What is a motorcycle accident personal injury claim?

Motorcycle accident personal injury claims arise when a motor cycle rider is injured due to the negligence of another driver. Motorcycles are fast and fun for people to ride, but the motorcycle riders have very little protection when they are involved in motor vehicle accidents. Helmets and proper clothing can help protect the riders some, but there is still a much greater risk of serious injury or death since collisions. This is because motorcycle collisions usually result in the motorcycle rider being thrown from their motorcycle and out into the road. It is not surprising that motorcycle accidents often cause traumatic brain injuries, fractures, spinal injuries, and even fatalities often result from motorcycle crashes, it is wise to hire a Georgia motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible so that an investigation of the accident scene can be performed. The quick actions of motor cycle accident personal injury attorneys can establish liability through photographs of the accident scene, the property damage, the skid marks, and the location of the vehicles and debris.

What are some interesting facts about motorcycle accidents?

(1) In 2006 there were 4935 people killed in motorcycle crashes throughout the United States.
(2) Motorcycle accidents occur most often at intersections when the other vehicle fails to yield the right of way.
(3) About 2% of the motorcycle accidents are caused by defects in the road such as potholes and pavement ridges.
(4) About 1% of the motorcycle accidents were caused at least in part by animal involvement.
(5) The most common cause of motorcycle accidents is other drivers failing to detect or recognize motorcycles in traffic.
(6) The typical motorcycle accident only gives the motorcycle rider just less than two seconds to complete all collision avoidance actions such as braking, steering adjustments and other accident avoidance maneuvers.

Does The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. specialize in handling motorcycle accident personal injury claims?

Yes. Personal injury attorney Richard Griffin and his law firm have successfully handled many motorcycle accident personal injury claims since 1994. Further attorney Richard Griffin has been admitted to The Motorcycle Injury Trial Lawyers Association because of his focus on motorcycle accident personal injury claims. Because the injuries are usually so severe, Georgia motorcycle accident personal injury claims usually result in larger settlements and jury verdicts. Attorney Richard Griffin has found that often the biggest limiting factor in motorcycle accident claims is how much insurance coverage is there to cover the claim. Identifying the insurance policies and obtaining the policy limits is one of the ways that seasoned motorcycle personal injury lawyers can greatly increase their client's recovery. If someone is representing themselves, then they may settle for less than the policy limits, or they may not know how to properly stack the multiple liability, umbrella, and uninsured motorist policies. This could result in the loss of thousands of dollars to the motorcycle personal injury victim. There is nothing sadder than telling an injured victim that there is not enough insurance coverage to fully compensate the injured victim for their personal injury claim. Even sadder is to have to tell a potential client that they have waived their claim by signing a General Release or have waived their under-insured motorist claim by signing a Limited Release that does not adequately preserve their under-insured motorist claim. The only way to fully protect against these risks is to hire an experienced motorcycle accident personal injury attorney.

What will insurance adjusters do immediately after a motorcycle accident personal injury claim is reported?

Insurance adjusters and their attorneys begin their investigation immediately after the accident. They will obtain the police report, take recorded statements of all drivers and witnesses, and take photographs of the accident scene, the damaged vehicles, and injures if they can. The skid marks and other evidence at the scene of the collision are often lost if not noted by the investigating police officer. Attorney Richard Griffin recommends that motorcycle accident claimants avoid giving a recorded statement to the adjuster. It is usually far better to only agree to a recorded statement after you have hired a good motorcycle personal injury attorney who can prepare you for the recorded statement and prevent the adjuster from asking unfair or objectionable questions.

Why should you hire a experienced personal injury motorcycle accident lawyer?

1. Prompt Investigation To Preserve Evidence: It is critical that you hire a motorcycle personal injury lawyer as quickly as possible to investigate the accident for you to preserve the evidence needed to prove your claim. In motorcycle accidents the skip marks, position of the vehicles, damage to the vehicles, location of vehicle debris, and many other factors can be critical to proving your case. Experienced motorcycle accident lawyers will also take the recorded statements from the witnesses to your motorcycle accident. Securing this testimony while it is still fresh in the minds of the witnesses can make all of the difference in overcoming the defenses raised by the insurance adjusters and their defense attorneys.
2. Insurance Stacking: Our motorcycle accident personal injury attorneys will identify all of the insurance coverage for your claim. This can include personal liability policies, employer liability policies, umbrella policies, uninsured motorist policies for the client (individual, resident relative coverage, vehicle coverage), under-insured motorist policies (individual, resident relative coverage, and vehicle coverage, and med pay coverage (individual and vehicle coverage). Our motorcycle accident lawyers will identify these policies, verify the policy limits for each, and when appropriate stack the limits to recover policy limits from each.
3. Jury Verdict Research: Our motorcycle accident lawyers utilize the latest jury verdict research in settlement negotiations to negotiate higher settlements by showing recent settlements and jury verdicts for similar motorcycle accident claims. This can be helpful not only to negotiate higher offers, but also in providing useful information to the client when deciding whether to settle for their top offer or litigate.
4. Higher Recoveries: An insurance company study found that personal injury recoveries are 3.5 times higher when the personal injury claimant is represented by an attorney. Attorney Richard Griffin has found that this number is probably low based on the thousands of claims he and his motorcycle accident law firm have handled since 1994. There have been many personal injury, wrongful death, worker's compensation, and social security disability claims where the client had been told "no" and offered nothing before hiring our firm only to recover large settlements or verdicts after we went to work for them.

Why is it risky to accept a quick settlement offer from the adjusters for motorcycle accident claims?

It is usually not in your best interest to agree to quick settlements before your injuries have been fully treated and documented with the needed diagnostic tests. Sometimes injures that appear to be less serious can actually become permanent problems that require significant and costly medical treatment such as injections and surgeries. You do not need to be rushed into a settlement which would sign away your rights and settle your claims for less than it is potentially worth.

What is the Statute Of Limitations for motorcycle accident personal injury claims?

In Georgia there is usually a two year period of time to file a lawsuit or settle your personal injury claim. This is called the Statute Of Limitations. If you do not settle your claim or file a lawsuit before the Statute Of Limitations expires, then you will be barred from any recovery. Attorney Richard Griffin has found that litigation is usually not required when his law firm is hired soon after the accident. However, if someone attempts to represent themselves and waits until it is closer to the Statute Of Limitations, then sometimes filing a lawsuit and serving the defendant is the only way to preserve the claim. A good settlement without litigation is usually preferable since the attorney fee and the costs are lower.

How can I get medical treatment if I do not have health insurance and do not have the money for treatment?

It is not uncommon that personal injury claimants do not have health insurance and cannot afford to pay for the medical treatment they need out of their pocket. This can really be a problem because the personal injury claimant is not getting the medical treatment needed to recover and the medical treatment and expenses are not getting documented which can reduce the settlement value of the personal injury claim. This is another area where hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer can make all the difference. Because personal injury attorney Richard Griffin and The Griffin Law Firm, P.C., has a great reputation in the community, there are many doctors throughout the Georgia who will treat on a lien. A doctor lien is an agreement in which the doctor does not require payment for the medical treatment until the case is resolved. It is not a contingency fee so regardless of the outcome of the personal injury case the patient still owes the doctor for the medical treatment rendered, but it allows the personal injury claimant the ability to get the treatment they need. Attorney Richard Griffin and his personal injury law firm can also utilize medical funding companies that will pay for medical treatment, diagnostic testing, pain management, and even surgery in exchange for a lien on the personal injury claim. Without a personal injury lawyer, doctors will not normally agree to provide the needed medical treatment without being paid as you receive the treatment, and medical funding companies will not agree to fund procedures.

What damages are I entitled to in a motorcycle accident personal injury claim?

Motorcycle accident personal injury claimants are entitled to recover the following damages:

(1) Medical Expenses : Past and future medical expenses can be sought for the injuries caused by the motorcycle accident.
(2) Lost Wages : Past and future lost wages can be sought when the injuries disabled the personal injury claimant from being able to work.
(3) Pain and Suffering : Past and future pain and suffering can be sought based on the physical pain and on the negative impact the injuries have on the personal injury claimant's life.
(4) Punitive Damages : Punitive damages if the negligent driver was guilty of drunk driving (DUI), hit and run, racing, reckless driving, or some other conduct that showed a reckless disregard for human life.
(5) Loss Of Consortium : The spouse of the injured claimant can even have a separate claim called a loss of consortium for the negative impact the spouses injuries cause on their marriage. This can be based on the loss of physical intimacy, as well as, on the loss of support in the household duties, and other factors.

How can a good motorcycle personal injury lawyer increase the settlement value?

A seasoned and experienced motorcycle personal injury attorney is able to do the following:

(1) Establish Liability : Witness recorded statements and a thorough investigation of the accident scene can make all the difference. Good motorcycle accident personal injury attorneys will often take photographs of the accident scene, the property damage, and the injuries to assist in proving negligence to an adjuster, a defense attorney, or a jury.
(2) Documenting Medical Damages : A good motorcycle accident lawyer will obtain the medical records and bills from all of the treating medical providers. When needed the seasoned motorcycle accident attorney will obtain causation statements from the treating physicians to prove the injuries were caused by the collision. Successful motorcycle accident attorneys also when needed will obtain future treatment plans with cost projections to help establish what the future medical treatment expenses will likely be.
(3) Documenting Lost Wages : Motorcycle accident lawyers will use the doctor work excuses or disability certificates and the wage and salary verification from the employer to fully document the lost wage claim. If someone is self employed, then additional documentation such as tax returns, increased payroll records, and lost contracts can be helpful as well.
(4) Documenting Punitive Damages : Punitive damages are not allowed unless the negligent driver was guilty of conduct that shows a reckless disregard for human life such as hit and run or driving under the influence (DUI). Good motorcycle accident personal injury lawyers will often obtain the final disposition of the criminal charges against the defendant and will also see if the defendant is a habitual offender for the egregious conduct.
(5) Negotiate or Litigate A Fair Recovery : It is clear that insurance adjusters usually will not offer fair and reasonable settlement offers unless you are represented. Experienced motorcycle accident personal injury attorneys are required to either negotiate a fair settlement or litigate to win a fair jury verdict that fully compensates the injured victim.
(6) Negotiate Reductions or Waiver Of Subrogation Claims : If the medical bills are paid by health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or some other government health benefit coverage, then that entity may seek reimbursement for the medical expenses paid from the client's personal injury settlement. This is called a subrogation claim. Experienced personal injury attorneys are often able to negotiate reductions of even waivers of these subrogation claims which can greatly increase the client's net recovery from the motorcycle personal injury claim.

How can I get a free consultation about my personal injury, worker's compensation, wrongful death, or social security disability claim?

(1) Free Phone Consultation: Call us today toll free at 866-847-6545 for a free consultation.

(2) Free Internet Consultation: You can also submit your case for our evaluation .