What happens to you, your passengers, your bike, and other parties in a motorcycle accident depends on the specifics of how, when, and where that accident occurs. You might suffer any number of injuries for which the at-fault party owes you compensation.
You can always hire an Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer to investigate your crash, find out what really happened, and fight for the monetary damages you need.
What Can Happen to a Rider in a Motorcycle Accident
It is a well-documented fact that motorbikes offer less protection than other types of vehicles. As a result, motorcyclists are at greater risk of sustaining serious injuries in collisions: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motorcyclists represented 14 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2021.
While you cannot always predict when and where an accident will happen, you can prepare yourself for what happens in a motorcycle accident by:
- Wearing a helmet and other protective gear
- Frequently refreshing your memory on common safety techniques
- Remaining alert so you have the maximum amount of time to see and respond to danger
Motorcycle Accidents Can Be Violent
You may get lucky and avoid suffering serious injury, or you might be severely hurt. Some of the most common motorcycle accident injuries include:
- Head and brain injuries
- Injuries to the extremities (feet and arms)
- Facial injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
The idea of being thrown from your bike, hitting other objects, or falling onto the road is a frightening one. By educating yourself about what happens during motorcycle accidents, you may be better prepared to deal with the consequences of a real-world scenario.
Motorcycle Accident First Aid
No matter what happens during the crash, your safety should be your top priority. This means figuring out what the greatest danger to you is in the moment and taking action to avoid it. For example:
- If you land in the middle of the road, do your best to get to the curb or sidewalk, and then stay as still as possible.
- If you cannot or are afraid to move, try to get someone else to direct traffic around you.
- If you are already in a safe place, do not move. Moving could aggravate your injuries.
- If you are bleeding heavily, apply pressure to the wound or have someone else do it.
For a free legal consultation, call 404-214-2001
What Can Happen to a Bike in a Motorcycle Accident
There are many ways a motorcycle collision can occur, so it is not surprising that your bike might behave in unpredictable or unusual ways, depending on what caused the accident. For instance:
When a Car Hits Your Bike
Cars are much bulkier and heavier than motorcycles. A hit from the side could damage both your leg and your bike, while a hit from behind could cause you to lose control or shoot out into another vehicle’s path.
One big factor that will determine what happens to both you and your bike is speed. The faster you and/or the other vehicles are moving, the more catastrophic the resulting damage is likely to be.
When Your Bike Slips on Something
Water, grass clippings, and oil could all cause your tires to lose traction. Your bike might skid, fishtail, or fall over. It may come to a halt on its own, or it might only stop after hitting something else.
When Your Bike Malfunctions
In some cases, motorcycle crashes happen because of a mechanical error. You might suddenly realize the brakes are not working, and you cannot slow down. If the steering mechanism is faulty, you might be unable to turn to avoid a fixed or moving object.
Damage That Can Result From Motorcycle Accidents
It is impossible to list all of the ways in which your bike might suffer damage in a collision. A low-speed, “minor” crash might result in little more than scraped paint or dented fenders. A high-speed collision involving multiple vehicles could completely total the bike.
No matter what happens to you or your bike in a crash, you have the right to seek compensation from the at-fault party for your losses.
What Happens After a Motorcycle Crash
Once the crash has happened, there are several things you can do to protect yourself and your rights:
- Call 911 to bring the police and the paramedics to your location
- Document the scene by taking photos or video and get the contact information of both the other driver and any witnesses present
- Avoid any statements about who bears the fault for the accident
- Consider hiring a motorcycle accident attorney
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How Do You Know What Happened in Your Motorcycle Accident?
Traffic crashes are often very fast, violent, and confusing. This is especially true if you lose consciousness or if the other driver’s story contradicts yours. How can you find out the truth?
One of the first things a motorcycle accident lawyer often does upon being hired is to investigate both your accident and your injuries. A personal injury lawyer can reconstruct the crash by:
- Looking at any photos or videos you took at the scene
- Reviewing video footage from other places, such as surveillance cameras, news reports, or witness cell phones
- Visiting the scene for themselves
- Interviewing you, the other driver, and any passengers or witnesses who were present at the time
- Asking an accident reconstruction specialist to review the evidence and offer their opinion on what likely happened
- Requesting a copy of the police report so they can find out what the authorities know about your crash
Why You Want to Know What Happened
In addition to easing your own mind, finding out the truth behind your accident can tell you who to sue for your injuries and how much the liable party may owe you. Your attorney can act on this information to make sure justice is done in your case.
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Call Kaine Law After a Motorcycle Accident
As O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 states, Georgia residents have only two years to start a personal injury case. Call Kaine Law today so we can figure out what happened in your motorcycle accident, who is responsible for your injuries, and how we can fight for the damages your family deserves.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
