Alpharetta Motorcycle Accident Attorney

A motorcycle accident typically results in serious injuries and loss of income. These accidents often strike out of the blue, and bikers and their families have no idea how to pick up the pieces and pay for required medical care, to say nothing of dealing with pain and suffering.

Contact Ponton Law for assistance. Our legal team is dedicated to your well-being, and we have the skills to negotiate a favorable settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If you reach out to our Alpharetta motorcycle accident attorney, you can schedule a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.

Why Ponton Law?

There are dozens of lawyers in and around Alpharetta who claim they can help motorcycle accident victims. Why do you need to call Ponton Law?

We simplify the process of obtaining compensation by finding evidence and working with all insurance companies to build your claim. Our founder, James Ponton, has years of experience in personal injury law and can steer your case from start to finish.

Motorcycle accidents cause painful injuries, which don’t leave time for victims to build an insurance claim. Let our law firm do all the heavy lifting on your behalf. Whereas other law firms treat their clients like numbers, we limit the number of cases we take so we can provide in-depth legal representation.

Why Motorcycle Accidents Happen in Alpharetta

Accidents typically stem from a careless driver who slams into a motorcyclist or drives so closely they force bikers off the road. Some of the major reasons for accidents include:

• Texting and driving
• Failing to yield
• Illegal lane changes
• Passing around a corner
• Tailgating
• Speeding
• Driving too fast for the conditions
• Intoxicated driving
• Driver fatigue

Georgia law calls these behaviors negligence, and motorcyclists hurt in a crash can seek compensation because the negligent driver was at fault.

In some crashes, a non-driver is to blame. For example, a road defect could have upset your bike. Trash and debris from a construction site could flip you over, or a giant pothole could send you flying through the air. In these situations, we might sue the party responsible for the hazard.

There is No Typical Motorcycle Accident

We have helped motorcyclists hurt in a wide variety of wrecks, including:

• Left-hand turn collision. Some drivers are so anxious to make a left-hand turn they pull directly in front of a motorcyclist, leading to a crash. They often claim they couldn’t “see” the motorcyclists coming through the intersection. In our opinion, they rarely are looking.
• Head-on collision. A fatigued or intoxicated motorist can drift over the center line and cause a head-on crash. A driver could fall asleep briefly and collide head-on.
• Rear-end crash. Motorcyclists waiting at an intersection can suffer a rear-end crash when a texting or speeding motorist fails to stop in time.
• Open highway accident. These wrecks happen at high speeds and are very dangerous. Motorcyclists can skid along the road, suffering abrasions and other horrifying injuries.
• Hit and run. Georgia law requires that motorists stop when they hit someone, but too many flee, even when motorcyclists are badly hurt. You should still seek compensation.

Regardless of the details, contact Ponton Law to talk with an Alpharetta motorcycle accident lawyer. We can discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your case, as well as your odds of financial recovery.

What is the Average Settlement?

Alpharetta motorcycle accidents leave bikers with all kinds of injuries, including fractures, abrasions, chest injuries, pelvic injuries, concussions, and back injuries. These are expensive to treat. Someone with a serious injury might spend days in the hospital being monitored in the ICU. Even those with “minor” injuries could be unable to work for months as they manage their pain.

Accidents cause an immediate pocketbook loss related to:

• Medical care. You can seek compensation for diagnostic testing like x-rays, prescription medication, surgery, doctor visits, and rehabilitation.
• Lost income or wages. Many injuries are so painful our clients cannot work. You deserve compensation if someone else is at fault for the crash.
• Property damage, like damage to your bike. Any property will need to be fixed or replaced after a crash.
• Pain and suffering. Accidents leave many motorcyclists with sharp pain, depression, anxiety, and other suffering.
• Reasonably probable future losses. Those suffering major injuries often need ongoing care and/or can’t return to their old job, needing to take a lower-paying job instead.

In some situations, you might seek punitive damages against the defendant for egregious conduct. These damages would punish the defendant in the hopes of deterring them and others, such as preventing drunk driving.

Fatal Motorcycle Accidents

Sadly, motorcyclists are more vulnerable to fatal injuries than other motorists, and too many people die each year. These claims are handled differently. Family members can seek compensation for the losses they suffer from the death of a loved one by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the defendant.

You can seek compensation for the income your loved one would have earned had they lived, as well as lost benefits. Other damages include non-economic losses like the loss of love and companionship.

This is a complicated legal claim. Only certain people can file a wrongful death lawsuit and receive compensation, so a lawyer’s advice is necessary. Reach out to Ponton Law to find out more if this is a claim you can bring and what evidence you will need in support.

Deadlines for Filing a Claim

Anyone hurt in a motorcycle accident should immediately contact Ponton Law today. The state’s statute of limitations gives victims only two years to file a lawsuit. Wrongful death lawsuits also have a two-year statute of limitations.

Please do not go over this deadline. A judge will dismiss your lawsuit if you do, and it’s possible to end up with absolutely no compensation, all because you did not get a lawsuit filed correctly on time.

Legal Claims and Evidence

A motorcycle accident case will revolve around the fault. Typically, we allege the defendant was negligent because they did not act carefully, and it was foreseeable they could hurt someone. We rely on certain evidence when trying to reconstruct who is to blame:

• Evidence from your bike. Your motorcycle might show where it was hit, as well as the speed the driver was going.
• Witness testimony. A witness can help us see the accident and how it happened.
• Police reports. The police report often contains helpful information, like a diagram of where the vehicles ended up and the officer’s impression of the crash.
• Pictures of the accident. You should try to get pictures following the collision of where all vehicles ended up, as well as dents on the car that hit you.
• Medical records. You also need to show the severity of your injuries to obtain maximum compensation, and records prove useful.

One key dispute is often comparative fault. In Georgia, you can only seek compensation if you are less than 50% to blame for your injuries or damages. Go over this threshold, and OCGA § 51-12-33 prohibits you from receiving anything. Even if you are under the 50% threshold, your damages are reduced proportionally. So someone who is 40% to blame can still seek compensation—but they receive 40% less than they otherwise would.

Schedule a Consultation with an Alpharetta Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Filing an accident claim requires more than filling out a few forms. You need to powerfully advocate for your own interests. At Ponton Law, we know that insurance adjusters look for any reason to deny a claim. You must strategize and gather adequate evidence of your injuries. You can trust Ponton Law to handle your case with the skill and professionalism of an experienced legal advocate. Contact us to schedule a free consultation, at  (404) 418-8507.