Atlanta Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Atlanta, GAGeorgia highways and secondary roads can be dangerous places for motorcyclists. Commercial vehicles, dump trucks, tow trucks, other large trucks, and even cars frequently fail to keep a proper lookout for motorcycles, causing serious accidents. Victims of these accidents can be left with devastating and sometimes fatal injuries.
When these incidents occur, victims have the right to hold the at-fault party accountable. At the Law Offices of Andrew E. Goldner, our Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys represent victims across Atlanta to ensure their rights are protected.
The Most Common Cause of Motorcycle Accidents: Other Motorists
All too often, the actions of semi truck drivers cause motorcycle accidents in Atlanta. Tractor-trailers and other large commercial trucks operating in Georgia are legally required to use “conspicuity measures.” These are additions to the truck and trailer which make the vehicle more visible, therefore serving to protect motorcycles and cars.
For example, you may have noticed the reflective tape on the side of many tractor-trailers. When light shines on the tape, the motorist is alerted to the fact that a trailer is present. Of course, many trucks and trailers also have side lights, running lights, and other types of attention-getting markings which all serve to draw notice to the vehicle.
While these and other safety measures serve an important purpose, our Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers often see collisions occurring due to drivers’ failure to keep a proper lookout for motorcyclists. Cars and trucks turn left in front of motorcycles, pull out in front of motor bikes, and change lanes abruptly, causing catastrophic collisions.
Other Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Atlanta
Increasingly, we are seeing significant collisions resulting from gravel, stones, and other debris left in the roadway as a result of road construction. Private road contractors are required to leave the worksite in a clean, safe condition; however, many contractors fail to appropriately safeguard the roadway surrounding their worksites.
Loose gravel and debris can result in catastrophic wrecks for unsuspecting motorcyclists. Private construction companies can be held liable for the damages caused when the worksite is left in an unsafe condition.
In addition to negligent drivers and dangerous road conditions, motorcycle accidents can often occur because a part on the motorcycle was defective. Brakes, tires, gearshifts, steering systems, and other critical components of a motorcycle can suddenly fail, which often causes a motorcyclist to lose control and crash.
Motorcycle manufacturers have the responsibility to produce and sell motorcycles that are safe and free of dangerous defects. If a defective motorcycle causes an accident, the company that sold that motorcycle may be held responsible.
Obligations of Motorcyclists
Georgia law also imposes certain safety obligations on motorcyclists. For example, all drivers and riders are required to wear protective headgear, according to O.C.G.A. § 40-6-315(a). Further, the motorcycle must be equipped with a windshield, unless the driver and rider are wearing protective eyewear. The Georgia Department of Driver’s Services has an online manual which provides some excellent suggestions for safe use of a motorbike.
Aside from legal safety obligations, motorcycle operators should do everything in their power to protect themselves and their passengers. Drivers should remain alert at all times and be prepared to react defensively when necessary. A motorcycle operator should never assume that another driver sees them or will behave in a predictable manner.
Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
Despite taking all of the required and recommended safety precautions, motorcyclists in Georgia can still be injured in an accident through no fault of their own. Because motorcyclists are not protected by a metal frame, seat belts, airbags, or other features of cars or trucks, they can sustain particularly severe and life-changing injuries when they crash.
Some of the common serious injuries sustained by motorcyclists include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Skull fractures
- Jaw or facial fractures
- Dental injuries
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis
- Burns
- Broken, shattered, or crushed bones
- Amputations
- Internal injuries
All of these injuries can require a substantial amount of medical treatment, including emergency transportation and care, extended hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitative therapy, home healthcare, medical equipment, and much more. This extensive need for care often means that medical bills become unsurmountable.
Even when medical insurance takes over part of the payments, the balances remaining can throw a victim into a spiral of financial difficulties.
Many motorcycle accident victims take months to recover and may not be able to work or attend school during their recovery. Therefore, they may lose financial support for their household at the same time they are watching the medical bills pile up. This financial stress is in addition to the extreme pain and suffering that can be experienced due to such serious injuries.
Some victims of motorcycle accidents never fully recover, and may face a lifetime of disabilities and impairments that completely change the way they live their lives and their ability to earn a living.
Your Rights as a Motorcycle Accident Victim
The good news for many victims of motorcycle accidents in Atlanta is that you may have the legal right to seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, disabilities, pain and suffering, and other losses you have experienced.
In order to do so, you must identify the party or parties that caused your accident. You must gather and present evidence that the party was negligent in some manner and should be held liable for your losses. Finally, you must prove the amount of losses you suffered for which you deserve to recover.
This can involve presenting your medical bills and work records, or may require the opinion of experts to testify to the amount of future earning capacity you have lost or the value of your pain and suffering. These calculations require the assistance of a highly skilled motorcycle accident attorney who knows how to fight for maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.
Contact the Atlanta Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta, you need to know that you have rights along with legal options for seeking compensation for your monetary losses. Reach out to our office, to learn more about how our motorcycle accident attorneys can assist you and your family.
We know that you may be experiencing financial difficulty and will hold your initial case evaluation at no cost to you. Call our office at 404-869-1580 to schedule your consultation or fill out our online contact form at your convenience. Our Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers are here for you.