Alpharetta Motorcycle Accident Lawyers | Geiger Legal Group, LLC

Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents

Many different factors can lead to a devastating motorcycle accident. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Alpharetta include:

Intersection accidents – These crashes occur when drivers run red lights, ignore traffic signs, or fail to yield the right of way to motorcyclists.

Blind spot accidents – Motorists are more likely to overlook motorcyclists riding behind or beside them, especially in dense traffic.

Distracted driving accidents – Motorists who are too busy texting, talking on the phone, or engaging in other distractions may fail to notice motorcycle riders until it is too late to avoid a collision.

Speeding accidents – When drivers don’t leave themselves enough time or space to avoid a crash, they can severely injure a motorcyclist.

Accidents caused by driver error – Following too closely for road conditions and improper passing, turning, or merging can lead to a severe injury accident.

Dooring accidents – When negligent vehicle occupants open their car doors into the paths of oncoming riders, it’s called a dooring accident.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Alpharetta

After a severe motorcycle accident in Alpharetta, you might feel overwhelmed and wonder what to do next. There are simple steps you can take to protect your health and the right to seek compensation from the at-fault party, including:

See a doctor — Seek prompt medical attention to make sure your crash injuries are diagnosed, treated, and included in your official medical records. Follow your doctor’s care plan and attend all follow-up appointments as needed.

Secure evidence — Gather evidence from the accident scene, including photos of the wreck, contact and insurance details from the driver, and statements from eyewitnesses.

Document your losses — Hang on to your medical bills, bank records, pay stubs, repair estimates, and any other documentation of your crash-related expenses. Create a “pain journal” to record observations about the pain levels and physical limitations you experience due to the crash in your daily life.

Be careful about what you say — Watch what you say to the driver, the insurance company, and any other third parties after the accident. They could use anything you say to shift the blame onto you or minimize your accident claim. Avoid sharing any information or photos online while your claim is pending.

Talk to a lawyer — Contact a knowledgeable motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible.

How Is Liability Determined After an Alpharetta Motorcycle Accident?

In Georgia, you usually must prove that another party was liable for your injuries to seek compensation after a crash. When insurance adjusters and other parties investigate motorcycle accidents, they typically look for the following types of evidence to determine liability:

Photos of visible injuries and wreckage at the accident scene
Video footage of the collision from traffic cameras or dashcams
Statements from reliable eyewitnesses who saw the crash occur
Testimony from experts, such as accident reconstruction specialists
Police crash reports and other official documentation of the wreck

What If I Was Partially At Fault in a Motorcycle Accident?

In some motorcycle injury cases, the motorcyclist is partially responsible for the accident. If you were partially at fault for a motorcycle wreck in Alpharetta, it’s crucial to know how Georgia’s comparative negligence doctrine would affect your claim.

This doctrine states that if you are partially responsible for your losses, the court must assign a certain percentage of fault to you. The court must then reduce the amount of compensation awarded to the plaintiff based on that percentage of fault. But if the court determines you are 50 percent or more at fault, you would be unable to recover compensation.

So let’s say you were 10 percent responsible for a Georgia motorcycle wreck that cost you $100,000 in medical bills and other losses. If you took your case to court and won, the most you could recover would be the remaining 90 percent of your total case value — $90,000.

Remember that Georgia’s comparative negligence law may apply to your case even if you never intend to file a lawsuit. Most injury claims settle out of court. However, your most persuasive bargaining chip in any settlement negotiation is your ability to sue. If the other side knows you have no chance of winning at trial, they will have little incentive to make attractive settlement offers. An injury attorney could review your motorcycle accident case and help you determine the best way to maximize the value of your injury claim.

Compensation Available After a Georgia Motorcycle Accident

With a successful injury claim, you could collect a payout with compensation for the following types of losses after a Georgia motorcycle accident:

Hospital bills and other medical expenses related to your injuries
Incidental costs, such as mileage expenses for medical travel
Lost wages from any time you missed at work during your recovery
Lost earning capacity, if your injuries are permanently disabling
Subjective losses, such as pain, suffering, and lost quality of life

Talk to Our Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Alpharetta, GA Today

When you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, don’t let the other party’s insurer pressure you into taking less than you deserve. You have the right to demand fair compensation for your losses if their negligence injured you. An experienced motorcycle injury lawyer could help you seek it.

Let the dedicated Alpharetta motorcycle accident attorneys at Geiger Legal Group, LLC handle every aspect of your claim while you focus on your recovery. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.