Average Bike Accident Settlement Amounts in Georgia

When you’re involved in a bicycle accident in Georgia, understanding what factors may impact your settlement amount is an important step to gathering evidence, finding a quality attorney, and submitting your claim. Several factors can impact or increase the potential settlement for a bicyclist hit by a car, truck, rideshare, or other type of vehicle. Bicyclists who use public roads, and are required to use public roads, are vulnerable to numerous types of accidents because they are on a small conveyance, wearing minimal protection, and moving around vehicles that are much larger than themselves.

You may be wondering what the average amount is for a cyclist hit by car settlement in Georgia. The answer isn’t so simple, and all cases are unique and can vary greatly. According to the bicycle accident settlement examples listed on this page, the typical Georgia bicycle accident lawsuit is anywhere from $50,000 to $301,000. A settlement is unique to each case and can be impacted by insurance coverage, fault, and many more factors.

 

Recent Cyclist Hit By Car Compensation Examples in Georgia by Kalka Law

Here are some examples of bike accident settlement amounts in Georgia:

Georgia Bike Accident Settlement Amount – $301,000 – Bike Rider Hit by Another Cyclist and Suffers Severe Neck and Head Injury

Our client was on one of his lengthy Sunday rides along Riverside Road, near his home in Alpharetta, Georgia. Our client chose Riverside Road because of its natural beauty and because it had lanes devoted to bicyclists on both sides of the road. Our client was riding his bicycle in accordance with the rules of the road, traveling east in the eastbound lane, on the right-hand side of the road (i.e. with the flow of automobile traffic). See O.C.G.A. §40-6-294 (a) “Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, except when turning left or avoiding hazards to safe cycling.”

Riverside Road curves to the right shortly after its intersection with Old Alabama. Our client went around this curve, he saw a bicycle, which the at fault rider was riding, traveling west in the eastbound lane (i.e. riding on the left-hand side of the road, against the flow of automobile traffic). Due to the curve and foliage on the trees which line Riverside Road, our client did not and could not have seen the other rider until impact. Our client collided with the other rider head on. Our client was taken to the hospital by ambulance. They were referred to a neurologist who performed neck surgery. The Neurologist performed an anterior cervical discectomy and then fused the C5 through C7 vertebrae together using bone morphogenetic protein, an interbody cage device and anterior cervical plate stabilization mechanism.

Our client hired our attorneys and was able to receive the maximum settlement available.

Georgia Bike Accident Settlement Amount – $100,000 – Negligent Driver Fails to Yield Making an Unprotected Left and Crashes into Oncoming Bicyclist

Attorney Anthony Kalka recovered $100,000 for his client who suffered life-altering injuries after a negligent driver crashed his Chevy Tahoe into Mr. Kalka’s client while trying to make an unprotected left-hand turn. The client was rushed to the emergency room where he required stitches and surgery for a fractured knee. As a result of the accident, the client suffered a loss in quality of life as he was no longer able to perform activities like bicycling, exercising and walking without support. Mr. Kalka used video and audio evidence to prove his client was in no way at fault for the incident, which awarded Mr. Kalka’s client a personal injury settlement that covered the cost of his medical bills, surgery and pain, and suffering.

Georgia Bike Accident Settlement Amount – $100,000 – Negligent Driver Runs Bicyclist Off Road in Marietta, Georgia

Our client was run off the road by a driver while bicycling in their designated lane in Marietta. They suffered a broken wrist that required surgery to repair, as well as multiple broken ribs. The initial low offer from the at-fault driver’s insurance company was just $25,000. We were able to investigate and negotiate a 4x settlement of $100,000 for our client.

Negligent Bicyclist Runs Other Bicyclist Off Silver Comet Trail in Marietta, Georgia

In 2021 A client was run off of the Silver Comet Trail and suffered a broken wrist. Their initial settlement offer was a mere $5,000. We were able to negotiate a much better settlement of $50,000 to compensate them for medical bills, pain & suffering and time away from work.

In 2022, another client was run off the Silver Comet Trail by another bicyclist riding recklessly. They suffered a broken sternum and required surgery. The insurance company for the other rider initially offered only a $10,000 settlement. After our investigation and compiling the costs for our client to undergo surgery and miss work, as well as other costs due to the accident, we were able to negotiate a $250,000 settlement.

 

What are Some Factors That Affect Bicyclist Hit By Car Accident Settlements in Georgia?

After an accident occurs, filing a claim, repairing your bike, and having your medical bills, loss of work, and other expenses covered become the main focus for any cyclist victim. While no case is typical, the factors that impact the settlement when someone is hit by a car while on a bike can be categorized into three main groups:

Severity of injuries:

• • Nature and extent of physical injuries: More severe and permanent injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and limb loss, will generally result in higher settlements. This is because such injuries often require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing care, leading to significant financial burdens for the victim.
  • Psychological and emotional impact: Emotional distress, anxiety, and depression stemming from the accident can also be considered in settlement negotiations.
  • Future medical needs: If the victim requires ongoing medical treatment or therapy due to their injuries, this will be factored into the settlement amount.

Liability and fault:

• • Degree of driver fault: If the driver was clearly at fault for the accident, this strengthens the bicyclist’s case and can lead to a higher settlement.
  • Shared fault: If both parties share some degree of fault, the settlement amount may be reduced accordingly. Georgia is a modified comparative negligence state – so a settlement could be reduced by the percentage of fault that may be assigned to the cyclist.
  • Availability of insurance: The available insurance coverage for both the driver and the bicyclist can significantly impact the settlement amount. Most bicyclists don’t carry accident insurance, but their liability/homeowners insurance may come into play if they are determined to be significantly at fault for the accident.

Legal representation:

• • Experience and expertise of the attorney: A skilled personal injury attorney can effectively argue the case, present evidence, and negotiate a favorable settleme