Bicycle Accidents

Published on: May 26, 2011

New Georgia Law Designed to reduce the number of Bicycle Accidents and Motorcycle Accidents

With increasing gas prices and unrelenting traffic congestion plaguing the state, many Georgians are finding it’s more economically savvy (and healthy, besides) to travel by bicycle or motorcycle in lieu of automobile. Unfortunately, this trend towards cycling is also resulting in an increased number of accidents involving cyclists and their impatient motorist counterparts. In fact, according to the Georgia Office of Highway Safety, in 2008, 12 percent of the people killed in motor vehicle crashes in Georgia were motorcycle drivers — the highest motorcycle fatality count within 15 years. As an Atlanta injury lawyer, I know that this number is only the tip of the iceberg since a significant number of serious injuries result from motorcycle accidents every year.

This is a growing problem in Georgia, where in 2008 motorcycle driver deaths has increased by 59 percent since 2004. As a remedy, Governor Nathan Deal signed into law last week a bill aimed to protect them, while simultaneously granting respite to sympathetic drivers who nevertheless feel a modicum of nervousness when inching by a motorcycle or bicycle.

House Bill 101 requires drivers to give cyclists at least 3 feet of space. Before last week, motorists had only to maintain an arguably ambiguous “safe distance” when passing. Now, those same motorists will have to actually cross the yellow line to comply with the law.

Published on: April 25, 2011

Georgia Needs to Work on Preventing Bicycle Accidents and Pedestrian Accidents this summer

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Georgia has some of the lowest rates of bicycling in the US.That probably has something to do with the fact that this is one of the most dangerous states for bicyclists in the country.In fact, Georgia ranks at number eight nationwide for the number of bicycle accident deaths and, of course, these means there are also a significant number of injuries.As any Atlanta injury attorney will tell you, the state is not much safer for pedestrians either.According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Metro Atlanta region is the 10th most dangerous metropolitan area for pedestrians in the country.This summer, the Georgia Department of Transportation needs to focus on how to reduce pedestrian accident and bicycle accident deaths.

There’s no doubt that a pedestrian in Atlanta is at serious risk of injuries in an accident.For example in Georgia, pedestrian accidents make up just 1% of all traffic accidents, but these deaths account for 10% of all traffic accident fatalities every year.

Few cities in the country have the kind of congested traffic that Atlanta has, and pedestrians and bicyclists have a big role to play in relieving some of this traffic.It’s the reason why Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers believe in the need to encourage bicycling and walking as sustainable, efficient, and most importantly, safe means of transportation.However, encouraging biking in Georgia has been an upward climb, because of the high risk of injuries to bicyclists here.

Published on: April 21, 2011

Atlanta Bicycle Accident Shows Need for Greater Motorist Awareness

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

As an Atlanta injury lawyer, a recent bicycle accident in Cobb County is once again confirming that drivers in Atlanta need to be more vigilant about watching out for bicyclists over the spring and summer. Bicycle accidents often result in the most serious types of personal injury compared to most types of accidents.

The year’s peak cycling season is here, and many Atlantans are out on their bicycles.By law, Atlanta bicyclists must bike on the road, and not on a sidewalk.That means they share the roads with motorists who must, accommodate these bikers.

Last week, an elementary school teacher was left with injuries after her bicycle was struck by a car.The impact was serious enough to break the car’s side view mirror, but the driver drove off from the scene of the accident.Fortunately, the woman did not suffered life altering injuries.What makes this accident even more ironic was that the woman had recently been elected to the Board of Directors at Bike Cobb, a bicycle safety advocacy group that lobbies for better bicycling roads and safety.On the day of the accident, in fact, the victim was on her way to her first meeting as a board director.

Published on: March 5, 2011

Proposed Law Would Prevent Serious Georgia Bicycle Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Motorists whizzing close by to bicyclists are responsible for approximately 1.2% of all bicycle accidents every year, but about 22% of those accidents result in catastrophic injuries or death.A new piece of legislation in Georgia would require that motorists passing by a bicyclist maintain a space of at least 3 feet between the vehicle and the bicycle.As an Atlanta injury lawyer, I strongly support the legislation. The legislation would help prevent accidents in Atlanta and throughout Georgia.

House Bill 180 requires motorists to pass at a safe distance from a bicycle.The term “safe distance” is defined as 3 feet.Across Georgia, bicyclists have been exposed to accident and injury risks from motorists “buzzing” past them.These risks would be avoided if the bill is passed.Although the risks that come when motorists pass too close to bicycles are common knowledge, few states have laws in place that prevent motorists from such behavior.In fact, only 16 states in the US have laws that establish a specific distance that motorists must maintain from a bicycle.Georgia, if it approves the law, would become one of the states that prioritize bicyclist safety.

This piece of legislation is one of several bicycle safety bills that are currently pending in the Georgia Assembly.Another bill, House Bill 101 defines bicycle lanes and establishes the installation of bicycle lanes to national guidelines.The bill would also require motorists to yield to bicyclists.Yet another bill, House Bill 71 would allow Georgia residents to petition their local administrations to allow them to bicycle on sidewalks.Under current laws, only children below the age of 12 can ride bicycles on sidewalks.Riding on the sidewalk may help prevent serious bicycle accidents.

Published on: June 4, 2010

Bicycle Accidents — Safety Programs Reviewed

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Not everyone who begins biking takes part in a bicycle safety training program. It also doesn’t help that there are no valuable resources for novice or beginner bicyclists in Georgia. That’s why it’s good to see an online bicycle safety training program developed by a group of University of Georgia graduates for a bicycle advocacy group called Bike Athens.

The training program is available for free online, and consists of 36 slides, all containing bicycle safety instructions. There are interactive videos and quizzes designed to make the process fun. The program’s focus is on defensive driving tips for bicyclists, and includes modules on bicycle safety checks before you ride. This is something a lot of bicyclists, especially beginners, neglect to do. It’s important to know that your bicycle is primed and ready for a ride and that brakes and quick releases are all functioning properly.

Athens has a large concentration of bicyclists who will find this program useful, but a safety program like this is recommended not only for bikers in Athens, but elsewhere across Georgia. It’s not likely that experienced bicyclists, who have been biking for years, will find the safety modules interesting or useful. However, for novice and beginner bicyclists who very often get involved in accidents, the online safety program offers easy tips and helpful advice.

Published on: May 11, 2010

Top Five Most Common Bicycle Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Atlantans will have to get used to more numbers of bicyclists over the next few months as cycling season hits us in earnest. For those bikers who are new to Atlanta streets, it’s very important that you get familiar with the challenges before you.

You’re in luck, however. May is Bicycle Safety Month, not just in Atlanta, but across the country. That means plenty of bicycle promotion and safety awareness programs going on near you.

The risk of accidents is not something that bicyclists want to think about, but the fact is that these occur very frequently on Atlanta streets. Bicycling Magazine has brought out a list of some of the most frequent bicycle accident situations. The list features five of the most common bicycle collisions, and also recommends steps cyclists can take to avoid accidents like these.

Published on: May 5, 2010

May is Bike Safety Month

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Education and exposure to bicyclists and safety programs makes for a safer environment for both bikers and motorists. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is promoting the month of May as Bike Safety Month. The League of American Bicyclists is the official sponsor of this campaign, which will run through this month.

Any program that aims to spread the message of safe bicycling and increases awareness among motorists and bicyclists alike, will have the support of Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers. There is a series of events and programs lined up across the month, in the city of Atlanta. Here’s a look at just some of the events lined up for longtime bikers, as well as new bicyclists.

There will be a bike advocacy team meeting on May 10. This will be followed by a bike rally and bike rodeo on May 15. On May 19, bicyclists across the city will take part in the Ride of Silence to commemorate those bicyclists killed in accidents. On May 21 is the high point of the program, Bike to Work Day. On that day, teams of professional bicyclists will ride to work to demonstrate the conveniences and joys of a bike commute. Finally on the 26^th, there is a special workshop on Bike Maintenance for Dummies. The program will cover basics, like how to fix a flat tire and identifying bike parts.

Published on: April 9, 2010

Bicycle Safety Tips for Children

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Bicycle Safety Tips for Children

A tragic bicycle accident last week in south Fulton County killed a nine-year-old boy. The tragedy is a reminder of the risks to Atlanta’s children as summer creeps up on us.

More children can be expected to take to their bicycles as the weather gets warmer, and as Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers, we are concerned at the possibility of accidents involving kids on bicycles. There is much that parents can do to encourage safe bicycling habits in their children.

Published on: March 24, 2010

Georgia Bicycle Safety Bill Gaining Speed

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Support Grows for Georgia Bicycle Safety Bill

More than 1,000 bicyclists converged in Atlanta yesterday in a show of support for a pending piece of legislation that would create a safety zone around bicycles, preventing the risk of injuries and accidents.

The bill is similar to other legislation already in effect in 16 other states around the country. It has been widely supported by bicycle safety groups and Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers. The bill, HB988 will establish a 3-foot safety zone around a bicyclist. Motorists will be required to maintain the 3-foot zone while passing a bicyclist. This will greatly increase safety for these bikers, who often find themselves run off roads and frightened by honking cars that get too close to them.

Published on: March 17, 2010

Bicycle Safety Enhanced by Google Maps

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Last week, Google rolled out its new Google bike maps feature that does for bicyclists what it already does for motorists. The feature provides bicyclists quick and safe routes to get to their destination.

Bikers have been calling for adding biking directions to Google Maps for a while now. A petition containing more than 50,000 signatures from bicyclists was sent to Google, asking the search engine giant to develop a map feature exclusively for bicyclists. That moment is here, and bicyclists couldn’t be happier about it. As bicycle accident lawyers in Atlanta, we couldn’t be more pleased at the way Google has stepped in to make biking not just quicker and more convenient for bicyclists, but also safer.

According to Google, the bike routes have been developed taking into consideration the safest way for a biker to get to his destination. The routes avoid crowded and congested streets, streets with no bike lanes, streets with a high volume of traffic, busy intersections, narrow streets and hills.