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Augusta Bicycle Accident Lawyer "I didn't see the cyclist."
That's what the driver told the deputy. Now it's in the crash report, and the insurance company reads it one way: the bike came out of nowhere. From 2005 to 2015, Georgia crash reports put the fault on the cyclist in 51% of bike crashes.
Maybe it was Walton Way. Maybe Deans Bridge Road. A driver turned across your path looking for cars, not bikes. Now an adjuster wants a recorded statement and already has an offer ready. It looks fair until the first surgery bill arrives.
Your case turns on one question: what was that driver doing instead of looking? Hawk Law Group partner Shawn Merzlak is a former criminal investigator who also worked in the Augusta Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office. He gets the camera footage and the witnesses while they still exist.
Call (706) 539-5892. You pay nothing unless we win.
If a careless driver or another party caused your bicycle accident, you may have a personal injury claim. To recover compensation, we must prove that party acted negligently under Georgia law.
That means proving four elements:
- Duty of care: Every Georgia driver must operate safely and watch for cyclists, who have the same rights to the road as cars.
- Breach of duty: The driver failed that duty, for example by speeding, running a red light, texting, or passing closer than Georgia's required three feet.
- Causation: That failure directly caused the crash and your injuries.
- Damages: You suffered real, documented harm, such as medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
After a serious bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for both the financial and personal impact of your injuries.
You may be able to recover:
- Economic damages: medical bills, future surgery and physical therapy, lost wages and lost earning capacity, and the cost to repair or replace your bike, helmet and gear.
- Non-economic damages: pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life (including no longer being able to ride), and permanent scarring or disability.
- Punitive damages: in cases of extreme misconduct, such as a drunk or hit-and-run driver, Georgia law allows additional damages to punish the at-fault party.
The category people forget is future care: the second surgery, the hardware removal, the months of physical therapy. We put it in the claim.
We offer free consultations and make it easy for you to reach our team. Contact us today using any of the following options:
We’re here to listen, answer your questions, and help you take the next step toward recovery.
At Hawk Law Group, we bring over 71 years of combined legal experience to every case we handle. Our trial attorneys were born and raised in the Augusta area, and we’ve built a strong reputation throughout the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) for delivering results—both in negotiations and in the courtroom.
We understand how overwhelming life can feel after a serious injury. Between medical bills, physical pain, and pressure from insurance companies, it’s easy to feel like no one’s on your side. Our team is here to change that. We handle a wide range of personal injury cases and are prepared to take on complex claims involving:
When you work with us, you’re choosing a firm that values local roots, courtroom experience, and client-focused advocacy. Whether your injury happened here in Augusta or across the river in South Carolina, we’re ready to fight for the justice you deserve.
After a bicycle accident, you need more than just legal advice—you need a team ready to take action while you focus on your recovery. At Hawk Law Group, we step in quickly to manage the legal, financial, and insurance challenges on your behalf.
Here’s how we support you after your accident:
Call us today for a free consultation with an Augusta bicycle accident lawyer ready to fight for you.
The steps you take in the first days can affect both your recovery and your claim:
- Get checked and keep every appointment. Head and spine injuries can surface days later, and gaps in treatment are what adjusters point to first.
- Don't repair or throw out your bike, helmet or clothing. Damage patterns help show speed and point of impact.
- Watch what you say to insurers. Don't admit fault, guess at speeds, or say you're "fine."
- Don't accept the first offer. Early offers rarely account for future treatment.
- Stay off social media about the crash or your injuries; insurers look.
- Talk to an Augusta bicycle accident lawyer early, before evidence like traffic camera footage is overwritten.
Under Georgia law a bicycle is a vehicle, with the same right to the road as the car that hit it.
In Georgia, you generally have two years from the date of a bicycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). Miss it and you can lose the right to compensation entirely.
Some cases have much shorter deadlines. If a city, county or state vehicle hit you, Georgia requires written notice of the claim within six months for city governments and 12 months for counties and the state. If the crash happened in South Carolina, the general deadline is three years, or two years if a government vehicle or agency was involved.
Injuries that seem minor can worsen over weeks. Contacting an Augusta bicycle accident lawyer early protects both the deadline and the evidence.
Evidence in bike crashes disappears fast. The most important pieces are:
- The crash report from the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, Georgia State Patrol or other responding agency
- Medical records showing your injuries and treatment
- Names and statements of eyewitnesses
- Photos and video of the scene, your injuries and the damage
- Traffic, business and doorbell camera footage
- Your bike, helmet and any ride-tracking data (Strava, Garmin, bike computer) showing speed and route
Send us what you have. We request the report and footage, find witnesses and preserve the physical evidence while you focus on recovering.
We prove what the driver was doing. Shawn Merzlak is a former criminal investigator who also worked in the Augusta Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office. On a bike case he goes after the evidence a prosecutor would want: the camera footage and the witnesses, gathered before the driver's insurer reaches them.
Your lawyer answers your questions. Tim F. on Shawn: "Every question I had it's like he answered without me asking." Amanda: he "thoroughly explained his plan."
We deal with the insurers and Medicare. Ms. B. hired us after a car accident. Our team took care of her medical bills "with the insurance company and Medicare," and she got through it "without causing me any stress or anxiety."
We're from here. Shawn Merzlak and Chace Hawk were raised in Augusta, and our office is at 338 Telfair St. downtown.
Call (706) 539-5892 for a free consultation.
Bicycle accidents are unfortunately common in Augusta, and knowing the risks and legal factors involved can help you protect yourself and your rights. This section covers how often these accidents happen, what causes them, typical injuries sustained, and how fault is determined under Georgia law.
Newer state data shows the risk hasn't gone away: preliminary 2024 figures count 22 bicyclists killed and 127 seriously injured on Georgia roads, with serious injuries up 9% from 2023.
Most happen where a driver should have been watching. In 2023, 60% of Georgia bike crashes happened at intersections, including driveway entrances, 71% happened in daylight, and 23% were hit-and-runs. Richmond County had the third-highest rate in the state of cyclists killed or seriously injured (4.87 per 100,000 residents). Crash reports still tend to blame the rider: in the most recent published fault data (2005 to 2015), reports put the fault on the cyclist in 51% of crashes and on the driver in 30%. That report is where the insurer starts, which is why the investigation matters. Common driver errors include:
- Right turns across a cyclist's path without looking (a "right hook")
- "Dooring": opening a car door into an approaching cyclist
- Distracted driving, especially texting
- Impaired driving, and drivers who leave the scene
- Speeding and left turns in front of oncoming cyclists
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Passing closer than Georgia's required three feet
- Pulling out of a driveway or parking lot without checking for bikes
Many drivers say they "never saw" the cyclist. With most bike crashes happening in broad daylight, that describes what the driver failed to do. It is not an excuse.
With no vehicle around them, cyclists absorb the full force of a crash. We pursue compensation for:
- Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Road rash, lacerations and other soft tissue injuries
- Broken bones, especially collarbones, wrists, ribs, hips and legs
- Nerve damage and musculoskeletal injuries
- Joint and dental injuries
Seriously injured riders in Augusta are often treated at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center (formerly Augusta University Medical Center), the region's only Level I trauma center.
It’s common for both cyclists and drivers to share fault in an accident. Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning you can still recover damages if you are less than 50% at fault. Your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault. For example, if you have $50,000 in damages but are 10% at fault, your recovery will be $45,000.
Insurance companies often try to assign as much blame as possible to injured cyclists to lower payouts. Consulting a knowledgeable Augusta bicycle accident lawyer can help protect your rights and ensure you aren’t unfairly blamed.
The driver has already given their version to the police and to their insurer. Call us and give yours.
Camera footage gets recorded over and witnesses forget. Georgia gives you two years to file, and as little as six months to give notice if a city vehicle hit you.
Call Hawk Law Group now at (706) 539-5892 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. You can also contact us online here — we’re ready to listen and fight for you.
Compensation varies based on factors like medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Your total damages can include:
An experienced lawyer can help calculate the full value of your claim and fight to maximize your recovery.
Fault depends on who acted negligently or violated traffic laws. Common causes include:
Georgia uses a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning fault can be shared and damages adjusted accordingly.
If you accidentally hit a cyclist, you should:
Failing to stop or provide assistance can lead to serious legal consequences.
Yes, you can file a personal injury claim if someone else’s negligence caused your bicycle accident. A successful claim requires proving:
An Augusta bicycle accident lawyer can help guide you through the process and fight for fair compensation.
Read more of our Google reviews here.
338 Telfair St. Augusta, GA 30901
(706) 722-3500
Our Augusta, GA personal injury law office also provides:
Did you sustain an injury at work or develop an occupational illness? If so, hiring an experienced Augusta Bicycle Accident Lawyer can be essential for your fight for benefits.
(888) 771-1110The personal injury lawyers at Hawk Law Group represent accident victims throughout the Central Savannah River Area, including Augusta, Avera, Belvedere, Blythe, Crawfordville, Davisboro, Evans, Gibson, Grovetown, Harlem, Hephzibah, Jackson, Lincolnton, Louisville, Martinez, Millen, New Ellenton, North Augusta, Sandersville, Sparta, Stapleton, Thomson, Warrenton, Waynesboro, and all surrounding communities in Aiken, Edgefield, and Richmond Counties.
Hawk Law Group is a personal injury law firm serving clients in Augusta, GA, and surrounding areas. With over 71 years of combined experience, we have recovered hundreds of millions on behalf of injury victims. Contact us for help today.
