If you or someone close to you has been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Georgia, the motorcycle accident attorneys of Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., are ready to help you. You likely already know the specific challenges that come with a serious motorcycle crash – the devastating injuries, lost income, costly damage to your property, and the challenge of proving that you were not the one who was driving recklessly.
Motorcycle accident victims face these challenges and others. They are more likely to be severely harmed in the event of a crash, even those at low speeds. When seeking compensation, bikers often have to face unfair biases on the part of insurance company representatives who might think that all motorcycle riders are risk-takers who flout the rules.
To the motorcycle injury attorneys at Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., you’re not a rebel just because you ride a motorcycle. If you’re hurt, we are ready to fight for the compensation that you are owed.
Our trial attorneys have over 90 years of combined experience helping our friends and neighbors in Douglasville and surrounding areas. We’re here to stand up for you after a serious motorcycle crash. To the insurance company, you might be just a number, but to us, you’re our neighbor and our friend. We’re ready to put our experience and skill to work for you.
To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case with an experienced Georgia motorcycle accident attorney, contact us by phone at (770) 920-8350 or online today.
Why You Should Hire Sherrod & Bernard, P.C. for Your Douglasville Motorcycle Accident Claim
Strong Track Record of Recovering Compensation for Injured Clients
With 85-plus years of combined legal experience, our lawyers know what it takes to win. Our many verdicts and settlements include the following:
- $12.5 million in a defective products-related motorcycle accident causing a permanent spine injury
- $1.5 million in a fatal motorcycle crash involving a flatbed trailer left parked across the roadway
- $250,000 in a motorcycle accident resulting in broken bones and complex surgeries
(Disclaimer: Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future claim.)
You Pay Nothing Unless We Win
When you are dealing with serious injuries from an accident and facing rising medical expenses, paying for legal representation should be the least of your concerns. At Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., we take on personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, so you incur no upfront or out-of-pocket costs for our services. We collect our legal fee only as an agreed-upon percentage of your settlement or award once we successfully resolve your case. With everything to gain and nothing to lose, you can move forward with confidence.
High Praise from Satisfied Clients
“John Sherrod and his firm, Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., handled my personal injury claim for me when I was involved in a motorcycle wreck in Douglas County, Georgia. They also helped resolve my outstanding Medicare lien. I would highly recommend Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., to my friends and family.”
– Harold Butler, Lithia Springs
Recognition from Prominent Legal Associations
Our clients and legal peers have named us to prestigious annual lists, including Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and Avvo. We have also earned awards from local and state bar associations and legal advocacy organizations for our commitment to justice.
How Long Can a Douglasville Motorcycle Accident Claim Take to Settle?
Because every motorcycle collision is unique, resolution timelines vary significantly and can range from a few months to a year or longer. Key elements influencing the duration of your injury claim include the following:
- Medical factors – The severity and extent of your injuries, as well as the duration of necessary post-accident treatments
- Case complexity – The overall number of involved parties and any disputes regarding fault
- Legal proceedings – Whether standard negotiations suffice or initiating a formal motorcycle accident lawsuit becomes necessary
- Negotiation dynamics – The insurance provider’s willingness to resolve the matter outside of court and your lawyer’s effectiveness in securing equitable compensation
We know that wanting a swift resolution is completely natural, especially as medical costs, ongoing recovery expenses, and vehicle repairs pile up alongside everyday financial obligations. When you meet with us for your free, no-obligation consultation, we can review your case details and give you an estimated timeline.
How a Douglasville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
The aftermath of a motorcycle accident is a difficult time, and you shouldn’t try to go through it alone. Your focus should be on healing, not dealing with legal paperwork, filing deadlines, and insurance companies that are more concerned with their bottom line than making sure you get the full compensation you deserve.
When you hire our Douglasville motorcycle accident lawyers, we can do the following:
- Thoroughly investigate the crash scene to gather and preserve key evidence
- Collaborate with accident reconstruction specialists to determine precisely how the collision occurred
- Accurately calculate the complete financial value of your claim
- Shield you against insurance tactics designed to minimize your injuries or reduce your payout
- Negotiate assertively with insurance representatives to secure a full and equitable settlement
- Take your case to court if trial is required to achieve justice and fair compensation
- Charge you nothing unless we win your case
Motorcycle Accident Cases Are More Complex
Motorcycle accident claims are often more complex because of the severe injuries that are the unfortunate-yet-common result of crashes involving motorcycles and larger motor vehicles. Victims often suffer catastrophic injuries that could require lengthy treatment and rehabilitation, or may have a permanent impact on their health, mobility, and life.
There are also limitations to what people know about motorcycle accident laws in Georgia. For example, state law requires all riders to wear helmets. However, failure to wear a helmet should not prevent an injured motorcyclist from recovering compensation from the party at fault for the crash.
Lane-splitting is illegal in Georgia, and accidents in which the rider was illegally lane-splitting could discount the accident claim altogether, something that many bikers don’t know.
There are other elements that make motorcycle claims more complex, including:
- Jury bias. A personal injury lawyer with trial experience will likely build your case for trial, regardless whether the case goes that far. Jurors are often biased against motorcyclists, with some believing they shouldn’t be on the road in the first place. Many members of the public view all motorcyclists as rebels and risk-takers. Overcoming this bias can be challenging.
- Insurer bias. Insurers may try to take advantage of society’s anti-motorcyclist prejudice. They often categorize motorcyclists as “high-risk,” make every attempt to downgrade the severity of the accident and even shift the blame onto the biker.
When you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident or if you’ve lost someone close to you in a motorcycle crash, don’t despair. Legal help is available to you to help ensure you get the compensation and justice that you deserve. By hiring an attorney with the right experience, skill, and resources to handle your case, you will have a better chance of getting the money you need to rebuild and move on with your life.
A Douglasville Motorcycle Accident Can Lawyer Help
Most motorcycle accident victims lack the necessary resources, time, or experience to fight insurance companies alone. There’s a professional way to approach insurers using a language they’ll easily understand – an approach that takes years to perfect, which is why retaining an experienced accident attorney is the preferred method of litigating accident claims.
Georgia motorcycle accident lawyers like those at Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., have experience in insurance law. They know how the adjusters and the insurer’s counsel will approach the case. Having this experience allows negotiations to go much smoother than if an insurer phones the motorcycle victim and either outright denies their claim or offers them a lowball settlement to get them to go away.
Other compelling reasons why motorcycle accident attorneys are far more skilled at negotiations and handling these cases than the average person include:
- Attorneys are aware of filing deadlines, when and why motions should be filed, all motorcycle safety laws, and what statute of limitations applies to your case. They are adequately equipped to handle cases where at-fault party falsehoods are extraneous at best.
- Attorneys can subpoena sensitive information related to your accident much faster than non-attorney litigants.
If those reasons aren’t compelling enough, remember that motorcycle accident attorneys and their respective firms foot the entire bill-paying their staff, filing fees, and any extra bills that may relate to your case — and charge you nothing if you lose.
For many, this is reason enough to retain legal help after an accident.
