Motorcycle accidents are classified as motor vehicle accidents, but there are a number of factors that set motorcycle accidents apart from other kinds of roadway accidents.
One crucial difference is the amount of damage absorbed by the motorcycle rider in an accident. Because motorbike riders are not protected by a vehicle’s metal shell, they run the risk of suffering more damage and increase their odds of being catastrophically injured in an accident. In fact, the risks for motorcycle riders are significantly greater — accidents involving motorcycles result in 35 times more deaths than accidents involving other vehicles.
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Typical Motorbike Accidents Our Law Firm Represents:
- Limited visibility accidents
- Motorcycle rear-end crashes
- U-turn and left turn accidents
- Single-motorbike accidents
- Motorcycle failure to yield accidents
- Inclement weather motorcycle wrecks
- Hazardous road conditions
- Accidents caused by defective motorcycle parts
- Motorbike Accidents
If you are a victim of one of these or any other motorcycle accident, contact our law firm today for help.
Motorcycles typically travel at the same speed as other vehicles on the road. But small road hazards that would not affect a car or truck pose a greater threat to motorcycles. And motorcycles are smaller and harder for drivers to see, often hidden by other objects and more likely to disappear into blind spots. It is surprisingly easy to be clipped by a car that is changing lanes; and the reality for motorcycle riders is that a tiny nudge can send you off the road or off your bike.
Liability in a Motorcycle Accident
Although motorcycle accident cases differ slightly from other vehicle accidents, the core legal principles are still the same. The negligent party is liable for all damages inflicted on the accident victim, regardless of whether or not that victim was another motorist or a motorcycle rider. Negligence in these cases is defined as the act of behaving in a careless or thoughtless manner that causes another person to suffer an injury. In the majority of accidents involving motorcycles, the other party is negligent, often failing to check their mirrors before turning or changing lanes, or driving while distracted. Motorcycle riders tend to do their best to avoid other motorists, but even careful riders can still be seriously hurt in an accident.
If you are in a motorcycle accident, it is important to talk to Lloyd immediately. After a motorcycle wreck, motorists may claim that the person riding the motorcycle was driving recklessly, and that is what caused the accident. And because of stereotypes held by many people, it can be difficult to disprove this. Also working against motorcyclists is the fact that if they are injured in accident, they are likely to be taken to the hospital immediately, and therefore may be unavailable to give their side of the story to the police. Given the possibility of loss of memory or other head injuries, it is a good idea that if you ride a motorcycle, you keep the number of a motorcycle accident lawyer on hand, just in case.
Some Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
If you ride a motorcycle there are precautionary steps you can take to avoid an accident or protect yourself in case you do have a collision. Road hazards are a leading cause of motorcycle accidents; for Georgia motorcyclists, these include icy roads, debris and uneven road surfaces. Take care if you are riding on a road for the first time. The head is the most vulnerable area of the body, and most catastrophic accidents are the result of head injuries. Georgia law requires that all motorcycle riders wear a helmet. Wearing one, as well as other protective wear, will provide some protection from injury if you have an accident while on your bike. And Georgia riders may benefit from motorcycle safe riding programs.
A majority of motorcycle accidents involve single vehicles and/or hit-and-run; sometimes with unreliable or no witnesses. Therefore, in a motorcycle accident lawsuit, a key element is determining the responsible parties. Underlying causes may not be apparent at first, especially if the victim was knocked unconscious in the accident. And some motorcycle accidents involve more than one responsible party. In fact, responsible parties can include:
- Driver or drivers of other vehicles
- Roadway construction and/or maintenance
- Defect in motorcycle parts (manufacturer or seller)
- Motorbike repair shop
- Motorbike rental company
- Defective safety equipment (helmet) manufacturer
Victims of single vehicle hit-and-run accidents are sometimes undiscovered for long periods of time. Without immediate medical treatment, injuries can become worse over time or even cause death. As a result, victims often cannot recall what happened after a hit-and-run collision.
If you ride a motorcycle, be careful — and be prepared. And if you are the victim of an accident while on your bike, contact Lloyd for a free consultation about the compensation you may be entitled to.
Our firm does not charge any up-front fees to represent you in your case. The attorneys at our firm represent each client on a contingency fee basis. This means that our fee is paid based on a percentage of the money we recover for you. Our consultations are free and we are proud to offer the option to bring our personal legal service to you. We use personal delivery services to get legal documents right to you no matter where you are.
If we do not receive an offer or a verdict on your case or recover any money for you, you will not be charged for any of the attorney’s time spent on your case.
In addition, the statute of limitations is defined as the time period in which a lawsuit must be filed and they typically differ by type of civil claim. In the state of Georgia, there is a two-year limit from the date of the incident for personal injury, fraud and medical malpractice claims. Other claims, such as personal property, trespassing and debt collection have a four-year limit.
If you do not file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations has expired the case will be dismissed and forever barred from being re-filed.
