Road Hazard Bicycle Crash Lawyers in Georgia & South Carolina
Cyclists are far more vulnerable to road hazards than motorists. A pothole that a car drives over without incident can send a cyclist flying. Railroad tracks, drainage grates, cracked pavement, loose gravel, construction debris, and unmarked road edge drop-offs are all potentially catastrophic hazards for cyclists. When government entities fail to maintain roads in safe condition or fail to warn of known hazards, they can be held liable for resulting bicycle crashes.
At Roden Law, our road hazard bicycle crash attorneys represent cyclists throughout Georgia and South Carolina who have been injured due to dangerous road conditions. We pursue claims against government entities, construction companies, utility companies, and other parties responsible for creating or failing to repair road hazards.
Common Road Hazards That Cause Bicycle Crashes
Our attorneys handle bicycle crash claims caused by:
- Potholes: Even small potholes can catch a bicycle wheel and throw the rider — particularly dangerous at higher speeds or in low-light conditions
- Railroad tracks: Tracks that cross the roadway at acute angles can catch a bicycle tire and cause the rider to crash. Tracks should cross at as close to 90 degrees as possible, and the gap between rail and pavement must be properly maintained.
- Drainage grates: Older grate designs with slots parallel to the road can catch bicycle tires. Modern grate designs are bicycle-safe, but many jurisdictions have not replaced older grates.
- Construction zones: Steel plates, loose gravel, uneven pavement transitions, and missing lane markings in construction areas
- Debris: Glass, sand, gravel, and other debris swept to the road edge where cyclists ride
- Pavement edge drop-offs: Sudden drops between the pavement surface and the shoulder, caused by paving that did not extend to the road edge
- Utility covers: Raised, sunken, or slippery manhole covers and utility access panels
Government Liability for Road Hazards
Government entities responsible for road maintenance can be held liable for bicycle crashes caused by their failure to maintain safe roads:
- Georgia: The Georgia Tort Claims Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-21-20 et seq.) waives sovereign immunity for negligence claims against state and local government. However, you must provide ante-litem notice within 12 months of the incident. Georgia law also holds counties and municipalities liable for failure to maintain roads under O.C.G.A. § 32-4-93.
- South Carolina: The South Carolina Tort Claims Act (S.C. Code § 15-78-10 et seq.) allows negligence claims against government entities for dangerous road conditions, subject to specific notice requirements and damage caps.
Claims against government entities have strict procedural requirements, shorter filing deadlines, and special notice provisions. Our attorneys ensure full compliance with these requirements.
Other Potentially Liable Parties
In addition to government entities, our attorneys pursue claims against construction companies that leave hazardous conditions in or near the roadway, utility companies whose work creates road surface defects, property owners whose drainage or landscaping creates road hazards, and contractors who fail to properly restore road surfaces after excavation.
Compensation for Road Hazard Bicycle Crashes
Cyclists injured by road hazards may recover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, bicycle repair or replacement, permanent disability, and emotional distress. Claims against government entities in South Carolina may be subject to statutory damage caps under the Tort Claims Act. Georgia does not cap compensatory damages in most personal injury cases.