High-Profile Georgia Accident Illustrates Dangers for Cyclists

In August 2024, Axios reported that Georgia state Representative Devan Seabaugh (R-Marietta) had been arrested for driving under the influence and failing to obey traffic control devices after striking a cyclist in a bike lane in Atlanta. (Rep. Seabaugh denies being intoxicated or speeding at the time of the accident.) According to Seabaugh, the accident occurred when he turned right from Boulevard SE onto Memorial Drive SE and attempted to stay in the right-most lane. However, the Georgia Department of Transportation had recently installed a bike lane in that location, reducing the number of vehicle travel lanes on Memorial Drive SE from four to two, and Seabaugh states that there was no signage to indicate that the outer lane had been converted to a bike lane. The cyclist was not seriously injured. Even so, this accident serves as a vivid illustration of the dangers of bicycle accidents — even in bike lanes. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, our Tifton personal injury lawyers may be able to help you recover. 

Why Bicycle Accidents Occur 

Bicycle accidents occur for many of the same reasons other automobile accidents occur — speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving, hazardous roads, and defective equipment, just to name a few. However, many bicycle accidents can be attributed to structural issues. The roadways in Georgia (and almost everywhere else in the United States) are designed primarily for cars, even in densely populated urban areas like the one where the accident above occurred. And as that accident shows, while bike lanes can help to minimize collisions between cyclists and motorists, they are not a silver bullet. Operating a bicycle among vehicular traffic is always a risky endeavor. 

Common Types of Bicycle Accidents

Some of the most common types of bicycle accidents include: 

• Intersection accidents, in which motorists fail to yield to cyclists 
• Right hook accidents, in which vehicles turning right cut off cyclists approaching on their right side
• Left turn accidents, in which drivers during left misjudge how fast an oncoming cyclist is approaching 
• “Door prize” accidents, in which drivers who are parallel parked open doors into a cyclist’s path 
• Loss of control accidents, in which the cyclist crashes due to potholes, steel plates, uneven road surfaces, gravel, or icy surfaces 
• Mechanical failure accidents, in which an issue with the bike itself — such as a broken chain or blown tire — cause a collision 
• Stationary object accidents, in which the cyclists collide with poles, parked cars, barriers, or high curbs

These accidents highlight the many and varied risks cyclists face on the road, underscoring the importance of vigilance for both cyclists and motorists. 

Speak to a Tifton Personal Injury Lawyer About Your Bicycle Accident 

If you have suffered injuries in a bicycle accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to pursue a personal injury action. For more information about your options, please contact a Tifton personal injury lawyer at the Hudson Injury Firm by calling 229-396-5848 or using our online form.