When motorcycle accidents happen in Gainesville, they can be deadly for bikers. If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident, it’s time to get legal protection as soon as you can. You might be able to recover ALL of your damages from the accident, but you need a Gainesville motorcycle accident lawyer on your side to do so.
Our experienced and compassionate motorcycle accident lawyers are on your side. We understand the law surrounding biker rights on the roads, and we’re ready to fight for the financial recovery you deserve. Don’t let another person’s poor choices on the road leave you with financial worries that aren’t your fault.
Call us today for a FREE consultation to talk about your case. Call our office, or simply fill out the online form to your right for your free consultation.
If Another Vehicle Hit Me While I Was on My Motorcycle, What Are My Rights?
Under Georgia law, motorcycles have the right to full use of a lane just like other vehicles. You deserve to be on the road as much as other drivers. Unfortunately, not all other drivers believe or recognize this.
But if someone hits you while riding your motorcycle, you have rights. And if the other driver’s carelessness led to the collision and left you with injuries and other damages, they (and their insurance company) are liable for your costs.
There are a few key steps to take after a motorcycle accident to help ensure your rights are upheld and respected throughout your case:
Call the Police
After any traffic accident, including a Gainesville motorcycle accident, you must call Gainesville police and report the accident. Officers will arrive at the scene and create a report of the accident. You might also want to remind them that bikes have the same rights on Georgia roads and always give them any additional details you can remember about the accident—such as any suspicious activity you might have noticed from the other driver.
Take Pictures of the Accident
Use your smartphone to take pictures of your injuries, your bike’s damage, and the accident scene. This will serve as evidence of your damages and the accident. If your injuries worsen over time, be sure to document the changes.
You deserve to be covered for any costs associated with your injuries, especially if they worsen later.
See a doctor
Motorcycle accidents tend to be particularly extreme, even fatal. Biker victims of a Gainesville motorcycle accident can suffer broken or shattered bones, concussions (with or without a helmet), and other potentially life-long injuries requiring serious treatment like surgery or rehabilitation.
If you have serious injuries, seek medical treatment immediately. Even if an injury doesn’t seem so bad right after an accident, it can get worse with time, and symptoms can manifest quickly as your adrenaline from the accident wears off. Plus, when pursuing financial recovery, you’ll need a medical record proving you sought medical treatment and that a doctor began treating your injuries.
Don’t Admit to Anything
Sometimes other drivers can become particularly aggressive with bikers, unfairly assuming they were being irresponsible on the road. Don’t let this intimidate you into apologizing or admitting any fault for the accident. Speak with a motorcycle accident first.
Get a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Gainesville Before Speaking to the Insurance Company
The other driver’s insurance company will try reaching out to you soon after the accident. Never accept any first offer they give you or sign anything accepting money or blame in the accident. Insurers will likely know you’re worried about the mounting costs of your accident, and they may try to offer you money upfront.
If you take this, you’ll forfeit your chance to seek more money—and the amount they offer is never enough to cover ALL of your expenses. Contact a motorcycle accident attorney in Gainesville as soon as possible so they can negotiate a fair settlement amount for your damages. These actions can help protect your rights and avoid being taken advantage of.
Having a lawyer on your side after a Gainesville, GA, motorcycle accident will also ensure that you file a claim by the deadline. There is a statute of limitations in Georgia of two years from the date of the accident in which to file a claim. Should you miss this deadline to file, the judge can dismiss your claim, and you lose the chance to recover compensation.
If My Loved One Was Killed in a Motorcycle Accident in Gainesville, What Can I Do?
If you are the spouse, child, or parent (in that order) of a loved one killed in a motorcycle accident, you can bring a wrongful death case on behalf of the deceased. The purpose of wrongful death cases is to financially compensate the victim’s family for what was lost.
After the accident, you’ll want to contact a truck accident wrongful death lawyer who can ensure you meet the correct deadlines for bringing a wrongful death suit. They’ll also be able to help you in calculating the price of the lawsuit. While it’s impossible to place a specific value on someone’s life, wrongful death cases try to compensate the deceased’s family appropriately for the circumstances.
A wrongful death lawsuit will approach all financial damages from the deceased’s perspective, not those living. The courts will look at two main factors when awarding money for wrongful death:
- The economic impact. This includes medical bills, funeral costs from the accident, and money the victim might have earned if their life hadn’t ended.
- The emotional impact. This references the enjoyment and life the deceased was deprived of as a result of their death. The emotional impact is calculated by looking at their age, death, health status, life expectancy, etc.
Talk to a Gainesville Motorcycle Accident Attorney for Free
Our motorcycle accident lawyers are ready to help. With more than two decades of experience, we know how to approach motorcycle accidents with your best financial recovery in mind – and we don’t back down to insurance companies. Plus, working with us is risk-free: we don’t take any money unless we win you money.
For a free consultation to discuss your case, call us today, or complete the form to your right. If you miss the deadline, you could lose the chance to recover compensation for your injuries. Speak with a Gainesville motorcycle accident lawyer today.
