Accidents Outside of the Bike Lane in Suwanee, GA

While dedicated lanes can offer cyclists an added layer of safety, they are not always available or practical, such as when preparing for a left turn. If you’ve been injured in a collision that happened outside a designated lane, determining fault becomes especially important. An experienced bike accident attorney at Banks, Stubbs & McFarland in Suwanee, GA, can provide the skilled representation you need to protect your rights.

When You Are on Your Bike

When riding on Georgia roads, the law treats a cyclist as the operator of a vehicle. This means you are entitled to use your own lane, and two riders may travel side by side if they wish. While cyclists must follow the same traffic rules as drivers, motorists also have a duty to exercise caution and ensure the road is shared safely.

Motorists’ Responsibilities to Bicyclists

Everyone on the road accepts a solemn duty of care to everyone else on it. This includes being vigilant for bicyclists and taking the necessary precautions to share the road with them safely.

Allowing Cyclists a Full Lane

When you ride your bike on a road in Georgia, the law affords you a full lane. Bike accidents are often the result of motorists who fail to follow this rule of the road.

Bicyclists are far more vulnerable to defects and debris on the road and don’t have the protective shell of a car to protect them from the immense impact of traffic collisions. This makes giving bicyclists like you your own lane that much more critical.

Passing Cyclists

When motorists pass cyclists, they are required to pass them in a separate lane to the left whenever possible. When this isn’t a possibility, drivers are required to reduce their speed to at least 10 miles per hour below the speed limit or to 25 miles per hour before passing with caution. While cyclists pass, motorists must remain at least three feet from them.

Moving Through Intersections

Cyclists are at the most significant risk in intersections. Motorists who fail to pay careful attention as they move through intersections often cause bike accidents.

Proving Fault

The matter of proving fault in your bike accident claim will hinge on the evidence. Your knowledgeable bike accident lawyer will leave no stone unturned in their focused effort to gather evidence that speaks directly to the motorist’s negligence, including:

  • Physical evidence left on the road
  • The testimony of eyewitnesses and the photos and videos they capture
  • Footage from dashcams, security cameras, and traffic cameras in the vicinity
  • The police report and any tickets the attending officer issued
  • Your own account of how the accident happened
  • Accident reconstruction models and the testimony of professionals with expertise in accident mechanics

Trust an Experienced Bike Accident Lawyer to Help

The experienced bike accident attorneys at Banks, Stubbs & McFarland in Suwanee, GA, skillfully guide challenging accident claims toward favorable resolutions that enhance our clients’ ability to recover fully. We’re here for you, too, so please don’t wait to contact us online or call us at 770-887-1209 today.