Hitting the open road on a motorcycle can be a thrilling and exciting adventure, yet it can come with its risks. Anytime you get on your bike in Georgia, there is the chance of experiencing an accident. These accidents can be terrifying, life-altering, and even fatal. However, when these events occur due to the negligence or reckless driving of another party, you can file a claim with the help of a Duluth motorcycle accident lawyer.
After suffering a motorcycle accident, you might feel lost and unsure of where to turn to next. The medical bills are piling up, and you might find yourself unable to return to work and earn a wage to cover the costs of treatments or medications. At Barnes Law Group, we have extensive experience helping those who have suffered as a result of someone else’s negligence or reckless behavior. Our Duluth personal injury lawyers can help you hold the responsible party liable.
Common Injuries Sustained in a Duluth, Georgia Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents can be devastating, especially for the individual who is riding the bike. This is due to the fact that motorcycles offer less protection to riders than those who are in a passenger vehicle or even a commercial truck. This can lead to horrific injuries and even death for the motorcyclist.
The most common injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident can include the following:
Road Rash: These injuries can occur when the skin of the bike rider makes contact with the road during a slide or crash. The friction which happens between the road and the skin can cause horrific burns, lacerations, and abrasions. Road rash can vary in degree, from minor irritation, pain, and redness, to severe injuries such as the skin being scraped away, exposing tissues, muscles, and even bone.Treatment for road rash usually involves the cleaning of the area, removing any debris such as small rocks or chunks of pavement, and applying medication to negate any infections. Severe cases may require the work of skin grafts or surgeries.
Head Injuries: If a motorcyclist suffers a head injury in an accident, these can be some of the most horrific forms of damage possible and can even result in life-threatening complications. The most common head injuries suffered in motorcycle accidents are traumatic brain injuries, which are caused by the sudden force of the head hitting an object or the road itself. This can lead to brain dysfunction and ranges in severity.Symptoms of a head injury can include headaches, memory loss, nausea, dizziness, confusion, vomiting, slurred speech, changes in mood or certain behaviors, and vision problems. These injuries can also have a lasting impact on the life of the victim and reduce their quality of life.
Fractures: Riders involved in motorcycle accidents most often receive fractures or some form of broken bones due to the force of the impact involved in their accident. Types of fractures can range from closed or simple fractures, where the bone breaks but does not pierce through the skin, to open or compound fractures, where the bone protrudes out of the skin. Other forms may include greenstick fractures or hairline fractures.These fractures typically occur in the arms, legs, ribs, spine, pelvis, and collarbone. Symptoms can include pain, bruising, swelling, limited range of motion, deformity, and difficulty in bearing any weight on the affected limb. Fractures can lead to complications such as blood vessel or nerve damage, delayed healing, infection, a failure to heal or align properly, and certain long-term disabilities.
Spinal Cord Injuries: These injuries can have a lasting, negative impact on victims and affect their long-term sensation, mobility, and overall quality of life. Typically, these injuries occur when there has been damage done to the spinal cord or nerves attached to the spinal cord. They can be caused by trauma, because of the impact or force done to the spinal cord in an accident, or because of sudden jolting or compression of the cord.Symptoms of a spinal cord injury can include partial or complete paralysis, a loss of sensation, changes in bowel and bladder function, chronic pain, difficulty breathing, muscle spasms, and complications such as respiratory issues and pressure sores. They can lead to permanent disabilities that can require ongoing medical treatment, in-home care, and emotional support as victims adjust to their new lives.
Internal Injuries: Motorcycle accidents can also cause many forms of internal injuries to victims, such as organ damage affecting the liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, or heart, internal bleeding complications from the impact of crushing injuries that can be critical, a collapsed lung, and abdominal trauma. Symptoms usually include chest pain, dizziness, weakness, bruising, signs of shock, chest pain, and stomach pain.These injuries can have several complications, including organ failure, sepsis, other infections, hemorrhages, and long-term health issues if they are not swiftly and correctly addressed.
If you have suffered any of these forms of injuries in a Duluth motorcycle accident, it’s time to reach out to the personal injury attorneys at Barnes Law Group, who can help you pursue an injury claim and make things right so you can begin to recover and heal.
Barnes Law Group: Protecting You After Suffering a Motorcycle Accident in Georgia
For years, the team at Barnes Law Group has been working to set things right following cases of personal injury. We offer compassionate and experienced counsel and representation and want to do everything in our power to ensure our clients receive the justice and compensation they deserve.
We seek to do this by taking the following actions in your case:
Guidance: From the moment you walk through our office doors, you will be met with legal guidance and honest advice that can explain your rights and options after suffering a personal injury. We can help you navigate the complex legal system and handle all legalities while you heal.
Investigation and evidence gathering: We can launch our own investigation into your accident and gather necessary evidence, such as medical bills, eyewitness statements, and photos or videos of the crash site, that can help us prove liability.
Liability assessment: We can use the evidence gathered to assess which possible parties to hold liable for the accident that caused your property damage and/or injuries.
Negotiations: We can then enter into negotiations with these liable parties and their insurance companies and come to a fair settlement amount that will cover your damages.
Litigation: If a fair settlement cannot be reached through legal negotiations, we have the experience and resources necessary to take your claim before a judge and hold the liable parties accountable for their actions.
Calculating a Motorcycle Accident Claim’s Worth
Calculating the worth of a motorcycle accident claim in Georgia can be a difficult task and often requires the legal guidance of a personal injury attorney. They will look at several factors, including the nature of the injuries you are suffering, the severity of these injuries, if these injuries have caused any disabilities, if you are unable to return to work due to the injuries, if you have suffered a reduction in your ability to earn a wage, and your age and life expectancy.
Damages which are typically recoverable in a Duluth motorcycle accident can include the following:
Current and future medical bills
Lost income and wages
Disability
Damage to personal property
Funeral and burial costs, if the accident was fatal
Loss of consortium
Reduced quality of life
Emotional or mental suffering
Pain and suffering
In rare cases, punitive damages
Recovering these damages can be difficult without the help of an attorney as the liable party’s insurance company will try to do whatever they can to avoid paying out a fair settlement to victims. That’s why it is essential to work with Barnes Law Group in Duluth.
Duluth Motorcycle Accident FAQs
Q: How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Charge in Georgia?
A: In Georgia, personal injury lawyers generally work on a contingency fee basis. This means they only get paid if they secure a settlement or a judgment in your case. You will not be charged any upfront fees, and the attorney will receive an agreed-upon percentage of the settlement as payment. This ensures that you are able to pursue a claim regardless of whether you can afford attorney fees.
Q: What Not to Do After a Motorcycle Accident?
A: There are several things you should avoid doing following a motorcycle accident in Georgia. These include posting things about the accident on social media, as the liable party and their insurance company may use these postings against you, and you should also avoid under any circumstance discussing or admitting to fault, especially while at the scene of the accident.
Q: How to Prove Liability in a Motorcycle Accident?
A: Demonstrating liability in a motorcycle accident claim can prove difficult. In order to do so, you must be able to show that the liable party owed you a duty of care, such as operating their own vehicle safely on the roadway; that the duty was breached, either through negligence, recklessness, or wrongdoing; that you suffered injuries as a result of this duty of care; and that these injuries caused you to suffer certain physical, emotional, or monetary damages.
Q: What Are the Reasons for Motorcycle Accidents in Duluth, GA?
A: There can be several reasons for a motorcycle accident to occur in Duluth, GA. These can include head-on collisions with other vehicles; lane splitting; distracted driving actions such as eating, drinking, or texting while driving; rear-end collisions; failures to yield; blind spot errors; tailgating; speeding; road rage; poor road or weather conditions; and unsafe passing.
Barnes Law Group Is Ready to Make Things Right! Contact Us Today
If you have suffered injuries or property damage due to a motorcycle accident in Duluth, GA, the team at Barnes Law Group is here to help. We have years of experience representing those injured in personal injury cases and are ready to offer you the same compassionate guidance and care. Contact us today for more information.
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Mark and Kaitlin were an absolute joy to work with. They worked quickly on my case and kept me in the loop every step of the way. I’m so grateful for everything they did for…
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