As one of the best places to live in Cobb County, Mableton has the benefits of being close to Atlanta without all of the hassles of the big city. While the traffic may not be quite as hectic as Atlanta, we still have some busy intersections, especially during rush hour. And of course, with all of that traffic, accidents are inevitable. If you’re an avid motorcycle rider, you know the roads can be dangerous when they’re clogged with drivers in a hurry. And with so many of today’s vehicles being high profile — such as SUVs, it’s easy for a driver in another vehicle to not even see a motorcycle rider until it’s too late.
If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident in Mableton or Cobb County, you may be worried about medical bills piling up, and you may be angry. We get it. A motorcycle accident lawyer at our Mableton accident law firm can help you file an insurance claim and negotiate an insurance settlement that will ease your mind, and hold the driver who caused your accident responsible.
Motorcycle Accidents Are Different Than Other Accidents
When you’re in your car, pickup or SUV, you’re protected by safety equipment including the actual walls of the vehicle itself, bumpers, seat belts, and air bags. But on a motorcycle, even when you’re wearing a helmet as required by Georgia’s helmet law, you’re vulnerable to major injury in an accident. Even a low speed collision with another vehicle can throw you from your bike, or your motorcycle can get tangled with another vehicle and you can be dragged along the ground.
In many accidents between a motorcycle and a car, the people in the car will often suffer only bumps and bruises, while the motorcyclist ends up in the emergency room fighting for his or her life.
Who Is At Fault in the Majority of Motorcycle Accidents?
While motorcyclists have a reputation for being risk takers, most motorcycle drivers are very careful in traffic. Motorcycle drivers are constantly on the lookout for inattentive drivers, and will change lanes to avoid them. The fact is, in most cases, the motorcycle driver is NOT AT FAULT. The other driver is.
A study with the ironic name of the Hurt Report, named examined several years worth of motorcycle accidents and looked at who caused them — the motorcyclist or the driver in another vehicle. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) authorized the study in the 1970s. While that may seem like ancient history, the key findings still stand.
The major findings of the Hurt Report include:
- Two-thirds of motorcycle accidents where another vehicle is involved occurred because the other driver failed to see the motorcycle and violated the cyclists’ right of way. This includes turning in front of a motorcyclist and changing lanes and hitting a motorcyclist.
- Motorcycle helmets greatly reduce fatalities and brain injuries without causing an increased risk of an accident.
Ultimately, the police accident investigation and the insurance company investigations will determine who is at fault in your accident. Having a motorcycle accident lawyer working with you can help protect your rights during these investigations, and help make sure your side of the story is told.
Who Is Going to Pay for My Medical Bills and Replace My Bike?
Most times, you will need to file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company, and they will pay your claim. But before you speak with that insurance company, it’s a good idea to consult with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer to determine what you should claim. The reality is, insurance companies are in business to make money and enrich their shareholders. That means they will try to deny claims or offer the smallest settlements possible. By partnering with a motorcycle accident lawyer, you greatly improve the likelihood that you will get a settlement that covers all your needs.
If the other driver’s insurance company calls you while you’re in the hospital, or contacts you right away to offer a settlement, don’t accept it or sign anything without talking to a lawyer first. (An initial consultation with an accident lawyer at our law firm is FREE.) And having a motorcycle accident lawyer on your side may make the insurance company more likely to negotiate a fair settlement. They know your lawyer might file a lawsuit on your behalf if they don’t.
If the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, we may be able to sue them directly for compensation, or sue a third party, if a third party was involved in the accident. A third party might be the other driver’s employer if they were on the job when the accident happened, or it could be the bar that served alcohol to a driver who was subsequently in a drunk driving accident. A third party could also be the road construction company that left debris in the road.
What Damages or Compensation Can I Claim?
If you were less than 51% at fault in the accident, you are entitled to claim several kinds of damages, including
- Medical Expenses (both present and future)
- Property Damage
- Lost Wages
Your motorcycle accident lawyer can help you total everything up to make sure you file an accurate claim. Medical expenses can include everything from ambulance fees and a hospital stay to physical therapy and prescription drugs. Property damage costs are basically what it will cost to repair or replace your motorcycle and all the accessories that were damaged in the accident. Lost wages helps pay you for any time you missed from work.
Filing a claim, or multiple claims, and negotiating a settlement with the insurance company can get pretty complicated. That’s why it’s helpful to have a lawyer on your side.
Talk to a Mableton Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for Free
If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident, don’t face the insurance companies alone. Consulting with a Mableton motorcycle accident lawyer may be the best decision you make. Our lawyers have helped countless accident victims over the years, and we’d like to put our experience to work for you. Let us give you a FREE case evaluation to help you understand what to do next in your case.
Call us at (404) 341-6555 or use our contact form to schedule your free consultation today.
