Top 6 Causes of Car Accidents in Georgia
Car accidents usually have common causes that can have serious consequences. People lose their lives, sustain injuries that can affect them forever or take a long time to recover, and... Read More
Atlanta Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Atlanta Motorcycle Accident Attorney Overview
- Injured on Atlanta’s Roads? We’re Here to Help.
- Motorcycle Crash Statistics in Georgia
- The Hardest Cases Need the Strongest Advocates
- How Does Negligence Cause Motorcycle Injuries?
- Common Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
- How Accident Damages Are Calculated
- Comparative Negligence Law
- Why Work with a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Atlanta?
- Get the Legal Counsel You Need with an Atlanta Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
- Latest Firm News & Updates
Injured on Atlanta’s Roads? We’re Here to Help.
There are some amazing roads for a weekend motorcycle ride. You can head out to the Suches Loop, the Six Gap North Georgia, or FDR State Park to take in the incredible views and enjoy the freedom that comes with riding a motorcycle. Of course, with that freedom comes inherent risks.
One tap from a car that is following too close or getting cut off by a truck that doesn’t see you in their blind spot can send you spilling across the asphalt.
The consequences of a motorcycle crash caused by another driver’s negligence can affect you for the rest of your life. While you’re dealing with serious injuries and a potentially long recovery time, you’re also dealing with the expenses that come with treatment and lost wages. You deserve to have someone you can turn to for help.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can prove to be a valuable advocate.
The attorneys at Bey & Associates have stood up for many Atlanta motorcyclists who were the unfortunate victims of serious accidents. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault, we want to hear from you.
Motorcycle Crash Statistics in Georgia
According to the most recent data collected by Georgia Driver Services, motorcycles account for just 2% of the registered vehicles in the state, but they account for 11% of traffic fatalities. Additionally, 42% of motorcycle accidents happen in the Atlanta region.
A recent accident reported by Fox 5 Atlanta involved the death of a motorcyclist along the Stone Mountain Highway. A car made a turn off Puckett Road and crossed three lanes of traffic, striking the motorcycle and slamming it into the median. It is a sad reminder of how tragedy can occur in an instant.
These fatal collisions can occur in a matter of seconds, but you may be dealing with the repercussions for a long time. Having a motorcycle accident lawyer from our law firm on your side can help you get the justice you deserve.
Atlanta Personal Injury Practice Areas
Medical Malpractice
Every time we enter the doors to a hospital, doctor's office, or other medical facility, we expect safe, competent care. When that doesn't happen, you deserve answers.
Car Accidents
A car wreck can change your life in the blink of an eye. If you’ve been seriously injured because of another driver’s negligence, you need help now.
Truck Accidents
Large truck and commercial truck accidents are some of the most devastating accidents we see across the United States and in Georgia.
Wrongful Death
The unexpected loss of a loved one is one of the most traumatic experiences a family can go through. When the death should have been prevented, the loss devastating.
Work Injuries
If you’ve been seriously injured while on the job, you’re likely already aware that your employer doesn’t make providing for your family a simple task.
Nursing Home Abuse
Even if you’re confident you’ve found a safe environment for them, it’s important to remember that there are negligent care facilities that abuse their residents.
How Does Negligence Cause Motorcycle Injuries?
Filing a successful motorcycle accident claim requires a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the accident and who can be held accountable.
Some of the common negligent behaviors that can result in a crash include:
- Failure to Check Lanes: If a driver doesn’t look carefully for oncoming traffic, they may not see an approaching motorcyclist. Collisions typically occur when a driver is making a left-hand turn, and they strike a rider they hadn’t seen.
- Passing: Going around a rider requires giving them enough maneuvering room. If a driver cuts off a biker or doesn’t give them enough space and sideswipes them, they could cause an accident.
- Following Too Closely: A driver who’s following too closely may not have enough time to stop. If they hit the rear tire, they can knock the rider off balance.
- Aggressive Driving: Reckless driving, like speeding or changing lanes without signaling or giving others time to prepare, can cause motorcycle collisions.
Common Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcyclists will likely sustain more severe injuries than a person in a vehicle because they do not have the same protection. Even though a motorcyclist has a helmet and thick clothing, if they are struck by a car or truck that throws them to the ground, their injuries can be life-threatening.
These are the common injuries from motorcycle accidents:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Fractures, sprains, bruising
- Lacerations
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Loss of limb
Another potential injury is road rash. This is the most common injury motorcyclists get. It’s a burn injury caused by sliding across asphalt, concrete, or pavement. While minor road rash may require simple cleaning and bandages, the worst injuries may require surgery and could result in permanent scarring or disfigurement.
When these injuries occur, recovery will often entail medical treatment, possible hospitalization, medication, and sometimes surgery. While the injuries heal, the person will need to take time off work.
This can all create overwhelming financial burdens. If that accident was caused by another driver’s negligence, all of those financial burdens can be compensated for.
Our motorcycle accident lawyers are here to fight for you.
How Accident Damages Are Calculated
We aim to help our clients get justice so they can heal financially, physically, and emotionally. We’ll fight for our clients to receive full and fair compensation. The damages can be categorized as economic and non-economic.
Economic damages can be calculated exactly because they refer to monetary losses.
You’re entitled to seek the following:
- Lost Wages: This will cover the days of work you missed because of the accident. If the injuries are severe, you may be away from work for an undetermined amount of time.
- Medical Expenses: Compensation for your past and current medical care will allow you to cover the medical expenses you’ve already incurred and continue to get the treatment you need.
- Diminished Earning Capacity: If you find that you have to take a different position due to a permanent injury, you are entitled to seek compensation to cover that “gap.” When someone else’s negligence resulted in your diminished earning capacity, you shouldn’t have to bear that burden.
- Lost Earnings: In the event you cannot return to work at all, your attorney will calculate what you would have earned if you had been able to return to work. The goal is to ensure you’ll have the compensation you need to continue living your life.
There is another important aspect of your recovery and compensation that you may not have thought about as much. Those would be the non-economic damages. An accident does more than cause significant financial damage.
If you’re no longer able to walk, do your job, participate in hobbies you used to enjoy, or are missing out on other life events, it’s going to take an emotional toll. These consequences cannot be ignored when determining your compensation.
Non-economic damages can include the following:
- Pain and Suffering: The accident and injuries you sustained were likely painful. If you experienced pain and suffering from your injuries, our lawyers will take this into account when determining compensation.
- Mental Anguish: Losing a limb or an injury that causes permanent disfigurement can cause mental anguish and emotional distress. That also needs to be accounted for.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If a motorcycle accident results in paralysis and you’re no longer able to go for walks or move in the way you used to, this changes your life significantly, and it can be difficult to come to terms with. When these instances are the result of someone else’s negligence, your attorney will seek appropriate compensation for those losses.
While economic and non-economic damages are the main components of compensation, punitive damages may also apply. These damages serve to punish the guilty party.
Damages may be available if the negligent party acted in an egregious manner, such as driving while under the influence or going well above the speed limit. These are typically awarded by a jury if your claim is forced to move to a civil court.
An experienced Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer from our law firm will go over everything that happened and calculate fair compensation for your injuries. We’ll also gather evidence to show how the other party was at fault for you to receive compensation.
Comparative Negligence Law
In Georgia, comparative negligence law will apply to your case. This allows you to pursue a claim even if you are found to be partially at fault. Under the law, if you are less than 50% at fault, you can receive compensation.
However, that compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you.
In order to bolster your case and keep the blame of the accident where it belongs, you need to provide strong, supportive evidence. That will include:
- Witness statements
- Surveillance footage
- Medical reports
- Driver history
- Police report
- Motorcycle repair estimates
- Pay stubs
When you work with an experienced Atlanta motorcycle accident attorney, gathering the right evidence and building a strong case shouldn’t be an issue.
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