Atlanta Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Economic Damages Related to Your Atlanta Bicycle Accident

Damages are typically broken down into two categories. The first and most easily recognizable are economic damages. These are the medical bills that are piling up. They also encompass the hours of lost income while you recovered from your injuries at home. Other examples include:

• Future healthcare, such as additional surgeries, medications, and in-home nursing
• Rehabilitation, occupational therapy, and psychological counseling
• Home and vehicle modifications if your injuries affect your mobility
• Reduced earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your old job or career
• Repair or replacement of damaged or destroyed property

Non-Economic Damages Related to Your Atlanta Bicycle Accident

The second category is non-economic damages. These are less obvious, but they represent the effect the injuries have had on your quality of life. The most common example is pain and suffering, but they can also include:

• Emotional distress, such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSA), sleeping disorders, and depression
• Loss of enjoyment of life if you can no longer participate in activities and hobbies
• Loss of consortium or companionship for the effect on your relationships
• Disfigurement and disability

There is a third category known as punitive damages, but these damages are only awarded in rare circumstances. As the name implies, the courts issue them to punish the defendants if their actions were particularly egregious. They are also used to serve as a warning to others.

Wrongful Death Damages for the Grieving Families

Families who have lost a loved one in a bicycle accident, we are truly sorry for your loss. Please accept our condolences. Our wrongful death attorneys know what you are dealing with and want to help. You deserve the time to be together and reflect on the passing of your loved one. We, in turn, can take care of your wrongful death claim and pursue such damages as:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical bills prior to their passing
• Their pain and suffering
• Loss of income and support they provided to the family
• Loss of guidance and consortium for the children and spouse they leave behind

No two bicycle accidents are exactly alike, so there are no two settlement values that are exactly alike. Your settlement value will depend on the types of damages in your case, as well as the severity of your injuries and the time needed to heal from them.

Our Atlanta bicycle accident attorney can review your case and determine which damages you may claim and a fair settlement value for your losses. Call the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown today for a free case review. Attorney Dwayne L. Brown has over 30 years of experience managing personal injury cases like yours.

Our Job Is Proving Negligence in Your Atlanta Bike Accident

Your job is to heal, to follow your doctor’s orders, and be with your family. Our job is to build a solid personal injury claim so that you can return to your life as it was before the accident.

To do that, our Georgia bicycle accident lawyers must prove negligence. Proving the other party was negligent requires meeting four elements. Those four elements include:

• Duty of care: This element is the relationship between you, the bike rider, and the other party, ensuring each other’s safety.
• Breach of duty: This element is the moment when the other party deviated from their responsibility to maintain your safety.
• Causation: This element is the accident that occurred and the injuries you suffered.
• Damages:  This element is the financial, physical, and mental hardships you now face.

Typical Causes of Injuries in Bicycle Accidents

In bicycle accidents, the motor vehicle driver has an obligation, or duty of care, to follow traffic laws. Bicyclists have a right to be on the road just as much as the car driver, but the car driver bears a greater degree of responsibility because hitting a bicyclist can result in severe injuries.

Common causes of bicycle accidents include:

• Dooring, or opening a car door before checking for a bicyclist
• Turning into the path of an oncoming bicyclist
• Failing to yield at an intersection
• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence
• Speeding
• Failing to check for bicyclists when changing lanes
• Ignoring posted signs and signals

Negligence Requires Evidence

Any claim for compensation must be supported by evidence. When we build your case, our bicycle accident lawyers in Atlanta, GA, will investigate your accident and gather evidence. This evidence helps us prove the cause and who was at fault. We also use this evidence to determine your damages and their value.

The types of evidence we may gather in your case could include:

• Medical records
• Police reports
• Payment records
• Photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and damaged property
• Video footage from traffic cams, dashcams, and business surveillance
• Witness statements

We have also found that expert testimony can greatly strengthen a claim. We may speak with:

• Financial advisors can explain how your injuries will affect your ability to work and earn income.
• Medical professionals can explain the nature of your injuries and your prognosis.
• Mechanics and technicians can explain any design or manufacturing flaws that contributed to your accident.
• Accident reconstruction specialists can take evidence from the accident scene and damaged property to demonstrate how the accident occurred.