Unlike someone in a passenger vehicle, a motorcycle rider has little protection when a car strikes them, they’re thrown from their bike, or they’re forced off the road. This often results in catastrophic harm to the rider. If you were injured in a motorcycle crash in Blue Ridge, GA, you may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, future care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, motorcycle damage, pain and suffering, and other crash-related losses. We want to help.
Duello & Sarrell Law, LLC represents injured riders in Blue Ridge, Fannin County, and surrounding North Georgia communities.
Whether you live in North Georgia or were visiting the Blue Ridge area for a ride, we can help you understand what Georgia law allows you to pursue after a serious motorcycle collision. Contact us for a free case review.
Motorcycle Accident Representation in Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Ridge and the surrounding North Georgia mountains draw riders from across the region, but the scenic winding roads can be hazardous.
Curves and elevation changes can affect visibility. Two-lane roads provide little room for error when a vehicle crosses the centerline. Drivers entering or turning across a roadway may also have trouble recognizing an approaching motorcycle or accurately judging its speed and distance.
The dangers of mountain driving are never an excuse for those who injure a rider. They can, however, complicate a case like yours.
We will need to show how and why your accident happened and may use:
- Police crash reports
- Photographs and video from the scene
- Witness statements
- Motorcycle and vehicle damage
- Helmet and protective equipment
- Dash camera footage
- Nearby surveillance recordings
- Medical records
- Relevant vehicle or electronic data
Whether your accident happened on GA-60 from Morganton toward Suches, GA-180/Wolf Pen Gap Road, or elsewhere in the area, we know how to build a strong case on your behalf.
As a motorcycle accident lawyer serving Blue Ridge, GA, Daniel R. Duello can begin examining that evidence while you focus on medical treatment and recovery. You can learn more about the injury claims we handle on our practice areas page.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Collisions
When determining the cause of a motorcycle accident, we typically look at the drivers of any motor vehicles involved in the crash. Riders too often suffer severe injuries due to motor vehicle drivers’ negligent actions, including:
- Dangerous left turns: A driver may turn across the path of an approaching motorcycle at an intersection or while entering a driveway.
- Failure to check blind spots: Drivers who fail to check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes can move directly into a motorcyclist’s path.
- Unsafe passing: Passing too closely or moving back into a lane before clearing the motorcycle can force a rider off the road.
- Distracted driving: A driver looking at a phone, navigation system, or another distraction may fail to notice a motorcycle.
- Following too closely: Motorcycles can slow quickly, so a driver who follows too closely may not leave enough room to avoid a rear-end collision.
- Speeding: Excessive speed can reduce reaction time and increase the force of a collision.
Road debris and hazards such as gravel, damaged pavement, or objects in the roadway can be particularly dangerous for riders. We look at whether a government agency, contractor, or property owner may have been responsible for the hazard.
Motorcycle Riders Can Suffer Catastrophic Injuries in Collisions
Due to their exposure, riders often suffer injuries that are more serious than those of the typical car accident victim, and may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Severe road rash
- Broken or crushed bones
- Shoulder and joint injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Facial injuries
- Nerve damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Amputation
- Permanent physical limitations
These injuries may require numerous surgeries, rehabilitation, assistive equipment, or long-term medical treatment, which is why our team assesses both immediate expenses and the reasonably anticipated long-term consequences of the injury.
Overcoming Insurance Bias Against Motorcyclists in Georgia
Motorcyclists can face another problem when making an insurance claim: assumptions that they ride recklessly.
An insurance company may try to portray a rider as reckless simply because the person was operating a motorcycle. Our team focuses on evidence rather than stereotypes, which can mean examining:
- Vehicle positions and damage
- Skid marks and debris
- Photographs of the roadway
- Witness accounts
- Police findings
- Vehicle and nearby surveillance footage
- Other electronic vehicle information, when available
- Medical evidence showing how the collision occurred
The issue of fault matters because Georgia follows a modified comparative fault system. If an injured person shares responsibility for an accident, compensation can be reduced according to that person’s percentage of fault. A rider deemed to be 50% or more responsible generally cannot recover damages at all.
As a Blue Ridge motorcycle crash attorney, Daniel R. Duello can examine whether the evidence actually supports an insurer’s allegations, or whether the evidence points to a different explanation.
Georgia Motorcycle Helmet and Safety Laws
Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-315, a person may not operate or ride on a motorcycle unless wearing protective headgear that complies with standards established by Georgia’s commissioner of public safety. The statute also addresses the use of eye-protective devices when motorcycles lack windshields.
Whether or not a helmet was used can become an issue after a crash, particularly when the rider suffers a head or facial injury. An insurance company may attempt to argue that the rider’s conduct contributed to the injury’s severity.
In cases like these, we examine what actually caused the crash and what evidence exists regarding the injuries instead of assuming that helmet use alone will decide the claim.
The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety also provides motorcycle and roadway safety information for Georgia motorists.
Key Steps to Protect Your Rights After a Motorcycle Crash
This is a basic post-accident checklist for riders injured in collisions in the Blue Ridge area:
- Call 911 and get emergency care.
- Make sure the collision is reported.
- Photograph and video relevant aspects of the scene, if you can do so safely.
- Identify witnesses and get their contact information.
- Preserve the motorcycle (rather than getting it repaired before your attorney can evaluate it).
- Keep your helmet and riding gear.
- Save medical and financial records, such as bills, rehabilitation records, employment and income-related documentation, motorcycle repair or replacement estimates, and receipts for other crash-related expenses.
- Avoid saying anything about the crash to the other driver’s insurer until you’ve spoken with an attorney.
- Get legal guidance from Duello & Sarrell Law, LLC right away, and certainly before you accept any settlement offer.
You can find answers to additional questions about injury cases on our frequently asked questions page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blue Ridge Motorcycle Accident Claims
Injured riders and their loved ones often ask us:
Don’t assume the insurance company’s determination is correct or final.
An adjuster may have a financial reason to place some (or all) of the responsibility on you because Georgia’s comparative fault rules can reduce compensation based on your percentage of fault.
Preserve photographs, video, witness information, the motorcycle, your helmet, your riding equipment, and other available evidence. We can review the evidence and compare it with the insurer’s version of the collision.
Depending on the case, a motorcycle injury claim in Fannin County may include demands for compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Motorcycle and property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Permanent physical limitations
- Other qualifying losses caused by the collision
Catastrophic injuries require particular attention to ongoing and future costs. A settlement based on current medical bills may fail to account for later surgeries, therapy, reduced ability to work, or long-term care.
Potentially, but not having worn a helmet can complicate your claim. An insurer may raise that fact when disputing damages, particularly if your claim involves a head injury. This is even more reason to speak with our motorcycle accident lawyer.
Each case is different and unpredictable, so there is no standard timeline.
We can say that a claim involving relatively straightforward injuries and clear liability may resolve sooner than a case involving catastrophic injuries, disputed fault, multiple insurance policies, or uncertain future medical needs.
It can also be important to understand the full picture of the rider’s medical condition before resolving the claim. Settling too early may make it difficult to account for needs or limitations that were not yet known.
If an insurance company will not agree to an appropriate resolution, we may need to file a lawsuit.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Serving Blue Ridge, GA
Before establishing his North Georgia practice, attorney Daniel R. Duello was a partner at a law firm with more than 400 attorneys. He believes a more attentive, one-on-one client-attorney relationship benefits injured riders like you.
Attorney Duello earned an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell for professional ability and ethical standards. Our firm also has a history of 5.0 client ratings. We pair these qualifications with genuine care for clients in Blue Ridge. Our convenient office allows those from Fannin County and the surrounding area to meet with us in person by appointment.
Your next step is simple: if another driver caused your motorcycle crash in Blue Ridge or Fannin County, contact us online for a free case review.