One reason people love to ride motorcycles is the exhilaration of the open road. Unfortunately, other drivers are not as careful as motorcycle riders, and riders often get hurt.
If you were hurt in a collision while riding your motorcycle, our team can help you gather the evidence you need to prove your claims and get fair compensation. There might be a lot of compensation on the line, as injuries and damages in motorcycle crashes are known for being severe. Serious medical bills and replacing your bike might be more than you can afford. You have a limited window to start your case, as the statute of limitation expires only 2 years from the day of your accident. You should speak to a lawyer about your accident, as the legal process can be highly complex and difficult to navigate alone.
For help starting your case with a free evaluation of your claims, call (844) 876-4357 and speak with our Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys at Howe Law.
Evidence You Need to Build Your Motorcycle Accident Case in East Point, GA
A strong legal case is built on strong evidence. Finding evidence can be simple for some plaintiffs but incredibly challenging for others. Different types of evidence that could come up in your case include physical objects, testimony from witnesses, and demonstrative evidence, like records, charts, and maps.
Physical Evidence
Physical evidence generally includes evidence that consists of tangible objects. If you can touch it with your hands, it is probably physical evidence. Perhaps the most important pieces of physical evidence are the vehicles involved in the crash. The damage done to your motorcycle and the defendant’s car can show a jury just how severe the crash was.
Since vehicles are obviously too large to transport to a courtroom, videos and photos of the vehicles may suffice. We should also have your motorcycle assessed by a professional mechanic so there are records of the damage.
Testimonial Evidence
Not all evidence can be held up for a jury to see. Testimonial evidence includes statements and testimony from witnesses and other people connected to the accident. Testimonial evidence is sometimes considered risky or unreliable because human memory is imperfect. Even so, having multiple witnesses with clear memories who can articulate what they saw during the accident can be extremely powerful in the courtroom.
While eyewitnesses are extremely valuable, not all witnesses might actually see your accident unfold. Instead, they might not have been present for the crash but have other first-hand knowledge relevant to the case. For example, if we suspect the defendant was drunk when they caused the crash, our motorcycle accident lawyers might find a witness from the bar where we suspect they were drinking. The witnesses can testify about how they saw the defendant having several drinks before getting in their car shortly before the accident.
Demonstrative Evidence
Demonstrative evidence includes objects, models, displays, graphs, or other visual aids used to convey information to a jury in a way that can be more easily understood. For example, we might want to explain to the jury the layout of the road where your accident happened and some of the surrounding roads. Rather than describe these roads, we can use a map to demonstrate what they look like and how they play into the accident.
We might also use your medical records to show the jury how badly you were injured. Using your medical records, we might create an illustrated model of your injuries. Seeing injuries on a model or drawing of a human figure might be more persuasive to a jury trying to understand how you were hurt.
What Your Injuries and Damages Are Worth in an East Point, GA Motorcycle Accident Case
A major concern among injured motorcycle riders is the monetary value of their damages. People do not want to begin a lawsuit – an admittedly large undertaking – if the potential payout is not worth their time. However, motorcycle accident victims are often injured badly, and their damages tend to be quite high.
A good place to begin is with your medical bills. Motorcycle riders are often thrown from their bikes onto the hard pavement. They might skid along the pavement, causing severe road rash and lacerations. They might experience fractures, brain injuries, back injuries, spinal cord damage, and more. It is no wonder that many motorcycle accident plaintiffs have enormous medical bills. Your medical bills alone might constitute a huge amount of money.
We should also consider property damage. Perhaps the most expensive bit of property damage is your damaged motorcycle. These are expensive and complicated pieces of sophisticated machinery. Repairing or replacing your motorcycle might not be possible without compensation from the defendant.
Your damages might be even higher if your injuries prevent you from returning to work. Many accident victims need some time away from their jobs to recover. Some people need a more prolonged leave of absence. Others might never return to work. The longer you cannot work, the more income you lose, and the higher your damages should be.
We must not forget about your various non-economic damages. Physical pain, psychological distress, and emotional anguish are common and painful experiences in motorcycle accidents. These damages do not have price tags, and their value is highly subjective. The jury typically decides the value of these damages, and we need strong evidence to convince them that these damages are worth significant compensation.
When You Need to Begin a Case for a Motorcycle Crash in East Point, GA
It is wise to get in touch with a lawyer about your motorcycle accident as soon as you are able. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, you only have 2 years to prepare your case and file a formal complaint with the courts. If this deadline closes with nothing about your case being filed, you might lose your right to sue and never get fair compensation.
Working with an attorney to prepare your case sooner rather than later also allows you more time to gather everything you need to build a strong case. For example, if you begin preparing your case only 6 months out from the deadline, you have a very narrow window of time to assess damages, talk to witnesses, and gather evidence. However, if you get started shortly after your accident, you have closer to the full 2 years to prepare, and your case might be much stronger.
Get Help From Our East Point, GA Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today
For help starting your case with a free evaluation of your claims, call (844) 876-4357 and speak with our motorcycle accident attorneys at Howe Law.
