Motorcycle Head-On Collision

Head-on collisions involve some of the greatest force of all auto accidents. This is because, unlike sideswipe or T-bone accidents, both vehicles colliding head-on will experience the full force of the impact. This results in far more serious injuries and greater fatality rates. Unfortunately, this effect is even more pronounced when a motorcycle is involved in a head-on collision. As reported by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, occupants of lighter vehicles are at a disadvantage when colliding with a heavier vehicle. Motorcyclists are further disadvantaged by the lack of protection from a steel frame, airbags, seat belts, and other safety features that are required in passenger vehicles.

Injuries from motorcycle accidents tend to be more severe than those sustained in a passenger vehicle accident. As a result, the costs associated with these injuries (such as medical bills, lost wages from time off work, pain and suffering, property damage, and loss of enjoyment of life) are also greater. This is why it is so important for motorcycle accident victims to seek the advice of an experienced motorcycle accident attorney. This is especially true when serious motorcycle accident injuries are made worse by the force of a head-on collision. The skilled motorcycle accident attorneys at Slappey & Sadd are highly experienced in both motorcycle accidents and head-on collisions. For decades, motorcycle accident victims across Georgia have trusted our lawyers to protect their legal rights to compensation. Call 404.255.6677 today to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Atlanta motorcycle accident attorney.

Some of the most serious - and common - injuries in a motorcycle accident are those to the central nervous system. The central nervous system (consisting of the brain and spinal cord) is protected by the skull, neck, and spine. Orthopedic and soft tissue injuries to these areas are often indicative of an underlying brain or nerve injury.

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are any injury caused to the brain by trauma, such as a motorcycle accident. They can be mild, moderate or severe. Mild TBIs are often characterized by a concussion that resolves within a couple of days. More serious TBIs can result in lifelong damage, and impairment to the victim’s daily life. The most serious cases of brain injury may require a victim to receive full-time nursing care in an assisted living facility.
• Spinal cord injuries can also be minor or severe. Minor spinal cord injuries may result in bruising, tingling, or other mild symptoms that resolve in a relatively short length of time. More serious injuries may require years of treatment such as physical or occupational therapy. The most serious injuries can cause permanent paralysis. Again, the victim may require full-time nursing care. A driver whose negligence caused the spinal cord injury is legally obligated to compensate all the costs incurred as a result.

Of course, the brain and spinal cord are not the only body parts that can be injured in a head-on motorcycle collision. Orthopedic injuries are also common. Broken bones may require surgery, lengthy inpatient hospital stays, physical therapy, time off work, and extensive pain during the healing process. These are all very real losses that can quickly become very expensive. A negligent driver who is at fault for a collision has a legal obligation to compensate them all fully and fairly.

Some injuries can specifically impair a motorcycle accident victim’s future earning capacity. If, for example, a concert pianist breaks her hand in a motorcycle accident, she may find herself unable to play the piano ever again. She might be able to mitigate this loss by teaching piano lessons or engaging in other (less lucrative) work, but she will never again be a concert pianist. If her earning ability is permanently reduced as a result of the accident, the negligent driver has a legal obligation to compensate the difference between her earning capacity before the accident and after it occurred.

Some losses are far more emotional. An injury victim who is paralyzed from the neck down in an auto accident may never be able to walk across the stage at graduation. He might be unable to ever dance at his wedding or hold a child in his arms. He may be unable to have children at all. All of these are intangible losses that are difficult to place a dollar value on, but nonetheless constitute significant emotional losses.

What is the value of missing out on some of life’s most important moments? The answer, of course, depends on whether you ask the victim or the defendant’s insurance carrier. Insurance companies spend huge sums of money training their adjusters to pay as little as possible on as few claims as possible. When a loss is intangible (such as the inability to hold a child), there is greater room for a claims adjuster to downplay its value. This is an area in which an experienced motorcycle accident attorney can fight for the victim’s right to compensation. If the insurance company will not make a fair settlement offer, the attorney will have the opportunity to present this claim to a jury. Insurance adjusters might not place much value on these important, intangible losses, but juries often understand the devastating (and often permanent) effects a motorcycle accident can have on a victim’s life.

Motorcycle accident victims across the state trust our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys. Don’t trust that your legal right to compensation will be protected by the defendant’s insurance company. Our skilled lawyers can protect your legal rights to be fully and fairly compensated for all the many losses you have suffered due to another driver’s negligence. Call 404.255.6677 today to schedule your free consultation. Our skilled attorneys and caring support staff deliver superior customer service. They fight hard to protect your legal rights so that you can focus on your recovery.