Motorcycle Accident Attorney Augusta

Augusta motorcycle accidents can be very complicated cases to litigate. Many questions will arise that need an answer. Who is at fault for the accident? Who can be held liable to repair your motorcycle? How will you pay your medical bills? These complex questions can leave the accident victim feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. Speaking with a motorcycle accident lawyer Augusta from the Ferguson Law Group can help you answer these questions. Our attorneys will guide you through this type of complex legal process and discuss your legal options so you can make an informed decision concerning how you want to proceed with your claim or lawsuit.

How Can a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help?

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, you may be recovering from serious injuries, your bike may have been significantly damaged, and you may have had to take days, weeks, or months off work as you recovered.  An accident can impact every aspect of your life, preventing you from returning to work, while your injuries require costly, ongoing medical treatment.

At the Ferguson Law Group, we will work tirelessly to make you financially whole again.

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

A motorcycle accident is often caused by someone other than the motorcyclist. Many accidents that involve a motorcycle occur at an intersection.

Some common causes of motorcycle accidents can include:

Left Turning Cars

A car making a left-hand turn in front of a motorcyclist is the most common cause of motorcycle accidents. It’s also the single most dangerous situation for the motorcyclist. Typically, the turning vehicle strikes the motorcycle when the motorcycle is:

• Trying to overtake the vehicle
• Passing the vehicle
• Going straight through an intersection

This type of motorcycle accident is also common between two passenger vehicles, however, the size of the motorcycle, in addition to the lack of protection it provides the rider, makes this type of accident much more dangerous for motorcyclists.

When one car hits another while making a left-hand turn, the driver will usually be found at fault for this type of accident. However, if a motorcycle rider was breaking some law, or riding in an unsafe way, then that may not be the case.

To avoid this type of accident, the motorcyclist must be able to anticipate the other driver’s moves.

Lane Switching

In a lane switching accident, a passenger vehicle begins to merge over into the motorcyclist’s lane while they’re driving next to the motorcyclist. This happens when the motorcyclist is riding on a four-lane road next to a passenger vehicle that isn’t paying attention or cannot see the motorcyclist. Unfortunately, a motorcycle is easily obstructed in the driver’s blind spot.

Head-On Collision

Head-on collisions occur between a passenger vehicle and a motorcycle when the car strikes the motorcycle head-on. Unfortunately, head-on collisions between a passenger vehicle and a motorcycle are usually fatal for the motorcyclist. If a motorcycle comes to an abrupt stop in a split second, depending on the speed, the motorcyclist will either be catapulted through the air, landing on a hard surface, or crushed. This type of accent is the most fatal of all motorcycle accidents. When a vehicle hits a motorcycle head-on, both the vehicle and motorcycle are usually driving at fairly high speeds. Unfortunately, this means that the rider’s chances of survival are very low.

Lane Splitting

When a motorcyclist splits lanes, they ride between two lanes of slow-moving or stopped vehicles, usually in traffic congestion or at a traffic light. Lane splitting is a common cause of motorcycle accidents due to many factors:

• Cars do not split lanes, so passenger car drivers are not expecting it
• A driver does not anticipate that anybody will be passing them in stopped traffic or slowed traffic
• The small space the motorcyclist has to maneuver
• The close proximity of the motorcycle and the car

If an accident happens while a motorcyclist is lane splitting, whether the car or motorcycle is at fault depends on whether lane splitting is considered permissible in that state. In Georgia, lane splitting is illegal which would make this type of accident the fault of the motorcycle rider. However, despite its illegality, this type of accident still happens.

Intoxication

A high percentage of fatal motorcycle accidents involve riders with illegal blood alcohol levels. Alcohol plays a large role in motorcycle accidents. Considering motorcycles don’t provide much protection from the road to the rider, a crash that involves alcohol is much more likely to result in serious injury or death, typically for the person on the bike. However, a motorcyclist can also be hit by a driver who is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Unfortunately, alcohol consumption can slow down the reflexes of both the motorcyclist and passenger vehicle driver which can lead to a deadly accident in many common traffic situations.

Corner Turning

For those riding motorcycles, corners can be dangerous. While a motorcycle tends to have a lot of control by design, it can be difficult to correct, especially when it comes to taking a corner. While taking a corner, a motorcyclist may come across a patch of leaves, gravel, sand, or a large puddle. Once the front tire hits this material and loses its traction, it can be easy to wipe out on a bike. Misjudging how tight a corner is can also cause a bike to wipe out. This is very common on twisting roads, especially twisting roads with elevation changes since it can be difficult to see what’s coming next.

If a motorcycle rider turns a corner too hard, crashing, then they are at risk for even further injury from other possible road hazards or vehicles. For example, if a motorcycle rider turns the corner at an intersection and crashes, then the other vehicles crossing may not have enough time to react to avoid hitting them.

Damages

If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident on one of Augusta’s roadways, you may be entitled to compensation to cover the cost of pain and suffering, lost wages, medical expenses, and other damages from the negligent party. Because motorcycle accidents can be very complex, it’s crucial to seek the advice of an Augusta motorcycle accident lawyer who can conduct a thorough investigation into your case. The Augusta motorcycle accident attorneys at the Ferguson Law Group have several years of experience handling complex motorcycle accident cases, making us well equipped to advocate on the motorcyclist’s behalf for maximum compensation.

Medical Expenses

Medical expenses can include a wide variety of charges. Medical bills that are directly related to the accident are eligible. This can include any on-scene treatment, ambulance transportation, emergency room medical treatment, doctor appointments, or any other related treatment.

A motorcycle accident can cause serious injuries. Many of these injuries may need treatment in the future. Five to ten years after a motorcycle accident, the accident victim may still require medical treatment. However, there’s a time limit for filing a case. 

Experts such as life care planners and doctors can help determine the necessary future medical treatment needed. This can include medication, physical therapy, and surgeries. If you have sustained a permanent disability due to the motorcycle accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation for future medical treatment.

Lost Wages

Injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident may put you out of work. Whether it’s a week, a few months, or you have to permanently cut back on hours, lost wages are recoverable damages.

Future Lost Wages

Injuries can also result in permanent wage loss. In this case, the accident victim can request compensation for lost future earnings. Another thing the accident victim must consider is the loss of earning capacity.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering are damages that you cannot attach a bill to. This type of compensation for physical and mental pain includes the difficulties of living a life after the accident. An accident victim should be compensated for the disruption of his or her quality of life.

Settlement Negotiations

It’s important to keep in mind that settlement negotiations are an adverse and dynamic process. In Georgia, most accident claims are defended by major insurance companies. Typically, these companies hire and train insurance adjusters to settle accident claims for the lowest amount of compensation possible. To get fair compensation, you need an aggressive Augusta motorcycle accident attorney by your side.

Can You Handle an Insurance Company on Your Own?

While you can attempt to negotiate with an insurance adjuster on your own, without the help of an attorney, doing so can put you at risk of receiving a settlement that will not cover the costs of all damages and losses suffered from the accident. By hiring legal representation, you significantly increase your chances of receiving maximum compensation. Many insurance adjusters are happy to negotiate with accident victims who do not have legal representation because most people are not familiar with the many tactics an insurance adjuster will use to try and confuse the accident victim into admitting partial fault for the accident. Additionally, an insurance adjuster will attempt to get the accident victim to admit that their injuries are not as serious as they claim they are.

In many cases, an insurance adjuster will record the accident victim’s statement and use the statement against them, asking misleading and confusing questions during the interview.

We will Protect Your Rights

Hiring a motorcycle accident attorney will protect your rights and your claim and will prevent an insurance company from trying to take advantage of you during this stressful time.

At the Ferguson Law Group, we will carefully review the unique circumstances surrounding your accident to determine a fair settlement. Every case is different, and each factor will come into play before we’re able to determine a fair settlement value. By working with an Augusta motorcycle accident attorney who knows all of the strategies and tactics used by insurance adjusters, you can be confident that we’ll be fully prepared to bring the strongest claim possible.

Contact the Ferguson Law Group

The motorcycle accident lawyers in Augusta at the Ferguson Law Group have experience handling complex motorcycle accident cases. While an insurance company may be quick to point the finger at you, don’t assume the accident is your fault. Instead, contact our firm today. We will investigate every aspect of the accident including a virtual reconstruction if necessary. We will investigate your case to determine liability and hold all parties responsible for damages including medical expenses, property damages, and lost wages. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation and find out how the legal team at the Ferguson Law Group can help.