Even though most motorcyclists are safe and responsible drivers, motorcycle accidents continue to be among the most serious types of collisions in the country. In 2015, accidents claimed the lives of more than 5,000 cyclists nationwide, and the number of fatalities has been increasing.
If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle accident in Savannah, you may be struggling to cope with serious injuries and enormous medical bills. Your accident may have left you unable to work.
But you not have to pay the financial toll of an accident that wasn’t your fault. A Savannah motorcycle vehicle accident lawyer can help you get a full financial recovery.
At John Foy & Associates, our mission is simple: we want to help accident victims get the money they need to pay for care and get their lives back together. That’s been our goal ever since we started as a small local law firm more than 20 years ago. Today, we are one of the biggest and most well respected firms in the state, and we have a long track record of helping motorcycle accident victims get the money they deserve.
We’d like to give you a free consultation to go over your claim and show you how we can help. Call us at 912-574-2287 and get your free consultation today.
Why Are Motorcycle Accidents Different than Other Accidents?
Modern passenger cars are loaded with safety features like seat belts and front and side air bags. Motorcycles don’t have this advanced safety gear, and that means that accidents tend to be serious. When it’s just you and the road, any accident can cause you to hit the pavement hard, and a high speed crash is likely to throw you from your seat. This makes you much more vulnerable to serious injuries than the occupants of a car or truck.
As a practical matter, motorcyclists have another problem when they’re involved in an accidents: they’re treated differently than other drivers. Insurance companies tend to buy into the image of a motorcyclist as a lawless, reckless rebel.
We don’t believe these stereotypes aren’t true and we know that most motorcycle riders are cautious and law-abiding—but the insurance company will use any excuse it can find to blame you or pay you as little as possible. Because of this, we caution you to never sign anything or accept money from an insurance company without talking to a lawyer.
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Who Is at Fault in a Motorcycle Accident?
A typical motorcycle accident happens because another driver wasn’t paying close attention, not because the motorcyclist did anything wrong. Motorcycles are smaller than cars and SUVs, and other drivers tend not to notice them. When that happens, the accident is legally the other driver’s fault, not yours. Motorcycle accidents are often caused by the following:
- A driver making a turn doesn’t see a motorcycle and then cuts it off
- A driver hits a motorcycle while changing lanes
- A driver hits a motorcycle that’s traveling between traffic lanes
- Road hazards such as uneven pavement or poor weather conditions
Motorcycle accidents can have multiple causes, and that may make them more complicated than many other accident claims. Police and other drivers may be quick to find fault with the motorcyclist. But if someone else was careless or wasn’t paying attention, they are “negligent” and therefore legally liable for your injuries.
At John Foy & Associates, we start every motorcycle case by sending out an investigator to determine how your accident happened and who was to blame. We use this information to build the strongest possible case to get the insurance company to pay you the money you deserve.
What Are the Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Savannah?
Motorcycle accidents can cause many kinds of injuries, and yours will depend on the way your accident happened and the type of protective gear you had on. Motorcyclists are required to wear helmets in Georgia, and a helmet can help to prevent a serious head injury.
Protective clothing can prevent skin wounds and road rash. But even the very best protective gear cannot safeguard you against all injuries. We often see these types of injuries in motorcycle crashes:
- Head injuries, including life-altering traumatic brain injuries
- Injuries to spinal cords
- Neck and back injuries
- Bone fractures
- Skin injures, including road rash
Always get medical attention as quickly as possible after a motorcycle accident. Many types of injuries grow worse or develop complications if you delay in seeking treatment. Prompt medical care gives you the best shot at a speedy and full recovery.
How Much Money Can I Recover in a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Savannah?
The City of Savannah follows Georgia law, which allows accident victims to recover the full cost of the accident. This means you are legally entitled to your medical expenses plus other costs and damages that you have suffered. These damages might include the following:
- Medical expenses, including doctors, hospitals, surgery, physical therapy and tests
- Prescription drug costs
- Lost wages to make up for the time you missed from work because of the accident
- The cost to fix or replace your motorcycle
- Damages for wrongful death, if you lost a loved one in an accident
It’s not uncommon for a motorcycle accident to lead to serious, long-term conditions. The local courts know this and are prepared to award accident victims much more money if there is a serious loss like chronic severe pain or a long-term disability.
Judges don’t really believe this money can make up for a tragic accident, but they know that money can relieve financial stress, pay for ongoing treatment, and help you maintain your home and family after the accident.
Talk to a Savannah Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for Free
At John Foy and Associates, we’ve been helping motorcycle accident victims for over 20 years, and we know how devastating the injuries can be. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Savannah, you don’t have to bear the financial burden of something that wasn’t your fault.
We’ll give you a free consultation to go over your case and help you understand your options. And we won’t ever charge you anything unless we can win money for you.
Call us at 912-574-2287 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.
912-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form