Columbia Bicycle Accident Lawyer
When cyclists are hit by motor vehicles, the victims are often left with severe, debilitating, and often life-threatening injuries. It is imperative that anyone struck by a car, cut off by a moving van, or run off the road by an aggressive driver of a pickup truck seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Do not assume that the negligent party will be held accountable; often, police and traffic courts side with motor vehicle drivers due to bias against cyclists, and traffic citations are not handed out to the appropriate party. This can have a negative impact on the civil case, and makes it all the more important that you retain an experienced personal injury lawyer. An experienced Columbia bicycle accident lawyer at The Stanley Law Group can help you recover your losses. We understand the traumatic experience that you have gone through and are still dealing with, and are here to support you in every way that we can in your time of need.
Cyclist Injuries and Fatalities are On the Rise
Cyclists fatalities rose by 25 percent from 2010 to 2018, according to Quartz. In 2016, the deadliest year since 1991 for cyclists, 840 people were killed while riding their bikes, according to Outside Magazine, despite less than one percent of trips in the U.S. being made by bike. Serious injuries are much more common, with tens of thousands of cyclists hit every year being sent to emergency rooms. Common injuries include the following:
- Traumatic brain injury;
- Fractured limbs;
- Fractured pelvis;
- Fractured collarbone;
- Cracked ribs;
- Lacerations and road rash;
- Severe contusions;
- Whiplash;
- Spinal cord injury resulting in full or partial paralysis;
- Spinal column injury, such as cracked vertebrae, bulging disc, or herniated disc;
- Facial injuries;
- Torn ligaments; and
- Badly sprained ankle, wrist, or other joints.
Common Car Vs. Bike Collisions Scenarios
- The cyclist is in the right hand shoulder or bike lane and a driver to their left makes a “right hook,” cutting off the cyclist while making a right turn;
- Driver from the oncoming lane of traffic makes a left turn across the cyclist’s lane of traffic, cutting off and hitting the cyclist;
- Distracted, drunk, aggressive, or sleeping driving fails to pull over for a cyclist, or veers into the shoulder or bike lane, hitting the cyclist from behind;
- Driver intentionally runs a cyclist off the road by coming too close, throws an object at them, or honks to intimidate the cyclist, causing a crash;
- Driver pulls out from a side street, parking lot, or driveway and fails to yield right of way to a cyclist on the road; and
- Driver or passenger opens a door of their parked vehicle into a cyclist’s lane of traffic, causing the cyclist to hit the door or to swerve out of the way and into traffic, getting hit by a passing vehicle. This is called “getting doored.”
Our Attorneys Demand Fair Compensation For Bicycle Accident Victims
If you were injured by a driver while riding your bike, you deserve compensation for medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, lost wages, and much more. We encourage you to reach out to our experienced Columbia, South Carolina bike crash lawyers here at the Stanley Law Group today for help. Call us at 803-799-4700 to schedule a free consultation.
