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Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Canton

As anyone who has lived in Canton for a long time knows, traffic in the area continues to grow more congested. Because more vehicles compete for space, accidents have increased, partly due to negligent and aggressive driving. For motorcyclists, this creates a particularly dangerous situation.

Without the protection of a vehicle around them, they tend to end up on the pavement when struck by a car, van, or truck. Bikers account for 7% of Georgia traffic fatalities, while they represent just 2% of vehicles.

You have rights if you are a motorcyclist injured in a traffic accident. Georgia law requires bikers receive total compensation for injuries caused by a negligent, careless, or reckless driver.

Why Choose Brooks Injury Law For Your Motorcycle Accident Claim In Canton?

As Canton motorcycle accident lawyers, Brooks Injury Law knows motorcycle accident claims. We have seen all types of accidents involving bikers, and the liability is often entirely on the other side. Therefore, our litigation experts never stop pushing until our clients receive the total compensation to which they are entitled.

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Do I Need A Lawyer For My Motorcycle Accident Claim?

Since motorcycle accidents have a 96% serious injury rate, chances are excellent that you need a lawyer regardless of fault. If another vehicle caused your accident, receiving total compensation will require a litigation team to prove the other party's negligence and your damages.

On the other hand, if you are at fault, such as in a one-vehicle motorcycle crash, your insurance company may fight you on the number of damages. A Canton motorcycle accident attorney pushes back against low settlement offers and negotiates for your full compensation.

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Motorcycle Accidents Where Another Party Is At Fault

At Brooks Law, we see many motorcycle accident claims where another party was negligent in causing the accident. For instance, left-hand turners on clogged Canton streets often try to save a few seconds by racing to beat oncoming traffic. Left-hand turn accidents, like rear-end collisions, are one of those instances where fault belongs to one party. But that won't stop insurance companies from forming an often imagined basis to pin part or all the blame on the driver who had the right of way.

At Brooks Law, we see many motorcycle accident claims where another party was negligent in causing the accident. For instance, left-hand turners on clogged Canton streets often try to save a few seconds by racing to beat oncoming traffic. Left-hand turn accidents, like rear-end collisions, are one of those instances where fault belongs to one party. But that won't stop insurance companies from forming an often imagined basis to pin part or all the blame on the driver who had the right of way. At Brooks Law, we see many motorcycle accident claims where another party was negligent in causing the accident. For instance, left-hand turners on clogged Canton streets often try to save a few seconds by racing to beat oncoming traffic. Left-hand turn accidents, like rear-end collisions, are one of those instances where fault belongs to one party. But that won't stop insurance companies from forming an often imagined basis to pin part or all the blame on the driver who had the right of way.

Accidents Where The Motorcyclist Is At Fault

Many motorcyclists sustain severe injuries in single-vehicle accidents. When these occur, your insurance company must pay you full compensation for your injuries. However, insurers often look for reasons to pay less. They attempt to justify why your damages should be lower and hope you will take the inadequate payment without a fight.

Hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer to negotiate on your behalf stops attempts to pay a low settlement. Our team evaluates your damage claims and insists on full payment, or we take the insurer to court.

Common Types Of Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Motorcyclists rarely escape a crash unscathed. Road rash, fractures, and broken limbs are common even in lower-speed accidents. High-speed impacts lead to life-altering injuries and fatalities.

Traumatic Brain Injury

The human brain is a marvelous but fragile organ. The skull and, to some degree, helmets protect it against low-velocity impacts, but high-speed crashes often overwhelm defense mechanisms and result in brain damage.

Mild TBI responds to therapy, allowing victims to regain much or all of their cognitive functioning. On the other hand, severe TBI leads to lifelong disabilities, including memory loss, cognitive impairments, and personality changes.
Paralysis

The spinal cord is essential for movement, and when the communications between it and the brain are severed, victims spend their lives in wheelchairs or as people with quadriplegia. 

Ongoing care is expensive, and insurance companies look for ways to trim settlements. Brooks Injury Law understands the devastating position paralyzed individuals and their families face. That’s why we fight as long as we need to for total compensation. 

Common Causes Of Motorcycle Accidents

Some of the common causes of motorcycle accidents include the following:

Negligence of Other Drivers

In a busy metro area like Canton, there is an unfortunate abundance of negligent drivers. Speeding, careless turning, tailgating, texting while driving, racing to beat yellow lights, DUI, and other dangerous actions lead to bad drivers hitting motorcyclists. 
Lane Splitting

Lane splitting, or driving between two vehicles heading the same direction, remains illegal in Georgia. A few states, such as California, have legalized this practice, but it remains dangerous for the rider and a cause of serious injuries.
Inexperience

Motorcycle riders need practice and experience to drive safely. Unfortunately, inexperienced riders, especially those without a motorcycle license, make up a disproportionate percentage of motorcycle accident injuries.
Speeding

Motorcycles accelerate fast, which is one of the joys of riding. However, on congested Canton roadways, speeding can spell trouble.
Road Obstructions

A one-vehicle motorcycle accident is not necessarily the rider’s fault. Road obstructions, such as debris that fell from a truck or a hazardously placed road sign, may force a biker off the road, causing a severe accident.

Motorcycle Accidents Types

  • Head On Collisions
  • Rear-End Accidents
  • Side-Impact Collisions
a motorcycle head-on accident
A head-on collision is a direct impact to the front of a vehicle by another vehicle. Head on collisions can be some of the most traumatic motorcycle accidents and can cause severe injuries.
motorcycle accident rear-on
You may hear rear-end accidents often referred to as "fender-benders" because they commonly occur at low speeds. Although we often call rear-end collisions "fender-benders," that is not to say that they cannot cause serious injuries.
a car parked in a parking lot
Side-impact collisions are accidents where the side of motorcycle is impacted. These are often called broadside collisions or T-Bone accidents, meaning that one motorcycle was hit on the side by the front or rear of another motorcycle.

Canton Motorcycle Accidents Statistics

8.4 million motorcycles are registered in the U.S.
Motorcycle riders account for 13% of all U.S. traffic fatalities
96% of single-vehicle motorcycle accidents result in injury
Motorcyclists are 26X more likely to die in a road accident than occupants of other vehicle types
Motorcyclists are 5X more likely to sustain serious injury
Riders represent 7% of Georgia road fatalities but just 2% of registered vehicles

National Motorcycle Accident Facts & Stats

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 37,461 people were killed due to motorcycle accidents across the United States in 2016.
Speeding took the lives of 10,111 people in 2016 in the United States according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Distracted driving has become more and more popular and the statistics show just how dangerous it really is. The NHTSA noted that distracted driving of various sorts claimed 3,450 lives in 2016 alone.
Nearly 400,000 people across the United States were injured due to distracted driving in 2015. With new laws that are being put into place, this number is expected to go down regarding distracted driving injuries.
One of the main things to remember is that seat belts can truly save your life. The NHTSA recorded that roughly 14,700 lives were saved thanks to seat belt use in 2016.

What To Do After A Motorcycle Accident In Canton? 

1
Move
2
Call
3
Gather
4
Wait
5
Seek
an image involving road outdoor street

1. Move Move To Safety

If possible, move to the shoulder of the road for your safety and the safety of others. If you have serious injuries or are in an unsafe location, you must prioritize getting medical help and preventing further injury.

a woman riding on the back of a car

2. Call Call The Police

Always call the police to obtain a police report for your records. Additionally, call for medical assistance if injuries are sustained in the accident.

a police offer gathering information of a motorcycle accident

3. Gather Gather Information

Gather information from all parties involved, including their names, phone numbers, and insurance information. For your records, also take pictures at the scene of all vehicles involved. Try to locate any witnesses at the scene and get their identifying information as well.

a motorcycle accident crash with car

4. Wait Don't Admit Fault

Beware of any contact with the opposing insurer. They employ people whose job is to find reasons to deny claims or reduce payouts. Anything you say to them will likely be recorded and used against you. Refer all calls from opposing insurers to your lawyer.

seeking legal help

5. Seek Call An Attorney

Seek legal representation and never pay for a consultation. Find someone that will listen to your case free of cost and determine the best plan of action.

How Does The Investigation Process Work?

Accident investigations start with the police report. A special accident investigation team may also analyze the scene and report on its conclusions for serious injury- or fatal crashes. Your motorcycle accident attorney will also conduct an investigation.

In many cases, insurance companies attempt to disregard the findings of police and accident investigators and blame an innocent party. Your litigation team develops additional evidence to counteract these claims during the discovery process.

How Much Is Your Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?

Motorcycle accident claims vary widely in value. Some cases result in minor injuries and property damage. Others cause lifelong disabilities, such as TBI, paralysis, and limb amputations. Georgia law entitles motorcycle accident victims to compensatory and general damages. In rare cases, a court may award punitive damages.

Compensatory damages compensate the plaintiff for direct financial losses and costs, such as the following:

Medical Bills
Ambulance Charges
Surgical Costs
Medications
In-patient Rehabilitation
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Lost Wages
Lost Salary
Lost Benefits
Reduced Business Income
Business Closure
Lost Self-Employment Revenue

General damages consist of the following:

Pain And Suffering
Loss Of Enjoyment Of Life
Emotional Distress
Loss Of Consortium

FAQs About Motorcycle Accident In Canton

Who is at fault for a Canton motorcycle accident?

Georgia's comparative negligence law allows courts to find one party responsible or divide the liability between two or more parties. Many cases end with liability being split. For instance, one party may be liable for failing to use a turn signal and the other for speeding.

However, defense attorneys often try to unfairly assign blame to the plaintiff in the hopes of reducing the settlement or award. For motorcyclists, this presents a danger of biker bias. Biker bias is an unfounded belief that a motorcyclist must be at fault for an accident or injury. This prejudice against bikers comes from the stigma that they are outlaws or reckless people.

In reality, most motorcyclists are careful drivers, and other careless motorists cause accidents by intruding into the biker's lane, speeding, tailgating, or making a left-hand turn in front of oncoming traffic. Brooks Injury Law blasts biker bias through aggressive litigation. False claims of biker liability cannot stand up in court, so we demand total compensation or take the defendants to trial and win.

What is the motorcycle accident statute of limitations in Canton, Georgia?

Georgia law requires personal injury lawsuits to be filed within two years of the incident. What Should I Do if an Insurance Company Calls Me? You'll need to report an accident to your insurance company, but you do not need to go into detail.

Always refer an opposing insurance company to your attorney. Their staff is trained to ask questions in an attempt to find information to use against you. Any calls from them are intended to benefit them at your expense.

What if the accident was partly my fault?

Georgia is a comparative negligence state. According to this doctrine, you can collect damages so long the court rules you are less than 50% at fault.

For instance, imagine that you are riding, change lanes, but forget to use your turn signal. A van is approaching the other lane at speed far over the limit, taking you off guard. A court may rule that the van driver is primarily at fault due to a massive speed limit violation, and you are partly at fault for failing to signal.

In such a case, the court may rule the van driver is 80% at fault and you are 20% at fault. If you sustained $100,000 in damages, 20% of that is deducted from your award, leaving you with $80,000.

How long will it take to resolve my case?

Most cases settle in 1-2 years, depending on whether they go as far as depositions. Many cases resolve after depositions, but a minority goes on to trial. Trial cases, including appeals, can lengthen the process by several years.

How much does a Canton motorcycle accident attorney cost?

Brooks Injury Law takes motorcycle accident cases on contingency fees. This payment arrangement requires no upfront or out-of-pocket payments. You pay nothing unless you collect a settlement or award.

Contact Canton Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today

Brooks Injury Law has been fighting for personal injury cases for a long time in Georgia. We fight to protect biker rights. Call now for a free case evaluation.