Even more so than car accidents, motorcycle crashes have the potential to cause uniquely devastating and long-lasting injuries to riders and their passengers. Unfortunately, recovering financially after wreck like this can be a complex task.
If you are suffering after a motorbike crash, you do not have to face the legal process of pursuing compensation on your own. You have help available from a Cleveland motorcycle accident lawyer who has years of experience fighting for accident victims’ rights. With a member of the dedicated team at Smith Hulsey Law advocating for your best interests, you could stand a much better chance of establishing liability for your injuries and getting the payments you deserve for each of your losses.
The implicit legal “duty” that motor vehicle operators owe each other while driving also applies to pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and anyone else on the road. Any reckless or careless action that directly results in a motorcycle accident could serve as grounds for an injured rider to hold that irresponsible driver financially accountable for their losses. This could include violating traffic laws, not paying attention to surrounding vehicles and obstacles, and more.
However, it is often important for motorcyclists injured in situations like this to prove that they bore no fault for causing or worsening their own injuries. As a Cleveland motorcycle accident attorney could explain, Official Code of Georgia §51-12-33 allows courts to reduce a plaintiff’s final damage award by whatever portion of fault they assign to that plaintiff for their own injuries. O.C.G.A. §51-11-7 also forbids all forms of recovery for a plaintiff found to be primarily at fault for their accident. With that in mind, a knowledgeable attorney could help ensure that an injured motorcyclist does not face unfair accusations of blame after a crash.
Anyone hurt in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s misconduct may demand restitution for both economic and non-economic consequences of that wreck, including both past and future losses. Specific damages that a motorcycle crash lawyer could help factor into a claim in Cleveland include:
Unlike some other states, Georgia imposes no “caps” on the total amount of compensation a plaintiff may demand through a personal injury claim. Because of this, it is often possible to recover for the full value of past and future losses from a motorcycle accident with the help of a seasoned Georgia attorney. Importantly, though, O.C.G.A. §9-3-33 grants prospective plaintiffs a maximum of two years after sustaining a personal injury to begin the litigation process. An accident victim who fails to abide by this deadline will generally be barred from recovering anything at all, so it is important to get in touch with a local lawyer as soon as possible after a motorbike wreck.
Motorcycle crashes can be traumatic experiences both in terms of what you go through during the incident and the effects it has on your life moving forward. Fortunately, recovering payments for those losses could be much less stressful and have much better odds of a successful resolution if you work with knowledgeable legal counsel.
An experienced Cleveland motorcycle accident lawyer could provide custom-tailored support throughout every stage of your lawsuit or settlement demand. At Smith Hulsey Law, we are dedicated to making things right for you after a collision. Call today to discuss your options with a committed member of our legal team.
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