Available 24/7Cycling is growing in popularity throughout South Carolina, both as a means of exercise and transportation. People are turning to their bicycles to travel shorter distances. However, drivers and safety planners lag behind in their lack of regard for the well-being of bicyclists on the road. The result is that the increase in the number of bicyclists has led to an even larger spike in the amount of serious accidents in Aiken.
Attorney for Bicycle Accidents in Aiken, SC
You may be eligible for substantial compensation if you have been injured in a bicycle accident. First, you should turn to an experienced Aiken bicycle accident lawyer at The Law Office of Taylor S. Braithwaite.
Taylor is an avid cyclist and triathlete, and after hundreds of miles on the road and too many personal experiences, he knows how incredibly unfair and devastating a bicycle strike by a careless motorist can be.
Bicycle Accidents in Aiken County
According to the University of South Carolina, the Palmetto State ranks as the third most deadly state in the country for cyclists based on fatality statistics. In 2019, the bicycle fatality rate was nearly double the national average. One report that studied the period between 2009-2017 found that there were 107 bicycle accidents in Aiken County.
In 2020, there were 15 bicycle accidents in Aiken County. In 13 of the accidents, the cyclist was believed to have suffered an injury. In 2019, there were three bicyclists killed in accidents with cars in the first half of the year alone.
Avid cyclists will tell you that Aiken and its surrounding communities have lagged behind in bicyclist safety infrastructure. Counties and municipalities across the Central Savannah River Area need to do better in terms of safety measures like bike lanes.
South Carolina Bicycle Laws
Bicyclists have the same duties and privileges of a motor vehicle when on a public roadway. They must obey traffic signs and laws, as other motorists would. They must ride as far to the right as practical. South Carolina does not require bicyclists to wear helmets.
In turn, drivers have an obligation to do the following:
- Use reasonable care to avoid colliding with a cyclist
- Keep a safe distance from the bicyclist
- When drivers pass a bicyclist, they must allow for three feet of space
If a driver has caused an accident because they were violating a law, it could be strong evidence of their negligence.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Motorists do not always know how to share the road with a cyclist. There are inadequate safety campaigns to teach drivers what they need to know about bicyclist safety. Even when a driver knows the law, it does not necessarily mean that they will follow it.
Here are some common reasons for bicycle accidents in Aiken County:
- Drivers do not allow cyclists the full use of a lane.
- Drivers are distracted and do not see a cyclist on the road.
- Drivers improperly try to pass a cyclist, not allowing for enough space.
- Motorists will speed and drive recklessly, injuring anyone who is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- Motorists or their passengers open up a car door that hits a bicyclist who is passing by.
The common theme in any bicycle accident case is that you need to prove that the driver was negligent in the crash that injured you. If you can do this, you will then be able to start negotiating a bicycle accident settlement.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Most bicyclists will be injured when they are involved in an accident with a car. They will be hurt both from the initial impact and from where they land. The bicyclist will either fall onto the hood of the car or the ground. The only piece of safety equipment that the bicyclist has to protect them is their helmet.
Common injuries in bicycle accidents include:
- Head and neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Broken bones and fractures
- Cuts and lacerations
Bicycle accident injuries may recover significant recovery time if the accident victim is even able to recover from their injuries fully. In the meantime, they may need extensive medical intervention.
Compensation in a Bicycle Accident Case
The size of the settlement check that you receive is specific to your case. Your compensation would depend on the following:
- The severity of your injuries
- The amount of insurance coverage available (both through the driver’s insurance policy and your own)
- How hard you fight for what you legally deserve
You are entitled to the following categories of damages in your bicycle accident case:
- Economic damages that compensate for the money that you lost, whether it is medical expenses or wages that you could have earned.
- Non-economic damages for things like pain and suffering and the loss of enjoyment of the life that you had before the accident.
How TSB Injury Law Can Help You
After you or a loved one have been injured in a bicycle accident, the last thing that you have desire to deal with is the legal process. You want and need the financial compensation that you would receive if someone else was to blame for the accident. However, you may not have the legal acumen or time to do what it takes to obtain it.
That is where TSB Injury Law comes into the picture. We will handle all aspects of your case, keeping you informed, so you can make the right decisions when necessary. You are not in this alone when you have our team on your side.
Contact an Aiken Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
When you have been hurt in a bicycle accident, you need legal help and not boasts or posturing. You need an attorney who is direct and will go out of their way to make sure that you have the answers and the information that you need for your case.
At TSB Injury Law, we pride ourselves in the service that we deliver to clients. We want you to be well-informed about your case and comfortable knowing that you have someone who is working on your behalf.
To schedule your free initial consultation, you can send us a message online or call us today at (803) 220-0000. You owe us nothing unless you are paid for your bicycle accident injuries.
