If a careless driver caused you a collision on a motorbike, a personal injury attorney can help you seek compensation. An Athens motorcycle accident lawyer from Massey Law Personal Injury Attorneys will fight hard for justice. We believe the best way to get road users to start seeing motorcycles is to confront negligent drivers and hold them responsible for the injuries they cause.
Our attorneys understand the relevant laws every Athens motorcyclist needs to keep in mind after a crash.
The Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 33-7-11 states that you must carry at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury or death, and $25,000 for property damage. This applies to motorcyclists and car drivers, so the at-fault party or parties should have the minimum coverage in place.
O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 and O.C.G.A. § 9-3-32 outline that you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. However, lawsuits against a city or county require a special ante litem notice within just six months, and those against a state agency require notice within one year. If you are seeking reimbursement for property damage only and not injuries, your time limit extends to four years.
To win a motorcycle accident lawsuit, you must prove negligence. That means showing the at-fault driver had a duty to act safely, breached that duty, caused your injury, and that your injuries resulted from the breach. If the driver was breaking a criminal law at the time, such as drunk driving, the statute of limitations may pause for up to six years. If the biker did not survive, the two-year deadline for a wrongful death lawsuit starts on the date of death, not the accident date.
You can only recover compensation if a court finds you to be less than 50 percent at fault. If you share the blame, a court reduces your compensation by your fault percentage. For example, if you were speeding and a court finds you 25 percent at fault, it can reduce your award by 25 percent.
The motorcycle accident laws listed above can be confusing. Understanding insurance coverage, strict deadlines, negligence standards, and the possibility of being partially at fault means there is a lot to keep track of while you are trying to heal. A lawyer from our Athens firm can help relieve some of the burden after a motorbike collision.
Even if we don’t enter a courtroom, we can protect you from the typical insurance company tactics that undervalue your claim or delay your payout. We push for fair insurance settlements, hoping to avoid filing a lawsuit and keep your case moving forward.
Our personal injury team will also coordinate your medical care with your legal case in mind. We connect you with providers who treat your injuries and document your recovery in a way that strengthens your claim. When your treatment plan and evidence line up, it leads to better legal results and allows you to focus on recovery.
At Massey Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we bring precision and compassion to the table. Contact us now for a free case review with an experienced Athens motorcycle accident lawyer. Accidents happen. We are here to support you.
(706) 395-9160