Hit and Run Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Georgia & South Carolina
Being struck by a vehicle while cycling is traumatic enough — but when the driver flees the scene, leaving you injured on the roadside, the situation becomes even more desperate. Hit-and-run crashes involving cyclists are shockingly common and disproportionately fatal. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that hit-and-run fatalities have reached record levels in recent years, with cyclists and pedestrians accounting for a disproportionate share of victims. Drivers flee for many reasons — intoxication, no insurance, outstanding warrants, or panic.
At Roden Law, our hit-and-run bicycle accident attorneys help cyclists and their families throughout Georgia and South Carolina pursue every available source of compensation, even when the driver is never identified. We work with law enforcement, analyze evidence, and maximize insurance recovery.
Criminal Penalties for Hit-and-Run in Georgia and South Carolina
Leaving the scene of a crash involving injury is a serious crime in both states:
- Georgia: O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270 makes leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death a felony punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison. The driver must stop, provide information, and render reasonable assistance.
- South Carolina: S.C. Code § 56-5-1210 imposes up to 10 years for hit-and-run involving injury and up to 25 years for fatal hit-and-run, plus fines up to $10,000.
Sources of Compensation When the Driver Flees
Even when the at-fault driver is unknown, injured cyclists have several potential sources of recovery:
- Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage: If you or a household family member has an auto insurance policy with UM coverage, it can cover a hit-and-run bicycle crash — even though you were on a bicycle, not in a car. South Carolina requires UM coverage unless specifically rejected in writing.
- Household auto policies: You may be covered under a spouse’s, parent’s, or other household member’s UM coverage
- Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage: Your own auto policy’s MedPay coverage can pay medical expenses regardless of fault
- Health insurance: Your personal health insurance covers treatment, subject to subrogation rights
- Georgia Crime Victims Compensation: The Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council offers compensation to crime victims, including hit-and-run victims
- South Carolina Crime Victims’ Fund: South Carolina provides similar compensation through the State Office of Victim Assistance
Finding the Driver
Our attorneys work aggressively to identify the fleeing driver through surveillance camera footage from nearby businesses, homes, and traffic cameras, vehicle debris and paint transfer analysis, witness canvassing and social media outreach, body shop records for vehicles matching the description, and law enforcement coordination. When the driver is found, we pursue direct claims against them and their liability insurance in addition to any UM claims.
Injuries in Hit-and-Run Bicycle Crashes
Hit-and-run bicycle crashes are especially dangerous because the cyclist may not receive timely medical attention. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, multiple fractures, internal bleeding, road rash, and wrongful death. The delay in emergency response caused by the driver’s flight can turn survivable injuries into fatal ones.
Compensation for Hit-and-Run Bicycle Victims
Our attorneys pursue maximum recovery from every available source — UM insurance, the driver’s liability insurance (if identified), crime victim funds, and health insurance. Recoverable damages include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability, bicycle replacement, and emotional distress. Georgia (O.C.G.A. Title 51) and South Carolina law provide the full spectrum of compensatory damages.
