Motorcycle Accident Attorney Albany

Due to the limited amount of protection a motorcycle provides out on the road, and negligent drivers, motorcycle riders are exposed to potentially catastrophic injuries.

Each year, thousands of people enjoy riding their bikes around Albany. While the roads around Georgia can be perfect for riding, there’s been an increase in injured motorcyclists over the years. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, then you need to speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer Albany as soon as possible. With legal representation, you can receive a high settlement that will cover the cost of medical expenses, damaged property, pain and suffering, and other damages.

How Can a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help?

Passenger car and truck drivers often have trouble noticing bikes on the road and they sometimes fail to practice the necessary safety precautions that are required by law. A motorcycle accident can leave the accident victim with devastating injuries. At the Ferguson Law Group, we understand how an accident can turn your life upside down. We also know how important it is to receive the compensation you deserve from the negligent party after an accident.

The Albany motorcycle accident lawyers at the Ferguson Law Group will take the time to understand how an accident has impacted your life as we learn all the facts of your case. This allows us to pursue the compensation you deserve.

Serious Injuries in a Motorcycle Accident

A bike doesn’t have the impact-absorbing ability of a truck, SUV, or car and there’s almost nothing between the object that collides with the bike and its rider. Because of this, it doesn’t require a high-speed impact for a driver to inflict catastrophic injuries upon the motorcycle rider. A motorcycle accident attorney will take the time and effort to understand the full extent of their client’s injuries if they’re to recover compensation for all damages sustained due to the accident. The rider may have serious injuries that require surgery and ongoing treatment. They may also suffer from harm that’s not evident for several days or weeks after the accident.

Some injuries the rider may face after being in an accident can include:

• Death
• Nerve damage
• Broken bones
• Damaged joints
• Torn ligaments
• Amputations
• Organ damage
• Road rash
• Burns
• Neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Leg injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Back injuries

The five most common injuries a motorcyclist sustains in an accident include:

Road Rash

Road rash will occur when the rider lays down his or her motorcycle and skids across the road. This will cause bruises, cuts, and skin damage referred to as road rash. When this injury occurs, it’s important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. While the injuries may seem superficial or minor at first, the pavement is dirty and can cause serious infections. This type of injury can also cause severe nerve damage near the skin’s surface.

Leg Injuries

During an accident, a rider must tuck their legs in, squeezing the bike. Human reaction during an accident is to extend the legs to prevent from falling off the bike. This will result in broken legs or other serious leg injuries. The legs are often the first part of the body to hit the ground, so they usually receive the brunt of the damage.

Broken Bones

If a rider is thrown from their bike or lays down their bike, there’s a good chance they have sustained broken bones. The back, limbs, feet, and hands are all commonly injured in a bike accident. Must of the rider’s body is not protected during an accident, which can cause an impacted fracture when the motorcyclist collides with the ground.

Spinal Cord Injuries

An injury to the spine can be severe and permanent. A rider in a collision or a motorcyclist who is thrown from their bike is at risk for damaging and twisting the spinal cord. The spinal cord has thousands of nerves, which makes this type of injury very complicated to treat.

Head Injuries

Georgia has a helmet law; however, many riders ignore it. A head injury is the most common injury in a motorcycle accident. Wearing a helmet can help protect the rider during an accident and can mean the difference between life and death.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Of the many different causes of motorcycle accident claims that we have handled, some of the most common include:

• Driver Error
• Road Hazards
• Bad weather
• Speed
• Lane splitting
• Road Conditions
• Other drivers changing lanes or turning without looking for motorcycles
• Failure to yield or stop for motorcycles
• Fatigued or intoxicated drivers
• Trucks or cars passing bikes in an illegal or reckless manner
• Drivers opening the doors of their parked cars without checking for motorcycles passing by

Road Conditions

A motorcycle must balance on two wheels, so the chances of hazardous road conditions causing an accident are very high. When a car goes over a pothole, it can jolt the vehicle, but when a motorcycle rides over a pothole, the effects can be fatal. Other types of road hazards that can cause a motorcycle accident include uneven roads, animals in the road, wet pavement, and debris in the road.

Bad Weather

If there’s inclement weather in the forecast, a motorcyclist should use another means of transportation. A storm can catch a motorcyclist when he or she is least expecting it, leaving them to try and navigate through dangerous conditions, such as hail, sleet, snow, and rain, all of which are very hazardous for motorcyclists. Dangerous weather conditions can cause wet roads and poor visibility. It can also make it difficult for other drivers on the road to see the rider.

Speed

Speeding, whether it’s the motorcycle rider or other drivers on the road, can be very dangerous. High speeds reduce reaction times for the rider and other drivers, which creates a dangerous situation for everyone. Because the motorcycle rider isn’t enclosed in metal, like the driver of a passenger car, if the motorcyclist is involved in a high-speed collision, the chances of survival are very low.

Intoxication

Driving and drinking is a major safety hazard for everyone on the road. The use of alcohol can diminish a driver’s or the motorcycle rider’s reaction time. Alcohol use significantly increases the likelihood of an accident for everyone on the road.

Lane Splitting

When a rider drives between two lanes, this is referred to as lane splitting. This riding technique puts the motorcycle closer to vehicles and gives the motorcycle rider less time to react. Lane splitting is not legal in Georgia; however, some riders may ignore the law.

Liability

The accident victim may have steep medical bills, lost wages, damaged property, and other types of accident-related expenses, on top of other damages such as pain and suffering.

In many motorcycle accident claims, the defendant will argue that the motorcycle rider contributed to his or her own injuries. Because Georgia is a comparative negligence state, the accident victim will only be eligible for compensation if they are 49% or less responsible for the accident.

Claim Value

It’s important for a motorcycle accident victim to know the difference between the potential trial value of a case and the settlement value of the case. Many motorcycle accident claims end before they reach trial. Two parties will conduct negotiations to reach a verdict that’s found mutually agreeable. If both parties are not able to reach an agreement, then the case will go to trial. The accident victim often wants to settle the matter quickly and avoid a costly trial, while the defendant also has an incentive, which is to avoid losing in a trial.

Usually, the settlement value of a case is significantly lower than the potential trial value, however, the plaintiff must have a strong case before they proceed to a trial. If they don’t then they run the risk of absorbing some fault.

Damages

The damages in a motorcycle accident fall into a couple of categories: non-economic and economic.

Economic damages are usually easy to prove because there is documentation, such as medical bills and employment records, to back up the request for monetary compensation.

Non-economic damages work differently. These damages can involve things such as loss of consortium and pain and suffering. Since there’s no surefire way to calculate the monetary value for things such as pain and suffering, most courts will use the accident victim’s claimed medical expenses and other types of economic damages as a starting point.

We’ll Investigate Your Claim

Our Albany motorcycle accident lawyers at the Ferguson Law Group can investigate your accident to help you identify the party responsible for your accident and damages. We will also handle the insurance company, so you will no longer have to deal with harassing phone calls, or pressure to accept a lowball offer.

Our team will help you recover damages for medical treatment and any injuries you have sustained.

An Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Recover the Compensation You Deserve

Accidents that involve motorcycles are more complex than accidents that involve passenger vehicles. There are specific traffic laws that apply to motorcycle riders. Because of this, arguing responsibility for these collisions is usually different than the average passenger car accident. Most people are quick to place the blame for the accident solely on the motorcyclist, but this isn’t always the case. Since these cases can be very complex, you need to work with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer who knows how to win the damages that you need so desperately during this stressful time.

Statute of Limitations

In the state of Georgia, personal injury victims have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If you fail to file within this time frame it can result in your case being thrown out of court. Since these cases are very complex, an attorney needs time to build a case. While two years may seem like a long time, the complexity of these types of cases requires a thorough investigation, which can take several months to complete.

Don’t hesitate to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer. An attorney will immediately launch an investigation, gather evidence, and build a strong case that can ensure you receive maximum compensation. They will also file all required documentation on time, and handle all aspects of your case, so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.

Schedule a Consultation with a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at the Ferguson Law Group Today

A motorcycle accident can happen in an instant and can have life-long consequences. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, contact the legal team at the Ferguson Law Group. Our experienced attorneys know how to handle aggressive insurance companies and defense attorneys. We will build a solid case that will hold the at-fault party responsible for your injuries and other damages. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation and find out how the team at the Ferguson Law Group can help you receive the compensation you deserve.