Atlanta Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycle Accidents Can Cause Major Injuries

Motorcycle accidents occur frequently on roads and highways and often lead to serious injuries or death, which may necessitate contacting a motorcycle accident lawyer Atlanta, GA residents rely on from Council & Associates, LLC. Motorcycle accidents occur frequently on roads and highways and often lead to serious injuries or death. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 15 percent of the vehicle-related fatalities in 2012 involved motorcycles, mopeds, three-wheeled motor vehicles, scooters, mini bikes, or pocket bikes. Automobile drivers often cause a large number of motorcycle crashes because they fail to notice bikers on the road. Speeding, poor weather conditions, running a red light, not using turn signals and driving while intoxicated are also typical factors in motorcycle accidents.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Victims of motorcycle accidents often suffer injuries that are far more severe than those sustained in car accidents. Common injuries that result from bike crashes include, but are not limited to:

• Broken bones
• Paralysis
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Burns
• Road rash
• Facial fractures
• Disfigurement
• Disfigurement
• Death

Recoverable Damages

Motorcycle accident victims and their families are entitled to compensation for their injuries, losses and suffering. Damages in these cases can be staggering due to the severity of the injuries bike crashes cause.

Recoverable damages include:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Property repair or replacement
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Funeral costs

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycle riding is a favorite hobby and form of transportation for many people. But sometimes all it takes is a few seconds of another driver doing something reckless for the motorcyclist to land on the ground. As an Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer knows all too well, motorcycle accidents are caused by a myriad of situations and factors. In many cases, it is a negligent driver who was not paying enough attention to the road, and because of it, struck a motorcyclist. However, there are other reasons that motorcycle accidents can happen, and victims may be entitled to compensation for the property damage, injuries, and other ways that they have suffered.

If you consider the size of a motorcyclist compared to other cars on the road, then it’s no surprise to hear that they often sustain the very worst injuries. Due to the modest size of a motorcyclist, the visibility is reduced, and can be hindered by glare depending on the time of day. Nevertheless, car drivers must operate their vehicle in a way that is safe for others and does not cause serious injury. In the event of a motorcycle accident, victims are advised to seek help from a lawyer as soon as possible. If you were hit by a car driver as a motorcyclist and need a legal team to rely on, you can depend on us at Council & Associates, LLC.

Common Motorcycle Accident Causes

Many motorcycle accidents happen when another vehicle on the road is making a left turn at a stop sign, stop light, or yield. Car drivers may inadvertently turn into a motorcyclist when they are making a left hand turn. Despite the driver checking their mirrors before turning or changing lanes, a motorcyclist can be difficult to see, as they may be located within the driver’s blind spot. This is why in driver’s education classes, they emphasize looking over your shoulder and in the mirrors, to ensure that another vehicle or person on a motorcycle is not in their blind spot.

Another reason that motorcycle accidents may happen is due to dangerous road conditions, such as uneven pavement, slippery surfaces, debris on the roadway, loose gravel, mess from construction sites, and more. In cases like these, it may not be another driver who is responsible for the motorcycle accident. The construction company or organization that maintains public roadways may be held liable for the victim’s injuries, property damage, and other losses.

Speeding & Reckless Driving

Speeding and reckless driving is a common cause of many motor vehicle accidents, and in particular, those who are riding on a motorcycle. Accidents can happen when the driver is speeding, maneuvering too aggressively, not paying attention, or tailgating someone else in front of them. The driver may be using their vehicle in a manner that is threatening the safety of others, especially if they are engaging in road rage. Motorcycle accidents tend to be the fault of another, and not the rider themselves, so it’s worth finding out if your circumstances warrant legal action.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Atlanta, GA

A motorcycle accident lawyer Atlanta, GA clients trust knows that there are almost 5,000 people killed in motorcycle accidents every year. More than 90,000 riders suffer serious injuries. Many of these victims are left with permanent disabilities from the catastrophic injuries they sustain. The legal team at Council & Associates, LLC can help victims of motorcycle accidents get the financial compensation they deserve.

Negligent Drivers

Motorcycle accidents can occur for many reasons, but one of the main causes of these crashes is negligent or reckless actions by other drivers. All drivers owe a duty of care to every motorist and pedestrian we share the roads with. Tragically, there are too many drivers who ignore this duty of care, resulting in injuries and deaths of others.

Some of the more common negligent behaviors of vehicle drivers that result in motorcycle accidents are:

• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence
• Failure to leave enough space between their vehicle and the motorcycle in front of them
• Failure to obey traffic lights or signs
• Failure to obey the posted speed limit
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Failure to drive according to weather conditions
• Failure to drive according to road conditions

Common Motorcycle Injuries

While any one of the above negligent acts can result in any type of vehicle accident, when it involves a motorcycle, the injuries are usually direr. This is because there is nothing that protects a motorcycle rider from the impact of being slammed by a car like there is when the victim is in another vehicle. Some of the more common injuries motorcycle accident victims suffer include:

• Fractured bones
• Brain injuries
• Back injuries
• Internal organ injuries
• Neck injuries
• Paralysis
• Road rash
• Lacerations

Atlanta Motorcycle Accident Infographic

Proving Negligence

An Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer understands that there is an incorrect assumption of many people that motorcyclists are daredevils that take unnecessary and dangerous risks while riding. The truth is actually the opposite – the majority of riders are aware of the dangers that they face on the roads and are especially cautious of the vehicles and drivers they share the road with.

But it is still a common occurrence for the at-fault driver’s insurance company to try to blame the victim for the crash in order to get out of paying the claim. This is why it is critical to have a skilled and experienced lawyer representing you.

Your lawyer will do all he or she can to prove your case. This includes getting the police report of the crash, as well as all witness statements. In addition to any photographs taken of the scene of the accident, your lawyer will likely also investigate whether any video footage of the accident exists from security cameras that may be installed on homes and/or businesses that are located in the vicinity of the accidents. Lawyers can also consult and use testimony from different expert witnesses, such as accident reconstruction specialists, to prove liability.

Call Our Office Today

If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident, you likely have high medical bills, as well as income losses from being unable to work while you recover. Having an Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer representing you will ensure the best outcome based on the circumstances of your case. Call Council & Associates, LLC today to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation.

Atlanta Motorcycle Accident Lawyer FAQs

When working with an Atlanta, GA motorcycle accident lawyer, you  may have some questions about your case. All questions are welcomed, and one of our knowledgeable attorneys will be more than happy to answer them. In order to provide a little more information, we have compiled some of the most commonly asked questions we receive. Read them below to learn more, and then contact Council & Associates, LLC for help.

What are the most common causes of accidents?

As mentioned above on this page, negligent drivers are a large cause of accidents. Texting or anything related to someone looking at a phone are certainly top contributors to incidents involving motorcycles. However, most of the time drivers just do not see motorcycles. They might be looking at their phones or simply daydreaming. That is why it is very important to make yourself extremely visible when riding your motorcycle, according to an Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer.

Are motorcyclists more likely to be injured in accidents?

Yes. Because motorcycles are so much smaller than cars and offer much less protection than a car, motorcyclists are more likely to be injured in an accident. For these same reasons, motorcyclists also have a higher fatality rate. If a rider is fortunate enough to walk away from an accident, they tend to also face some of the worst injuries. While a person in a car might experience some mild bumps and bruises, motorcyclists are more likely to experience broken bones and internal bleeding.

When do motorcycle accidents happen the most?

Motorcyclists experience the most accidents when making left-hand turns, specifically those that have to go across traffic where one driving party is supposed to yield to the other. This is where the negligent drivers come into play: if someone does not double check that the road is clear or they are texting or their mind is elsewhere, it is easy to miss a motorcycle amongst the larger traffic. This sometimes applies to right-hand turns too when traffic has to be crossed, but the larger proportion of accidents are during left-hand turns.

Are motorcycle crashes more likely to happen at higher speeds?

Surprisingly, no. Most motorcycle accidents happen around 30mph give or take a few miles. That is the average speed for most neighborhoods or busy city streets. This leads into the question above, while most accidents are not at high speeds, almost all of them are at intersections. Even though 30mph may not sound like a lot, when there is nothing to protect your body from the road, that speed is unbelievably fast and injurious.

If a loved one or I was injured in an accident, what should I do?

It does not matter if you were going fast or slow, making a right-hand turn or left, motorcycle accidents are serious. After seeking immediate medical attention, you or your loved one should contact an attorney right away. They will be able to represent your case to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Even if your loved one suffered a fatal injury, you can still receive compensation to help cover medical bills and funeral costs. Contact an Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer at Council & Associates, LLC for help.

Council & Associates is a Georgia motorcycle accident firm serving clients in Atlanta and Albany. We care about victims of bike crashes and work zealously to ensure that they receive maximum compensation for their injuries. We have more than a decade of experience helping personal injury victims collect millions of dollars in damages following an accident caused by another person’s negligence. Our team is compassionate and tenacious with a strong track record of successfully taking on insurance companies and securing the best possible outcome for victims injured or killed in motorcycle accidents.

Contact our legal team for help recovering for injuries, losses, and suffering caused by a motorcycle accident. We will schedule a confidential meeting with you to discuss the specific facts of your case. As an Atlanta lawyer motorcycle accident team from Council & Associates, LLC would inform prospective clients, most cases are handled on a contingency fee basis with no upfront legal costs.

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