Today, my motorcycle accident law firm in Cumming wants to talk about what the state of Michigan did several years ago to combat the unendorsed motorcycle rider issue in that state. I also want to discuss the takeaways of this and how they relate to bikers in the state of Georgia and how we can remain as safe as possible when we’re out there riding our motorcycles.

What Was The Initiative In The State Of Michigan?

First, let me explain this initiative a bit more. What Michigan found was they had a motorcycle population, roughly 20%, that were unendorsed. This means that they didn’t have the proper certifications of training and safety courses and skills required by their licensing to fully drive a motorcycle.

The correlation they found was while only 20% of the population were unendorsed, 85% of all motorcycle fatalities involved an unendorsed motorcycle rider. Obviously, the state of Michigan saw a correlation in this data and wanted to address it.

What Did The State Of Michigan Do To Address Their Population Of Unendorsed Riders?

What they started doing was a mail campaign where they sent out fliers to all of the registered motorcycle riders that were unendorsed and tried to get them to get their licensing and their certifications. They also made sure this program was cost-effective in an effort to get everybody endorsed.

What Can Bikers In Georgia Learn From This?

For bikers in the state of Georgia, I think the takeaway is that riders need to get the proper training. The bigger takeaway for riders in Georgia is that no matter how long you’ve been riding a motorcycle, every so often, you’re going to want to get recertified or take an advanced training course, in an effort to learn safety skills that you haven’t learned before.

What I have seen is that every five to six years, bikers need to be retrained or learn further training. There are new tactics all the time in the realm of safety, with different features for bikes, and also new techniques for riding.

Often, it is relatively cheap to get further training, and it’s clear that there is some sort of correlation to this. Now, we know from other statistics that a large percentage of motorcycle wrecks are caused by another driver, not the motorcycle rider, but there’s got to be some correlation between trying to avoid those wrecks and motorcycle riders with these certifications having a better chance of avoiding a wreck.

Again, I think the takeaway from this Michigan initiative if you haven’t had training in the last six years or more, get out there and take a course. It’s very minimal on your time and a little bit of a hit to your pocketbook, but it is well worth it.

Get out there, get retrained, get trained for the first time, take some advanced courses, and stay safe out there. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Posted in Motorcycle Accidents | No Comments »

What is the Most Important Motorcycle Safety Feature?

As a motorcycle accident attorney, I want to talk about the number one safety feature that you can either add to your motorcycle for a couple of hundred dollars, or you ought to look to get as a standard feature on your next bike purchase.

This safety feature was found by the IIHS to reduce fatal accidents by 37%. I never even thought about this feature, until I read this article discussing it.

It’s something that we take such advantage of and don’t even think about in our regular everyday vehicles, and quite frankly, it’s something that’s not offered very often on motorcycles in Atlanta.

Back in the day, it wasn’t offered at all, but now, it’s starting to be offered more often, but we still see it mainly on the higher end bikes.

Again, it’s something that is so cheap to add to your current bike, or if you’re out there in the market for a new bike, see if they have it as a standard feature, or if they’ll add it for you cheaply as part of your purchase.

That feature is ABS brakes.

How ABS Brakes Can Prevent Motorcycle Injuries in Atlanta

Of all things, ABS brakes provide for more stability when you have to apply the brakes in an emergency. If you do that without ABS brakes, you’re going to lose the steering functionality, and you’re going to have to lay that bike down.

One of the biggest ways this can help is that the most common type of accident that we see in Atlanta, Georgia is a car turning in front of you as you’re driving down the road. They don’t see you, you’ve got to lock up that brake, and what often happens, is that it causes you to flip and lay the bike down because you can’t control it as you’re slamming on the brake to try to avoid that vehicle that’s cutting in front of you.

Contact Our Atlanta Personal Injury Attorneys For More Helpful Motorcycle Safety Tips

If you have any questions or concerns about your particular motorcycle, I might be able to direct you to somebody or answer it, if it has anything to do with law-related things or safety issues since I’m a motorcycle accident attorney. Feel free to reach out to me; (770) 744-0890, I’d be happy to talk to you.

Posted in Motorcycle Accidents, Uncategorized | No Comments »

If a negligent driver is responsible for the wrongful death of your immediate family member, does your family have legal recourse? The answer is yes.

More than 1,500 people died in traffic accidents on Georgia’s streets and highways in 2016, so the risk is genuine.

A fatal auto collision will have a lasting impact on the victim’s family, but insurance companies will tend to focus on the short-term needs, usually offering compensation only for funeral costs, final medical bills, and related immediate expenses. This is where an Atlanta wrongful death attorney can help.

What Are the Real Costs of a Wrongful Death?

That compensation helps, but it will not be sufficient to cover the real costs of a wrongful death. If your spouse died young, your family will be without that income permanently. Some families face serious financial hardships – some even lose their homes – after a wrongful death.

When a family faces the emotional challenge of a loved one’s unexpected death, they don’t need a financial crisis too.

When an insurance company offers a settlement that’s too low – or denies your family’s wrongful death claim entirely, or even argues that your loved one was at fault for his or her own death – you’ll need an attorney’s help, and you will need it immediately.

After a Wrongful Death, What Recourse Do Survivors Have?

In fact, if your family is victimized by a wrongful death in the Metro Atlanta region or anywhere in the state, take your case at once to an experienced Atlanta wrongful death attorney who will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.

A wrongful death action can provide compensation for your loved one’s final medical bills and funeral costs, your family’s loss of income, pain, suffering, loss of companionship, loss of consortium, and more.

A good wrongful death lawyer will fight aggressively for every dollar of compensation that your family deserves.

If a member of your family is a victim of wrongful death, you must be advised and represented by an attorney who will fight for – and who knows how to win – the compensation your family will need.

What Are the Survivors of a Wrongful Death Entitled to?

A wrongful death claim in Georgia is a claim for the “full value of the life of the decedent.” A jury may be asked to consider both the economic value of the decedent’s life and also the non-economic value.

“Economic value” boils down to the earnings the decedent would have earned if he or she had lived a natural lifespan.

When determining the “non-economic” value of someone’s life, that person’s relationships, companionship, marriage, children, and accomplishments in life must be considered.

Who Qualifies to Bring a Wrongful Death Action?

The law in Georgia spells out strict rules for wrongful death claims. If the decedent has a surviving spouse, that spouse and that spouse alone may bring a wrongful death claim.

If there are surviving children, the surviving spouse acts as their representative and shares any compensation.

The surviving spouse must share any award with the children, but under Georgia law, the spouse is personally entitled to at least one-third of that compensation, without regard to the number of children.

If the decedent was widowed or divorced, his or her surviving children must file their claim jointly.

If the decedent was widowed or divorced and has children, but one of his or her children passed away previously, the heir or heirs of that child – that is, the decedent’s grandchildren – cannot in most cases receive their parent’s share of the compensation.

Only if a decedent’s child is alive to become one of the heirs bringing a wrongful death action, and then if that decedent’s child passes away while the claim is pending, will that claimant’s own child or children be entitled to a share of the compensation.

When no spouse and no children survive a decedent, the executor or the administrator of the decedent’s estate can bring a wrongful death action, and any damages recovered will be held for the next of kin.

What Damages Are Available to Surviving Family Members?

Plaintiffs seeking compensation for a wrongful death will need to explain who the decedent was and what that person’s life was about. Photos and personal stories can help.

The amount that jurors award to surviving family members, according to the Georgia courts, is to be determined by the “enlightened conscience of the jury.”

If a family member dies unexpectedly in traffic because another driver was negligent, as difficult as it may be, it is imperative for surviving family members to secure an attorney’s advice and representation as swiftly as possible.

Is There a Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Cases?

In most cases, the statute of limitations for wrongful death cases in Georgia is two years from the date of the fatality.

However, when criminal charges are brought against the at-fault driver, the statute of limitations is “tolled” (that is, paused or put on hold) pending the conclusion of the criminal prosecution.

Your family can’t wait two years to speak with an attorney. You need to put a wrongful death lawyer on the case as early as possible.

What Will It Cost You to Take Legal Action?

How can you afford an attorney if you’ve just lost a loved one and your family faces potential hardship? Surviving family members shouldn’t – and don’t – have to worry about attorney fees.

Most wrongful death attorneys provide a first consultation at no cost and no obligation, so it will not cost your family anything to learn more.

When an attorney agrees to handle your family’s wrongful death claim, you pay nothing unless and until that attorney wins a settlement or verdict on your family’s behalf.

If you lose a family member because another person was negligent, you will be forced to face emotional and legal challenges at the same time. There is no doubt – that’s difficult for anyone.

How Soon After a Wrongful Death Should Survivors Take Action?

However, you and your family must file a wrongful death claim as quickly as possible after a wrongful death.

If you are in the Metro Atlanta area or anywhere in Georgia, and if your family suffers or has suffered a tragic wrongful death, contact an experienced Atlanta wrongful death attorney right away to discuss your legal rights and options.

No amount of money can replace a loved one, but your family may need compensation to move positively and constructively into the future. If you’ve lost a family member, a good wrongful death lawyer can help.

Posted in Car Accidents, Wrongful Death | No Comments »

Rear-end accidents happen too frequently here in the Metro Atlanta region, and anyone could be seriously injured in one of these collisions.

Are you and your family at risk? How badly can you be injured in a rear-end collision? And if you are injured by a negligent driver in a rear-end collision, how can a car accident lawyer in Atlanta help?

What Injuries Are Common in Rear-end Accidents?

Across the U.S., the most frequently reported injuries sustained in rear-end vehicle accidents are:

1. multiple broken ribs and bones
2. physical disfigurement
3. partial or complete paralysis
4. whiplash
5. spinal cord injury
6. traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other injuries to the head

What About Fender-benders and Other Collisions at Low Speeds?

Some rear-end collision victims and their families are now compelled to spend millions of dollars every year for long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and therapy.

That’s because even at low speeds, rear-end crashes can cause devastating and permanently disabling injuries.

For instance, in rear-end accidents where the vehicles are moving at only five miles per hour, about ten percent of the drivers and passengers in these accidents will suffer whiplash.

In these kinds of low-speed, rear-end accidents, the statistics and the risks are real. Low-speed, rear-end accidents can also cause more severe injuries including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), injuries requiring amputation, and more.

What Should You Know About Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries?

Even in low-speed, rear-end collisions, the head can be tossed violently forward and back, causing the brain to bounce – literally – into the skull. TBI is a likely result. Traumatic brain injury symptoms can include seizures, blackouts, disorientation, and memory loss.

A spinal cord injury can incapacitate a victim temporarily for days, weeks, or months – and sometimes permanently. When a brain or spinal cord injury isn’t identified or detected at once, and when symptoms manifest days or weeks later, by that time, the condition can be critical.

In the Metro Atlanta region or anywhere in the state of Georgia, if you suffer a personal injury in a rear-end crash caused by another driver, let a personal injury attorney fight to obtain the compensation you will need and the justice you’ll deserve.

Why is Seeking Medical Attention Imperative After Any Crash?

As mentioned previously, injuries that are not treated immediately can become quite serious medical conditions, so rear-end collision victims must seek medical attention promptly, even after a low-speed crash.

If you are involved in any traffic accident, summon medical help at once if anyone appears to be injured. But even if you’ve never felt better, have a healthcare professional examine you within twenty-four hours of the collision.

A medical exam not only protects your health, but it also serves to support your injury claim if you determine later that you need to seek legal compensation.

After you’ve been examined, then get the legal help that you are very much going to need. If a negligent motorist injures you in Georgia, you must take action at once – before the evidence deteriorates and before the witnesses start forgetting what happened.

What Do the Courts Presume Regarding Rear-end Accidents?

It’s not difficult to get into a traffic crash in Georgia. More than 385,000 traffic accidents were reported in this state in 2015, so every Georgia motorist needs to understand the presumptions that are made in vehicular injury cases arising from rear-end collisions.

For instance, when a motorist rolls or crashes into another vehicle, and that other vehicle is parked legally or has stopped legally at a stop sign or at a traffic light, the motorist in the vehicle that was moving will – with almost no exceptions – be deemed negligent.

How Do Some Insurance Companies Handle “Minor” Accidents?

When someone is hurt in a low-speed, rear-end traffic crash that seems like a minor accident, an auto insurance company might reject an injury claim by saying that so minor an accident could not cause so serious an injury.

In some cases, that is exactly what an automobile insurance company does. Most auto insurance companies in Georgia are ethical, and they’re staffed by professionals who will treat you right. Unfortunately, however, some auto insurance companies operate somewhat less ethically.

Why is an Attorney’s Help So Important if You’ve Been Injured?

That’s another reason why, if you are injured in a rear-end traffic collision in Georgia, it is imperative to place your case in the trustworthy hands of a skilled personal injury attorney – someone who can deal effectively with the insurance company on your behalf.

In the Metro Atlanta area and throughout this state, if a negligent motorist injures you, don’t sign any insurance papers, don’t accept any settlement offers, and don’t even speak to an insurance company adjuster or representative. Simply refer those calls and questions to your attorney.

Particularly after a low-speed accident, an auto insurance company may offer an injury victim a settlement amount that is substantially below the actual value of the victim’s injury claim.

Injured accident victims need to be represented by an attorney who is an experienced negotiator – someone who will not settle for a dollar less than a victim’s claim is worth.

After an injury caused by a negligent driver in a rear-end accident or any kind of traffic accident, the wise move is to put a skilled negotiator – your personal injury lawyer – to work on your behalf – while you concentrate on regaining your health.

Will Your Case Go to Trial?

A good injury attorney will immediately launch an investigation and examine every detail of the accident prior to entering negotiations. Most personal injury cases are settled out of court.

However, when an auto insurance company continues to reject an injury claim – or offers only an unacceptably low settlement offer – a personal injury lawyer will take the case to court and fight aggressively there for the full compensation amount that an accident victim needs.

Is there any way to prevent injuries in rear-end accidents? Of course, the standard safety advice always applies: wear your safety belt, maintain your vehicle, and keep your eyes and attention on the road.

Headrests – according to the researchers – are the best protection against spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries in rear-end accidents. But if the headrest is set too low, it could stretch or hyperextend someone’s neck.

What’s Important to Remember About Rear-end Accidents?

What are the most important things to remember about rear-end accidents in Georgia?

1. Summon medical help to the scene, or have a medical exam within twenty-four hours.
2. If you’ve been injured, speak with a personal injury attorney as quickly as possible.

If you’ve been injured by a negligent driver in Georgia, you are legally entitled to compensation.

Most Georgia injury attorneys offer a free first consultation and charge no fees until and unless they win a settlement or verdict on a client’s behalf, so if you’ve been injured by a negligent driver, it will cost you nothing to learn more about your rights and to take legal action.

Posted in Car Accidents | No Comments »

I want to discuss a key point to motorcycle helmet safety that I recently came across. No, it’s not to preach to you that you need to wear helmets and that they have to be a DOT regulated helmet for proper safety. The point of this post is that you need to properly replace your motorcycle helmet at certain significant points.

How Often Should You Replace Your Helmet?

Now, this comes from an independent foundation that does motorcycle helmet testing. Their main point was that regardless of whether you’ve been in an accident or not with this helmet, every five years, you need to get it replaced.

The most interesting factor if this was that the helmet is going to deteriorate just from use, much less if you’ve been in an accident, you have a crack in it, etc. Their point was that the helmet ages overtime from just using it, from the wind, from various oils from your hair and body, which include hair gel, hairspray, etc. These things deteriorate the foaming inside the helmet that’s helping to protect your head if you’re in an accident.

If I’ve Been In An Accident, Can I Still Use My Same Helmet?

If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, get that helmet replaced, regardless of the severity of the accident. It doesn’t matter if you’ve hit your head, doesn’t matter if there are cracks, visible signs of damage, after an accident, get the helmet replaced before your next ride.

If you have any particular questions or concerns that you think I might be able to help you with I’d be happy to speak with you. If I can’t help I can get you to somebody that can get your answers.

Posted in Motorcycle Accidents, Uncategorized | No Comments »

The Right Law Firm to Get Personal Injury Maximum Compensation in Atlanta

When you need legal assistance with your vehicle collision claim, look no further than Spaulding Injury Law: Lawrenceville Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyer. We have achieved successful results for past clients injured in car collisions, including:

• Settled a case for $$350,000. Rear-End Wreck.
• Settled a case for $50,000. Low-Impact Car Accident Case.
• Settled a case for $425,000. Motor vehicle accident, drunk driving.

Our legal team is dedicated to getting fair results for every client we represent, and we never back down from insurance companies. When you work with our firm, you can expect the highest quality of representation, personalized and effective service, and stress-free handling of your vehicle collision injury claim.

[case-result-slider id=”1″]

[get-in-touch-with-us id=1]

After you’ve purchased and paid for an auto insurance policy, what can you do if you file an auto insurance claim and that claim is unfairly denied?

Georgia state law offers considerable protection to auto insurance policyholders and to third parties who may also be covered by some auto insurance company’s policies.

If an auto insurance company fails to satisfy its responsibility to you – if you are victimized or targeted by “insurance bad faith” – an experienced Cumming car accident attorney can help.

What is Insurance Bad Faith?

When an auto insurance company sells you a policy, the company assumes particular duties, including a general overall duty to continue to do business with you in good faith.

When you file a claim, an auto insurance company’s bad faith practices may include:

1. failing to investigate the accident promptly and thoroughly
2. delaying action on your claim by always asking for more details
3. denying your claim or offering you only a fraction of what it’s worth
4. offering inadequate or transparently false reasons for denying your claim

Insurance bad faith may also include an insurance company’s failure to defend policyholders against lawsuits (failure to indemnify) and “general” negligence on the part of an agent or broker.

How Can an Attorney Help You?

An insurance attorney can determine if an insurance company’s behavior meets the legal definition of bad faith and if you have the legal standing to file a lawsuit.

Sometimes hiring an attorney – and proving that you won’t be bullied – is enough to persuade the company to meet its responsibility to you. That’s the best-case scenario.

In this state, most insurance bad faith cases are settled out of court. The attorneys for both sides are usually able to negotiate a settlement that is acceptable to both sides.

If your bad faith lawsuit goes to trial, and if you prevail at trial, a Georgia court will compel the insurance company not only to compensate you fairly but also to pay for your attorney fees.

What is an Insurance Company’s Obligation?

Automobile insurance companies are obligated to do business in good faith with every claimant, whether you are a policyholder or you are an injured third party seeking compensation.

Especially if you are healing from a severe or catastrophic injury, you cannot allow unethical insurance practices to victimize you again.

When insurance companies delay taking action on a claim or deny a claim entirely, it can mean genuine financial hardship for too many victims of negligence.

And you can’t allow medical bills to pile up while you’re injured, missing work, and waiting for a response from an insurance company that isn’t cooperating with you.

When Should You Contact an Attorney?

If you are injured by negligence in the state of Georgia – by a negligent driver or in any other accident scenario – have your case handled by an experienced Cumming personal injury attorney from the very beginning.

Profits are imperative in business. Profit is the reason why insurance companies exist. However, profits should be earned ethically. No company should be allowed to put profits ahead of the law – or ahead of your health and well-being.

If you have been seriously injured in any kind of accident, forget about handling the claim yourself, and obtain a personal injury lawyer’s advice and services at once.

How Can You Prove Bad Faith?

How do you and your attorney prove that an insurer is guilty of bad faith? You will be required to present specific, documentable facts.

If you are injured by negligence in any accident, make and keep copies of all of the insurance papers, policies, other documents, and any letters or emails you’ve exchanged with the company.

Make precise notes regarding all discussions with the insurance company. Include details – the time, the date, and the name and title of whomever you speak with at the company.

How Will Your Attorney Prepare a Bad Faith Case?

If your bad faith case goes to trial, you and your attorney will have to prove that the denial of your claim was more than a mistake – you will have to prove that the company was either negligent or that its bad faith in your case was intentional.

A knowledgeable insurance lawyer acting on your behalf may request documents from the insurance company regarding your claim. The claims adjuster or other company representatives may be asked for statements or testimony.

In some cases, an attorney representing a bad-faith victim may ask an insurance authority to provide expert testimony about insurance industry practices.

When an insurance company has failed to operate in good faith – and when you and your lawyer can prove it – your lawsuit claiming bad faith will probably prevail.

What Are the Rules Governing Bad Faith Cases in Georgia?

In Georgia, consumers may sue if the insurer – in bad faith – fails to pay within sixty days of a written demand. Let an attorney help you with that written demand.

It is imperative for a consumer to understand that the mere failure to pay a claim is not by itself necessarily bad faith.

However, if an insurance company’s refusal to pay is determined by a jury to be in bad faith, in the state of Georgia, the insurance company then must pay:

1. Compensatory damages: the original damages owed as specified by the insurance policy
2. Punitive damages: damages that punish the insurance company for operating in bad faith
3. The plaintiff’s attorney’s fees

Trust and ethics are the core issues in insurance bad faith cases.

Policyholders trust – and pay – their insurance companies to be there when they’re needed. Consumers expect to receive the services they pay for.

What Will It Cost to Learn More About Your Rights?

If your auto insurance company treats your claim with bad faith – either negligently or intentionally – get the legal help you need.

Most injury attorneys will review and assess your case for no cost and with no obligation, so it costs you nothing to learn more about your case, your rights, and what the law can do for you.

Bringing a lawsuit against the insurance company may be only one of your options. If you are a consumer in Georgia and a victim of insurance bad faith, you have the right to seek justice and to put the law to work for you.

Posted in Car Accidents, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Motorcycle Safety Tips For Riders in Atlanta

How dangerous are motorcycles? According to motorcycle accident statistics, they’re far more dangerous than cars. As a motorcycle accident lawyer, I want to provide you with three of the best motorcycle riding tips I could find on how a biker in Atlanta can avoid the number one cause of motorcycle collisions. There are many different causes of motorcycle accidents. But, if you’ve watched any of my other videos or seen posts on the internet, I have let you know the number one cause of accidents which is a motorist turning left in front of or into a motorcycle rider. Therefore, it’s important to know how to avoid a left turn motorcycle accident.

Motorcycle Safety Tip #1: Weave Back and Forth in Your Lane

Here are the three best tips I could find. Number one, weave in your lane back and forth to provide as much of a distraction, notice to this motorist and say hey, I’m in this lane, especially if you’re riding at night, the headlamp of the bike going back and forth is going to act like a signal that will hopefully catch their eye if they’re not paying attention that hey, there’s someone in that lane and they won’t make that dangerous maneuver.

Motorcycle Safety Tip #2: Move Over to the Right Lane

Number two, if you’re on a four-lane road coming into an intersection, or if you’re on one of those local roads, and you see a motorist ahead of you waiting to turn left to cross your lane, get over to the right-hand lane and as far over to the right-hand lane as you can. That would give you more time if this motorist does make the wrong move and starts to go across the lanes.

Motorcycle Safety Tip #3: Be Prepared to Brake

Three, start to slow down when you’re hitting intersections and put your hands on the brake controls. This will also give you the quickest reaction time possible to hit that brake to try to avoid colliding with this motorist who’s made that negligent turn in front of you or starting to come close to you.

These are the three best tips I could find. If you guys know of any others that you think can really help bikers in Atlanta avoid this very dangerous maneuver, please let me know.

Posted in Motorcycle Accidents, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Today, I want to talk about things to look for to ensure that you purchase a DOT-compliant motorcycle helmet the next time you’re in the market for one.

First, there are two things that our motorcycle accident law firm knows; one, you got to have a DOT required helmet, it’s the law in Georgia and two, no longer is there an excuse that the DOT helmets are horrible, they look bad, they are hard to wear, and that you want the cool looking helmets, not the DOT ones.

They’ve got all kinds of nice looking helmets, the skull cap ones, the full-faced motorcycle helmets, all of which are actually DOT compliant.

What to Look For When Shopping For DOT Approved Motorcycle Helmets in Atlanta

So, here’s what to look for when shopping for DOT helmets. First and foremost is to check the labeling. There should be a sticker on the outside that states that it’s DOT compliant, and it will have the code section on it.

Now, that’s not the end of the inquiry there. There are a lot of novelty helmets that are using fake DOT stickers. This was a huge problem several years ago, with several motorcycle helmet brands.

NHTSA actually came out with new rules trying to clamp down on the novelty market of these helmets using fake stickers, cause you can go on Amazon and buy them, and there are people reselling helmets that are not DOT compliant.

If your helmet has a sticker, then look at the inside of the helmet, there should be per DOT requirements. There should also be a sticker inside or a tag, that notifies you of several important things and here is what it says:

This tag should give you the company’s name who manufactured the helmet, should give you the model, give you the size, and most importantly, give you the month of the year of manufacture. If you’re missing any of those elements on a sticker or a tag on the inside, it’s a novelty helmet; it’s not meeting DOT requirements.

If you’ve passed all of those, you’re well on your way, but here are few other things because again, these things can be faked depending on where you are and when you’re buying this. These are things that people don’t think about as much that will also tell you whether it’s a DOT-compliant helmet.

The Qualities to Look For in Top-Rated Motorcycle Helmets

There are a number of features that are found on all of the top motorcycle helmets. Number one, you should have a thick inner lining to the helmet, and the regulation is 1 inch thick of polyurethane foam.

Number two, the weight of the helmet should be of substantial weight. A lot of these novelty helmets or non-DOT compliant helmets are under a pound and super light in an effort to get you to want to buy it because it’s comfortable. But, the lightest motorcycle helmet is not the best motorcycle helmet.

Typically three pounds is what DOT-compliant helmets need to be. So, it needs to be a substantial weight.

Number two, or three I should say, is a substantial chin strap, and not only the chin strap itself being substantial, but look at the rivets that are holding it in both on the main side, and then the side that’s attaching. They need to be of good quality construction, which will tell you if it’s a DOT helmet.

Finally, it is against DOT regulations to have the helmet’s surface have any sort of object that is above two-tenths of an inch thickness. Biker helmets need to be smooth.

If you have other components to the helmet that don’t meet that requirement, often, visors on these novelty ones are non-DOT compliant, you’ll have a super thick visor, that’s actually not DOT compliant.

Why Is It So Important to Buy Good Motorcycle Helmets in Atlanta?

These are what you’re looking for in the next purchase of your motorcycle helmet, it has to be DOT compliant.

Remember you can’t just rely on, hey, there’s a sticker that says it is. You’ve got to do more investigation to make sure because this is super important for your safety.

Not to mention, protecting your family if you are in an accident in Atlanta, you don’t want your failure to wear the proper helmet used against you when you haven’t done anything wrong to begin with.

Hopefully, this will help you with understanding the types of motorcycle helmets available and where to buy motorcycle helmets that will keep you safe. If you have any questions or concerns or if you know of any other items that help ensure that it’s a DOT-compliant helmet, feel free to shoot me an email.

Posted in Motorcycle Accidents, Uncategorized | No Comments »

In this video, I want to give you some info on the number one thing that you can do before you get on your bike to protect yourself and your family.

What Can You Do To Protect Yourself On Your Next Ride?

The point is to provide you and your family with as much coverage as possible for losses such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering if the unfortunate happens and you’re injured by somebody while out riding. That step is to get as much as UM coverage as you possibly can.

Now, there’s a number of ways to do this, but reach out to your insurance agent, start talking about the insurance you already have, and how you can increase your UM coverage. I recommend, everyone at least gets a $100,000 of what’s called add-on UM coverage before you get back out on that bike this weekend.

How Does UM Insurance Protect Bikers?

It’s the best way to protect yourself in case you get hit by someone that either doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough. The state minimum in Georgia is only $25,000. If you get hit by someone who only has $25,000 in coverage, you’re barely covering an ER visit, much less, if you’re out of work for several weeks or you’re treating for months or years with a severe injury.

You then can control what’s potentially available to you and don’t have to rely on what the other party has or doesn’t have. Again, this is called UM coverage, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Please talk to your agent and get as much as you can afford. It’s a very cheap product, and there’s a number of ways that you can have this. It also doesn’t even have to be on your motorcycle policy.

If you have any questions or concerns about anything, motorcycle safety, or Georgia law related, I’d be more than happy to speak with you.

Feel free to call me, (770) 744-0890 or fill out the contact form on my website.

Posted in Motorcycle Accidents, Uncategorized | No Comments »

In Georgia, if you sustain a traumatic brain injury in any accident caused by someone else’s negligence, can you be compensated? What will it take to obtain compensation?

The law in Georgia entitles victims of negligence to compensation for their accident-related medical treatment as well as compensation for lost income and all injury-related damages.

But it’s not always easy to win compensation for a traumatic brain injury. In Georgia, you’ll need the help of an experienced Atlanta brain injury attorney.

Insurance Coverage is Not Certain for Long-term Treatment

Health insurance – for those who have it – usually will cover a brain injury victim’s care in the “acute” stage of recovery, but paying for long-term treatment gets much more complicated.

Health insurance companies limit what they will pay for rehabilitation.

In most cases, they will pay for only two to six weeks of inpatient rehabilitation. If you’ve sustained a severe brain injury, that simply will not be sufficient.

What Treatment is Needed for Traumatic Brain Injury Victims?

Survivors of severe traumatic brain injuries must undergo extensive and long-term physical, speech, occupational, and neuropsychological therapy and cognitive rehabilitation.

Some health insurance policies have limits that are quickly surpassed by brain injury patients. Just as a patient is benefiting the most from rehabilitation, an insurer can say, “That’s all.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over a million people sustain a traumatic brain injury each year in the U.S. A mild head injury, on average, costs about $85,000.

However, a moderate brain injury, on average, costs about $940,000, and the estimated average cost of a severe, traumatic brain injury is about $3 million.

How Can Brain Injury Victims Avoid Serious Financial Hardship?

The costs of recovery and rehabilitation after a traumatic brain injury can be astronomical, but taking the right action as early as possible can help you and your family avoid financial hardship.

An injury lawyer can help traumatic brain injury victims and their families work through the complicated financial and legal challenges they will be dealing with after a brain injury.

If you’ve sustained a brain injury in Georgia because another person was negligent, you must be represented by an experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney. Having an attorney is imperative.

How Can an Injury Attorney Help?

You may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit and receive the complete compensation you will require. Your lawyer will review the details of the case and explain your rights and options.

If you take legal action, your lawyer will then gather evidence about the events that caused your brain injury, including any police reports, photos, eyewitness testimony, and medical evidence.

The “value” of a brain injury lawsuit will depend on a number of factors.

Preparing a brain injury case is costly, difficult, and time-consuming, so lawyers who work on a contingent fee basis usually handle only the brain injury cases that they believe they can win.

What Should You Look for When You Select an Attorney?

Most brain injury claims exceed $1 million, so you must choose only an attorney who has considerable experience successfully representing brain injury victims.

A lawyer without brain injury case experience may recommend settling for less than you need, but an experienced, knowledgeable advocate for brain injury victims will fight aggressively for the maximum possible compensation.

Should You Seek Additional Sources of Income and Compensation?

While an attorney prepares your case, a brain injury victim should also contact the Social Security Administration to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Until a brain injury victim receives compensation, finances may be difficult. You should see if your employer offers any benefits, and you should also look into local and state assistance programs.

In a brain injury case, the loss of the victim’s earning capacity must be a leading consideration.

If you make $40,000 a year, but because of a traumatic brain injury, you are forced to retire ten years early, your loss of earning capacity will amount to at least $400,000.

Do Brain Injury Victims Experience Psychological Difficulties?

Even the victims of mild brain injuries may have genuine trouble with memory, concentration, and fatigue – and thus may lose their ability to work full-time or even part-time.

Depression and anxiety can also be considered injuries, and brain injury victims will often receive compensation for emotional and psychological damage as well as physical injuries.

What Happens if Your Case Isn’t Settled Out-of-Court?

If your brain injury case can’t be settled out-of-court and instead goes to trial, your attorney will probably seek a statement or testimony from one or more brain injury authorities.

A life care planning expert can assess a patient’s needs and testify regarding those needs. Injury victims who suffer serious or permanent brain injuries may receive considerable damages.

Obviously, an insurance company or a corporation can pay those kinds of damages, while an individual person or a small company may not have those resources.

An injury lawyer will explain – and ask you to consider all of these factors – when discussing your rights and options after a traumatic brain injury.

What if a Brain Injury Victim is Comatose or Incapacitated?

When a traumatic brain injury victim is eighteen years of age or older and is not able to make his or her own medical, financial, and legal decisions, a loved one must get permission from the courts to make those decisions.

The right to make decisions for an incapacitated brain injury victim who is not a minor does not automatically fall to a spouse, parent, guardian, or adult child, but a good injury lawyer can help.

Don’t risk your future. Seek medical attention right away after you suffer any blow to the head – or if you believe that you or someone you love has experienced a traumatic brain injury.

Is There a Statute of Limitations for Brain Injury Lawsuits?

After you’ve been seen by a doctor, if you have sustained a brain injury, arrange to meet with a personal injury attorney who can assess your claim and then explain your rights and options.

The period of time when you may file a personal injury lawsuit is limited. Under Georgia’s statute of limitations, you must file a lawsuit within two years of the date you were injured.

Clearly, however, brain injury victims should obtain sound legal advice without delay. Don’t wait two years and then try to find a lawyer and file a lawsuit frantically at the last minute.

Nothing is more important than your health and your future. If you’ve sustained a traumatic brain injury in Georgia because another person was negligent, taking legal action is your right.

If you sustain a brain injury, do not hesitate to get the medical and legal help you need.

Posted in Brain Injuries | No Comments »