Motorcycles are popular vehicles because of their freedom and mobility. However, this also leaves motorcycle operators and riders vulnerable to devastating injuries or death during an accident.
If you have been injured or lost someone you love in a motorcycle accident caused by another’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.
The Macon motorcycle accident attorneys at Roden Law Firm have been helping personal injury victims in central Georgia for more than a decade. We understand the serious impact a severe motorcycle accident can have on your life. As dedicated Macon personal injury attorneys, we have obtained millions in verdicts and settlements for our clients and will remain diligent in our pursuit to secure the compensation and justice you deserve. Our attorneys are members of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and know how to efficiently handle motorcycle accident cases. Do not hesitate to schedule a free, no obligation consultation with one of our qualified attorneys. All of our work is provided at no upfront cost, and you only have to pay us if we recover compensation for you.
Complete our Free Case Evaluation form to get started.
Compensation for a Motorcycle Accident
A serious motorcycle accident can cause you to suffer significant injuries that result in expensive medical treatment. The financial stress from these expenses can worsen if an injury prevents you from working and earning an income.
For this reason, it is imperative that you understand the true value of your motorcycle accident claim. Insurance companies are known to lowball accident victims by offering the least amount of compensation possible. We strongly advise against accepting any offers from insurance companies until you are confident it covers the full cost of your injuries or one of our Macon motorcycle accident lawyers has reviewed your claim.
Typically, a Macon motorcycle accident attorney will assess the value of a personal injury claim by reviewing two types of compensation: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are the financial losses you incurred after the crash. This form of compensation is intended to restore victims to the financial state they were in before the accident. This can include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages or income
- Property damage
- Loss of future earning ability
Additionally, you may be entitled to compensation for the intangible losses you have suffered as a result of the motorcycle accident. This is referred to as non-economic damages and may include compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
However, non-economic damages cannot be obtained through an insurance claim. Instead, this type of compensation can only be recovered if you have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party.
A Macon motorcycle accident lawyer will thoroughly evaluate your claim to determine the compensation you may be entitled. We will analyze the cost of your medical treatment, such as treatment received at Regency Hospital of Central Georgia-Macon or other local health care providers. We will also review the amount of wages you lost during your recovery, and the amount of money you would have earned had you not been injured to reach an accurate estimate of your losses.
Call 1-844-RESULTS if you were injured in a motorcycle accident.
Liability for a Motorcycle Accident
Georgia is a “fault” state, which means drivers and their insurance companies are responsible for paying for the accidents they cause. This means any injured party can file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurer for the full amount of financial damages they suffered after the accident. However, it also means that you must be able to prove the other driver was at fault to recover compensation.
Proving Fault
In most motorcycle collisions, fault is determined by the level of negligence each party had in causing the accident.
A person is negligent when he or she behaves in a careless or reckless manner and causes injury to another person. Motorists must be careful to avoid injuring other drivers sharing the roadway. If a driver fails to exercise reasonable care and injures someone as a result, he or she can be held liable for the accident.
However, Georgia follows the standard of modified comparative negligence to determine fault in a personal injury case. Under modified comparative negligence, you are able to recover compensation from the at-fault party even if you are partially to blame for your accident. However, if you are found to be more than 50 percent at fault for causing your injuries, you are prohibited from recovering any compensation.
Our Macon motorcycle accident lawyers will thoroughly review your claim to identify the four elements of negligence we need to hold the other party liable for your damages. These four elements are:
- Duty of Care: The other party had a duty of care to protect you and others from unnecessary risk of harm.
- Breach of Duty: The other party failed to uphold his or her obligation and caused you harm by failing to act as a reasonably prudent person would under the same circumstances.
- Causation: The other party’s breach of duty directly caused the accident that injured you.
- Damages: You suffered financially because of the accident caused by the other party.
If we conclude that the other party’s actions could be considered negligence, we will help you aggressively pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.
Complete our Free Case Evaluation form to find out if you have a case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
Georgia law imposes a two-year deadline on personal injury claims, like motorcycle accidents, referred to as the “statute of limitations.” The time limit begins on the date the accident occurred.
It is imperative that you understand where your claim falls within the statute of limitations. If you wait too long to take action, you will be prohibited from pursuing compensation from the at-fault party.
Our Macon motorcycle accident lawyers have a strong understanding of Georgia’s personal injury laws and the time limits that apply to these cases. We will work diligently to properly file your claim to help ensure it meets this crucial deadline.
Fill out our Free Case Evaluation form.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can occur for many reasons. However, the majority of motorcycle accidents are the result of another drivers’ negligence.
Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents caused by negligent drivers include:
- Swerving in front of a motorcyclist
- Cutting off a motorcyclist at an intersection
- Traveling faster than the speed limit
- Failing to leave a safe amount of space between two vehicles
- Neglecting to pay attention to the roadway
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Failing to see a motorcyclist changing or entering lanes
Often, motorcycle accidents are caused by drivers who fail to yield to or recognize a motorcyclist. Many collisions between a motorcycle and passenger vehicle also occur because drivers fail to exercise the proper care when making left-hand turns at intersections. Left turn-accidents are frequently caused by drivers who:
- Misjudge the motorcyclist’s speed or distance
- Suddenly and unexpectedly stop in the motorcyclist’s path
- Fail to see the motorcyclist
- React to nearby drivers who may also fail to see a motorcyclist
Motorcycle Accident Injuries
In the event of a crash, motorcycles offer riders and passengers hardly any protection from the elements and other vehicles. Because of this, our Macon motorcycle accident lawyers often see victims suffer severe injuries, such as:
- Bone fractures
- Traumatic head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head trauma
- Disfigurement
- Paralysis
- Loss of limbs
- Neck injuries
- Wrist injuries
- Death
Our Macon motorcycle accident attorneys will aggressively pursue your claim against the at-fault party to recover compensation for any harm you suffered because of his or her negligence. Do not hesitate to contact us and schedule a free consultation to determine if you have legal options available.
Call 1-844-RESULTS if you were involved in a motorcycle accident in Georgia.
Contact Our Macon Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Motorcycle accidents can be traumatic and may result in life-changing consequences for the people involved. Because of the seriousness of motorcycle accidents, you should never hesitate to contact a qualified Macon motorcycle accident lawyer to review your claim.
At Roden Law Firm, we will provide you with a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your accident and determine if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses. Our attorneys will conduct a thorough examination of your claim to find out if you can hold the at-fault party liable for the pain and suffering you have endured.
We understand the difficulties motorcycle accident victims and their families endure. We work only on a contingency fee basis so you can focus on recovering from your accident instead of paying legal fees. We will only charge you if we recover compensation for your claim.