Motorcycle Accident Attorney Tifton

As a motorcyclist, you already know that you have to pay more attention to the other drivers on the road. You must carefully balance the potential actions of other drivers with the rules of the road. When a negligent driver becomes distracted, you may end up paying the price. Unfortunately, a motorcycle doesn’t offer much protection from a much heavier, larger vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds or from the road itself. If you’ve suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident you need a motorcycle accident lawyer Tifton to help you secure the compensation you need to cover the cost of your medical bills and other damages. The legal experts at the Ferguson Law Group are here to help. We have extensive experience handling even the most complex motorcycle accident cases, and we will not stop until the negligent driver is held accountable for the damage they have caused.

Life After a Motorcycle Accident

Many motorcycle accident victims suffer severe injuries. These injuries often stay with the rider for several months or the rest of their lives.

Common motorcycle accident injuries can include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Using a helmet can decrease the severity of a traumatic brain injury, but it may not eliminate it. These injuries often involve several months or years of costly medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Spinal Cord Damage

Spinal cord damage can result in paralysis, limiting movement below the neck or waist.

Other Injuries

Other common injuries in a motorcycle accident can include:

• Broken bones
• Back and neck injuries
• Burns
• Organ damage
• Soft tissue damage

What to Do Following a Motorcycle Accident

Seeking medical care should be your priority after an accident. After medical treatment, the next step is contacting a motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible.

A motorcycle rider doesn’t have much protection from the road. If you’ve suffered broken bones or spinal cord damage, you’ll know right away that you have suffered a serious injury. However, a TBI, or traumatic brain injury, may not cause symptoms immediately after the accident, so you may not realize the full extent of your injuries. Additionally, adrenaline can also conceal the pain.

Seeking medical treatment will ensure you are thoroughly examined by a medical professional who will look for these types of injuries. Additionally, the documentation of your treatment will be used as evidence to prove the severity of your injuries.

Damages

If you have been involved in a Tifton motorcycle collision, you can receive compensation to cover medical expenses and other costs related to the accident.

Every motorcycle accident claim is different. The compensation you receive can vary and is based on your injuries and liability for the accident.

However, most motorcycle accident victims will claim the following damages:

Medical Expenses

All medical costs that are directly related to the accident, including the ambulance ride, hospitalization, doctor appointments, medication, and physical therapy, are recoverable. If you keep careful track of your medical bills, it will make it much easier for your attorney to arrive at a final number for your claim concerning medical costs.

Pain and Suffering

You may be eligible to receive compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced in the aftermath of the accident. This type of compensation goes beyond physical pain and can include elements such as PTSD, mental distress, and anxiety.

Lost Wages

Your accident may prevent you from going to work. Claiming lost wages will allow you to receive compensation for lost hours at work and lost income.

Lost Earning Potential

If you suffered permanent injuries from your accident, you may be unable to return to your previous job. A claim for lost earning potential represents your inability to provide for yourself and your family in the future through your previous employer.

Liability

When filing your claim, you first need to determine who is responsible for your accident. You may assume that since you sustained severe injuries, you should automatically receive compensation from the driver. However, liability can vary based on the events that led up to the accident.

If the other party caused the accident, his or her insurance company may be responsible for damages. However, if you were partially to blame, you may not receive monetary damages. Under Georgia’s comparative negligence law, you can still receive damages if you were no more than 49% at fault for the accident.

Additionally, other entities may also share liability for the accident. This can include car or motorcycle manufacturers and manufacturers of car or motorcycle parts. Speaking with an attorney can help you determine all parties who can be held liable for your accident.

Claim Value

The compensation you receive for your injuries and other damages depends on who caused the accident, in addition to the extent of your injuries.

More severe injuries such as a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage that has resulted in paralysis will often result in a higher settlement compared to a claim that involves only minor injuries. When you meet with an attorney, they can go over your documentation, including your medical records, and provide you with an estimate of what they believe your claim is worth.

Why You Should Avoid Speaking to an Insurance Company

The job of every insurance adjuster is to pay the accident victim as little as possible. An insurance company is a business. Because they want to pay the accident victim as little as possible, they often make a lowball settlement offer before they know all the facts of the claim or the extent of the accident victim’s injuries. Since the accident victim is often out of work and has no money coming in, they are quick to accept the low offer. Don’t make this mistake. Always speak with an attorney before communicating with an insurance adjuster. An attorney can discuss what you should say, or they may take over all communication with an insurance company to prevent you from accidentally harming your claim.

Settlement Negotiations

The settlement offer an insurance company makes usually is not enough to cover the costs of your injuries, lost wages, property damage, and other damages. A personal injury lawyer can prevent an insurance company from taking advantage of you and can negotiate a higher settlement offer. If an attorney is not able to negotiate a fair settlement amount, they will be prepared to take your case to court and present evidence before a judge. In most cases, an insurance company will quickly change its tune and will be more willing to negotiate, in the hope of avoiding a costly trial.

Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at the Ferguson Law Group Today

If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a Tifton, Georgia motorcycle accident, contact one of our motorcycle accident lawyers at the Ferguson Law Group today. We can help you better understand the damages you can seek and will walk you through every step of this type of challenging legal process. Schedule a consultation today to meet with one of our attorneys and learn how the team at the Ferguson Law Group can help.