Georgia Bicycle Accident Attorney
Georgia residents, like Americans everywhere, are attempting to live a healthier lifestyle and are hopping on bicycles as a fun form of exercise. According to the Centers for Disease Control, bicycles are owned by approximately 30 percent of the U.S. population. Not surprisingly, this also means that bicycle accident injuries are also common. Approximately 6 percent of bicyclists who are treated for accident-related injuries need to be hospitalized.
If you are an individual who has suffered an injury in a bicycle accident, or are a family member who has lost a loved one due to bicycle accident injuries, a Georgia bicycle accident attorney at Stokes & Kopitsky, P.A. can help.
The CDC estimates that death or injuries due to bicycle accidents result in about $8 billion in annual costs. While that number is significant, it is an aggregate of the costs suffered by many individuals. Those costs can include anything from ambulance charges and emergency room fees to physical rehabilitation and lost wages. At Stokes & Kopitsky, P.A., our Georgia bicycle accident lawyers help injury victims recover the compensation to which they are due. In some cases, we may be able to obtain additional compensation for pain and suffering.
HEAD INJURIES COMMON IN GEORGIA BICYCLE ACCIDENTS
Attorneys familiar with bicycle accidents are also familiar with the vagaries of head injuries. Unlike a broken bone or shattered knee, the true extent of a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, may only become apparent over time. According to the CDC, of those who are hospitalized with a TBI after a bicycle accident or other accident, almost half have a brain-related disability one year after the injury. Head injuries account for 62 percent of bicycle-related deaths, about 33 percent of bicycle-related emergency room visits and 67 percent of all bicycle-related hospital admissions.
The types of head or brain injury long-term issues include:
- Loss of cognitive function such as attention or memory
- Decreased motor function such as extremity weakness, impaired coordination or balance issues
- Decreased or altered sensations including hearing, vision, impaired perception or touch
- Emotional issues including depression, anxiety, aggression, impulse control or personality changes
How does one put a price on an altered personality? Is it possible to measure the value of your sense of smell? Our Georgia bicycle accident attorneys have the skill and experience to handle these types of complicated and difficult issues.
WRONGFUL DEATH: OUR GEORGIA BICYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYERS CAN HELP
Most bicycle accidents are collisions with cars. When one considers the extreme weight differential between a car and a bicyclist, it is no wonder that bicycle accidents can be fatal. The CDC reports that during 2009, 630 cyclists were killed in traffic accidents throughout the U.S.
When a fatality is the result of someone else’s negligence, the family members or other survivors of the person who died may be eligible for wrongful death compensation. It can take a skilled attorney to build a case for negligence. The monetary compensation cannot compare to having a loved one with us, however, a financial payment can cover expenses and serve as compensation for the loss of companionship and other losses.
At Stokes & Kopitsky, P.A., we have been able to help many Georgia cyclists obtain compensation for their injuries after a bicycle accident. In extreme cases involving the loss of life, clients have enlisted us to pursue wrongful death claims.
To learn more about how we can help, call us at 404-892-0011 for a free consultation or contact our Georgia bicycle accident lawyers online.
