All auto accidents are certainly concerning, but motorcycle collisions tend to be extremely dangerous for motorcycle riders. Injuries can be severe, damages might be high, and you likely need a skilled attorney.
While many injured riders wish they could have protected themselves before a motorcycle collision, there are still ways in which you can protect yourself after a crash. You should immediately call for help, exchange information with others at the scene, and try to document the crash as best you can. Doing so might help you preserve important details about the crash that you can use to support your legal claims. You may obtain financial compensation through an insurance claim, but a lawsuit might allow you to claim a broader range of damages. Proving your claims requires strong and persuasive evidence. Some evidence might come from the crash scene, while other details might be found in other places. Damages may be quite significant, and we must consider your injuries, vehicle damage, and emotional anguish in our calculations.
Call (844) 876-4357 and talk to our motorcycle accident attorneys at Howe Law for a free review of your case.
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself After a Motorcycle Accident in Dalton, GA
There is a lot you can do after an accident has occurred to protect yourself moving forward. Not only do you need emergency help, but you might also need legal help. If certain precautions and actions are not taken, you risk losing out on compensation you need to cover various costs from the accident.
First, call for emergency help, including an ambulance and the police. You might need emergency medical care. The sooner you get to a hospital and get treatment, the more likely your injuries will recover. Even if you do not feel badly hurt or do not want to incur high medical costs, you should go to the emergency room anyway. Many motorcycle riders suffer unseen or internal injuries, like internal bleeding, that might be extremely serious if left untreated for too long.
It would be best if you also had the police so they can investigate the crash and write a report. The other driver might not have intended to cause harm. They might even feel bad about what happened and be very apologetic. Even so, they are responsible for your injuries, and a police report is necessary for insurance claims and might help our motorcycle accident lawyers gather evidence for a lawsuit.
While waiting for help to arrive, you can take additional steps to preserve details and information about the accident. If you can, take photos or record videos of the accident scene. Your recordings might be useful in the courtroom. You should also exchange information with the other driver and witnesses who might have seen the crash.
How to Get Fair Financial Compensation for Your Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Dalton, GA
Getting compensation for your injuries might be possible through a variety of legal channels. You should speak to an attorney about your situation to determine the best path forward for your case. One possibility is that you file an insurance claim. Insurance is required of all drivers, including motorcycle riders, and is usually the first course of action after a crash. Unfortunately, insurance sometimes does not help us in the way we need it to. Your claims might be denied if the insurance company is unconvinced that their customer caused your accident. Even if your claim is approved, the other driver’s insurance policy might be insufficient to cover all your costs.
A lawsuit might help you get fair compensation and allow you to claim greater damages not limited by an insurance policy’s terms. You may also claim damages not normally covered by insurance, like pain, suffering, and other non-economic injuries.
We need evidence showing how the other driver is at fault to get fair compensation. For example, we might use security camera footage from a nearby store or home that depicts the other driver crashing into you on your motorcycle. We might rely on witnesses who saw the accident unfold or medical records explaining your injuries. Finding evidence is sometimes difficult, and getting started as soon as possible is best.
How to Prove Fault in a Dalton, GA Motorcycle Crash Case
Proving fault in a motorcycle accident is not an easy feat. For a jury to hold the defendant liable, we must prove the defendant was negligent. Negligence is more than mere carelessness. It is a legal concept comprised of four distinct elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages.
Our evidence must show that the defendant owed you a legal duty of care or obligation of safety. In auto accident cases, this duty is to obey the traffic laws and drive with reasonable safety under the circumstances. All drivers share this duty. The breach is whatever the defendant did that violated their duty. Running a red light, speeding, or driving drunk are common breaches. Next, we must establish how the breach directly caused the accident. The defendant cannot be held liable if the breach is unrelated to the accident. Finally, your damages and injuries must be real, not imagined or hypothetical.
To prove negligence, we need evidence. Evidence from the accident scene, like photos, security camera footage, dashcam footage, and witness testimony, should be at the top of our to-do list. If the defendant disputes your injuries, we can use your medical records to prove how you were hurt and how much your treatment costs.
Damages You Might Claim in a Dalton, GA Motorcycle Collision Claim
Damages in motorcycle collision cases are known to be on the higher side. While the people in the car that hit you might be mostly unharmed, you might be catastrophically injured. You could be thrown from the bike and slammed against the pavement. Head, neck, and back injuries are very common. Traumatic brain injuries, even when wearing a helmet, are also possible, although helmets tend to minimize these injuries.
Your medical bills after a motorcycle crash might be incredibly high. You might also lose significant income because you clearly cannot return to your job with such severe injuries. We cannot forget about the cost of repairing or replacing your motorcycle. All in all, your damages might be outrageously high.
Contact Our Dalton, GA Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for Support
Call (844) 876-4357 and talk to our Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys at Howe Law for a free review of your case.
