According to NHTSA, there were 82,000 people injured and 4,502 fatalities from motorcycle accidents in 2010. The Hurt Report of 1981 found that three-fourths of motorcycle accidents are caused by collision with an automobile. Two-thirds of those were caused by the automobile driver violating the right-of- way of the motorcycle. The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. In almost half of cases from the Hurt study, the view of the motorcycle or of the other vehicle involved in the accident was limited by glare or obstructed by another vehicle. Conspicuity of the motorcycle is a critical factor in the multiple vehicle accidents, and accident involvement is significantly reduced by the use of motorcycle headlamps (on in daylight) and the wearing of high visibility yellow, orange or bright red jackets. Motorcycle rider training and experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents. More than half of the accidents in the study involved motorcycle riders with less than 5 months experience operating the accident motorcycle.
Georgia Law requires all motorcycle operators to wear protective headgear which complies with standards established by the commissioner of public safety. It further requires that a driver use an eye-protective device approved by the commissioner of public safety if the vehicle doesn’t have a windshield.
Motorcycle accident litigation is different from your standard car accident claim. Georgia is an at-fault state, which means negligence laws govern motorcycle accidents. The driver who is “at fault” for the accident can be held accountable for injuries sustained from your Georgia motorcycle accident. Rider safety issues such as conspicuity, evasive action, warning to the rider, and rider experience and training are all relevant facts when reviewing the possible claim. Kunes Law Office hires accident specialists who use mathematical equations and forensic evidence such as skid marks, scrapes and gouges, damage, roadway features, flight, momentum, car rotation, as well as radius and acceleration to reconstruct the accident.
LET OUR ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS HANDLE ALL COMMUNICATIONS WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES! Insurance adjusters often record telephone conversations or ask questions to get specific information from you. This information could be used against you to defeat your accident claim. Our motorcycle wreck lawyers will handle all contacts with the adjuster to make certain that your rights are fully protected. Call (229) 382-4900 to schedule an appointment or feel free to walk in to our office located at 230 2nd St. E, Tifton Ga 31793.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/49856656/Hurt-Report-NHTSA-1981-study-motorcyle-accident-causes
Joe Kunes
Patrick Kunes