Georgia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Riding your motorcycle can be a lot of fun, and for many, it is their primary mode of transportation. Unfortunately, it only takes one negligent driver to ruin your good time on the road. While motorcycle riders tend to be unfairly blamed for accidents, it is drivers in cars that tend to cause them. If you were injured in such an accident, call our legal team for help.

Your damages in a motorcycle accident case may be substantial, especially if your injuries are severe. Serious injuries are common in these kinds of accidents, as riders are more susceptible to injuries since they are not protected inside an enclosed car. How your accident occurred may help us determine who should be held responsible for these injuries. Were you hit from behind? Did the other driver try to turn without checking their blind spot? These details are essential to making sure you get fair compensation.

Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (470) 287-3070 for a free review of your case from our motorcycle accident lawyers.

Damages and Injuries in Georgia Motorcycle Accident Cases

Injuries in motorcycle accidents are often severe. Even when riders take precautions by wearing helmets and other protective gear, they might still incur some painful injuries. When motorcycle riders are hit by other vehicles, they may be thrown from their bike onto the pavement. Riders might incur painful road rash when they skid along the pavement. Others experience broken bones, lacerations, and soft-tissue injuries. Some more serious injuries may include spinal cord damage that leaves the rider paralyzed. Others might experience brain injuries that leave them with cognitive impairments.

Damages in motorcycle accident claims might be significant if your injuries are severe. First, our motorcycle accident lawyers should account for your medical bills. Even if you only need to go to a doctor once, one visit might be very expensive, and the other driver should pay for it. If your injuries have long-term complications that require ongoing care, we can estimate your future medical costs and add them to your damages.

We should also consider the value of your bike and other belongings damaged in the accident. Your motorcycle is expensive to replace, but you might have to replace expensive gear. You likely need a new helmet and other gear, which probably cost a pretty penny. In addition, your injuries might prevent you from returning to work, and your lost wages should be accounted for.

Non-economic injuries account for pain, suffering, and other intangible yet very real injuries and painful experiences. You might claim physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of your life, and the reduction in your quality of life as part of your non-economic damages.

How Your Motorcycle Collisions in Georgia Might Have Occurred

Determining how your accident happened can help us identify the responsible parties. While it might be obvious to some who hit them, others are less sure. In many cases, more than one driver should be held responsible, and we can determine these details by examining how, where, and when your accident occurred.

Rear-end collisions can be very risky for motorcycle riders. While crashes like this might be minor fender-benders for cars, they can be extremely serious for motorcycle riders. A rider might be thrown forward from their bike. In some cases, riders are thrown in front of oncoming traffic and hit again. In such a case, the person behind you is likely at fault.

Blind spots are another serious concern when it comes to motorcycle accidents. Since motorcycles are smaller, they may be easily hidden in a driver’s blind spot. It is not your responsibility to make sure other drivers check their blind spots. If a driver fails to check their blind spot and hits you when they turn or change lanes, they may be held responsible.

Speeding is a dangerous factor in motorcycle collisions. Again, riders are not shielded inside an enclosed car. They are exposed to the elements with only a helmet and whatever other protective gear they are wearing to protect them. An accident at a high rate of speed could seriously injure the rider.

Gathering Evidence to Support Your Georgia Motorcycle Crash Claims

Many motorcycle riders begin collecting evidence without realizing it. Taking photos of an accident is common and often done to have proof of the crash for insurance companies. However, these photos may also be used as evidence in a civil lawsuit. In some cases, the photos that injured riders took after the accident preserve important details that are lost when the authorities clean up the crash scene.

If you can walk around and take pictures after the accident, you should also speak to others at the scene. Of course, you should exchange information with the driver who caused the crash, but there might be others. Other drivers, passengers, and people who stopped to help might be able to testify in your case as witnesses. Getting their information after the crash will make it much easier to find them later when you file the case.

Camera footage, if any exists, should be obtained as quickly as possible. Maybe your bike or your helmet had a portable camera attached. Maybe the other car had a dashcam. Still, maybe there was a security camera nearby that recorded the entire collision. If any videos of the accident exist, we need to get them soon, as they might be quickly and easily deleted if we wait.

We also need evidence of your damages. For example, we need records of how much money you spent because of your injuries. Hospital bills, bike repair bills, and any receipts related to these costs should be saved and stored in a safe place. We also need your testimony. Certain injuries, such as your pain and suffering, might only be proven when you take the stand and explain how the accident affected your life.