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If you live in McDonough, you know that local residents often take I-75 to travel back and forth to Atlanta. While most of the heavy congestion on I-75 consists of cars, trucks, and SUVs, an increasing number of people are choosing to travel by motorcycle.
Motorcycles are generally cheaper to buy and more cost efficient to own than cars, and recent high gas prices have made motorcycles an attractive option. Unfortunately, however, many car and truck drivers fail to notice bikers, and busy interstates like I-75 have become motorcycle accident hubs.
But drivers must share the roads and exercise caution regardless of the type of vehicle you use, and you’re entitled to seek compensation if you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence.
Our Team Knows the Roads, Legal System and Laws in Henry County
At The Millar Law Firm, we have been representing residents of Henry County and surrounding areas for almost three decades, and this local experience gives us an edge when handling claims. Our team not only works in Henry (and nearby Clayton) County, but we also live there and are part of the community.
That means our team is familiar with all the roads, highways, and major intersections as well as the local police, courts, and laws. This specialized knowledge and experience gives us an advantage over the big, national law firms that often advertise on TV for several reasons.
First, attorneys who aren’t familiar with the area will have a harder time investigating your claim, which means they may miss important evidence or take longer to reach a settlement. Our attorneys know where accidents typically occur and have experience investigating and collecting evidence from the police and nearby businesses. Gathering evidence early is crucial to building a strong injury claim and reaching a fast, fair settlement for the victim.
Another advantage to hiring a local lawyer is familiarity with local laws, which can have an impact on your motorcycle accident case. When you hire a national firm, its attorneys must spend time learning local laws and getting up to speed to prepare your claim. Our lawyers already have extensive experience applying local laws, so we can build the strongest claim possible to achieve maximum compensation without delay.
Our attorneys have also spent a significant amount of time dealing with Henry County judges and attorneys while handling personal injury cases. Knowing the local courts can provide major advantages when trying a case, and attorneys from outside the area can easily make mistakes if they lack local experience—mistakes that can put your claim at risk.
Finally, insurance companies know which firms have a strong history of winning verdicts in the area and are more likely to offer fair compensation in a settlement when dealing with them. Large national firms are known for taking as many cases as possible, then settling for less than full value to avoid spending much on resources. That’s how these firms make money.
But we operate differently. We’re a smaller firm that focuses on fewer clients and individualized attention, and we devote all our resources to making sure each person receives maximum compensation for their case.
Understanding the True Cost of Personal Injury: Why Rushing to Accept Insurance Settlements Can Be a Financial Pitfall
Because motorcycles offer less protection than other vehicles, riders and passengers are more likely to suffer severe or even catastrophic injuries in an accident. If your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, you’re entitled to compensation that covers all your expenses, both economic and noneconomic.
However, even if you seek treatment immediately, it can take weeks or months for medical bills to arrive, especially if you need surgery, follow-up care, or physical therapy. You’ll also need to understand how your injuries will affect other aspects of your life, such as your ability to work and take care of yourself and your family.
In other words, it can take time and careful analysis to understand the full value, or cost, of your legal claim. But the insurance company that’s responsible for paying it doesn’t make a profit by paying the full cost of every claim. Instead, the carrier will often send victims a check that’s far less than their actual cost soon after the accident—before all the bills arrive and other losses are assessed.
If you accept the settlement check, you can’t seek any more compensation from the insurance company regardless of other expenses that come up later. That’s why you need to talk to an experienced injury lawyer before accepting payment. A motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault shouldn’t end up costing you money.
Motorcycle Accident Cases Come With Challenges
Even though you can try to handle a motorcycle accident claim without a lawyer, there are many challenges to recovering full compensation. The fact that the insurance company’s check may not match your bills doesn’t mean it will be easy to win your case. Insurance carriers have the resources to investigate your claim, gather evidence in their favor, and use legal tactics and strategies to deny or reduce your payment. The carrier’s investigators will look for evidence to argue you were at fault and can reduce your compensation if you were even partially to blame because Georgia is a comparative negligence state. For example, the carrier’s representatives may claim you were negligent in traveling with the speed of traffic on the road if you were going over the speed limit. Carriers often try to portray motorcyclists as careless or reckless, and you would need to present evidence showing that your rate of speed didn’t cause the accident. Knowing how to gather strong evidence to prove your claim is essential to winning maximum compensation but is hard to do on your own, especially while you’re recovering from an accident. When you hire The Millar Law Firm, our lawyers go to work immediately to collect the right evidence to challenge the insurance company and prove the full value of your claim.
With an Office in McDonough, We Can Help Motorcycle Accident Victims
Headquartered in nearby Jonesboro since 1993, The Millar Law Firm recently opened an office in McDonough. Our attorneys can educate you about your case, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses to determine the amount of compensation you deserve. Our team respects and appreciates motorcyclists and has recovered millions in compensation on their behalf. You are entitled to be safe from other’s negligence no matter what type of vehicle you operate, and you deserve to be treated fairly both on the roads and in a legal case. If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident, we’re here to protect you and your family.