Valdosta Pedestrian & Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Serving Crash Victims Throughout the State of Georgia

Have you or someone you care about been hit by a car while walking or riding a bike? Pedestrians and bicyclists have the right to take action against negligent or careless drivers that cause collisions and to recover compensation for their injuries, lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.

The experienced injury attorneys at the Studstill Firm, LLP represent victims of pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents to ensure they receive justice and the full compensation provided for by the laws of Georgia. 

To achieve that goal, we work tirelessly, drawing from nearly four decades of settlement negotiation and trial experience.

Our firm has successfully recovered millions in relief for our injury clients. Contact our proven team at (229) 515-8900 today to start exploring your options.

Georgia Laws Regarding Right of Way

Pedestrian and cycling accidents are significantly different than car accidents in terms of how the law applies. Pedestrian and bicycle injuries and fatalities are often caused by the carelessness of the driver. 

When these accidents happen, particularly if alcohol or drugs are involved, it is crucial to have an experienced Valdosta bicycle accident lawyer on your side.

The speed of the vehicle that struck the person or child is a crucial piece of information in all car wreck cases, but it becomes even more important in a car vs. pedestrian or car vs. bicycle case. 

The only way to determine the actual speed of the striking car is by downloading the “black box” of the car. 

This is similar to the black box commonly talked about when an airplane crashes. It contains information about the car in the seconds leading up to the crash impact itself.

If it is proven that the driver was speeding at the time of impact or immediately before it, the chances of a successful claim against the driver increase tremendously. 

Knowing how to get this important information is a prime example of why an experienced pedestrian crash lawyer can make a huge difference in your case.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Georgia law states that vehicle drivers must always yield the right of way to pedestrians. Therefore, when a driver hits a pedestrian, there is a very good chance that negligence is involved.

These collisions can be caused by a number of factors, including:

• Drivers distracted by texting or cell phones
• Speeding, driving at an unsafe speed, or failure to provide adequate stopping distance
• Failing to stop at a crosswalk
• Failure to yield
• Reckless driving
• Negligence by a crossing guard, policeman, or construction worker

A report published in 2008 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated the following trends in pedestrian crash fatalities:

• Most pedestrian fatalities occurred at non-intersections and in cities.
• Males are more likely to be hit than females.
• The deadliest days of the year are January 1 (New Year’s Day) and October 31 (Halloween).
• The deadliest day of the week for pedestrians is Saturday followed by Friday.
• The months with the highest number of pedestrian fatalities are October, November, and December.
• 46% of all pedestrian crash fatalities involve alcohol, on either the part of the driver or the pedestrian.

Bicycle Accidents in GA

In theory, cyclists have the same rights to use the road as motor vehicles. In reality, however, many drivers fail to recognize the rights of bike riders. They tend to misjudge the speed at which cyclists are traveling, or become frustrated by bikers on the road and make dangerous driving decisions. Other times, it’s simply a matter of lack of attention.

Unfortunately, many bicycle vs. car collisions involve children. Because of their young age and inability to watch out for themselves, Georgia has a law that when children are present or known to be present in an area, drivers have a higher duty to watch out for them.

 If a driver disregards this duty to be on high alert when they know or should have known a child might be playing or riding a bike in the area, they are in violation of Georgia law.

But collisions with a car are not the only form of serious bicycle accidents. Injuries may also be caused by defective bicycle parts (e.g. brakes), or protective gear, such as helmets. In some instances, bike accidents are the result of negligence by another biker, such as those that occur on mountain bike trails or during road races.

Or perhaps a city or county municipality is at fault for not repairing a defect in the roadway or sidewalk, or for failing to warn of a damaged or defective roadway or sidewalk.

Contact Experienced Attorneys for Your Case

If you or your child has been involved in a serious bicycle or pedestrian accident, or perhaps even a fatal crash, contact the experienced injury attorneys at the Studstill Firm, LLP today. 

We have handled many cases involving bicycles, pedestrians, and children and we know how to perform a full investigation to ensure that all those responsible are held accountable.

We have 3 offices in Middle and South Georgia, and represent clients across the state of Georgia. We are also available to meet with individuals and families at home or in the hospital.

We're ready to offer you a free, no-obligation case evaluation during this difficult time. Contact us by calling (229) 515-8900 today.