Head-On Collisions

Georgia Motorcycle Accident Center

Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer Stephen M. Ozcomert is dedicated to protecting the rights of riders injured due to the negligence of others. After 20 years of practicing personal injury law, Mr. Ozcomert has the experience to help you seek the most favorable verdict or settlement possible after a motorcycle crash. Trust Stephen M. Ozcomert to help you fight for the recovery you deserve following your injuries or a loved one’s wrongful death in a serious accident, such as motorcycle head-on collisions.

Motorcycle Head-On Collisions

Motorcycles are the preferred mode of transport for many Georgia residents despite their inherent dangers. Bikers experience 35 times more fatal accidents per mile than other drivers. Collisions with other vehicles cause over 55 percent of motorcycle deaths, the majority of which result from head-on collisions. In fact, studies have found that oncoming cars hit the front of motorcycles in 78 percent of accidents. The prevalence of head-on collisions is striking given that rear-end accidents occur only 5 percent of the time. Head-on collisions are almost always fatal.

Negligent Driving

Most head-on collisions result from careless driving. Negligence in this context refers to the failure to exercise due care in operating a vehicle. Driving a car recklessly generally violates a legal duty owed to motorcycle riders and other users of the road, and consequently can give rise to liability for any resulting injuries. Negligence includes intentional acts as well as careless mistakes that cause accidental injury. Negligent driving may involve:

• Hostile acts
• Drunk driving
• Failure to yield
• Speeding, racing
• Drug impairment
• Distracted driving
• Unsafe lane change
• Truck driver fatigue
• Crossing over median
• Entrance onto highway
• Traveling in wrong lane
• Passing on a two-lane road

Georgia law may impose liability on negligent drivers that strike a motorcycle head on. This requires compensating riders and surviving family members for expenses arising out of bodily injury or wrongful death.

Elements to Prove Negligence

Georgia law sets forth four basic requirements to prove a personal injury claim. The injured motorcyclist is known as the claimant, and when seeking damages from a negligent driver, the rider must show that:

• The law required the driver to exercise reasonable care
• The driver was not careful (compared to a “reasonable person”)
• The driver’s behavior directly caused the motorcyclist’s injuries
• The rider suffered compensable losses (injury, property damage)

Even when injured riders are partially at fault for the accident, under Georgia law they may still be entitled to monetary recovery. An experienced personal injury attorney can evaluate your case to help you determine the best course of action under these circumstances. Atlanta cycle head-on collision lawyer Stephen M. Ozcomert can help in pursuing the fullest compensation possible.

Truck Driver Liability

When a commercial vehicle strikes a motorcycle, drivers of those vehicles who are negligent may be held liable. But under federal and state law, owners and operators that employ the driver can also be held liable. These companies are often known as “commercial carriers,” and must have liability insurance covering at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. Further, Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) Section 46-7-12 also allows injured riders to join the motor carrier and its liability insurer in a separate suit against the truck company’s insurance company. Injured motorcyclists in this situation thus have viable claims against multiple parties.

Maximize Your Recovery

If you were injured in a head-on collision, Atlanta motorcycle accident attorney Stephen M. Ozcomert can help. He has recovered substantial verdicts and settlements for personal injury victims throughout Georgia. As the injured party, you may be entitled to lost income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages arising out of bodily harm or the wrongful death of a family member. Honored as one of Georgia’s “Super Lawyers,” and as a member of its “Legal Elite,” Mr. Ozcomert works diligently to recover the compensation you deserve. Call (404) 370-1000 for a free consultation or contact us online.