Kaine Law advocates for motorcycle accident claimants and their loved ones. Whether you were hurt while operating a motorcycle or riding as a passenger, we can seek compensation for your various damages.
Georgia has a strict filing deadline on injury lawsuits, so we encourage you to explore your legal options. An Austell personal injury lawyer from our team is ready to build your case today.
What do We Mean By ‘Strict Filing Deadline’?
O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 is Georgia’s statute of limitations. It gives most claimants two years to file their civil lawsuits. The reason why we say “most” is because some exceptions can shorten or extend this deadline. For instance, if you were injured as a minor under 18 years old, you could have more time to file your case.
Our lawyers can provide more insight into your filing deadline when you connect with us.
For a free legal consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer serving Austell, call 404-214-2001
What Sets Us Apart from Other Law Firms?
Kaine Law has decades of experience. During that time, we’ve helped thousands of injured clients resolve their cases. In addition:
We’ve Recovered Multimillion-Dollar Settlements
We don’t just resolve cases; we secure fair settlements and verdicts. We once recovered $650,000 for an injured motorcyclist – and that’s just one of our outcomes.
While we know each case is different (and therefore reaches a different outcome), we’re excited to share our cases’ results with you. We want you to feel confident about partnering with us.
We Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
Lawyers have a reputation for being expensive. But not us. That’s because we serve our injury clients on a contingency-fee basis. So:
- We don’t charge anything up front or out of pocket.
- Your first case review is free.
- We decide on a payment plan at the beginning of your case.
- We take a percentage of your final settlement or court award as payment for our help.
We want to make legal aid accessible to those who need it.
We Take Care of Everything
When you entrust your case to us, you don’t have to worry about a thing. We will secure all supporting evidence, including the accident report, a copy of the liable party’s insurance policy, and your medical records. You don’t have to worry about investigating your own accident.
We want you to focus on getting better. We’ll take care of everything else.
Austell Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 404-214-2001
Recoverable Damages Following a Motorcycle Accident in Austell, GA
Your compensable damages may include:
Past and Future Healthcare Expenses
The Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine notes that motorcycle accidents can result in thoracic injuries, broken bones, and spinal cord trauma. This creates expenses beyond the initial accident scene. Your settlement or award could provide coverage for:
- Emergency transportation
- Life support
- Medications
- Surgery
- Bone-setting procedures
- Hospitalization
- At-home nursing care
- Physical therapy
- Mental health services
We will consult with your healthcare team to learn more about your anticipated medical needs.
Past and Future Lost Wages
Some people work full-time jobs; others work freelance or on a per diem basis. This can make it hard to determine fair compensation if you miss time from work. Rest assured, our team will account for these losses in your case’s value:
- Tips
- Bonuses
- Employee benefits
- Commissions
- Performances
- Hourly wages
- Salary
- Promotional opportunities
We may use your employment records and information from your boss to determine the value of your work-related losses.
Pain and Suffering
The value of this expense accounts for the harm to your:
- Mental health
- Physical health
- Relationships with others
- Ability to work
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Georgia does not place a cap on pain and suffering. So, there’s no limit to what we can ask for.
Click to contact our Motorcycle Accident lawyers today
Wrongful Death-Related Losses
If you lost a close loved one, we’re here to guide you through this challenging time. While you spend time with your family, we can fight for these losses:
- Funeral expenses
- Cremation
- Burial
- Loss of income
- Your loved one’s necessary medical care
You generally have two years in Georgia to file your wrongful death lawsuit.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
The Downsides of Trying to Handle Your Injury Case on Your Own
Some people try to handle their personal injury case like a DIY (do it yourself) case at first. Doing so could make a person regret that decision, when things like this happen:
Not Knowing the Consequences of the Statute of Limitations
The insurance company’s claims adjuster knows your motorcycle injury case’s filing deadline. They also know that if you do not file a lawsuit in time, you will never be able to get any money from the at-fault driver for your losses. You might think your case is going to settle because you and the adjuster have been exchanging information. You may also assume that you will not have to file a lawsuit.
Then, one day, the adjuster stops taking your phone calls. You eventually get a letter from the insurance company that it has no duty to pay you anything because the statute of limitations passed. The adjuster “ghosted,” and you got left out in the cold with a stack of bills to pay yourself.
Not Having Access to a Jury Verdict Database
Insurance companies and personal injury attorneys do not make wild guesses about the monetary value of the claims they handle. These professionals check jury verdict databases to see how much money a jury would be likely to award in a case like yours.
Unless you have access to this kind of information, you have no way of knowing the settlement value of your motorcycle injuries. Many people who settle their claims on their own instead of working with a personal injury lawyer find out that they should have gotten much more money for their losses.
Not Realizing That You Have to Pay Your Medical Bills Out of Your Settlement Check
The insurance company is unlikely to tell you that they do not pay your medical bills for you. After you subtract the cost of your medical expenses from their offer, that settlement check will not look like such a windfall.
Some people settle their injury claims for less than the cost of their medical treatment. When people do that, they have to pay the unpaid bills themselves. Instead of a windfall, they end up with a loss and nothing to show for their injuries.
Not Understanding That You Will Never Get Any More Money for Your Injuries
If you do not work with an Austell motorcycle accident lawyer on your injury case, you might mistakenly think that the settlement check is the first of several checks that you will receive. The reality is that you will only get one settlement check.
After you sign the release and waiver of liability, the at-fault driver and their insurer do not owe you any more money. If you made the mistake of submitting only your medical bills to the adjuster, for example, you will miss out on the compensation you could have received for your lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
What Happens If I Contributed to the Accident?
Nobody’s perfect. That’s why Georgia operates on a contributory negligence rule. As long as you didn’t cause more than 50 percent of the accident, you can still seek compensation, per O.C.G.A. § 51-11-7. Yet, your role in the collision will be deducted from your final award.
Consider the following:
- You’re speeding down Broad Street when you’re struck from behind by a distracted driver.
- You’re deemed to be 20 percent responsible for the collision, and the other party 80 percent responsible.
- Your damages total $100,000.
- Because you contributed to 20 percent of the crash, you could only recover $80,000.
If the insurance company claims that you caused most (or all) of the collision, we can use evidence to assert otherwise.
What Happens If the Other Party doesn’t Have Insurance?
Georgia requires all motorists to carry some form of auto insurance, per the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire. Yet, some people choose to avoid purchasing coverage, leaving them personally liable for your damages.
You could have these two options:
- If you have uninsured motorist protection coverage, you can file a claim with your own insurer. All insurance companies must offer clients uninsured motorist protection coverage. We can determine if you have this in your policy.
- The at-fault driver might have other liability coverage, like an umbrella liability rider to his homeowner’s insurance policy, that could help pay your losses.
- You can sue the at-fault driver and go after his personal assets.
With us on your side, you don’t have to ask yourself, “Am I making the right decision?” We will explain our reasoning and motives for every action we take. We also won’t settle your case without your permission.
Begin Your Free Case Review with Kaine Law
Our motorcycle accident lawyers serving Austell are ready to fight for you. To explore working with our firm, contact us. There’s no obligation.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
