Frequently Asked Questions

To better help you understand what to do in the event that something should happen to you while you’re on your bike, SteelHorse Law has put together the following list of frequently asked questions. We know that there could be more questions that you have, or even things that are not covered here, so if you do have any other questions, feel free to submit them online and one of our staff attorneys will be happy to call you.

Where can I get a copy of my state’s motorycle license manual?

What is the most important thing to do in the case of a motorcycle accident?

Why should I hire an attorney and what does it cost?

Why should I hire a motorcycle trial lawyer as opposed to another injury attorney?

I have been in an accident, it is not my fault, who should pay the medical bills now, as they are coming due?

Do I need a license and/or insurance if I buy or ride a scooter in the State of Georgia?

If you’re the injured party, the most important thing that you can possibly do is to immediately seek medical attention. Keep in mind that things can move fast, lots of doctors and nurses can go, so you or somebody around you is going to need to have a good idea of what treatment you were provided, which medical providers gave you those treatments and you’ll need to make sure to keep a copy of all those documents, records and bills, for later use.

Make sure you that you report the accident by calling the police and, if needed, the fire department or an ambulance. If you are questioned by the authorities as to the cause of the accident, make sure to give a brief, honest assessment of what occurred. Don’t admit that you were at fault, or that you have any liability. Always make sure that a police report is filed. You should be aware, however, that very often police officers will not respond to accidents that occur while on private property.

You will need to provide your insurance information and driver’s license information to the other driver. Of course he’s going to need to maintain that information and give it to you as well. Make sure that you not only obtain his name and driver’s license number, but his address, the tag number of the vehicle that hit you, the insurance company’s name and his policy information, including the policy number.

The immediate aftermath of an accident is also the best time to start identifying witnesses. You’re going to want witnesses available, especially if the accident was not your fault. At a minimum you want to make sure that you get their name, telephone number, including a home, work and cell phone, if they have one, as well as their address. If possible, and they’re willing to do so, have them give a very brief written statement as to what they saw just so it’s memorialized while it’s fresh in their mind.

To make it easier, SteelHorse Law has put together a portable accident reporting kit that you can carry on your bike and contains forms that will ensure you obtain all the necessary information to adequately protect your interests. If you’re interested in obtaining one of these kits, please click here, after all we are giving away 500 for FREE.

You will need to contact your insurance agency to report the accident. The failure to do so can, in some instances, void the coverage that you have. So even if you’re afraid that you might be at fault, you still need to make that phone call. Don’t admit, however, that you were at fault in the accident if asked.

Finally, and most importantly, do not call the other party’s attorneys or insurance company without first consulting SteelHorse Law. SteelHorse Law is here at all times to provide you with the advice and steering that you need to adequately protect your rights.

Without a doubt you should always hire or at least consult SteelHorse Law if you’ve been involved in a serious accident on a motorcycle. Realize that insurance companies are engaged in very big business. They have shareholders and boards of directors that they must report to and they’re not in the habit of giving away money. The plain fact is that individuals who are represented by attorneys wind up with better outcomes than individuals who are not when negotiating with insurance companies. The bottom line is the insurance companies will save money where they can, including squeezing unrepresented individuals on settlements.

In order to protect your interests adequately, you need to hire SteelHorse Law.

And when you’re dealing with an attorney to represent you with regard to a motorcycle accident you should always seek one who’s willing to evaluate your case initially for free and offer to represent you on a contingent basis.

At SteelHorse Law we do offer free initial consultations, including the ability to have your case evaluated through an online submission. And we offer some of the better contingency rates, that is legal fees that are calculated on a percentage of your recovery, out there. In other words, if you don’t have a recovery you do not have any attorneys’ fees (you may, however, still be responsible for some minor expenses).

And most importantly, as a unique benefit to our clients, SteelHorse Law provides representation in obtaining the maximum dollar possible to replace or repair your motorcycle in the event that it is damaged at no charge to you.

If you were to think about your bike and the high degree of craftsmanship that you would love to put into it if you could, you know that you would. You’d make sure you have the right pipes and gear to make sure that you have the best ride that you know is possible.

The same holds true for your lawyer.

Not only do you want a lawyer and law firm that is tough and capable, but you want one that has the unique knowledge base to understand motorcycles, their riders and what causes motorcycle accidents. Our motorcycle trial lawyers make sure the investigation behind the cause of our clients’ accident is full and complete. From obtaining the police reports, to obtaining proper photographs of the scene and injuries, we track down the witnesses and get the right statements, make sure that proper insurance is available and, get the medical records and medical billing as they become available.

SteelHorse Law has knowledge base to understand motorcycle values, including upgrades and enhancements, accessories and personal items that go into properly settling a property damage claim.

Most importantly, our motorcycle trial lawyers are battle tested veterans of the courtroom and have reputations that precede them. They have successful, proven jury trial records that position SteelHorse law to skillfully represent a motorcycle accident victim to a trial, if necessary. Not all lawyers will keep your case when push comes to shove and it goes to trial they may farm it out to another law firm.

And of course SteelHorse understands the core fundamentals of what’s really going on with you, your life and your family in the aftermath of an accident. We understand the tensions of having medical payments that are due, other bills that have to be paid while you may be missing work and have little income coming in. Our attorneys make sure to properly analyze the cost of all your medical treatments, including any future treatments that you may have, any lost wages and benefits that you may have had, lost earnings in the future and disability ratings. We’ll even make sure that pain and suffering is considered, and make sure that you’re as fully compensated for your injuries as possible.

Finally, because we understand you may not be able to get to us, we offer many alternative ways to get to you. You can either fill in the online form and we can call you, or we’ll be happy to make a house call.

With all of the benefits that a SteelHorse lawyer can add for your case, the question is why shouldn’t you hire us, especially if it’s not going to cost you anything.

Ultimately the person receiving the treatment is the person responsible for the payment of the medical bills and expenses. While this seems simple, the actual payment of medical bills is usually one of the trickiest matters that arises in a personal injury case because often the person receiving treatment is not the one who is liable and often feels they should not come out of pocket for the expenses.

If you have health insurance, whether provided by your employer, spouse’s employer or yourself, this will be the primary source you will want to look to to make sure your medical bills are paid. It should come as no surprise that large health insurance companies have negotiated policies with healthcare providers that allow the insurance companies deep discounts on what they will pay for medical services. Your health insurance company usually will seek to recover these monies paid on your behalf if you successfully settle your personal injury case. When they do, you can capitalize
on the discount they received in the first place and, by doing so, protect a significant portion of any cash settlement you may receive.

If you do not have health insurance, you will need to begin to pay these expenses yourself, or have the at-fault insurance company pay the expenses through various programs that exist. You will, however, want to have SteelHorse law on your side almost immediately to work closely with the insurance and medical providers to make sure they are paid and at a rate and agreement so that your credit will not be negatively impacted.

Scooters that are larger than 50cc’s are considered “motorcycles” by the State of Georgia and you are required to have a motorcycle license, registration, tag, and insurance. Scooters that are 50cc’s or less require a valid driver’s license to operate, but not a motorcycle license.  In fact scooters that are 50cc’s or less are not required to have insurance coverage, registration or a tag either.

That’s the quick answer. That’s not to say that not having a motorcycle license or insurance and riding on a scooter is a good idea.

Many 50cc four-stroke scooters can perform at speeds of 30 to 35 miles an hour, while 50cc two-stroke scooters can hit speeds of 35 to 45 miles an hour under ideal performance circumstances. At these speeds collisions with other vehicles are possible and the ramifications of an accident can be quite severe, including the extent of injuries which can be both painful and costly. The failure to have insurance coverage on a scooter 50cc or under, while legal, is not the smartest decision that the scooter operator will make.

Just as when riding a motorcycle, the inability to judge the operation of motor vehicles in surrounding traffic, the lack of knowledge of the skill, motivation or attention of other drivers opens up a scooter driver to significant variables beyond their control. Given unique aspects of riding a scooter, these factors can rapidly change their dynamic because many scooters operate with less noise than the average motorcycle, have a smaller body shape, silhouette and size and most of the traveling, motoring public do not appreciate the speed at which many scooters can now travel and will consistently misjudge the timing required to avoid a collision with a scooter - more so than with motorcycles.

In short, we recommend that any person operating a scooter, of any engine size, purchase insurance even if it is not required under Georgia law. Remember the purchase of insurance is not for the benefit of another party that you may strike, rather it is so that you may obtain adequate coverage to protect your family and assets against other parties. These products also are designed to protect you and your family against significant financial loss should you be involved in an accident with a person who is carrying less insurance than is necessary to pay for your basic losses, including medical bills, out-of-pocket payments, lost wages and other damages.

Click on your state to download a copy of the Dept of Motor Vehicles Manual.

Georgia

Tennessee