Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Columbia, SC

bicycle accident banner

Many people throughout the Columbia, SC, area use bikes as a regular means of transportation, to exercise, or simply for recreation. Unfortunately, bike accidents remain an all-too-frequent occurrence in the region. A driver’s negligence on the road can lead to a devastating accident that can upend a cyclist’s life. If you have been injured in a bike accident, you could be entitled to compensation from the driver who hit you. Let the experienced personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of S. Chris Davis help you pursue the maximum amount of compensation to which you’re entitled.

Our firm works hard to provide injury victims with the competent, professional, and compassionate legal representation they need to obtain accountability and justice from those who have caused them harm. If you choose to hire attorney Chris Davis to represent your interests in the wake of a bicycle accident, you can rest assured that your case will be treated with the utmost focus, dedication, and concern. At The Law Offices of S. Chris Davis, we believe in treating our clients like family. We are ready to pursue maximum compensation for you as vigorously and efficiently as possible.

Don’t wait another moment to demand the compensation and accountability that you deserve. Contact The Law Offices of S. Chris Davis for a free initial consultation with a knowledgeable Columbia bicycle accident lawyer today.

South Carolina Bicycle Laws

There are a number of laws concerning cycling on the books in the Palmetto State. Whether these laws were or were not properly observed in the leadup to your crash may impact the strength of your case. For example, if you were law-abiding, that may bolster your claim that any defendant named in a lawsuit was to blame for your crash. Some of the most pressing bicycle laws in South Carolina state that:

  • Bicyclists must use dedicated bike lanes whenever available and may only ride on roadways that do not have adjacent bike lanes or only have an adjacent recreational biking path.
  • Riding on the sidewalk is permitted except where outlawed by local ordinances.
  • Bicycles may not ride more than two abreast, except on bike paths or other roadways exclusively dedicated for use by bicycles.
  • Bicycles must come to a complete stop at all stop signs and red lights.
  • Bicyclists must signal when coming to a stop or turning.
  • Bicycles must be equipped with a front white light visible from at least 500 feet away and a red rear reflector or light visible from at least 300 feet away for use at night.
  • Bicycles may not carry more riders than they were designed for.
  • Bicyclists must always keep at least one hand on the handlebars.
  • Bicyclists may not attach themselves or their bicycle to motor vehicles.

Do bicycle riders have the same rights as motorists?

Although bicycles are not defined by state law as vehicles, the law gives bicyclists the same rights and duties as motorists, with very few exceptions.

Common Bicycle Accident Causes, Types, and Injuries

Many bicycle accidents occur due to careless or reckless actions on the part of a motorist. Some of the most frequent causes of bike accidents occur when motorists engage in:

  • Speeding
  • Reckless driving, including racing, excessive speeding, or swerving between lanes
  • Tailgating
  • Not leaving sufficient room when passing a bicycle on the road
  • Disregarding stop signs/red lights and other traffic signals
  • Failing to yield the right of way
  • Drowsy/fatigued driving
  • Texting and driving or other distracted driving behaviors
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Driver inexperience
  • Turning right or changing lanes without signaling or checking mirrors and blind spots
  • Driving in designated bike lanes
  • Pulling into or backing out of parking spots without checking for oncoming bicyclists
  • Opening the door of a street-parked vehicle in the path of an oncoming cyclist

Additional common causes of bike accidents that may be actionable but don’t directly implicate the conduct of a motorist include: Bicycle or motor vehicle defects, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and ill-maintained roads.

Common injuries caused by bicycle accidents in Columbia include:

  • “Road rash” injuries, including lacerations and abrasions
  • Broken bones
  • Ligament sprains and tears and muscle/tendon strains and tears
  • Internal organ injury and internal bleeding
  • Facial injuries

Potential Compensation for a Columbia Bicycle Accident

Depending on the circumstances that led up to your Columbia bicycle accident and the ways in hich you were impacted by the crash, you could be entitled to compensation for losses, including:

  • Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation of injuries
  • Costs of long-term care expenses if your injuries resulted in permanent disability
  • Loss of wages or earning potential if you are temporarily or permanently impaired from doing your job or working in any form of employment
  • Physical pain and emotional trauma and distress from the accident, your injuries, and subsequent medical recovery
  • Reduced enjoyment and quality of life due to disabilities or scarring/disfigurement interfering with daily activities

Statute of Limitations on Bicycle Accident Lawsuits

In South Carolina, the statute of limitations on bicycle accident lawsuits gives you only three years from the date of an accident to file suit against the party or parties at fault for the crash. Bicycle accident claims against the state government or a local government may be subject to a shorter limitations period. A Columbia bicycle accident lawyer from the Law Offices of S. Chris Davis can review your case and advise you as to when a lawsuit must be filed before you’ll be barred from seeking rightful recovery.

Filing suit after the statute of limitations has expired will likely result in your case being dismissed by the court. If this happens, you will have lost your right to recover compensation for your bike accident injuries through the courts.