Decatur Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

T. Madden & Associates, P.C. > Decatur Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Georgia’s roads are increasingly more dangerous for our entire community, but for motorcyclists, it’s much worse. Without much in the way to protect them, it doesn’t matter how skilled they are at operating this mode of transport.

In 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 5,579 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents. Even if you’re lucky to live through a motorcycle accident, you’ll most likely endure painful injuries, all because someone in a car, truck, or other vehicle wasn’t paying attention.

Motorcycle riders need to be vigilant, but what if you’re doing everything right? It’s not fair that some negligent person didn’t obey the rules of the road and caused your motorcycle accident. The insurance company will do everything it can to blame you, all while you try to recover.

cmn-img-top

Free Consultation. No Fees Unless We Win.

T. Madden & Associates, P.C

You need a Decatur motorcycle accident lawyer who will not only stand up for you but also relentlessly fight for your compensation. For car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents, the accident lawyers who won’t stop until you get your money are T. Madden & Associates, P.C.

Our team of Decatur motorcycle accident lawyers will fight for your money while you work on healing. We know how the insurance companies will try to blame you for the accident, and we won’t stand for that. Contact us today to discuss your motorcycle accident claim.

A Motorcycle Lying on the Ground After Accident with a Car-img

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Decatur

According to motorcycle accident statistics, the most common cause in Decatur is negligence. This includes being distracted behind the wheel, such as when a driver is focused on their smartphone instead of paying attention to the road.

Many drivers fail to pay attention to motorcycles and drift right into them. Drunk driving is also a major cause of motorcycle accidents. While they’re dangerous to everyone in the community, motorcycle riders are much more at risk for catastrophic injuries or death from a drunk driver.

But it doesn’t stop there. Several patterns emerge consistently in Decatur-area crashes that put riders in danger:

Failure to Yield

Many motorcycle crashes happen at intersections, especially when a driver turns left in front of an oncoming motorcyclist. This occurs because drivers misjudge the motorcyclist’s speed or fail to register their presence altogether. These “failure to yield” crashes are particularly dangerous and often result in head-on or T-bone collisions.

In Decatur, where intersections are often busy and fast-moving, even a slight mistake can be deadly.

Driving Under the Influence

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is one of the most dangerous behaviors on the road. Impaired drivers have reduced reaction times, poor decision-making abilities, and often drift into other lanes without realizing it. When a motorcycle is nearby, this type of reckless behavior can lead to devastating consequences.

Our firm has seen first-hand the destruction caused by drunk or drug-impaired drivers in Georgia. Motorcyclists hit by impaired drivers often suffer catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and paralysis. In many of these cases, the driver’s conduct warrants not only compensation but punitive damages as well.

Tailgating and Speeding

Motorcycles stop more quickly than passenger vehicles, but many drivers don’t realize this. When a car follows too closely behind a motorcycle, there’s often not enough room to react safely. Tailgating leads to dangerous rear-end collisions, even at low speeds, and often throws the rider off their bike.

Aggressive driving, such as weaving through traffic, road rage, or sudden braking, only increases the risk. These behaviors are particularly hazardous in areas with heavy traffic or limited visibility, such as Decatur’s downtown corridors and suburban roads.

Unsafe Lane Changes

Another frequent cause of motorcycle crashes is unsafe lane changing. Drivers often neglect to check their mirrors or blind spots before switching lanes. For motorcyclists, being in a blind spot can mean the difference between a safe ride and a serious accident. All it takes is one careless lane change for a vehicle to sideswipe a bike and send the rider flying.

What Motorcycle Insurance Do I Need?

Whether you’re a seasoned rider or new to the road, having the right motorcycle insurance coverage is not just a smart move; it’s required under Georgia law.

Georgia’s Minimum Motorcycle Insurance Requirements Include:

  • $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in an accident

  • $50,000 for total bodily injury or death liability per accident (if multiple people are hurt)

  • $25,000 for property damage per accident

While these are the minimum legal requirements, they often aren’t enough to fully cover injuries and property damage after a serious motorcycle accident, especially when medical expenses and lost income are involved.

That’s why our motorcycle accident attorneys at T. Madden & Associates, P.C. strongly recommend enhancing your coverage with the following:

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM)

Far too many Georgia drivers are uninsured or carry only the minimum required coverage. UM/UIM insurance protects you when the at-fault driver can’t fully cover your damages. It’s one of the most important types of insurance a motorcyclist can carry and one of the most overlooked.

Medical Payments (MedPay) Coverage

MedPay can help pay for medical bills regardless of who caused the crash. This can be crucial while you wait for the legal process to resolve your personal injury claim.

Comprehensive and Collision Coverage

These options protect your motorcycle itself, whether it’s damaged in a crash, stolen, or affected by weather-related incidents. If your bike is custom-built or high-value, this type of coverage is critical.

Custom Parts and Equipment Coverage

If you’ve added aftermarket accessories, this coverage ensures they’re accounted for in the event of a loss.

Riding without adequate coverage is risky, and when you’re hit by a negligent driver, it could mean the difference between walking away financially stable or facing crushing debt. If you’ve been in an accident, we’ll review your policy to help you understand what your insurance covers and what the at-fault party owes you.

Already in an accident and unsure what your policy includes? Contact us now. Our Decatur motorcycle accident lawyers will analyze your coverage and fight for the full compensation you’re owed.

How to Prove Negligence in a Decatur Motorcycle Accident Claim

If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Decatur, you have the right to seek compensation, but it’s not automatic. Georgia law requires victims to prove negligence, which means showing that the at-fault driver failed to act with reasonable care.

To successfully prove negligence, four key elements must be established:

  1. Duty of Care: The other driver had a legal obligation to drive safely and follow traffic laws.
  2. Breach of Duty: That driver failed in their duty through distraction, intoxication, or reckless behavior.
  3. Causation: The breach of duty directly caused your motorcycle accident.
  4. Damages: You suffered losses as a result, such as injuries, medical bills, and lost income.

Proving these elements requires strong, well-documented evidence. This may include:

  • Official police reports
  • Witness statements
  • Photos and video footage of the accident scene
  • Medical records
  • Surveillance or dash cam footage
  • Accident reconstruction reports

At T. Madden & Associates, P.C., we gather every piece of evidence necessary to prove the driver’s negligence and hold them accountable.

Should You Sue After a Motorcycle Accident?

Many motorcycle accident victims file a personal injury claim after the accident. Most of the time they do not make it to trial, though your Decatur motorcycle accident lawyer at T. Madden & Associates, P.C. is prepared to fight for your money no matter where your case takes them.

You should file a claim with the responsible party’s insurance company. An accident lawyer will ensure they don’t offer you a settlement that’s too low to cover your damages.

In our motorcycle accident cases we often encounter insurance companies offering a low settlement. We’ll negotiate on your behalf to get that number to a fair amount.

Testimonials

Motorcycle accident victims often feel better when they know all their damages and losses are covered by the settlement. At T. Madden & Associates, P.C., we can assure you that the insurance company will almost always make a lowball offer and hope that you won’t file a motorcycle accident lawsuit. Before you sign or agree to anything, let a Decatur motorcycle accident attorney from our firm take a look and make sure it’s enough to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

How Much Are Most Motorcycle Accident Settlements?

Every motorcycle accident case has unique factors, so it’s hard to pinpoint the exact amount that you can get. Rest assured, the motorcycle accident lawyers at T. Madden & Associates, P.C. will fight to get you the maximum amount of money we can.

The value of your case will depend on your motorcycle accident injuries and their severity, your medical bills, property damage, lost income, and the insurance policy details. Contact us today and let a Decatur motorcycle accident lawyer get started on fighting for your financial compensation. 

What Type Of Compensation Can I Receive For My Motorcycle Accident?

Even with protective gear, you can still suffer severe injuries from a motorcycle accident. The most common motorcycle accident injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, road rash, lacerations, and broken bones.

With a Decatur motorcycle accident lawyer to help you resolve the aftermath of your motorcycle crash, you have a better chance of getting the money you deserve. Most of our clients are surprised by how much bigger their compensation gets when they have an experienced personal injury lawyer in Decatur, GA working for them.

When it comes time to recover compensation, we’ve got your back. We will stop at nothing to get the highest amount possible for all your damages.

Economic Damages

Case Results

Economic damages are those that have receipts and bills to confirm them. This includes your medical treatment, lost wages, property damage, and things of this nature. This isn’t an exhaustive list, and your Decatur motorcycle accident attorney will be sure to go for every last cent.

Non-Economic Damages

With non-economic damages, this is where most people that have been injured in a motorcycle accident don’t realize they can get more money. These damages don’t have a price tag on them, which means we will pull expert witnesses, your medical records, and other resources to gather evidence that shows you have suffered emotional distress, permanent disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, or pain and suffering.

Punitive Damages

These are awarded by the court when the responsible party was intensely reckless or maliciously caused your motorcycle accident. Punitive damages are also used to punish this kind of behavior that we do not need in our society.

Motorcycle and Helmet on the Ground After Accident With Car

When Should You Hire a Lawyer for a Motorcycle Crash?

When motor vehicles cause a motorcycle crash, you need a motorcycle accident lawyer. At T. Madden & Associates, P.C., we represent the community at large. We give back in every way possible because we want to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you can start building your case on the same day. Serious injuries require recovery time, but with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Decatur working for you, you can focus on your recovery while we get busy building a strong case to prove the negligence of the defendant.

The legal process is a tricky one, and we know all the important laws that will be relevant to your case. Unfortunately, we see a lot of people walk away from pursuing compensation because they’re afraid they can’t afford to hire a lawyer.

You don’t pay us a thing unless we win your case. At T. Madden & Associates, P.C., our clients are often surprised by how much more they’re entitled to after motorcycle accidents. Let us start building your case right away and help you get your life back on track.

What Your Motorcycle Accident Attorney Will Do for You

Once you hire T. Madden & Associates, P.C., we’re on the case. We will collect evidence to show that the parties involved were the ones that caused your accident.

Without a lawyer, you’ll be stuck trying to show that the other party was liable to get your money. Additionally, you will need an experienced motorcycle accident attorney who knows how to calculate all your damages so you can get fair compensation.

We’ll negotiate with the insurance companies and if they don’t comply, we’ll take the defendant to court if it comes to that. We won’t just roll over and take the first lowball amount the insurance company offers. We’re here to get you the money you deserve to get your life back on track and keep you from falling into debt because of someone’s negligent driving.

Motorcycle accidents often result in traffic deaths. If you’ve unfairly lost a loved one due to a motorcycle accident, contact T. Madden & Associates, P.C. to let us build a case for you. It’s hard enough to go on after losing someone you love, let alone without any financial support.

Our law firm allows you to focus on recovering from your injuries while we focus intently on recovering your compensation. Often, people in motorcycle accidents think that they don’t need an attorney until the insurance companies try to blame them for the accident.

Motorcyclists are unfairly categorized as risk-takers who speed on the roads. We know better than that and will not discriminate against you. Call us today for free and honest advice about the potential outcome of your case.

Contact Us

” * ” Indicates Required Fields

Disclaimer: The use of the internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.
checkbox(Required)

Testimonials

Case Results

geogia-img

Schedule a Free Consultation T. Madden & Associates, P.C

T. Madden & Associates, P.C has an answer for all of your legal questions! We are a Personal Injury firm, so we handle many types of injury cases from auto collisions to wrongful death! If you or someone you know is injured, T. Madden & Associates, P.C. can help.

We are proud to offer free case reviews to anyone who may have questions before getting started. Additionally, if we do take on your case, we promise we won’t charge you a penny unless we recover compensation for your claim.
Please contact our Atlanta attorneys online or by calling 833-PAID-123 to get started today.

Free Case Evaluation

” * ” Indicates Required Fields

Disclaimer: The use of the internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.
checkbox(Required)
Skip to toolbar