At Van Sant Law, our motorcycle accident lawyers in Douglasville represent riders injured when drivers fail to yield, change lanes unsafely, follow too closely, or make other dangerous decisions on the road.
We have served injured people throughout Georgia since 2008 and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients. Founding attorney David M. Van Sant previously represented insurance companies, giving us firsthand knowledge of how carriers investigate crashes, evaluate injuries, and seek to reduce their payouts.
If another driver caused your crash, our Douglasville personal injury lawyers can review the evidence and explain the compensation you may be able to pursue. Call for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in Douglasville
A driver does not need to strike a motorcycle directly to cause a serious crash. A rider may be forced to brake suddenly, leave the roadway, or take evasive action because another vehicle entered the rider’s path.
Common causes include:
- Drivers turning left across a motorcycle’s path.
- Unsafe lane changes.
- Failure to check blind spots.
- Distracted driving.
- Speeding.
- Following a motorcycle too closely.
- Failure to yield.
- Impaired driving.
- Running red lights or stop signs.
- Opening a vehicle door into a rider’s path.
- Unsafe road or construction conditions.
Our Douglasville motorcycle accident attorneys investigate what each driver was doing immediately before the crash and whether another person, company, or entity may share responsibility.
Georgia Motorcycle Lane Rules
Georgia law gives motorcycles the right to use a full traffic lane. Other motorists may not drive in a way that deprives a motorcycle of that full lane.
Georgia also prohibits a rider from passing another vehicle within the same lane and from operating a motorcycle between lanes or rows of vehicles. This means lane splitting is prohibited under current Georgia law.
Two motorcycles may ride abreast in one lane. These rules can become relevant when an insurer attempts to argue that a rider’s lane position contributed to a collision.
Who May Be Liable for a Motorcycle Accident?
The other driver is often the first person considered after a collision, but they may not be the only potentially responsible party.
Depending on how the crash occurred, liability may involve:
- A negligent driver.
- The driver’s employer.
- The owner of a commercial vehicle.
- A trucking or delivery company.
- A vehicle or motorcycle manufacturer.
- A maintenance provider.
- Another business whose conduct contributed to the collision.
- A government entity in certain roadway-related claims.
Van Sant Law looks for every viable source of compensation. When multiple parties contributed to a collision, we investigate each one and identify available insurance coverage.
Evidence That Can Help Establish How the Crash Happened
Motorcycle accidents can produce competing accounts of what happened. Evidence collected independently of those accounts can help establish speed, positioning, visibility, and driver conduct.
We may examine:
- Police crash reports.
- Scene photographs.
- Video from businesses or traffic cameras.
- Dashcam recordings.
- Witness statements.
- Vehicle damage.
- Skid and gouge marks.
- Electronic vehicle data, when available.
- Cell phone evidence, when relevant and legally obtainable.
- Driver employment records in commercial vehicle cases.
- Motorcycle inspection and repair records.
- Medical records documenting your injuries.
The type of evidence available will depend on the crash.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Douglasville
Medical care should be your first concern. Some motorcycle injuries are immediately obvious, while others become more apparent over the following hours or days.
When circumstances allow, you can also:
- Call law enforcement and report the crash.
- Photograph the vehicles and roadway.
- Obtain contact information from witnesses.
- Photograph visible injuries as they develop.
- Keep your damaged motorcycle and riding equipment.
- Save medical bills and other accident-related receipts.
- Document time missed from work.
- Follow your medical providers’ treatment recommendations.
- Avoid discussing fault with the other driver’s insurer before obtaining legal advice.
You do not need to know every detail of how the crash happened before contacting a motorcycle accident attorney in Douglasville. Investigation can begin with the information that is currently available.
How Our Insurance Background Can Help With a Motorcycle Claim
Insurance companies may approach motorcycle claims differently from ordinary car accident cases. Adjusters may focus heavily on rider conduct, challenge the severity of injuries, or rely on stereotypes about motorcyclists.
David M. Van Sant previously worked as defense counsel for a large insurance firm. That experience gives our firm insight into how insurance companies review liability, medical evidence, and settlement exposure.
We use that perspective to anticipate disputes and prepare evidence addressing the insurer’s arguments.
What Compensation Can Be Available After a Motorcycle Crash?
A motorcycle injury claim can include economic losses as well as the physical and personal effects of the collision.
Depending on your case, you may seek compensation for:
- Emergency medical treatment.
- Hospitalization.
- Surgery.
- Physical and occupational therapy.
- Prescription medications.
- Future medical care.
- Lost wages.
- Reduced future earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering.
- Permanent impairment.
- Scarring and disfigurement.
- Damage to your motorcycle and other property.
- Other recoverable losses caused by the collision.
We evaluate both current losses and future expenses that can be reasonably supported by the evidence.
What If the Insurance Company Blames You?
Georgia follows a modified comparative fault system. If you share responsibility for the collision, your compensation can be reduced according to your percentage of fault.
If you are found 50% or more responsible, you cannot recover damages under Georgia law.
For example, an insurer may accuse a rider of speeding or violating a motorcycle traffic rule. We examine whether the evidence actually supports that allegation and whether the alleged conduct contributed to the crash.
Why Choose Our Douglasville Motorcycle Crash Lawyers at Van Sant Law
A serious motorcycle injury can make traveling to meetings difficult. We offer several ways to make it easier to get legal help while you are receiving treatment.
When you work with us:
- You can sign your case electronically without coming to our office.
- We can arrange an in-home visit if you prefer.
- We can connect you with medical resources when needed.
- We can connect you with financial resources when available.
- We investigate every potentially liable party and available source of compensation.
- We handle communications with insurance companies while you focus on your recovery.
We represent Georgia injury victims in the communities we serve and focus on holding insurers and responsible parties accountable for covered losses.
Discuss Your Case With Our Douglasville Motorcycle Accident Law Firm Today
Our attorneys at Van Sant Law bring decades of combined experience to Georgia injury claims, including serious motor vehicle and commercial carrier cases.
If you were hurt while riding, contact us for a free consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Douglasville. We can answer your questions and explain the options available under Georgia law.
