According to the Georgia Department of Driver Services, motorcyclists are significantly overrepresented in traffic fatalities, even though they represent just 2 percent of all registered vehicles. In 2019, motorcyclists represented 11 percent of total traffic fatalities and 21 percent of total driver fatalities. In the state of Georgia, there were 139 traffic fatalities in 2017, 154 in 2018, 170 in 2019, and 179 in 2020.
There were 3,948 motorcycle crashes in the state in 2019—for every 100,000 registered motorcycles, there were 1,041.5 motorcycle crashes. The city of Atlanta has a significantly higher rate of motorcycle crashes as compared to rural counties. Other findings include that about 23 percent of all motorcycle operator fatalities are for motorcyclists aged 24-34. About 83 percent of motorcyclists involved in crashes were wearing a helmet.
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to serious, catastrophic injuries and death following a crash. They have no steel cage surrounding them like those in a passenger vehicle, no safety belts, and no airbags.
Helmets can help prevent severe brain injuries, and “leathers” can help prevent severe road rash that can lead to a potentially deadly infection. However, for the most part, motorcyclists are unprotected from crash forces.
What Should You Do After a Motorcycle Accident?
There are certain things motorcyclists should do following a collision in Atlanta, including:
- Get out of the way of oncoming traffic. While many motorcyclists want to move their broken motorcycles out of the way, this is rarely a good idea. Staying at the location of the crash can place the motorcyclist in the direct path of being hit by another driver.
Safely remove yourself from the accident scene to a safe area, even if it means leaving your bike behind. Attempting to move your motorcycle can also potentially worsen your injuries. When you get into a crash, you get a rush of adrenaline throughout their body that can mask severe injuries.
Finally, attempting to move your motorcycle has the potential to compromise evidence that could be crucial in ensuring you get the settlement you need and deserve.
- Obtain medical attention as quickly as possible. If you can, have someone call 911 for EMTs and police to come to the scene. The police will question those involved in the accident and any witnesses to the accident to determine fault for the accident. In some instances, fault is clear. In other cases, the police may not be able to determine fault. However, the police report will be invaluable for you and your legal team when building your case. You should be able to obtain a copy of the police report in about a week.
- Gather evidence. If you can, take photographs of the scene of the accident with your cell phone, including the vehicles involved, your motorcycle, and the license plates of those involved.
- Collect information. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver or drivers. If there are witnesses to the accident, obtain contact information. This includes licenses, insurance, and vehicle information.
- Take good notes. Once you are home, take the time to write down everything you can remember about the crash. Even the smallest detail can potentially be important for your attorney when he or she is building your case.
- Contact your own insurance company. Your policy probably states that you must notify your insurance company when you’re in an accident. Call your insurance provider as soon as you can. Provide them with the facts of the accident, and no more.
- Contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney. Motorcycle injuries tend to be more severe, and motorcycle accidents generally are much more complex. You can benefit significantly from having a knowledgeable Atlanta motorcycle accident attorney on your side who really cares about the outcome and will zealously represent you.
Fighting Against Unfair Biases
Unfortunately, should your claim end up in court, jurors often believe stereotypes about motorcyclists, even when it is clear that you were not at fault. Many people still think motorcyclists are hard-living risk-takers, even though today, motorcyclists are more likely to be older professionals or those who use their motorcyclists to commute back and forth to work as a means of saving money.
Your Atlanta motorcycle accident attorney will know how to combat these stereotypes and present your case in a way that will clearly show you were not at fault for the accident. This, in turn, will lead to a full and fair settlement that will cover your damages.
Damages After a Motorcycle Accident
Your damages may include medical expenses, lost wages, future wages, and pain and suffering. Medical expenses can include ambulance costs, physician expenses, surgical costs, prescription drug expenses, and the cost of rehabilitative therapies. Pain and suffering damages might include damages for actual physical pain and emotional pain, including depression, anxiety, embarrassment, or humiliation if you suffered disfiguring injuries, PTSD, and much more. Your Atlanta motorcycle accident attorney can explain which damages you are entitled to receive, then help you get those damages.
Contact Our Experienced Atlanta Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
If you or someone you know suffered an injury in a motorcycle accident, you must contact an experienced Atlanta motorcycle accident attorney today. We know how to fight aggressively for injured motorcyclists and help them obtain the money they deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation. We work on a contingency basis, so you don’t pay us anything unless we win your case! Just call and JUST WIN.
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