Anyone sharing a Georgia road is obligated to avoid harming others. Unfortunately, some drivers fail to uphold that obligation when looking out for and avoiding crashes with motorcyclists.
If you were the victim of a motorcycle crash by a negligent driver or another party, a Covington personal injury lawyer with Kaine Law can represent you as you pursue damages.
What Can You Receive for Your Injuries?
Our lawyers are commonly asked about the average settlement amount for a motorcycle crash. In reality, compensation is personalized to ensure the amount reflects what you experienced.
That said, motorcycle accident damages could cover:
- Medical care
- Rehabilitation
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral and burial costs
Compensation is for past, present, and future losses related to the injury. Insurance companies may try to settle quickly before you’re even sure of the extent of your injuries now, let alone later. You don’t have to accept an offer right away and could be entitled to more than they are offering.
Instead, we wait until you reach your maximum medical improvement (MMI) and then fight for you to receive compensation for all facets of your injury.
For a free legal consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer serving Covington, call 404-214-2001
What does a Motorcycle Crash Attorney with Our Firm Do?
The goal of Kaine Law’s motorcycle accident lawyers is to handle all the details so that you don’t have to. That effort extends to the farthest corners of your Covington case, from helping you make an initial insurance statement to representing you in court if necessary.
We defend your rights by:
- Explaining legal terms
- Reviewing settlements and paperwork
- Advising you on talking to adjusters
- Adhering to the statute of limitations
We offer convenience by:
- Identifying all liable parties
- Talking to all parties on your behalf
- Helping set up appointments
- Coming to you if you can’t come to us
- Consulting experts about your case
- Negotiating settlements
- Drafting and filing paperwork
Finally, we support your case by:
- Compiling evidence
- Retrieving police reports
- Interviewing witnesses
- Obtaining video footage
- Reconstructing your accident
- Taking expert testimony
On top of all of that, we offer a free consultation to get you started and 24/7 call support. We also provide services in Spanish.
Covington Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 404-214-2001
What We Have Done for Others
Over our multiple decades of experience, the Kaine Law team has earned millions in verdicts and settlements for clients, including motorcycle accident recoveries of $450,000 and $650,000.
These results have also earned us five-star reviews, as seen on our client testimonials page. We have even taken on cases other lawyers rejected, such as one where an injured victim was told their case was worth nothing; attorney Evan Kaine obtained $50,000 for that client.
Even if you are unsure if you have a case or have been told your case isn’t worth enough, you can take advantage of our free consultation to learn more. We will listen to your story and see how we can help.
Click to contact our Motorcycle Accident lawyers today
Serving Motorcycle Accident Victims and Their Families on Contingency
We take no fees from you up front or out of pocket. Instead, our lawyer will work for you on a no-win, no-fee plan. In other words, we collect a payment only if we secure an award for you.
How much they will take will be discussed at the beginning of your case. That way, there are no surprises during your legal journey.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
How does Negligence Play a Role in Your Case?
To pursue damages, we demonstrate that the other party’s negligence caused your injuries by highlighting:
- Duty of care: The other person should have driven responsibly and attentively.
- Breach of duty:They did not take proper care to uphold that duty.
- Causation:The lack of care led to the accident and your injuries.
- Damages: Your injuries entitle you to compensation.
In motorcycle accidents, drivers often simply fail to look. In 2021, a representative from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety told 13WMAZ that drivers “tend to not see them [motorcyclists] as much as a small footprint on the highway.” This described tendency is negligence, along with more obvious ones like drunk driving and speeding.
What Happens If You Were Partly Blamed for the Accident?
Everyone makes mistakes. Depending on the circumstances, you might have made an error in judgment or attention that, combined with another party’s actions, led to the collision. In some states, any fault on your part could prevent you from getting any money damages from the person whose actions were the substantial cause of the crash, but that is not the rule in Georgia.
Georgia is a contributory negligence state, so you could be deemed somewhat at fault for the accident. In that case, your share of the damages will be reduced by your amount of fault. Per O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, as long as you are not any more than 50 percent at fault, you can still hold the other party liable.
Let’s say you have compensable losses of $100,000, and the judge says you were 10 percent at fault in the accident. Your 10 percent negligence would reduce your recovery by 10 percent, leaving you $90,000 to collect from the defendant.
Filing a Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Accident in Covington
The time after a motorcycle accident is hectic, to say the least, but you mustn’t let it get away from you. That is, under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, Georgia enforces a two-year deadline for those who wish to file a lawsuit for either personal injury or wrongful death.
Although there may be exceptions to this time limit, they are not very common. For example, if we find that the city government was responsible for the accident, you will have an even shorter amount of time to file—generally six months, according to O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5.
A lawyer on our team can help you figure out which of the statute of limitations applies to your case. Just make sure you inform us about your case sooner rather than later, as not complying with this mandated time limit could mean that you are prohibited from collecting any monetary awards for your accident-related damages.
Four Mistakes That Could Take Money Out of Your Pocket After a Motorcycle Accident in Covington
You might be surprised to learn that the amount of compensation you can go after is not locked down at the time of the motorcycle crash. Things that happen weeks or even months later could increase or decrease the monetary damages you might recover. Here are four examples of things that could decrease the economic value of your injury claim:
Why You Should Finish Your Medical Treatment Before Accepting a Settlement
You might be close to the end of the physical therapy your doctor described when the insurance company dangles a settlement offer in front of you. If you assume that you will not need any additional healthcare intervention for your injuries and you have a stack of bills to pay, you might be tempted to take the money from the claims adjuster.
Imagine that you did that and then went back to your doctor to get released from treatment. Your doctor said that you needed additional treatment, like surgery or a different kind of physical therapy, to heal completely. The insurer will not pay you any more money after you settle. You will have to pay your new medical bills yourself.
The Simple Reason Why the First Offer from the Claims Adjuster Is Likely a Lowball Offer
Claims adjusters negotiate with people who file injury claims. You cannot negotiate if you throw out your bottom-line amount as your first offer. The claims adjuster makes an initial offer well below his actual settlement authority to give himself room to negotiate. If you accept that offer, you will likely find out later that you should have gotten a lot more money.
How a Recorded Statement Could Destroy Your Injury Claim
The claims adjuster might ask you to give a recorded statement. If they do, you can tell them to talk to your lawyer to get any information they need to process your injury claim.
If you give a recorded statement, which we do not advise you to do, the insurer can pick apart the transcript of your responses to the questions and take things out of context to try to justify paying you less money or denying your claim.
Why You Must Understand the Claims Adjuster’s Job
Sometimes people badmouth claims adjusters, but in reality, they are just doing their job. They work all day long to try to find ways for their boss, the insurance company, to pay people as little money as possible for valid claims.
When you understand this, you will not expect the claims adjuster to be on your side. If you want a professional to be on your side, you can work with our Covington motorcycle accident lawyer.
Call Kaine Law Now to Get Started on Your Free Case Review
If you were hurt or you lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident in Newton County, Georgia, you can entrust our lawyers to handle your case in its entirety and fight for the compensation you are entitled to receive.
We have decades of experience and are ready to help you. Call our staff today to learn more and receive a free consultation.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
