Motorcycle Collisions
When a person rides a motorcycle and others do not follow the rules, serious and deadly injuries can occur.
Motorcycles are a fun, fuel-efficient way to travel. Motorcycle drivers and passengers deserve to be safe on the roads in Georgia. To keep motorcyclists safe, drivers of motor vehicles must understand that it is a privilege to drive, they must follow the rules of the roads to make it safe, and motorcycles are always around. Due to the minimal driver protection of a motorcycle, when a person rides a motorcycle and others do not follow the rules, serious and deadly injuries can occur.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety administration, last year, 4,976 people died in motorcycle crashes. This is up 8% from the year before. Also last year, 88,000 motorcyclists were injured. The US Department of Transportation states that motorcyclists are 35x more likely, than a vehicle driver, to be killed in a collision and 8x more likely to be injured.
Michael S. Wilensky, LLC protects injured motorcyclists from the insurance companies.
We are able to obtain an optimal settlement or verdict by making sure motorcycle riders are treated fairly and receive the same protections that vehicle drivers receive under the law .
When a motorcycle driver is in a collision, the first goal of the insurance company is to attempt to find ways the motorcycle driver is at fault. It is important to beat them to the punch and show how and why the motor vehicle driver, who caused the collision, is at fault. In addition, the insurance company always assumes that motorcyclists are thrill seekers and unsafe drivers. They often will use this theme when a matter goes to trial. Through our experience, technique and personal representation we diffuse all the misleading and false claims by the insurance company and obtain a maximum settlement or verdict.
Many of the Georgia laws regarding motorcycles are found in Georgia Code, Title 40, Chapter 6, Article 13, Part 2. This section discusses on the road and off the road requirements. A helmet and eye protection are mandatory. The one exception to eye protection is if your motorcycle has a windscreen. Georgia Code, 40-6-315(b). Handlebars cannot be more than 15 inches above the seat. Georgia Code, 40-6-314(b). A daytime running headlight is mandatory, and a modulating headlight is permitted under the Code of Federal Regulations. Motorcycles must have operational brake lights and turn signals. Georgia Code, 40-8-25. One side mirror is required by law, but it does not matter which side. Turn signals are required for motorcycles manufactured on and after January 1, 1972. Georgia Code, 40-8-25.
No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. Georgia Code, 40-6-312(c). No more than two motorcycles shall ride side by side in a single lane. 40-6-312(d).
In Georgia, there is no code section discussing the maximum sound level of motorcycle pipes. If you have a passenger on your motorcycle that is not in a side car or enclosed cab, you must have footrests for the passenger. Georgia Code, 40-6-314(a).