Marietta Personal Injury Attorneys

The risk of severe injuries due to collisions should lead drivers of all motor vehicles to appreciate the force of impact caused by differences in the size and weight of motor vehicles. Nowhere is the risk of a collision greater than that faced by those who operate motorcycles on the roadways and highways of Marietta and surrounding areas. Motorcyclists in Marietta must manage the limited control, handling and nearly non-existent safety features that motorcycles possess. The dangers that motorcycle riders face on a daily basis are so substantial that Georgia has become a leading state in the implementation of “motorcycle only” checkpoints. In 2011, Georgia was allocated $70,000 in federal funding to conduct safety checkpoints applicable only to motorcycles.

Justification for these safety checkpoints, based on the dangerous risks that motorcyclists face, outweighs the controversy regarding the practice of implementing checkpoints requiring only motorcycles to stop. Motorcyclists traveling throughout Marietta have virtually zero protection against careless drivers who cut off motorcyclists, fail to check their blind spots for motorcyclists or do not generally respect the rights of motorcyclists to share the road with all other motor vehicles. Checkpoints applicable only to motorcycles are designed to inspect the following safety issues:

• Validity of motorcyclists’ licenses
• Abiding by state helmet laws
• Proper repair and maintenance of vehicles

The Unique Risk Posed by Marietta Motorcycle Collisions

Although many motorcyclists regard checkpoints as unjustifiably invasive, the fact remains that accidents involving motorcyclists are often more severe and life threatening than those involving drivers of passenger vehicles. Over 4,500 individuals die each year as a result of motorcycle accidents with 26 states seeing an increase in fatalities in 2011. With 80,000 more facing injury each year, motorcyclists are 27 times more likely to die in a collision than occupants in other motor vehicles.

Despite the minimal protection offered by motorcycles in a collision, Marietta motorcycle riders can significantly reduce life-altering head, neck, and brain injuries by complying with the mandatory state helmet law. Helmets have proven to be 37 percent effective in preventing motorcycle operators’ fatalities and 41 percent effective in preventing passenger fatalities.

A legal action based on negligence is the most common claim for a Marietta motorcycle accident. Negligence is a legal term referring to unreasonable, unsafe conduct that causes foreseeable harm to others. The causes of Marietta motorcycle accidents may include unsafe drivers, dangerous roadways and defective motor vehicles. As an injured motorcycle rider, you may be entitled to seek compensation from a careless or inattentive driver or other negligent party. Common examples of unsafe conduct that frequently cause motorcycle accidents include:

• Inattentive drivers that do not notice smaller motorcycles
• Drivers hostile to motorcyclists
• Drivers of motor vehicles under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
• Drivers making unsafe turns
• Slick roadways from rain or snow
• Tire blowouts
• Motorists that fail to obey traffic signs or traffic signals
• Motorists that cut off motorcycles without check blind spots
• Potholes or other hazardous road conditions

Negative attitudes toward “bikers” remain high despite the increased popularity of motorcycles in our society. Likewise, police accident reports may be unfairly biased against riders due to witnesses slanting facts against motorcycle enthusiasts. Our experienced and reputable Marietta motorcycle accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates have been successfully representing victims of motorcycle crashes for nearly 39 years so we have the capability to freshly examine the facts and conduct our own independent examination of a motorcycle accident in Marietta.

Potential Damages Available in Marietta Motorcycle Crashes Caused by the Negligence of Others

While no one expects to be involved in a motorcycle accident while cruising down the streets of Marietta, you will need the money to pay for medical costs, surgeries, and physical rehabilitation. Many motorcycle accidents result in physical injuries that prevent an immediate return to work. A Marietta motorcycle accident attorney at Montlick and Associates may be able to help you obtain compensation for injuries whether they are relatively minor ones or serious and extreme injuries including:

• Broken and fractured bones including extremities, ribs, skulls and collarbones
• Injuries to the head, neck and spine
• Lacerations, scrapes or abrasions
• Amputation of extremities
• Road rash
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord damage resulting in quadriplegia or paraplegia
• Damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys and other vital organs
• Wrongful death

Not only may you need compensation for medical expenses when you suffer serious injuries in a Marietta motorcycle accident, but you may also need funds to repair your motorcycle and compensate for lost income or diminished future earnings if you are permanently disabled. Our experienced Marietta motorcycle accident attorneys may also be able to secure damages for other losses including impairment of your marital relationship, mental anguish, pain and suffering, punitive (exemplary) damages and/or other types of relevant damages depending on your case’s facts and circumstances.

Our commitment to our clients remains pursuing the greatest possible outcome. We strongly encourage you to schedule a free consultation because there is no obligation for us to examine your Marietta area motorcycle accident claim. Our lawyers are only a phone call away, and we will even come to you no matter your location. Call 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation or visit us online at www.montlick.com to use our 24-hour-Line Online Chat or to use our Free Case Evaluation Form.

Georgia is a “car culture” state so it is not surprising that Marietta is the location of many severe vehicle accidents since this city boasts a mix of both commuter and tourist traffic. This rather volatile mix of local residents rushing to beat the traffic and tourists unfamiliar with the roadways often results in confusion, annoyance and, unfortunately, some quite horrific accidents.

According to information obtained from the Georgia Department of Transportation, there are over 340,000 car accidents annually in the state, resulting in more than 133,000 people being injured and more than 1,700 fatalities. These accidents affect everyone using state highways and local roadways, including motorcyclists, bicyclists, public transportation patrons and even pedestrians. These traffic accidents not only seriously impact the accident victim but also the families and loved ones of those who are injured or killed.

The process of negotiating with insurance companies after an accident can be difficult and requires the expertise of experts familiar with the legal system and its many hurdles. The experienced Marietta auto accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates have been providing effective legal representation to Marietta car accident victims since 1984. Because of our long tenure and experience representing car accident victims in Marietta we can often negotiate a settlement or utilize some form of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) to obtain a settlement to avoid trial. However, we will not hesitate to aggressively litigate your Marietta car accident case when the other insurance company refuses to pay what you deserve.

Risk Factors Involved in Marietta Car Accidents

Most accidents in Marietta are caused by inattentive driving or drivers who do not exercise reasonable caution in an attempt to avoid an accident. Failing to engage in safe driving practices, including complying with Georgia’s “Rules of the Road,” may be construed as negligence on the part of the inattentive driver and may provide a basis for imposing liability for the accident on that same driver.

The following is a list of driving practices that might constitute negligent driving:

• Failure to observe right of way laws
• Excessive speed and/or a failure to adjust speed according to road conditions
• Distractions that lead to inattentive driving
• Illegal turns or U-turns
• Executing unsafe lane changes
• Inclement weather and adverse road conditions
• Failing to check a “blind spot”
• Accidents occurring while backing up
• Intoxicated drivers
• Failing to check tire pressure or age

Motorists injured by a driver committing any of the above forms of negligence may be entitled to compensation for personal injuries or property loss – this includes accidents caused by a driver who is texting, talking on the phone or performing any other activity that could be construed as negligent.

Although negligence on the part of the driver is the most common cause of accidents in the Marietta area, some accidents may be caused by a third party. These include:

• Vehicle owners lending their vehicle to unsafe drivers
• Employers who knowingly allow employees to talk on cell phones while conducting company business in a company owned vehicle
• Government agencies that disregard a known hazard area
• Companies producing defective airbags, seatbelts, tires, or brake and fuel systems
• A driver other than the one with whom the collision took place
• Independent repair shops that do not properly maintain buses, tractor-trailers or other vehicles

These examples constitute a few examples of the types of negligence that our Marietta accident attorneys may rely on to develop a strong legal position. Although Georgia state law requires that drivers carry a minimum of liability insurance, data reveals that more than 1 in 7 of drivers violate the requirement to carry liability insurance. For every uninsured driver, there are many more drivers who are underinsured, resulting in insufficient compensation for accident victims. In a struggling economy, drivers often allow their insurance policies to lapse without renewal. The Insurance Research Council indicates there is approximately a 1% increase in uninsured drivers for every percentage increase in the unemployment rate.

Many drivers who are involved in accidents with uninsured or underinsured drivers often feel they are left with little or no recourse, a devastating prospect when faced with expensive medical bills and partial or full disability. Our Marietta car accident lawyers at Montlick and Associates can seek the compensation required to alleviate financial worries, even in the event that there is no third party to supplement the available insurance coverage. Further, our Marietta car accident lawyers may be able to pursue a claim against one’s own insurance company where there is no driver or third party with insurance or assets to pay your Marietta car accident claim.

What Monetary Compensation is Recoverable for Serious Injuries in Marietta Car Accidents?

If you are the victim of an accident involving a drunk or fatigued driver, you may suffer devastating injuries that affect your ability to work, maintain a healthy marital or other relationship, parenting ability, or general quality of your life, including brain or head trauma, spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis, amputation of a limb or even death. Other, non-life threatening injuries, such as broken bones or torn ligaments, may result in severe pain and long periods of recovery time for the victim.

The value of your accident claim may be affected by a variety of factors, including the seriousness of the injury sustained, the period of disability, the total medical costs, the wrongfulness of the act, and the earning capacity of the accident victim. In general, the more serious the injury, the greater the amount of financial compensation that may be available through the accident settlement or the personal injury judgment. The maximum compensation level is typically reserved for those who receive injuries of a catastrophic nature such as those resulting in permanent physical or cognitive disabilities. However, our Marietta car accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates may be able to pursue compensation for the following:

• Replacement of lost income
• Impaired quality of life
• Partial or full disability
• Diminished companionship in a marital relationship
• Property damage or loss
• Pain and suffering
• Financial obligations resulting from the accident, such as medical expenses

If you are the victim of an automobile accident which results in injuries of a devastating or life altering nature, our Georgia car accident attorneys may be able to answer your questions, advise you of your legal rights and assist you in recovering your losses. Know your legal rights! Whether you are injured by the negligent, reckless or intentional misconduct of a third party, we invite you to speak to an experienced Marietta auto accident attorney at Montlick and Associates. Call us today for your Free Consultation.

No matter where you are located, our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.

Our Marietta personal injury attorneys at Montlick and Associates offer legal representation when you need income replacement or compensation for other damages because you have become injured as a result of the negligence or reckless actions of others. Whether you suffer injury at the hands of an individual or a company, our expertise in representing victims of vehicle accidents, truck collisions, and many other areas allows us to facilitate the legal process of seeking compensation for pain and suffering and other forms of loss when others fail in their legal duty to engage in safe conduct or provide safe premises. We offer legal assistance in cases involving slip and fall injuries, dangerous products, poorly maintained premises, and negligence in the care of patients in nursing homes and facilities. Our Marietta personal injury lawyers have represented hundreds upon hundreds of personal injury victims so we have the expertise to assist clients in seeking financial recovery to pay for the extreme costs of medical bills and physical rehabilitation following many types of accidents.

From dog bites at the hands of irresponsible pet owners to ensuring the proper and fair treatment of your workers’ compensation claim, our Marietta personal injury lawyers provide diligent legal representation which may include investigating accidents often with experts, analyzing the applicable law, developing a sound negotiating strategy, and providing effective advocacy for our clients. Providing the best possible result for our clients is no accident, our Marietta personal injury law firm has been providing legal representation to personal injury victims just like you since we were founded in 1984. When professional analysis of conditions or products is needed to prove your claim, our team of knowledgeable attorneys and professional experts provide effective tools that allow us to strive to obtain the maximum compensation.

Vehicle accidents, while common, are simply not to be accepted as a normal part of life. Your ability to enjoy life and remain productive can be seriously affected by the negligent actions of others. The cause of motor vehicle accidents may include poorly maintained commercial vehicles, drunk drivers, improperly licensed vehicle operators, distracted drivers and all other types of unsafe driving practices. Our long tenure handling a wide spectrum of personal injury cases has provided us with the experience and proven track record to provide legal representation in a wide range of cases including the following:

• Marietta nursing home abuse/neglect
• Marietta auto accidents
• Marietta workers’ compensation claims
• Marietta dog bite cases
• Marietta motorcycle crashes
• Marietta pedestrian-motor vehicle accidents
• Marietta slip and fall accidents on public or private property
• Marietta construction accidents
• Marietta wrongful death claims
• Marietta defective product claims (product liability law)
• Marietta Trucking Accidents (tractor-trailers, big-rigs, 18-wheelers, Semi-trucks)

The Marietta personal injury attorneys at Montlick and Associates focus our practice on injury claims, including but not limited to wrongful death actions, pedestrian accidents, and construction site injuries. The loss of a loved one or the diminished ability to earn an income is stressful and upsetting, especially when the cause is unsafe conduct of a company or individual. We have helped many people just like you safely navigate the treacherous terrain of legal pitfall and insurance company traps.

Know your legal rights! Whether you are injured by the negligent, reckless or intentional misconduct of a third party, we invite you to speak to an experienced Marietta personal injury attorney at Montlick and Associates. Call us today for your Free Consultation.

No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.