Columbus Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Seriously Hurt in a Motorcycle Crash? We’ll Seek Justice for You

Even the most skilled motorcycle riders are no match for reckless drivers on the road, especially when they’re up against larger vehicles, like trucks and buses. And when riders get involved in road collisions, the results are often devastating. With no vehicle to shield them from the crash and only a helmet to absorb the impact, riders get little to no protection when they get hurt on the road, making them vulnerable to life-altering and even fatal injuries.

If you’ve gotten hurt while riding a motorcycle in Columbus, GA, know that there’s hope. Our Columbus motorcycle accident lawyers can help you pursue those at fault for your injuries and seek justice in the form of compensation. That way, you can cover your losses from the accident and start a full physical, emotional, and financial recovery.

Want to know more about your legal options? Contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION to determine whether you have a case.

 

Columbus Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

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Why You Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Columbus

Motorcycle accidents are typically more complex than regular car accidents. Because motorcycles offer riders less protection than vehicles, they are more susceptible to being thrown off their ride and sustaining devastating injuries. There is also a huge bias against motorcycles, making it easy for insurance companies to shift the blame and minimize your payout.

Having a team of experienced Columbus motorcycle accident lawyers who understand the city’s traffic laws surrounding motorcycles is a huge advantage when you’re navigating these problems. We know how to negotiate with even the most persistent insurance companies, and we can use our knowledge of local laws to strengthen your claim, not impede it.

With Thompson Law’s attorneys in your corner, you’ll get a higher chance of receiving the compensation you deserve for your injuries and other losses. Learn how we can help by booking a FREE CASE REVIEW with our lawyers today.

What Our Columbus Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Can Do for Your Case

Our lawyers can perform a wide range of legal services to help you pursue justice and get the right compensation that reflects the full extent of your injuries. To help you strengthen your case and advocate for your rights, our team of lawyers will:

Thoroughly investigate the unique circumstances of your motorcycle accident alongside local authorities

  • Gather key evidence, such as dash cam footage, witness statements, and photos of the crash
  • Handle all correspondence with the insurance companies to protect you from their lowballing tactics
  • Estimate the value of the economic and non-economic damages you deserve to make sure no dollar is left off the table
  • Determine who was at fault for your injuries and prove their negligence with solid proof
  • Passionately represent you in court should the case go to trial
  • Negotiate with the other party to get you the highest settlement possible

Allow us to carry the legal burden off your shoulders. We’ll do our job while you focus on your road to recovery. Discover more about what our Columbus motorcycle accident lawyers can do for you by booking a FREE CONSULTATION today.

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(844) 308-8180

Why Choose Thompson Law?

We’ve seen how motorcycle accidents can affect the lives of innocent riders because of other motorists’ recklessness on the road. We believe nobody deserves to go through that pain alone and without just compensation. That’s why when you hire us, we work relentlessly to put together a winning legal strategy to help secure full, fair compensation that can help cover your losses and regain control of your life after the accident.

Common Types of Injuries

Victims of motorcycle accidents often suffer from serious injuries because there is little to no physical protection for them upon impact with a larger vehicle.

Even in minor accidents, many riders will end up with road rash, bruises, skin lacerations, and facial injuries. In tragic, major collisions, riders could end up with more devastating injuries, such as broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injury. In the most heartbreaking cases, these injuries can be fatal.

When you’re recovering and trying to get proper treatment for any of these injuries, the medical bills may start piling up fast. That’s why, no matter your injury, it’s important to hire motorcycle accident lawyers in Columbus who can defend your rights and obtain full compensation to pay off your medical expenses.

At Thompson Law

We provide Motorcycle accident victims with dedicated and tenacious legal representation, ensuring you get fair value for your claim. Our Columbus motorcycle accident lawyers will build a strong case with supporting evidence for injured victims so that you recover the money that you deserve.

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We Help with All Kinds of Motorcycle Accidents

At Thompson Law, we handle motorcycle accidents quite often, and we know how to navigate many kinds of collisions involving riders. Here are just some of the types of motorcycle accidents we can assist with:

  • Rear-end collisions, which can often lead to serious injuries for the rider
  • Head-on collisions, when a car veers into the wrong lane and ends up in front of a motorcycle
  • Lane-change collisions, where a car sideswipes a motorcycle in its blind spot
  • Dooring accidents, when a parked driver opens their car door without checking for motorcycles passing by
  • Highway crashes due to speeding
  • Single and multi-vehicle crashes

Compensatory Damages Our Lawyers Can Secure for You

Our Columbus motorcycle accident lawyers collect all the evidence they can to strengthen your claim and get you the compensation you need to fully recover from your injuries and losses. Here are the types of compensatory damages you could be entitled to depending on the unique circumstances of your case:

  • Medical bills, including those for emergency care, medicine, and rehabilitation
  • Lost wages for income lost while you were recovering
  • Reduced earning capacity due to your injuries or disabilities
  • Property damage to your motorcycle and other personal belongings
  • Pain and suffering, which account for the emotional trauma you’ve experienced following the accident
  • Disfigurement or permanent disability
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Loss of consortium if your marriage has been negatively affected by the accident
  • Punitive damages, which can only be awarded in court if the negligent party is proven to have acted out of malice and extreme negligence
  • Wrongful death damages if a family member has died in a motorcycle accident

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Columbus, GA

One of the most important parts of fighting for the compensation you deserve is being able to determine the cause of the motorcycle accident you were involved in. Here are some of the most common causes of motorcycle crashes in Columbus:

  • Distracted driving, especially if the driver was on their phone
  • Going above the road’s speed limit
  • Failing to yield the right-of-way to the motorcycle
  • Poor road conditions that occur when streets have potholes and hazardous debris on the pavement
  • Driving under the influence
  • Unsafe lane changes
  • Vehicle defects, such as faulty brakes and blown-out tires

Key Statistics About Motorcycle Crashes in Columbus, GA

Motorcycle crashes continue to be a serious issue not just in the City of Columbus, but all over the State of Georgia. Here are some of the most concerning statistics surrounding motorcycle accidents in Georgia, according to the Department of Driver Services:

In 2019, motorcycle riders represented 21% of total driver fatalities in the state. Considering motorcycles are a mere 2% of registered vehicles in Georgia, they are extremely overrepresented in this number.

  • Motorcycle accidents that led to fatalities have increased throughout the years. There was a 22% increase in these crashes from 2017 (139 fatalities) to 2019 (170 fatalities).
  • In 2019, for every 100,000 registered motorcycles in Georgia, there were about 1,942 crashes on the road.
  • 83% of motorcycle riders involved in road collisions wear helmets. This shows that no matter how safe and careful you are, accidents can still happen.
  • 18% of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes on the road were driving above the speed limit at the time of the accident.

Local Columbus, GA Laws to Keep Motorcyclists Safe

Georgia has state laws to protect the residents of Columbus and other cities in the state with busy streets from getting into motorcycle accidents and sustaining severe injuries from them. Here are some of the state’s traffic laws surrounding motorcycles.

Motorcycle Licenses

The Georgia Department of Driver Services requires all motorcycle drivers to get a Class M license or instructional permit before getting on the road. This includes anyone driving scooters, motorbikes, and any mini-bike with an engine, but excludes mopeds and tractors.

To get a Class M license, motorcyclists need to either be professionally trained in the Motorcycle Safety Program Course or apply at a Customer Service Center and pass a knowledge, driving, and vision test. These application procedures ensure that everyone who gets behind the handlebars of a motorcycle knows how to operate it responsibly and how to keep fellow motorists on the road safe.

Helmet and Eye Gear Requirement

The Code of Georgia § 40.6.315 requires all bikers and passengers to wear helmets at all times they ride a motorcycle. They are also required to wear eye protection unless their motorcycle is already equipped with a windshield. This law is meant to protect riders from serious injuries to the head or eyes should they be involved in a road crash.

No Lane-Splitting

Lane splitting, or riding between cars directly on the white lines on the side of each lane, can be tempting for many motorcycle riders. It’s a great way to get around slow-moving traffic. However, it’s very risky to do as it can cause rear-end collisions, sideswipes, and other accidents.

That’s why Code of Georgia § 40.6.312 strictly prohibits lane-splitting in Columbus and everywhere else in the state. If a motorcycle rider wants to pass another vehicle, they must do so the safe and legal way by fully changing lanes.

The Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Columbus, GA

Motorcycle accidents can happen anywhere in Columbus where there are irresponsible and negligent drivers. However, there are a few stand-out roads and intersections where motorcycles are encouraged to be extra careful and vigilant. Here are the most accident-prone streets, highways, and intersections in the city:

  • 1st and 13th Ave
  • Macon Rd and Interstate 185
  • Beaver Run and Gateway Rd
  • Rigdon Rd and Colorado Street
  • Forrest Rd and Reese Rd
  • 13th St and US-27/Veterans Parkway
  • Manchester Expressway and 2nd Ave
  • Manchester Expressway and Woodruff Road
  • GA-22 and Macon Rd
  • U.S. Route 80
  • U.S. Route 280
  • U.S. Route 27
  • Georgia State Route 22
  • Georgia State Route 520
  • Georgia State Route 85

Critical Evidence to Preserve After a Motorcycle Accident

Preserving key evidence related to the motorcycle accident you were involved in is essential for us to build you the strongest legal strategy possible. Evidence helps establish another party’s fault, which means they can be held accountable for their negligence by paying you just compensation for your injuries. Here are some of the key pieces of evidence to try and collect as soon as you can:

  • Photos and videos of the scene of the motorcycle accident
  • Dash cam and traffic surveillance footage
  • Photos of your injuries
  • Witness statements
  • Police reports detailing the events that took place
  • Hospital records, especially if you were sent to emergency care after the accident
  • Photos of the property damage on your motorcycle or car
  • Personal notes about what you recall from the accident, including the road conditions, what transpired with the other vehicle, what words were exchanged between you and the other driver, and more

Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Motorcycle Crash

After getting into a motorcycle accident, you might start getting calls from the other party’s insurance provider. It’s important to remember that this insurance company does not have your best interests in mind. Their goal is to pay you as little as possible. So, they may downplay your injuries, shift the blame onto you, and ask to settle for a low amount.

The best way to go about answering these calls is to minimize direct contact with them. Tell them that you have legal representation that can liaise with them about the accident, and direct them to our team of Columbus motorcycle accident lawyers.

We’re used to handling aggressive insurance adjusters, and we won’t let them pay you an amount far less than you deserve. We’ll relentlessly negotiate to get you a fair settlement amount. If they don’t propose an acceptable settlement, we’re not afraid to pursue legal action against the other party and take them to court instead.

Get the Financial Recovery You Deserve with Our Help

Healing from a motorcycle accident is hard enough as it is. But when the bills pile up and the insurance companies start calling, it becomes unbearably overwhelming. You don’t deserve to go through that kind of stress while you’re trying to make a full recovery from your injuries. So, let us do the heavy lifting and take care of the legal processes as you heal.

Our Columbus motorcycle accident lawyers will speak with insurance companies on your behalf, gather all the evidence we can to strengthen your claim, and, of course, represent you in court to fight for your rights. We will stop at nothing to get justice for your pain while you focus your energy on healing.

Ready to take the first step toward the justice you deserve? Book a FREE CONSULTATION with our team today.

 

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FAQs About Motorcycle Accidents in Columbus

Can I recover compensation if I’m partially to blame for the accident?

Yes, you can. Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule that allows those who are partially to blame for a motorcycle accident to receive compensation as long as they are not more than 50% at fault for the crash. However, your final payout will be reduced by the percentage of your fault.

Can I still recover compensation if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?

Yes, you can still get compensation if you weren’t wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. However, insurance companies might use that fact against you and reduce your payout, claiming that it contributed to the severity of your injuries.

How much does it cost to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in Columbus?

Most motorcycle accident lawyers in Columbus don’t ask for any fees upfront when you hire them. Instead of a retainer or hourly rate, they will likely charge you a contingency fee, which is a cut of the final damages or settlement you receive. That means you only pay your lawyer if they win your case or get you a settlement.

When is the deadline for filing a motorcycle accident claim in Columbus, GA?

Columbus’ statute of limitations for motorcycle accident injury claims is set at two years after the road crash. If you fail to file a claim or pursue legal action against a negligent party after two years, you could lose your right to obtain any compensation at all. Working with a lawyer can help ensure that you don’t miss this deadline and forfeit those rights

Thompson Law Guarantee

Thompson Law charges NO FEE unless we obtain a settlement for your case. We’ve put over $1.9 billion in cash settlements in our clients’ pockets. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your accident, get your questions answered, and understand your legal options.

State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an injury accident, so call today.