In this blog, I want to discuss another motorcycle safety myth. The myth that I have for you today is that streets and roadways are safer than the highways for motorcyclists. As an Atlanta motorcycle accident attorney, I have to tell you that it’s an absolute myth. There was a study several years ago that showed that 91% of motorcycle vs. passenger vehicle accidents occurred on back roads in neighborhoods, everywhere other than the major highways in Georgia and the rest of the United States.

You are not safer on the back roads vs. the highways, and it makes sense. We know from earlier studies that the number one cause of motorcycle wrecks is a left-hand turn across the lane that the motorcyclist is in, either striking him or her on the side or just going in front of the motorcycle, T-boning the vehicle. Those happen on our back roads here in Georgia, not on the highway.

Why Are Highways Actually Safer?

It’s safer on the highway because the speeds are typically pretty steady. There’s flow of traffic – there’s not a lot of stop signs, red lights, those sorts of things that can cause dangers. Intersections are obviously very dangerous for motorcyclists, and the lanes are wider, giving the motorcyclist more options on where to ride in the lane. And finally, you don’t have head-on traffic coming close to you in the other lane, like you do on the back roads.

Once you think about it, it makes a ton of sense why the streets are not safer. It’s actually much more dangerous to be on the back roads and county roads here in Georgia than it is on the highway.

You probably already knew this, but it’s a good notion to keep in the back of your head when you’re out there, because obviously some of the most fun places to ride are our back roads here in Georgia, going up the mountains and more.

Protecting Yourself When Riding On The Streets Or Highways

When riding on the streets, there’s a high percentage chance that you could be in a wreck caused by a passenger vehicle. You’ve got to be aware and as we say, “head on a swivel.” Have fun and enjoy the ride, but you’ve got to be aware at all times of these passenger vehicles. They won’t see you, they don’t care, and they’re not paying attention.

So, stay safe out there, guys! Let me know if you know if there are any other myths that I haven’t talked about before because they’re good ways to remind us of some safety issues that can help the entire group.

Posted in Motorcycle Accidents | No Comments »

Typically, a personal injury claim is based on physical injuries. If a negligent driver injures you, if your neighbor’s dog bites you, or if you slip on spilled juice at the supermarket and break your leg, you can probably be reimbursed for the medical bills arising from your physical injury. This is where a Savannah personal injury law firm can help.

However, some accidents cause more than physical injuries. Serious accidents in particular often cause substantial mental and psychological injuries as well as physical injuries.

Everyone reacts differently to traumatic events. One person in a catastrophic traffic accident, for example, may have nightmares for years, while another person in the same accident may experience no lasting psychological effects whatsoever.

Can You Be Compensated for a Psychological Injury?

Psychological damage arising from an accident may not be visible to the naked eye, but it nevertheless can be quite extensive and quite damaging. Without treatment and counseling, a psychological injury victim may suffer for years after an accident.

Can the injured victims of negligence receive monetary compensation for psychological injuries the same way they receive compensation for physical injuries? If you file a claim for psychological injuries, what will it take for that claim to prevail?

Keep reading – particularly if you are the injured victim of another person’s negligence here in Georgia. This is a brief introduction to Georgia’s personal injury laws and how those laws apply to psychological injuries.

What Are the Signs of a Psychological Injury?

Of course, every case is different. If you’re struggling right now with a psychological injury that you sustained in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, you should speak immediately about your case with a reliable and trustworthy Savannah personal injury attorney.

Accident victims may express their psychological injuries in a variety of ways. They may have trouble holding a job, managing their emotions, or maintaining their friendships. For some victims, psychological damage may not even emerge until weeks after an accident.

Persons who have been permanently physically disabled or even temporarily disabled are almost certain to feel depression, anguish, anger, guilt, or fear about the future. Some injury victims will have trouble sleeping, may lose their appetites, or may experience sudden weight gains or losses.

Psychological injuries after a serious accident may include anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other serious mental conditions. Psychological injuries may also linger long after a victim has healed from the physical injuries sustained in an accident.

What Makes PTSD So Devastating?

Most accident-related psychological injuries eventually fade away over time, but accident victims who suffer from PTSD – post-traumatic stress disorder – will usually need to seek treatment and counseling. PTSD can considerably impair your capacity to enjoy living.

If you are injured by another party’s negligence in the state of Georgia – in a traffic crash or in any other accident scenario – the law entitles you to compensation for both psychological and physical injuries. You can be reimbursed for the cost of counseling, treatment, and medication.

The victims of negligence may also recover lost income when a personal injury or injuries has prevented them from working, and they are entitled to additional compensation for personal suffering, pain, anguish, and distress.

How Can You Prove That You’ve Suffered a Psychological Injury?

Of course, the obvious problem that faces psychological injury victims is proving to others that their injuries, although not visible, are in fact real.

If you feel depression, anxiety, or guilt after an accident, or if you suffer from eating or sleeping disorders, seek counseling or treatment at once. Fortunately, experienced counselors are available almost everywhere in the state of Georgia in both the private and public sectors.

If you do not seek counseling or treatment for a psychological injury, you won’t have evidence or documentation to present to an insurance company – or to a jury if your case goes to trial.

How Can an Expert Witness Help You?

Your personal injury lawyer will probably ask an expert witness – an authority on psychological injuries – to make a statement or testify at a trial. Expert witnesses are common in these cases, and they can help jurors understand more clearly the nature and extent of psychological injuries.

In some cases, expert witnesses can even help victims avoid the courtroom. In the out-of-court negotiations conducted prior to a personal injury trial, the explanations provided by expert witnesses can often help the opposing parties reach mutually acceptable settlement agreements.

What Else Should a Psychological Injury Victim Do?

If you have sustained any psychological injury because of an accident, here is what you must do:

1. Do not miss your medical appointments. Adhere to your physician’s orders.
2. Find a counselor you trust. Talking it over almost always helps.
3. Stay active. Exercise. Do your best to eat a reasonable, balanced diet.
4. Take your prescriptions. Most injury victims only need medications temporarily.

Will Your Psychological Injury Case Go to Trial?

In the state of Georgia, if someone else’s negligence causes an accident, and if you are injured in that accident psychologically and/or physically, speak immediately with a qualified Savannah personal injury attorney about your rights and your options for obtaining compensation.

Personal injury trials are not exactly rare in this state, but overwhelmingly, most personal injury claims are settled in private negotiations between the attorneys for both sides. In most cases, injury victims are not even required to make an appearance in a courtroom.

However, if your injury claim cannot be settled out-of-court, your personal injury lawyer may recommend taking your case to trial and asking a jury for the compensation – and for the justice – you need and deserve.

What Will It Cost an Injury Victim to Seek Justice?

If you are injured in any kind of accident in the state of Georgia, seek medical treatment at once. Then, if your injury was caused by negligence – or if you’re not sure – immediately take your case to an injury lawyer who will explain your rights and options.

It does not cost anything to find out more about your rights as an injured victim of negligence. Accident attorneys offer the injured a free, first legal consultation with no obligation. You won’t pay any attorney’s fee until you obtain an acceptable settlement offer or a jury award.

If someone else’s negligence is the reason you’ve been injured in Savannah, get the medical help you need at once, get the psychological help you need, and then – as quickly as possible – get the legal help you need. A good attorney’s help is your right, and your future could depend on it.

Posted in Brain Injuries, Personal Injury | No Comments »

This blog is for my Harley Davidson riders, but it’s a good reminder in general to be monitoring recalls. As motorcycle accident lawyers, I know that you’re supposed to be getting recall information in the mail, sometimes by e-mail as well, but it’s always good to monitor these types of things through discussion boards, or on the internet.

You may have already heard about it, but this recall is affecting about 238,000 Harley Davidson bikes between 2017 and 2018 models, and it’s yet again another clutch issue with Harley Davidson. If you recall, there’s been several clutch recalls in the past, not these specific models necessarily, but other models in the past. So, Harley Davidson has had a history recently of clutch problems in numerous recalls with different models all the way back to 2013 models.

Which Models Are Affected By This Recall?

This current recall is a voluntary recall affecting around 238,000 plus Harley Davidson bikes on the years 2017 and 2018 models. The models specifically are the Touring trike and CVO touring models, but it does affect some 2017 soft tails. You may have to do some research to find out more.

The issue is the secondary clutch actuator that has a seal on it that is deteriorating for some reason, or it’s just not sealing correctly from the very beginning. This is allowing air in there, which then causes other performance issues and problems with the bike itself.

How Can This Issue Be Fixed?

My understanding is it’s pretty difficult to get to it. I wouldn’t recommend that anybody does the repairs on their own. One of the big problems is one of the pipes has to be removed or at least loosened to get to the secondary actuator with the clutch, and then the actuator, just to get that seal and replace it.

Again, it’s not going to be a very simple repair in that sense. You will have to remove multiple items or at least loosen them up to get to the seal that ultimately that needs to be replaced.

With it being a voluntary recall, take it to a Harley Davidson dealer. Let them deal with it for free. Get it changed by professionals, and hopefully, the repair will work.

Posted in Motorcycle Accidents | No Comments »

What does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer in Atlanta? This is a question that personal injury trial lawyers get all the time, and if you’ve been injured by a negligent driver in a traffic collision, it’s a natural question to ask.

This will be a brief discussion about the full and complete cost of pursuing a personal injury claim and hiring a car accident lawyer. We will discuss the 2 separate components that go into the full cost to hire a car accident lawyer.

If you are injured by a negligent driver in Georgia, and you retain the services of an experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer, you should understand fully – and be entirely comfortable with – the fees and the fee arrangement.

How Can You Know if You Should Hire an Atlanta Injury Lawyer?

But if you’re injured by a negligent driver, how can you know whether or not to retain an attorney? You don’t know what an attorney will cost, and you won’t know if you’ll recover enough in compensation to make hiring an attorney worth it.

The first cost component is what is called attorney’s fees. Let’s discuss briefly what those are and how much you can expect to pay in attorney’s fees in a personal injury case.

Precisely What Are Attorney’s Fees?

An attorney’s fee is what you pay a lawyer for legal expertise and for the work that’s involved in bringing your personal injury claim to its best possible resolution.

Like the injury victim, the attorney may invest months in a case – and sometimes years – before seeing a result. The injury victim/client benefits from not paying the attorney by the hour and from not being billed monthly – like the clients, for example, in criminal cases or divorce cases.

What is a “contingent” Fee Arrangement?

In an auto accident case here in Georgia, the attorney’s fee is a “contingent” fee. This means payment is contingent on recovery, and the amount of the fee is contingent on the amount of the recovery.

The advantage of the contingent fee arrangement is that it aligns your interests with your attorney’s interests; if you win nothing, your attorney earns nothing. If you win the maximum available compensation amount, your attorney earns a higher fee.

What precisely is an attorney’s fee when a personal injury claim prevails? A number of factors are involved in arriving at that figure; for example, a case that goes to trial takes more work than a case that is settled out of court, so the cost will be higher.

In Atlanta Personal Injury Cases, is there a “Typical” Attorney’s Fee?

But generally speaking, an attorney’s fee will range from a third of the recovery amount to about forty percent, although some attorneys have been known to charge even more in some cases.

The precise percentage that an injury victim will pay as an attorney’s fee will depend on how long it takes to resolve the claim and on how much work is actually involved.

Most people understand how a contingent fee agreement works, but again, only the attorney’s fee is a contingent fee, and the attorney’s fee is only the first component of the full cost of pursuing a personal injury claim and retaining an accident attorney.

The second component of the entire cost of hiring a car accident attorney is the component that often gets lost in the discussion due to the popular misconception about what it costs to hire an accident lawyer. It’s a misperception that’s been created, at least in part, by the many lawyer commercials that we’ve all seen so often on television.

What Gets Left Out of the Television Ads for Lawyers?

What the attorneys on the television commercials say about hiring an attorney is true, but they leave out an important element that will need to be explained more fully.

The injury lawyers on television commercials usually say something like, “There’s no fee unless you win. You don’t owe us anything unless we recover something for you out of your injury case.” That’s technically true, as far as it goes, but it’s not “the whole truth.”

What you need to know – especially if you are an injury victim seeking an accident lawyer’s advice and representation – is that what is called “attorneys’ fees” are only the first part of what it costs to hire an accident attorney.

What is the Second Part of the Cost of Hiring an Injury Attorney in Atlanta?

After an attorney’s “fee” is considered, the second component of an injury client’s full costs is the attorney’s “expenses,” and this is the part that many people do not quite understand – and the part that isn’t explained by the lawyers in the television commercials.

When you receive a recovery amount at the end of the personal injury process, not only is your attorney’s “fee” deducted – the thirty-three to forty percent mentioned earlier – but your attorney’s “expenses” are also deducted.

Expenses mean any expenses that your attorney’s firm paid out in advance to prepare your case. Generally speaking, a more complicated case will require more expenses.

Precisely What Are an Accident Attorney’s Expenses?

These expenses can include anything from basic court fees for filing documents to pay for expert witnesses and their own expenses.

An attorney’s expenses will include items like the fees for obtaining your medical records; certified mail charges; and the fees that your doctor or a medical expert will charge for an opinion or a consultation.

Almost every part of the pre-trial discovery process – depositions, interrogatories, and subpoenas to produce evidence – entails some kind of expense.

What Can Happen if Your Injury Claim Does Not Succeed?

Here’s what you need to know that is not explained in the television commercials. If there is no recovery in your case, you may still owe your attorney’s law firm for the expenses that the firm paid out in advance to prepare your case.

That is why the lawyers on the television commercials say specifically – as required by Georgia law – that you pay no “fee” unless you win. What they do not say on the television commercials is anything about “expenses.”

However, this should not stop you from pursuing justice if you’ve been seriously injured by a negligent driver. Especially if your case can be resolved in private negotiations before a lawsuit is formally filed with the court, expenses are typically quite low in a personal injury case.

These expenses are all paid out in advance by a personal injury lawyer so that an injured client pays nothing out-of-pocket.

Injury attorneys take on certain expenses because the victims of negligence often can’t, and because these attorneys believe they will recover compensation for their clients.

What’s the Final Cost to Hire an Injury Lawyer – and Win Justice?

Fees and expenses constitute the entire cost of hiring a skilled Atlanta car accident lawyer and pursuing a personal injury claim in this state.

Injury lawyers and their prospective clients need to discuss the details of the case thoroughly during a first legal consultation, so that prospective clients have enough information to make an informed decision about moving forward with legal action.

The injured victim of negligence has to decide, “Am I going to have enough to cover the attorney’s fee, along with the expenses, and still recover adequate compensation for my medical bills, my lost wages, and my pain and suffering?”

As the case advances, the defendant or the defendant’s insurance company will typically make several settlement offers, and to consider those offers properly, a client needs to know what he or she potentially owes back to an injury attorney.

What Does It Cost to Learn More?

Whether you accept a settlement or go to trial may depend on what you will have to pay your attorney – both for fees and expenses – so it’s a figure that a client will need to know.

What won’t cost you anything – or obligate you to anything – is a first consultation with an injury attorney. You’ll learn more about your rights and more about how the law applies to your own case.

If you’ve been injured by a negligent driver in this state, get the legal help you need – without delay. Compensation is your right, justice is your right, and a lawyer’s advice is also your right.

More Content Related to Atlanta Personal Injury Cases

Personal Injury Maximum Compensation in Atlanta

Guide to Hiring the Best Personal Injury Attorney in Atlanta

Things to Know When Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer in Atlanta

What Does It Cost To Hire A Car Accident Lawyer In Atlanta?

Posted in Car Accidents | No Comments »

When an automobile crashes into a motorcycle from behind, if the motorcyclist survives, his or her injuries will probably be catastrophic and life-altering.

What are the most likely injuries that a motorcyclist will suffer in such a scenario? And what is a motorcyclist’s recourse in Georgia if he or she is injured by a negligent driver?

Those questions are about to be answered, but the first thing you must know is that if you are a motorcyclist in Georgia, and you are injured by a negligent driver, you must take your case to a trustworthy and experienced motorcycle accident attorney.

What Injuries Are Commonly Sustained in Motorcycle Accidents?

Motorcyclists who are hit from behind often sustain traumatic brain injuries – even if they use helmets – and severe spinal cord injuries, whiplash, lacerations, multiple bone fractures, paralysis, and injuries that require amputation.

It’s not unusual for the injuries sustained in motorcycling accidents to be permanently disabling.

Any blow to the head can result in a traumatic brain injury, and even the best motorcycle helmet cannot offer absolute protection in a high-impact collision. Yes, helmets are imperative, and they save many lives, but they cannot prevent every head injury.

When an automobile hits a motorcycle from the rear, the motorcyclist can in effect be ejected into the air, and even with a helmet, if that motorcyclist lands head first on pavement, a sidewalk, or a vehicle, a severe brain injury or a fatality is almost certain.

What is Required for Someone With a Severe Brain Injury?

A severe traumatic brain injury requires life-long care and treatment. Memory, motor skills, emotions, vision, hearing, and sleep patterns may all be disrupted. Multiple surgeries may be required along with extensive therapy and rehabilitation.

If you are injured by another driver’s negligence in this state, you are entitled to complete compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and any other accident-related losses and damages.

But if you need to be compensated for a lifetime of medical treatment and lost wages, you will need the maximum amount of compensation that is available, and you’ll also need a skilled personal injury attorney who knows how to fight for and win that amount on your behalf.

What About Back and Spinal Cord Injuries?

Blows to the head and traumatic brain injuries are frequently sustained in motorcycle crashes, but back and spinal cord injuries can be just as catastrophic and devastating.

When a negligent driver hits a motorcycle, and the motorcyclist goes airborne and lands on his or her back, paralysis or a severed spinal cord is likely, and the few motorcyclists who survive such an incident will require substantial medical care – and substantial compensation.

Why Are Rear-end Motorcycle Collisions So Dangerous?

The reason why a rear-end collision into a motorcycle is so devastating is simple. The motorcyclist is usually tossed into the air, so instead of suffering a single collision-and-impact, a motorcyclist in these accidents experiences two distinct collisions and impacts.

Obviously, motorcyclists lack most of the protections that other vehicles’ occupants have. A helmet, leather jacket, gloves, and boots can offer some protection, and in fact, they are imperative, but they are no substitute for an automobile with airbags and safety belts.

Any collision – from any direction – can be catastrophic for a motorcyclist.

What Makes Motorcycle Collisions Complicated Legally?

Motorcycle crashes can also be legally complicated. Motorcycle crashes leave less physical evidence than automobile crashes. There may be no witnesses. A police accident report may be inaccurate or incomplete.

If you are injured by a negligent driver while you are motorcycling in Georgia, you must be represented by an accident attorney who has considerable experience handling cases that involve motorcycle accidents resulting in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.

A skilled personal injury attorney will work closely with your doctor and other medical experts to determine your medical needs and to fight for the resources you will have to have to make that medical care possible.

What Can Motorcyclists Do to Enhance Their Safety?

Most motorcyclists are familiar with the standard motorcycling safety tips: avoid a car’s blind spots, watch for drivers making blind turns, and keep plenty of distance between yourself and the nearest automobile.

The problem is that there is not a lot you can do to prevent a rear-end collision. Make certain that all of the lights on your motorcycle are working properly and be sure that you always wear the standard safety gear – boots, jacket, helmet, and gloves – when motorcycling.

If you see a driver who is impaired or driving erratically, do not let that driver get behind you.

If an accident happens, and if you not completely incapacitated, summon medical attention and the police immediately.

If you are able to, take photos, or have someone take them for you. Find out how you will be able to obtain a copy of the police accident report. Of course, if you are able to, you must exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver.

How Will a Personal Injury Lawyer Help You?

As soon as your doctor releases you, reach out to a personal injury lawyer to discuss your rights and options – which may include a personal injury lawsuit.

It won’t cost you anything to learn more about your case. Most accident lawyers in Georgia will review your case and provide an initial consultation for no cost and no obligation.

If you choose to take legal action, you’ll pay no attorney’s fee until your attorney obtains a settlement or a verdict on your behalf.

How Quickly Do Injury Victims Need to Act?

Georgia’s statute of limitations gives the injured victims of negligent drivers two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. After two years, the courts will not consider your lawsuit.

But you can’t wait two years and then scramble to file a lawsuit at the last minute. Don’t even wait two weeks. It’s important to put a personal injury lawyer on the case as quickly as possible.

Don’t accept any quick settlement offer. In fact, don’t make any statement at all to an insurance company after you’ve informed your own insurance company that an accident has happened.

With your future at stake, let your injury attorney – a qualified negotiator – do all of the talking and negotiating on your behalf. Your attorney will settle for nothing less than the full compensation amount you deserve.

Why Should You Take Legal Action?

If you are disabled because another driver was negligent while you were motorcycling, that is a tragedy.

Nothing, of course, can change the past, but with the help of a professional Georgia accident attorney, you may be able to obtain the resources that can help you move positively and constructively into the future.

It’s your future, and having sound legal advice is your right. If you need that advice, make the call, and get the legal help you need right now.

Posted in Motorcycle Accidents | No Comments »

In this article, I discuss what are the best insurance companies for bikers to cover their motorcycle, and is there a chart of how much insurance that you should get coverage-wise specifically for UM and MedPay?

Which Insurance Company Is The Best For Bikers?

As a motorcycle accident law firm in Georgia, I can tell you that it doesn’t really matter which insurance company you choose because they all provide pretty similar services.

However, I have heard that USAA is slightly better than some of the other companies when it comes to customer service.  When it comes to a claim, USAA is going to treat it pretty much the same, especially if it is a personal injury claim. They’re going to come up with the same arguments and fight the claims the same way.

Regardless, you need to get a lawyer that knows what they’re doing. You have to have someone in there fighting for you. So, it doesn’t matter if it’s Geico, Progressive, or USAA. What I want to see is that you get as much coverage as possible, and then go with the provider that’s going to be cheapest for that really good coverage.

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Which Chart Of Coverage Should A Motorcyclist Get?

When it comes to UM, have at least a $100K of add-on UIM coverage. You have to get it as an add-on, not reduced. Just add the UM coverage directly on top of whatever the at-fault party has, so it gives you more coverage than those reduced by.

As for MedPay, I would suggest that you have $250K-$300K in MedPay. It is a great piece of coverage that is separate from the UM coverage that directly covers your medical bills.

I want to see at least $10K of MedPay, or ideally $25K or $50K, but I would say $10K at a minimum. If you’re going to look for a $100K UM add-on policy with at least $10K of MedPay coverage and see which provider out there will give that type of policy or better at the cheapest rate. It doesn’t matter if it’s Geico, Progressive, USAA, Safeco, or some other company. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter; it’s just about having the coverage you need.

Posted in Motorcycle Accidents | No Comments »

Every year in the United States, more than four million of us are the victims of dog bites, according to the American Humane Society.

An aggressive dog must be handled properly. The owner in many cases may be held liable if a dog injures someone, even if the owner of the dog had no intention to injure anyone.

Georgia law deals with dog bites, but what is the law if you are injured by someone’s pet (or someone’s farm animal) that is not a dog? Can you hold the owner accountable? Can an Atlanta animal bites lawyer help you be compensated?

Who Can Be Held Liable if an Animal Attacks You?

In Georgia, in a dog bite case, the burden falls on the bite victim to prove that a dog owner knew the animal was aggressive. But no matter what kind of animal attacks a person, someone may still be held liable for any injuries that are sustained.

That someone is usually the owner, but it can also be anyone who is a keeper or a harborer of the animal. Under Georgia law, anyone who owns any animal – including a dog – that is known to be aggressive may be held liable if that animal attacks and injures someone.

How Do the Courts Determine if an Animal is Dangerous?

How is the phrase “known to be aggressive” actually defined by the courts? Georgia’s Supreme Court directly addressed the question in 2017.

Georgia’s Supreme Court found that animal owners are liable for animal attacks even if the animal has never actually bitten anyone.

The question, said the judges, is whether the animal previously expressed aggressive behavior in a way that the owner should have known that the animal had a tendency to attack someone.

One of the attorneys in the case explained to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “It doesn’t have to be that there was a prior, obvious bite. It [the ruling] recognizes that a snap is nothing more than a bite that missed its target.”

What Does the Law Say?

Here’s what state law actually says:

“A person who owns or keeps a vicious or dangerous animal of any kind and who, by careless management or by allowing the animal to go at liberty, causes injury to another person who does not provoke the injury by his own act may be liable in damages to the person so injured.”

In its decision, the court said that if a dog, for example, had previously snapped at someone but had not actually bitten anyone, the “snapping” alone could – in many cases – be sufficient to indicate to the owner that the animal meets the law’s definition of “vicious or dangerous.”

But that’s a question for a jury alone to decide, according to the justices. The effect of their ruling was to expand the definition of what is considered an aggressive animal in this state – thus expanding the rights of animal attack victims and the potential liability of animal owners.

What Was the “One Bite” Rule?

Prior to that 2017 Georgia Supreme Court decision, the courts in our state relied on the “one bite rule,” which placed liability on animal owners only if the animal had bitten someone previously and the owner was aware of it.

The injuries suffered by the victims of animal attacks can be catastrophic, including serious infections, the transmission of diseases, disfigurement, injuries that require amputation, and long-term psychological difficulties.

Immediate medical attention after an animal attack is imperative.

How Many Animal Attacks Lead to Fatalities?

Every year in the U.S., more than 800,000 animal attack victims seek medical treatment, and over 30,000 of those victims require surgery. In 2017, thirty-nine animal attacks in the U.S. resulted in the deaths of fifteen children and twenty-four adults.

While the law regarding dogs is somewhat extensive in Georgia – and many of the state’s municipalities enforce breed-specific regulations – the law simply presumes that wild and non-domesticated animals are dangerous.

What’s the Risk if You Own a Wild Animal?

The owners of wild and non-domesticated animals are subject to “strict liability” if the animal attacks someone, which means that the victim of such an attack may file an injury lawsuit without having to prove that the owner committed a specific negligent act.

Owning a non-domesticated animal may put you and others at risk for a serious injury.

Keeping undomesticated animals as pets can expose you to civil liability and even in some cases to criminal penalties. After a dog in Atlanta killed a six-year-old boy last year, the owner of the dog was charged with involuntary manslaughter.

What Are Your Rights if an Animal Attacks You?

If you are bitten by a dog or attacked and injured by any other animal in Georgia – provided that the animal is owned or overseen by someone and is not entirely “wild” – you have the right to take legal action and to receive compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Moreover, it will not cost you anything to learn more about your rights after an animal attack. An experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney offers injury victims a no-cost, no-obligation first legal consultation.

The attorney will review the details of the case, explain your rights and options, and recommend the best path for moving forward – which may include a personal injury lawsuit.

How Soon Will You Need to Act?

You must act quickly if you are the victim of a dog bite or any other kind of animal attack.

Here in Georgia, the statute of limitations for animal attack cases and other personal injury cases is two years. If you’re injured, however, you cannot wait two years.

Instead, put a reliable personal injury lawyer on the case from the very beginning – while the evidence and the memories of the witnesses are still fresh.

Personal injury cases in this state seldom go to trial. Most personal injury cases are resolved when the attorneys for each side negotiate a settlement outside of the courtroom.

How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help?

Thus, if you have been injured in Georgia because someone’s animal bites or attacked you, you should seek out a personal injury attorney who is a skilled negotiator as well as a top trial lawyer.

If your personal injury claim prevails, you are paid compensation after the trial or negotiations. The compensation should cover your total medical expenses, your lost wages, your personal pain and suffering, and all of your other accident-and-injury-related losses and expenses.

If you are bitten by a dog or attacked by some other animal in Georgia, you have the right to be compensated by that animal’s owner. If you’re injured by an animal, immediately get the legal help you will need. That’s your right, too.

Posted in Dog Bites | No Comments »

What To Do After Sustaining Motorcycle Injuries in Atlanta On Someone Else’s Bike

As a motorcycle accident law firm in Alpharetta, I wanted to do this video today because I was asked a question that brings up a good subtopic that I’ve talked about before, which is insurance, particularly UM insurance and how that works if you were in a wreck.

The question that the member had was, “what if I’m riding a friends’ or family members bike?” So, it’s not my bike, I don’t own it, I’m not insuring it, and I get hit and injured by someone while I’m riding it…and the answer to that is there’s going to be multiple layers of UM insurance, hopefully.

Here’s an overview of what happens in a motorcycle accident and what to expect when dealing with the insurance company:

The Role Of Insurance in Bad Motorcycle Accidents in Alpharetta

You’ve got the at-fault party. Traditionally, with their insurance pays out first, then you turn to UM in this situation because you are riding someone else’s bike. You’ve got two innocent people that are going to have the available UM coverage, hopefully.

first and foremost, next in line would be the UM coverage that your friend or a family member has on the bike. You’re a permissive user of it so, you should be covered for that UM. After that, if that does not satisfy or there isn’t coverage, then you look to any auto policies that you have.

Remember, that’s not just a bike and the motorcycle coverage and UM that you hopefully have with your own motorcycle or motorcycles, but also your everyday vehicles if you have others than just a bike. Often times, you have those on different policies or with different insurance companies altogether. Those are all different sources of UM coverage.

Hopefully, depending on what type of insurance it is, in the best cases scenario, you’re going to have at-fault insurance coverage.

Then, on top of that, you’re going to have the UM from your friend’s motorcycle insurance, then on top of that, you’re going to have your UM hopefully from various different sources, your motorcycle insurance coverage you’ll get on top of that, your regular vehicle UM coverage, and it just stacks upon each other,

Som in that scenario as strange as it is, you may have actually more coverage than you normally would if you were injured by someone riding your own bike.

How A Motorcycle Accident Law Firm in Alpharetta That Can Help

If you are unfortunate enough to be in a wreck and injured, you always want to reach out to a motorcycle injury attorney and have them consult with you because this is such a huge issue.

Motorcycle accident lawyers in Alpharetta can help you get enough coverage, by looking under every rock. Whether you hire me or not, make sure you got yourself protected from day one by getting notices out so you can recover compensation for the various types of motorcycle injuries.

I am here to try to help you guys stay safe, protect you guys, and fight for you guys. I want to do this to help you. Shoot me an email, comment on my video, or ask questions.

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I recently made a video comparing the accident statistics between interstate and surface roads and the conclusion was that surface roads have more accidents involving motorcyclists than on the freeway.

As an Atlanta motorcycle accident attorney, I was asked to go into a little more in-depth regarding the specificity of fatality rates, not just accidents overall.

The popular theory seems to be that freeways and interstates are going to have a higher rate of fatality accidents even though the overall accident rate may be lower than on surface streets.

What Does Research Say About The Fatality Rates Of Interstates And Highways?

I conducted the research and found that the answer is actually no, it is not true at all. Even when it is broken down to fatalities, there are more fatalities on surface roads than on freeways and interstates.

The actual statistics show that 62% of motorcycle fatalities occur on surface streets rather than freeways and interstates.

I also found two other interesting statistics that break this down even further, and that is the difference between a major surface road and a minor surface road, which consists of roads similar to county roads that far from urban areas.

The answer is that more fatalities occur on major surface roads, rather than on the minor surface roads. This makes sense because you’ve got more traffic flowing there, and a lot of these roads lead to interstates, you’re going to have a ton of traffic there, which is much more dangerous for a motorcycle rider.

What Can Be Concluded From This Research?

The conclusion was that urban surface streets have higher fatality rates than your country and back roads that are located throughout Georgia.

Even when you’re looking just at fatalities, surface roads are the most dangerous roads to be driving and riding a motorcycle on.

If you have any other questions, concerns, feel free to reach out.

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As an Alpharetta motorcycle accident lawyer, I know that many riders drive four-wheeled vehicles and are weekend warriors with bikes. They don’t ride them every day. You’re riding your everyday four-wheel vehicle to and from work, picking up the kids, and everything else.

Check Your Motorcycle Tires More Than Your Car Tires

As motorcycle riders, we tend to forget that motorcycle tires don’t hold as much air as your ordinary tire, typically 32 to 35 PSI. What a lot of folks do is get lulled into the thought process of checking the air pressure on your bike tires just as much as you do in your other vehicles.

You can’t do that because the bike tires have so much less air naturally than an ordinary four-wheel vehicle. In fact, it’s recommended that you check your motorcycle tire pressure once a week.

Obviously, that can depend on how much you use it. If you’re a weekend warrior and you ride once a week, maybe you don’t need to do it once a week, but you definitely want to do it way more often than when you’re checking your car tire pressure. This is because you lose a lot of traction, a lot of feeling, and it’s not as safe.

Tools That Help Monitor Motorcycle Tire Pressure

Also, it is important to get a compressor or a gauge. There’s a lot of handheld electronic air pressure compressors that you can keep in the compartments of your bike or even your jacket.

I recently received a recommendation from someone in my Facebook group about a product that is sensors you can put on the stem of your tire. It’s about $39.99 for two of them, and they will blink red for up to 750 hours straight if your tire pressure is too low, which gives you yet another reminder.

These are called ride on LED smart caps. There are a number of providers or your local motorcycle shop probably has them. It can save a life or prevent an injury due to low tire pressure, so obviously it is worth it.

Check those tires, keep them with proper air in them, and get some sensors. It’s the easiest way to do it. That way you will never have the risk of running low.

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