Motorcycle riders in Georgia face unique safety risks every day. Accidents that involve motorcycle riders and their passengers can result in serious injuries or death.
Personal injury attorneys with experience handling motorcycle accidents help injured riders and their loved ones get the financial compensation they’re entitled to receive under Georgia law.
Risks for Motorcycle Riders
Standard cars and trucks have physical barriers and safety systems that protect their occupants when vehicles collide.
Motorcycles don’t have a surrounding frame, seatbelts, or airbags, making riders and their passengers more vulnerable to injuries.
Riders can suffer severe injuries in crashes, even in cases where they don’t collide with another vehicle. They may be forced out of their lane by unknowing drivers in larger vehicles.
Inclement weather can also increase the risk of injury for motorcycle riders. Heavy rain can cause roads to become slippery and reduce visibility.
Unexpected roadway conditions, such as a patch of oil, can cause riders to lose control and collide with another vehicle.
A motorcycle may hit a median or curb, causing the rider to be ejected from the seat and onto the pavement where they can suffer road rash and other injuries.
Motorcycle Riders Face a Higher Risk of Head and Traumatic Brain Injuries
The violent impacts that occur in motorcycle accidents can lead to severe injuries to the head and neck. Traumatic brain injuries lead to devastating physical and cognitive effects that can last a lifetime.
Motorcycle helmets reduce the risk and severity of head injuries, but they don’t guarantee that a rider won’t be injured.
Even seemingly minor head injuries, such as a concussion, can lead to symptoms that include dizziness, headaches, loss of balance and memory, fatigue, and nausea.
Other symptoms include seizures, coma, confusion, reduced mobility, and difficulty communicating.
Head injuries can cause accident victims to experience mood swings and disorientation. Symptoms lasting longer than 24 hours may indicate serious dangers related to a traumatic brain injury.
Knowing the Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Georgia
The risks that motorcycle riders face are typically a result of driver negligence and reckless behavior.
Consulting with a personal injury attorney allows injured riders to hold at-fault drivers accountable for their injuries and other damages.
Negligent drivers operating larger vehicles like commercial trucks, busses, or sport utility vehicles (SUV) increase the risk of injury or death to motorcycle riders.
Negligent drivers break traffic laws, run red lights, swerve outside of their lanes, and use their cell phones while driving. Drivers can become angry, tailgate, and intentionally try to intimidate riders.
Your attorney can evaluate your case and prove a driver’s negligence in a court of law.
How Your Attorney Can Represent You After a Motorcycle Accident
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, your attorney can help you determine the value of your claim and provide swift legal representation.
They can assess your injuries and the lasting impacts they can have on your personal, professional, and financial wellbeing.
Under Georgia law, you’re entitled to receive compensation for medical expenses, future medical treatments, the loss of income, and the death of a loved one.
Your attorney can help you get compensated for pain and suffering. If your injuries prevent you from returning to work, your attorney can help you get the financial support you and your family will need as you move forward after an accident.
Insurance companies representing at-fault drivers typically try to avoid compensating injured victims fairly. An attorney can negotiate with insurance adjusters so that you don’t accept an unfair settlement offer.
With the help of a motorcycle accident attorney, you can gather the evidence you need to support your claim and prove another driver’s negligence.
Georgia laws protect all drivers and their passengers. Knowing the unique risks that motorcycle riders face can help you get the maximum compensation allowed in Georgia.
