Motorcycle accidents can be extremely traumatic for a motorcycle rider and passenger. If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta, GA, count on Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC to help you recover the maximum compensation you deserve. An experienced Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer will fight to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Our team has years of experience fighting on behalf of clients like you. We have the tools to successfully recover the compensation you deserve.
You don’t have to handle your motorcycle accident claim alone. Contact our law offices in Atlanta, Georgia, at (404) 869-8600, to learn more about how our Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys can help. We offer a free consultation, and there’s never any obligation.
How Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC Can Help Me Recover Financial Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident in Atlanta
The aftermath of a serious motorcycle wreck in Atlanta, GA, can be overwhelming, to say the least. You may already be dealing with the insurance company. They may be asking questions you don’t want to answer. It may even seem like they’re trying to pin the blame on you.
Insurance companies use many strategies to convince victims to accept less money than they deserve. Our experienced Atlanta personal injury attorneys at Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC have seen them all. We know how to effectively fight back.
When you trust our team to handle your legal representation, you’ll have an Atlanta motorcycle accident attorney to:
- Explain your legal rights and options
- Carefully investigate and locate evidence to strengthen your claim
- Determine the true value of your personal injury claim
- Hire experts who can testify about complex issues in your case
- Defend against allegations that you caused the wreck
- Negotiate with the insurance company for a full and fair settlement
- Take your case to trial and fight for a fair result
If you or a loved one have been involved in a crash, it’s not too early to start fighting for the compensation you deserve. Call today to learn more about how an Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help you through this difficult time.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Georgia?
The Georgia Department of Transportation publishes data on motor vehicle accidents in the state of Georgia. Victims reported 4,162 car accidents involving motorcycles in 2023.
Motorcycle accidents may not be as common as traditional car accidents, but they do have the potential to be much more serious. 3,398 people were injured in motorcycle wrecks in 2023. Another 210 victims were killed.
That means nearly 87% of all reported motorcycle accidents in 2023 caused an injury or death.
What Is My Atlanta Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
Comparing your case to other cases is useful, but won’t offer a precise dollar amount.
Before we can understand how much your personal injury case is worth, we’ll have to evaluate the facts.
Important variables include:
- The type and severity of your injuries
- Your prospects for making a full recovery
- How a long-term disability will impact your future, considering earnings and quality of life
- The amount of income you’ve already lost due to the injury
- Your medical treatment costs to date
- Out-of-pocket expenses or additional costs you’ve incurred due to the accident and injury
- The circumstances of the crash
- The strength of the evidence
Most injury victims don’t fully understand their case value. You know how much you’ve spent on medical care and vehicle repairs. Putting a dollar value on intangible losses or expected future expenses can be really difficult in serious injury cases.
Our lawyers often work with experts in fields like medicine, vocational rehabilitation, life planning and economics. With their help, we’ll be able to accurately assess your case value.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Motorcycle Accident Victims in Atlanta?
If someone else caused your accident, you can seek compensation or damages. Georgia law allows victims to pursue compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages.
Examples include:
- Past and future medical bills, including ER visits, hospitalization, doctor’s visits, medications, etc.
- Nursing care
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages while you recover
- Lost future earning potential
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Depression
- PTSD
- Embarrassment
- Chronic pain
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
As the victim, you must identify the damages you’ve suffered. When you file your insurance claim or file a motorcycle accident lawsuit, you’ll also have to put a dollar value on those damages. This is where an experienced attorney can be particularly useful.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Georgia?
Like many personal injury law firms in Atlanta, Goldstein Injury Law only charges contingency fees. You won’t owe us anything upfront. Once your case settles or we win a jury verdict, you’ll pay us a percentage of that compensation award.
In other words, you can get the legal representation you deserve without worrying about the cost.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Being Blamed for a Motorcycle Accident in Georgia?
Georgia operates under a modified comparative negligence law. Damages are apportioned between all parties who share the blame for a motorcycle crash. Once your share of fault reaches 50%, however, you lose your right to recover any damages at all. In fact, the other side could hold you responsible for their damages if that’s the case.
Cases involving shared fault can be tricky. Allocating blame is never an exact science. Your lawyer can locate the evidence to minimize the amount of blame allocated to you–if any.
Our Legal Team Is Ready to Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Helmets only go so far in protecting motorcyclists from serious injury. Riding a motorcycle always comes with the risk of suffering life-changing injuries.
At Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC, our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers in Atlanta often represent clients who have sustained:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Road rash
- Degloving injuries
- Concussions
- Dislocations
- Shoulder injuries
- Chest injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
If you or a family member were injured in a motorcycle crash, call our Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys today. The evidence is always strongest soon after a crash. You don’t have to wait until you’ve fully healed from your injuries to take legal action.
What Causes Most Motorcycle Accidents in Atlanta?
Motorcycle accidents become more likely when drivers are careless.
Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Speeding and ignoring traffic rules
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued drivers
- Failure to yield the right-of-way to bikers
- Tailgating
- Weaving between lanes
- Lane departures
- Aggressive driving
- Dangerous or illegal turns
- Lane splitting
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Racing through intersections
- Drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs
- Dangerous road conditions
- Defective safety equipment
Insurance companies love to blame motorcycle riders for causing accidents. It’ll be important to identify the cause–or causes–of your accident. Pinpointing the cause of the crash will be the critical first step in determining who is responsible for paying your damages.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Motorcycle Accident in Georgia?
As an initial matter, you’ll have to prove that someone else was responsible for your injuries. That almost always means you’ll need evidence to prove negligence. Negligence means something similar to “carelessness”.
There are four elements to any negligence claim:
- The defendant owed you a legal duty of care
- A breach of duty occurred, whether via some act or omission
- That breach directly caused your accident
- You can identify specific damages in terms of physical injury, emotional harm, or financial costs
Police reports are important evidence. They aren’t always sufficient to prove your case. They won’t provide any information about the value of your damages.
When you hire our lawyers in Atlanta, we’ll search for:
- Traffic citations and accident reports
- Drug and alcohol test results
- Eyewitnesses who can testify about what they saw
- Skid marks, vehicle damage, and other evidence from the accident scene
- Medical records
- Insurance coverage information
- Video footage or photos
More complex cases may require testimony from accident reconstruction experts. That’s especially true where liability is contested.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Accident in Georgia?
Most personal injury victims in Georgia have two years to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations starts running on the date of an accident. Missing the deadline means that you lose your right to recover any damages at all.
While it’s possible that a different deadline could apply, the exceptions to the rule are rare. For example, you may have more time if a drunk driver caused your accident. You could have even less time if a government entity is a defendant.
Contact an Experienced Atlanta Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
It’s never too early to reach out for legal advice if you were injured in an accident in Atlanta, GA. Call an experienced Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer today for your free case review. At Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC, your consultation is free of charge.
