Accidents are not rare or unusual on Savannah roads. A road mishap could be anyone’s fault, but when it comes to the impact, a motorcyclist is more likely to suffer severe to life-altering injuries. Motorcyclists in an accident often suffer injuries like broken bones, brain damage, knee injuries, and spinal cord, and most of these can take months or even years to heal. If you are a victim of such a crash, you have to meet a Savannah motorcycle lawyer without any further delay. In this post, we share a guide that will help deal with the complexities.
Liability is based on fault
Georgia follows the fault-based rule as many other states. If a driver is responsible for a road accident, they are also accountable for damages caused to others. The same rule applies to motorcycle accidents, where a victim will have to file a third-party insurance claim to get a settlement. However, it is just as relevant to inform your insurance company about the mishap. Keep in mind that you don’t have to give a recorded statement, even if the claims adjuster asks you to do so.
No two motorcycle accident claims are the same
You may have heard stories of how people have managed to recover thousands of dollars for a successful motorcycle accident claim, but that’s not true for every victim. No two injury claims are ever the same, and your compensation largely depends on the extent of your injuries, losses, and other factors like the fault of all parties involved. Instead of guessing what the claim is worth, always choose to get an assessment from an attorney.
The comparative negligence rule is critical
Whether or not you were responsible for the motorcycle accident largely determines if you will get a settlement or have the choice to sue the other party. If you were more at fault than the other driver, you cannot file a lawsuit against them, as Georgia follows the modified comparative fault rule. Also, your damages or payout will be reduced proportionately for your fault. For instance, if you were 30% at fault for a motorcycle accident and recovered $100,000, you would only get $70,000.
You have a deadline
You need to adhere to the statute of limitations in Georgia, which gives you two years to file a motorcycle accident injury lawsuit. The deadline starts immediately from the time you are injured and is not for insurance claims. If you want to recover compensation through insurance, you must promptly file the claim. There are exceptions to the deadline in some cases.
Investigation is must
Just saying that the other driver was drunk or reckless isn’t enough to prove your motorcycle accident injury claim. You need evidence, and for that, hiring an attorney is critical. As long as you find a law firm that has expert personal injury lawyers who have handled such cases and helped injured motorcyclists, you don’t have to worry about the investigation. Your lawyer already will have the resources and means to gather valuable evidence that can show fault, and if needed, they can even get additional witnesses. For instance, a medical expert could comment on the complex nature of your injuries. Injury lawyers also often work with accident reconstruction specialists to recreate certain incidents.
Final word
If you are dealing with a financial situation after the crash, you may find it hard to pay an hourly rate or retain an attorney. Fortunately, motorcycle accident attorneys in Savannah work on a contingency basis, and the lawyer will not ask for their due payment until you win and recover the payout. Get an attorney soon so that they can start their investigation work.
