Macon Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

David Mann Is Your Best Choice for Your Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Find Out Why Choosing Mann Law Firm Will Help Your Case

As an attorney who once worked with a large insurance company, David Mann knows the tactics that insurers often use to deny motorcycle accident claims or to pay the injured as little as possible. This knowledge makes him uniquely positioned to anticipate their moves and build your case strategically. Mann Law Firm has served riders in the Macon area for decades. As part of a family firm, helping the injured in our community get justice is in David Mann’s blood.

• We get results. See a sampling of the victories we’ve won for our clients. For instance, when a car and motorcycle collide, the insurance company will often try to blame the motorcyclist.
• Don’t take our word for it. See our client testimonials to learn why you should work with us.
• Learn more about Macon motorcycle accident attorney David Mann.
• David Mann is dedicated to serving our Macon community. David cares about his clients because they are his neighbors, too. He will devote himself to your case and values earning your trust, confidence and respect.

There is a lot at stake with your case, and choosing the right Macon motorcycle accident attorney can make the difference between a 4-figure settlement and a 7-figure one. If your case goes to trial, you’ll need a lawyer who is a skilled and experienced litigator. Just the medical bills related to your injuries and your income lost while you recover are sizable costs of your motorcycle accident.

Don’t trust just any attorney with your case. Choose a motorcycle accident lawyer in Macon who has a proven record and who you can trust to always fight for you. Choose David Mann.

What Our Motorcycle Accident Attorney Will Do for You

Learn About the Specific Steps Our Experienced Lawyer Will Take in Your Case

If you or a loved one has been injured or someone has died in a motorcycle accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence or fault, our motorcycle accident lawyer at the Mann Law Firm can help you get compensation for your losses and injuries. Our attorney has the skills, experience, and knowledge of the law to identify all information that should be collected to prove your case.

Count on our team to dedicate themselves to researching all details of your case. We will…

• Investigate the circumstances of your motorcycle accident and determine how it happened
• Gather evidence such as videos from surveillance or traffic cameras, police and first responder reports, and medical records
• Interview witnesses and first responders
• Hire experts to reconstruct the accident and provide testimony
• Negotiate for a fair settlement with insurance companies and their lawyers, who will try to get you to accept a lowball offer
• Take your case to court if negotiations break down.

As a motorcycle accident lawyer who is today dedicated to seeking maximum recovery for motorcycle accident victims in Macon and across Georgia, David Mann knows how to put his background and experience to use to benefit his clients in settlement negotiations and in court. Above all, he has a passion for protecting the rights of motorcycle crash victims – riders and passengers alike.

Get your free, no-obligation consultation to discuss the details of your accident. We work on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we win a settlement for you.

Call us today at (478) 742-3381 if you or a loved one has been hurt by another in a motorcycle accident, so we can get started with our free review of your case.

How Much Compensation You Can Receive in a Motorcycle Accident

When you face large bills associated with your accident, one of your main concerns may be covering those expenses. Knowing how much compensation you can get in a motorcycle accident case can give you some relief. Each accident has unique factors, so knowing exactly how much compensation you might expect requires full research by our team. We will investigate details from the scene of your accident, the police report, witness statements, medical treatment records and any other factors that can determine what happened and who can be held responsible. When we have all these details, our attorney will discuss with you the compensation you can expect in your case.

An important concept our Macon motorcycle accident lawyer explains to clients is Georgia’s “modified comparative fault” rule. According to Georgia law, if you are injured in a motorcycle wreck and you have any share of the fault, the amount of compensation you can receive will be reduced by the percentage to which you are found to have been at fault. Some accidents aren’t clear cut, so it is possible you hold 10% fault for the crash and the other party is 90% at fault. If this is the case, your total compensation amount will be reduced by 10%.

For example, if your medical bills, property damage to your car and lost income total $100,000, the amount you receive will be reduced by 10%. So, you could receive only $90,000 in compensation. Proving fault in an accident is central to your case. That’s why you need Macon motorcycle accident lawyer David Mann on your side.

Damages Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Win for You

In a successful lawsuit, our attorneys can win an award, called “damages,” for your losses and injuries. In Georgia, you may be entitled to both compensatory damages and punitive damages.

To win your case, our attorney will have to show that another party, the defendant, was negligent and at fault for causing the accident. All drivers have a duty to drive responsibly and carefully to avoid accidents and injuring others. If someone neglects this duty, that party may be legally liable if a motorcyclist is injured as a result.

In a lawsuit, our motorcycle accident attorney must establish that:

• You were owed a duty of care by the defendant.
• The defendant breached that duty of care.
• This breach caused your injuries.
• You suffered damages as a result.

Compensatory Damages Include Both General and Special Damages

As we examine the details of your case and the losses you incurred as a result of your crash, our motorcycle accident lawyer will total these damages.

Economic damages, also known as special damages, are for your monetary losses that have a specific dollar value. They include:

• Emergency Room treatment costs
• Hospitalization costs
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Property damage to your motorcycle
• Lost income from being unable to work.

Non-economic, or general, damages are those that do not have a specific dollar value, such as past and future pain and suffering. An attorney with experience handling motorcycle accident cases will know how to quantify these types of injuries. If you suffered scarring or disfigurement in your accident, that may cause you emotional distress for which you may also receive compensation.

When Can Punitive Damages Be Awarded in a Motorcycle Accident Case?

Punitive damages may also be awarded in some rare situations. They are awarded only to punish or deter the defendant, not for the purpose of providing compensation to the injured.  Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1, punitive damages are awarded if there is “willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or … conscious indifference to consequences.” If these damages are awarded in a case, there is no limitation in the amount, provided the party causing the accident had specific intent to do harm or was using alcohol or drugs. If no intent to harm is proven, then punitive damages in a motorcycle accident case in Georgia would be limited to $250,000.

If a death has occurred, damages may include potential lifetime earnings of the deceased and lost intangible items, such as advice and companionship.

Motorcycle Accident FAQs

Common Questions Clients Ask Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Macon

Motorcycle accident cases can be complex, and few people are familiar with the applicable Georgia laws or the steps involved with a case. Our attorney provides answers to some of the more common questions he hears.

CAN I SUE THE CAR DRIVER WHO CAUSED MY MOTORCYCLE CRASH?

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident caused either wholly or in part by a car driver – or if you lost a loved one in a crash – you can seek compensation for your losses.

If you suffered injury, you would file a personal injury lawsuit. If your family member died in the wreck, you would file a wrongful death lawsuit. The main objective would be to secure a fair and reasonable settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If that can’t be attained, then you can seek compensation by going to trial.

As a recent study by the Florida Department of Transportation shows, car drivers often do cause crashes. The study analyzed 10 years of motorcycle crashes within that state. The researchers found that the drivers of the other vehicles were at fault 60 percent of the time.
Too many car drivers simply fail to share the road safely with motorcyclists, including failing to check for motorcycles in their mirrors, give them a proper lane width or follow at an adequate distance. This type of carelessness can be the grounds for a legal claim.

WHAT IF I’M NOT COMFORTABLE SUING SOMEONE?

Many clients hesitate to bring a motorcycle accident case because they don’t want to cause problems for another person. We certainly respect this empathetic position. Few of us want to bring harm to others, especially unnecessarily. However, in the case of negligent actions by another driver, there is good cause to pursue a case.

It’s also essential to remember that it is typical that an insurance company pays your compensation, not an individual. There’s good reason why we are required to carry vehicle insurance.

When the alternative is you covering all your expenses yourself, the choice to pursue a motorcycle accident case seems clear.

IF MY SPEEDING CONTRIBUTED TO MY MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT, CAN I RECOVER ANY COMPENSATION?

It depends on the degree to which your act of speeding, or your “fault,” contributed to the accident. Because Georgia uses a “comparative negligence” or “comparative fault” system for personal injury claims, the degree of fault you have in your accident can affect the amount of compensation you receive. If you are less than 51% at fault, you can receive compensation.

DO I HAVE ANY RIGHTS IF I WASN’T WEARING A HELMET WHEN I GOT INTO A MOTORCYCLE WRECK?

First, it’s important to wear a helmet if you are driving or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle. Studies show that helmets help to prevent serious and potentially fatal head, brain, spinal cord and other injuries if you are a motorcycle accident. Mann Law Firm strongly urges all motorcyclists to wear helmets at all times when they operate their vehicles.

Second, Georgia does have a helmet law – albeit one that has been criticized for being vague. The law requires any person operating or riding on a motorcycle to wear “protective headgear which complies with standards established by the commissioner of public safety.” (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-315)

Finally, to answer the question, failing to wear a helmet or “protective headgear” should not bar you from recovering full compensation for your injuries and losses unless it somehow contributed to causing your accident. If you have been injured due to another’s careless driving, Mann Law Firm will stand up for your rights regardless of whether you were wearing a helmet

CAN I BRING A LAWSUIT IF I WAS A PASSENGER WHO WAS INJURED IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT?

If you are a passenger who is injured in a motorcycle accident, you can seek relief from the driver of the other vehicle who caused your crash or from the person who was operating the motorcycle you were riding – or maybe even both – if their negligence contributed to the accident and your injuries.

While most passengers wouldn’t hesitate to take legal action against the car driver who caused the accident, they may be hesitant if they were hurt because of the negligence of a friend who was operating the motorcycle.

Remember: By law, anyone operating a motorcycle in Georgia must carry liability insurance (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-10). This insurance pays for any bodily injury or property damage they cause, including injuries that are suffered by passengers. Under Georgia law, the motorcyclist must have a minimum of $25,000 in liability insurance to cover bodily injury to a single person or $50,000 for two or more.

So, if your friend caused your injuries as a passenger, you would be seeking to collect from the friend’s insurance policy, not from the friend personally.

WHAT CAN I DO IF I WAS INJURED IN A HIT-AND-RUN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT?

Unfortunately, many motorcyclists in Macon and elsewhere in Georgia are injured or killed in “hit-and-run” accidents, where a car driver hits the motorcycle without stopping or otherwise flees the scene.

Whether you can recover anything for your losses will depend on if you have purchased UM / UIM insurance coverage, or uninsured motorist / underinsured motorist coverage. If so, then you may be able to file a damages claim through your own insurance policy. Generally speaking, UM coverage includes hit-and-run accidents.

WILL MY MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT CASE BE SETTLED OR GO TO COURT?

At Mann Law Firm, our goal is to secure compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and more as efficiently as possible. This means that we will seek to resolve your case by securing a full and fair settlement from the insurance company (or companies) involved in your case.

When you settle a case, you receive money in either a lump sum or a structured payment plan, and, in exchange, you agree to release the at-fault party (or parties) from liability.

However, if the insurance company refuses to settle or only offers to settle for an amount that we don’t believe would be in your best interests, our Macon motorcycle accident attorney will always be prepared to take your case to court. If a jury returns a verdict in your favor, the jury would decide on the amount to be awarded in your case, and the court would enter an amount in a judgment

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO FILE A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWSUIT?

Georgia has a two-year statute of limitations to recover damages for injuries from the time of the crash, and in wrongful death cases where the victim experiences a loss of consortium, there is a four-year statute of limitations (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). There is also a 4-year statute of limitations to recover damages to property (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-32).  If you do not file your motorcycle accident case in time, your case will not be heard.

Perhaps these FAQs answered some of the questions you have, but each case is unique. Our motorcycle accident lawyer is happy to answer questions about your accident and legal case. Rather than wonder about what to expect, give us a call. We provide a free consultation to help you find out more about your case.

Our Motorcycle Accident Attorney Examines Why Car Drivers Cause Crashes

Despite what insurance companies may argue, car drivers often cause crashes with motorcyclists. Insurance companies try to pin fault on motorcyclists to reduce the amount of compensation they must pay out. To make a legal argument that is the case, they must prove it is so. This becomes more challenging because car drivers most often do bear some fault in Macon motorcycle accidents. One reason is that there are simply many more cars on the road than motorcycles.

However, what’s important in a motorcycle accident is showing that a car driver who caused a crash acted negligently. There are many ways the car driver may have caused the crash, including:

• Failing to signal a lane change or turn – Motorcyclists are just like car drivers. They need to know when the driver in front is going to change positions or turn, or else they could run into the vehicle. When a failure to signal happens along with a failure to look for motorcyclists, the potential for an accident increases.
• Failing to check mirrors or blind spots – It’s perfectly reasonable to expect car drivers to check for other vehicles, including motorcycles, before they change lanes, merge or turn at an intersection. When drivers fail to properly look for other vehicles, that negligent act may cause an accident with a motorcycle. It’s essential to look twice, at least, to be sure it is safe to turn or change lanes.
• Following too closely – Allowing a three- to four-second distance is reasonable as well. As any motorcyclist knows, you may need to change speed or make a sudden adjustment to avoid potholes, loose gravel or slick spots in the road. A road hazard may pose little threat to a car, but could present a life or death situation for a motorcyclist that doesn’t avoid them. Car drivers should be mindful of these added dangers. At the very least, they should leave a safe stopping distance between their vehicle and any other vehicle, especially motorcycles.
• Failing to give the motorcycle a full lane width – This is also called lane-splitting or lane-sharing. A motorcycle should be treated just like any other vehicle on the road and given an entire lane to maneuver. Encroaching on this space is negligent driving that creates added likelihood of a motorcycle accident when the motorcyclist, or car driver, must quickly maneuver to avoid a hazard.

At the Mann Law Firm, our Macon motorcycle accident lawyer can review the police reports, witness statements and analysis by our own crash experts to determine whether any of these careless acts by a car driver led to your accident.

Other Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

In addition to investigating the role of the other car involved in your crash, Mann Law Firm can also look at whether other facts may have caused your motorcycle accident, including:

• Defective roads – In some cases, a federal, state or local government entity – or contractors it hired – could be at fault for defective road design, road construction or poor maintenance of the road. Safety of the road way is imperative for a motorcyclist’s safety. For instance, a motorcyclist should be able to travel without hitting potholes.
• Defective motorcycles or parts – In many other cases, an accident can be caused by a poorly designed or constructed motorcycle or parts, such as brakes that fail or tires that blow out. The manufacturer, distributor or retailer may all potentially be held liable. When a defective product is the cause of a motorcycle accident, our attorney may pursue multiple entities who could hold some fault for the crash.

It’s crucial that you hire Macon motorcycle accident attorney David Mann who has the experience to examine all the possible causes of an accident. With that research, he can bring an action against all parties who can and should be held legally responsible for the injuries you or your loved one has suffered. When a passenger on a motorcycle is injured in a crash, it may be possible that the motorcycle driver was at fault. Our attorney will examine all details associated with your accident to be sure anyone at fault will be held responsible.

Ask our motorcycle accident lawyer about your legal options to receive compensation from multiple responsible parties.

Get Help Now from Our Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Macon

Our Macon motorcycle accident lawyer knows what’s at stake: high medical bills, inability to work and earn income, pain and suffering and more. Head and spinal cord injuries and loss of limbs frequently occur in motorcycle accidents and the expenses involved can be exceptionally high and on-going, for years, if not a lifetime. That’s why we are committed to seeking the most compensation you can recover.

Motorcycle accident cases can be highly complex, and many unforeseen issues can arise. It’s essential to seek assistance today from a lawyer with experience representing crash victims. Find out how we can help you by calling our Macon motorcycle accident attorney David Mann for your free consultation at (478) 742-3381.