Bicycle Accidents Involving Children in Georgia Can Lead to Devastating Consequences
What Parents Need to Know—and How a Lawyer Can Help After a Serious Crash
Every parent’s worst fear is getting the call that their child has been hit by a car. In Georgia, this fear becomes a painful reality far too often. Whether it's a neighborhood street, a busy intersection, or even a school zone, children on bicycles are vulnerable, and when drivers fail to pay attention, the injuries can be catastrophic.
At the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C., our Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers have seen the aftermath firsthand. Our legal team has helped families across Georgia after life-changing bicycle accidents, holding negligent drivers accountable and pursuing the full compensation needed to support a child’s recovery. If your child was hit while riding a bike in Georgia, you don’t have to face this alone. We’re here to fight for justice and help your family move forward.
Why Children Are at Higher Risk for Bicycle Accidents
Children are more likely to be injured in bicycle crashes than adults because they are still developing their ability to judge speed, distance, and the rules of the road. Many child-involved bicycle crashes happen close to home, often within residential neighborhoods where drivers may not expect to see a child riding out of a driveway or crossing the street.
Common risk factors in child bicycle accidents include:
- Drivers speeding through neighborhoods or school zones
- Poorly marked or missing crosswalks near schools or parks
- Lack of bike lanes or safe riding infrastructure
- Distracted or impatient drivers failing to yield or stop
A child’s smaller size also makes them harder for drivers to see, and in a collision, they absorb the full force of the impact. The result is often severe, with injuries that require months or even years of recovery.
Common Injuries in Child Bicycle Crashes
Even at low speeds, a bicycle accident can cause serious harm to a child. Some of the most common injuries we see in these cases include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Even with a helmet, a violent impact can cause concussions or more serious brain trauma, affecting a child’s development and cognitive abilities.
- Fractures And Broken Bones: Arms, legs, wrists, and collarbones are especially vulnerable in falls and collisions.
- Internal Injuries: These are often hidden but can be life-threatening if not identified quickly.
- Facial Injuries And Dental Trauma: Children who are thrown from a bike may strike their face, leading to permanent disfigurement or long-term medical needs.
- Psychological Trauma: Fear, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress are common after a crash, especially for younger children.
Treatment often involves hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, and follow-up care. For some families, these medical needs last a lifetime.
Who’s Liable When a Driver Hits a Child on a Bicycle?
In Georgia, liability in bicycle accident cases hinges on the concept of negligence. If a driver fails to exercise reasonable care—whether by speeding, texting while driving, or ignoring a stop sign—they can be held legally responsible for the child’s injuries.
But children under 18 are not held to the same legal standard of care as adults. This is a key point in child bicycle cases: drivers are expected to exercise greater caution when children are present. If a child makes a sudden move, the law still often holds the adult driver accountable for failing to anticipate the risk.
The challenge is proving fault in a manner that withstands scrutiny from insurance companies and in court. That’s where our firm steps in.
Building a Strong Case: How Our Lawyers Investigate Child Bike Crashes
At Gary Martin Hays & Associates, we leave no stone unturned in investigating bicycle crashes involving children. Time is critical, especially when insurance companies try to blame the child or minimize the seriousness of their injuries.
Our legal team takes immediate action to:
- Interview witnesses and gather police reports
- Examine traffic camera or doorbell footage
- Document the child’s injuries and treatment timeline
- Review scene evidence such as skid marks, vehicle damage, and bike position
- Work with accident reconstruction experts to explain exactly how the crash happened
We also examine broader safety issues, such as whether a school zone was poorly marked or if a driver had a history of reckless behavior. The goal is to present clear, undeniable proof of negligence and maximize the financial recovery available to your family.
Why You Should Never Settle Too Quickly in a Child Injury Case
In many cases, an insurance adjuster will contact the family soon after the crash, offering what sounds like a generous settlement. But accepting a fast payout before the full extent of your child’s injuries is known can cost your family dearly.
Children may appear to recover quickly from certain injuries, only to develop long-term complications that require additional care. A traumatic brain injury may not fully show its effects for months. Orthopedic injuries may interfere with a child’s growth. Emotional trauma may linger for years.
That’s why we work with pediatric specialists, therapists, and life-care planners to understand the complete impact of your child’s injuries—so your settlement or verdict reflects not just current bills, but future needs as well.
Can a Child’s Own Actions Impact a Claim?
In Georgia, children are not held to the same legal standards of care as adults. Courts apply different rules depending on the child’s age and developmental ability:
- Children under the age of 7 are generally presumed to be incapable of negligence. This presumption comes from Georgia case law and is based on the widely accepted view that very young children lack the mental capacity to fully understand risk or behave with reasonable care. See Davis v. Glaze, 182 Ga. App. 18 (1987).
- Children between the ages of 7 and 13 are not automatically considered negligent. Instead, courts evaluate whether the child exercised the care that a reasonable child of the same age, mental capacity, and experience would use. This “reasonable child” standard was articulated in Williams v. United States, 450 F.2d 419 (5th Cir. 1971).
- Children ages 14 and older are presumed to have the capacity to act negligently, though that presumption can be challenged if there's evidence showing the child lacked maturity or understanding.
These age-specific rules can significantly affect liability in cases involving injured children, including bicycle accident claims. If an insurance company tries to argue a child shares blame for the crash, Georgia law requires a closer look at the child’s age, mental development, and the circumstances.
So, while a driver may try to argue that the child “darted out” or “wasn’t watching,” that doesn’t automatically reduce or eliminate compensation. Courts expect adult drivers to anticipate that children might behave unpredictably and take extra care in areas where kids are likely to be riding.
We’re well-versed in these legal nuances and fight back when insurers attempt to exploit them unfairly.
What Parents Should Do After a Bicycle Crash in Georgia
If your child was hit while riding their bike, your first priority is getting them the medical care they need. But there are a few key steps you can take that will help your case down the line:
- Document everything. Take photos of the injuries, the damaged bike, the crash scene, and anything else that could show what happened.
- Keep records. Save all medical records, therapy bills, school absence notes, and related documents.
- Do not speak to the insurance company. Let an experienced attorney handle all communications to protect your family’s legal rights.
- Call a lawyer as soon as possible. The earlier we can begin investigating, the stronger your case will be.
We Stand With Georgia Families After Serious Child Bicycle Accidents
At Gary Martin Hays & Associates, we know how devastating it is when a child is seriously hurt by a negligent driver. We also know what it takes to win these cases. With more than $1 billion recovered for injured Georgians, we’ve built a reputation for aggressive advocacy, compassionate support, and relentless pursuit of justice.
If your child was injured in a bicycle accident anywhere in Georgia—whether in Atlanta, Duluth, Jonesboro, or beyond—our team is ready to help you fight back and protect your future. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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