Savannah Motorcycle Accident Wrongful Death Attorney
Fighting for Fair Compensation for Those Left Behind
Ask any motorcycle rider what they love about riding and chances are they’ll mention the freedom of the open road. Unfortunately, when other drivers fail to share that road, the results are often deadly for bikers. If someone you love has been killed while riding a motorcycle, and their death was due to the misconduct or negligence of another driver, contacting a Savannah motorcycle accident wrongful death attorney as soon as possible can help ensure you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.
The Statistics
More than 170 people were killed riding motorcycles on Georgia roads in 2016, according to the most recent data from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. This data represents 11 percent of all fatal vehicle accidents for that particular year. Using trending methodology to predict future statistics, the office predicts these numbers to grow to 12 percent and more than 200 deaths in 2018.
Two central factors leading bike accident deaths are:
- The rider’s vulnerability in collisions and impacts
- The failure of other drivers to yield or share the road with motorcycles
Motorcycles don’t come with crumple zones or airbags. The most protection a motorcycle rider has is a helmet. Riders in Georgia must wear a helmet due to the state’s universal helmet law. According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, helmets are 37 percent effective in preventing motorcycle deaths. But, when it comes to the rest of the rider’s body, there isn’t much a biker can do to protect himself in an impact with another vehicle or the road.
Fatal accidents often occur when drivers fail to follow traffic laws requiring them to yield the right of way to motorcycles at intersections. Accidents also occur simply because a driver didn’t use extra caution checking their mirrors before changing lanes. Motorcycles require drivers to remain alert and attentive due to the fact that they are sometimes hard to see.
Motorists must check their blind spots and failure to do so is often fatal for motorcycle riders and their passengers. Distracted drivers, drunk drivers, and careless drivers all also contribute to fatal Savannah motorcycle accidents. While most motorcyclists know to drive in a defensive manner, it only takes a second for a ride to become fatal.
What Makes a Motorcycle Accident Death Wrongful?
A motorcycle accident-related death can be considered wrongful under Georgia law when the rider or bike passenger dies because of the negligence or misconduct of another person. Perhaps the most common cause of wrongful motorcycle deaths is the negligence of other motor vehicle drivers who cut off a rider or fail to yield the right of way.
But, other drivers aren’t the only parties who may be responsible for a biker’s wrongful death. If a bike or bike part has a defect that causes a deadly accident, the manufacturer and others involved in its sale might be responsible for the tragic loss of life. Also, if a bike accident takes place on a road surface that was built or maintained in a manner that made it unsafe for riding, those responsible for the road may also bear fault for the death of a rider or passenger.
When a wrongful motorcycle death occurs, the biker’s survivors—spouse, children, parents, or a representative of the biker’s estate—may be entitled to seek damages from the parties responsible. If you are unsure if your relationship to a rider who has tragically died in an accident qualifies you to seek justice and damages for the wrongful death, contact a Savannah attorney to discuss your case.
Economic and Noneconomic Damages
Depending upon the circumstances, the survivors of a motorcyclist killed because of someone else’s negligence or wrongful acts may be entitled to compensation for economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages typically include the following:
- Funeral expenses
- Lost prospect of inheritance
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Lost financial support and income
- Medical bills
Noneconomic damages include harder-to-calculate losses such as pain and suffering and loss of companionship. Additionally, in some wrongful death cases where the responsible party acted in a particularly reckless manner, survivors may be able to recover “punitive” damages that seek to punish the wrongdoer and deter future wrongful conduct.
Leave Insurance Adjusters and Litigation to Us
When insurance is available to cover the liability of those responsible for the wrongful death of a biker, the last thing the biker’s family want to deal with while grieving their loved one is an aggressive insurance adjuster trying to get them to accept a settlement or contesting their loss.
The dedicated motorcycle accident attorneys at Hasner Law PC have experience handling negotiations with insurance companies on their clients’ behalf, so that clients and their families have the time and space to mourn their loss and recover.
The Hasner Law PC attorneys also believe in holding those responsible for wrongful deaths accountable and in working tirelessly to ensure our clients receive fair compensation. When the insurance available isn’t enough to pay fair compensation, we work to find other potential sources. We employ a highly-skilled staff with experience in conducting investigations into motorcycle fatalities.
And, we have a track record of standing firm in our demands on our clients’ behalf, whether that’s against insurance companies or the responsible parties themselves. We’re prepared to file lawsuits and take them to trial when necessary to protect our clients’ rights.
Contact A Savannah Motorcycle Crash Lawyer For Help Today
No family should experience financial stress due to the negligent or wrongful actions of another person. While there is no price for your loved one’s life, easing your financial burden of medical bills, funeral expenses, and lost wages can help you grieve and recover.
If you and your family have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident due to someone’s misconduct or negligence, call us at (912) 234-2334 or contact us online. Hasner Law PC has offices in Savannah and Atlanta, and we serve clients throughout Georgia. There is no fee for your initial consultation. You’ll find we are easy to talk to and that we listen. También se habla español.
