accident in Macon, GA
While knowing who to sue in some bicycle accident cases are straightforward, it can be difficult to determine who to hold responsible in other cases. In most cases, the driver that hit you will be the sole person liable for your injuries. If they stopped after hitting you and exchanged their information, they can be sued in Macon without much trouble.
Determining liability becomes much more difficult if you were the victim of a hit-and-run driver. If the driver that injured you fled the scene, we can work with law enforcement to help identify them so they can be brought to justice. Keep in mind that any civil lawsuit will usually have to wait for the driver’s criminal proceedings to conclude before the civil case can move forward.
Bicycle accidents involving multiple drivers can also complicate things. For instance, if a driver was speeding and another driver made an illegal lane change, causing the first driver to swerve and hit you, both drivers can be held accountable for their share of the accident. Drivers in these types of cases will usually point the finger at the other driver, but all drivers can be sued to determine the level of liability each has.
How Fault Is Determined in a Macon, GA Bicycle Accident Lawsuit
Some bicycle accident victims question if their actions during the accident could affect the amount of compensation they receive for their injuries. Fortunately, Georgia is a comparative negligence state, meaning that bicycle accident victims can still recover damages if the court finds them partially responsible for causing their injuries. In Georgia, you can recover compensation as long as you are not found 50% or more at fault for causing the accident.
If you are found to have contributed to your accident, your award will be reduced by the percentage you were found to be at fault. For example, if you were awarded $100,000 in your lawsuit but were found 20% responsible, you would still recover the remaining $80,000 minus the $20,000 you are responsible for. Our Macon bicycle accident attorneys can help you fight any accusations you contributed to causing your injuries.
Our Macon, GA Bicycle Accident Attorneys Can Help
If you were recently injured in a bike accident, our Macon bicycle accident attorneys can help you recover the compensation you deserve. For a free case evaluation, contact Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357.
