They Always Blame the Motorcycle First.
By Landon Crider, Esq. · The Investigator · Gunn Law Group · Last Updated: June 2026
When everyone blames the motorcycle first, we investigate the facts and fight back.
The Automatic Assumption
“The motorcycle was speeding.”
A car turns left in front of you on Peachtree Street. You can’t stop in time. You crash.
The police report says: “Motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed.”
The insurance company says: “Motorcycles are hard to see. The driver wasn’t at fault.”
Everyone assumes: “The biker was probably doing something reckless.”
This is the reality for every motorcycle accident in Georgia. No matter what the car driver did wrong — ran a red light, failed to yield, turned left without looking — the first assumption is always that the motorcycle rider was at fault
Here’s what they don’t want you to know: Most motorcycle accidents are caused by car drivers who violate traffic laws. They fail to yield the right of way, they don’t check blind spots, they follow too closely, and they make unsafe lane changes. But because motorcycles have a “dangerous” reputation, riders get blamed for crashes they didn’t cause.
Here’s what they really don’t want you to know: Insurance companies pay more when motorcycle riders have attorneys who understand how to investigate crashes, challenge assumptions, and prove what really happened.
At Gunn Law Group, we don’t accept the automatic blame game. When a car driver causes a motorcycle crash, we prove it with evidence, accident reconstruction, and thorough investigation.
When everyone blames the motorcycle first, we investigate the facts and fight back.
Your 3-Step Fight Against Anti-Motorcycle Bias
You’re not just fighting for compensation — you’re fighting bias.
When you’re injured in a motorcycle accident, the bias starts the moment the crash happens. Here’s how we beat it.
Challenge the Initial Blame
The Bias
Police, witnesses, and insurance companies automatically assume motorcycle riders are reckless, speeding, or “asking for trouble.” This bias gets baked into police reports and insurance files from day one.
Our Investigation
We don’t accept initial assumptions. We analyze skid marks, impact patterns, vehicle damage, and witness statements to determine what really happened — not what people think happened because a motorcycle was involved.
Challenge the Initial Blame
The Bias
Car drivers who cause motorcycle accidents often claim they “never saw” the motorcycle, as if that’s a legal excuse for not looking where they’re driving.
Our Strategy
“I didn’t see the motorcycle” isn’t a defense — it’s an admission of negligence. We prove that reasonable drivers check their mirrors, look for motorcycles, and yield the right of way. When they don’t, they’re liable.
Fight for Full Compensation Despite the Bias
The Bias
Insurance adjusters and juries often reduce compensation for motorcycle riders based on assumptions about “assumed risk” or the idea that riders “know motorcycling is dangerous.”
Our Approach
We educate adjusters and juries about motorcycle safety, rider training, and the legal rights of motorcyclists. When car drivers violate traffic laws and hurt motorcyclists, they pay the same as if they hurt anyone else.
The Reptile Reality
Motorcycle safety rules protect everyone.
All drivers — in cars and on motorcycles — must follow a basic safety rule: share the road safely and look out for all other vehicles, including motorcycles.
When car drivers violate this rule by failing to check for motorcycles, not yielding right of way, or following too closely, they don’t just endanger motorcyclists — they endanger everyone on the road. That’s why Georgia law gives motorcyclists the same rights and protections as any other driver.
The road-sharing safety rule
All drivers must actively look for motorcycles, yield the right of way when required, maintain safe following distances, and check blind spots before changing lanes — because motorcycles have the same right to the road as cars.
When car drivers break this rule, here’s what’s at stake:
Any motorcyclist could be next.
They’ll keep driving carelessly if there are no consequences.
“I didn’t see the motorcycle” excuse becomes acceptable.
That’s why your motorcycle accident case matters to all riders.
When you hold a negligent car driver accountable for hitting a motorcycle, you’re not just seeking compensation — you’re making Georgia roads safer for every rider.
The Truth About Motorcycle Accidents in Georgia
Georgia Motorcycle Accident Statistics (2023–2024).
5,289
Motorcycle crashes (GA)
98
Rider fatalities
4,487
Riders injured
82%
Fatal crashes involved another vehicle
76% of multi-vehicle crashes were caused by the other driver, not the motorcyclist.
Most Common Causes of Car-vs-Motorcycle Crashes
42%
Car turning left in front of motorcycle
28%
Car turning left in front of motorcycle
18%
Car rear-ending motorcycle at intersection
12%
Car pulling out from side street or driveway
The data is clear: most motorcycle accidents are caused by car drivers who fail to see motorcycles or yield the right of way. But insurance companies and juries often ignore this data because of anti-motorcycle bias.
Source: Georgia Department of Transportation, NHTSA
Common Types of Georgia Motorcycle Accidents We Handle
Understanding the crash helps us prove liability.
Understanding the specific dynamics of motorcycle crashes helps us prove liability and challenge assumptions.
Left-Turn Accidents (Most Common)
What happens
Car driver turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle at an intersection
What happens
Driver looks for cars but doesn’t specifically look for motorcycles.
The bias
“Motorcycle was speeding” or “motorcycle came out of nowhere.”
The truth
Car driver failed to yield right of way to oncoming traffic.
Lane Change Accidents
What happens
Car driver changes lanes or merges into a motorcycle’s path.
What happens
Driver doesn’t check blind spots or mirrors properly for motorcycles.
The bias
“Motorcycles shouldn’t ride in blind spots.”
The truth
Motorcycles have the right to use any legal lane position.
Intersection Crashes
What happens
Car runs red light or stop sign and hits motorcycle with right of way.
What happens
Driver assumes they can “beat” the light or doesn’t see motorcycle.
The bias
“Motorcycle was going too fast.”
The truth
Car driver violated traffic signal and hit motorcycle with right of way.
Rear-End Accidents
What happens
Car follows motorcycle too closely and rear-ends it when traffic slows.
What happens
Driver doesn’t maintain safe following distance from motorcycle.
The bias
“Motorcycle stopped too quickly.”
The truth
Following car failed to maintain adequate following distance.
Hit-and-Run Crashes
What happens
Car driver hits motorcycle and flees the scene.
What happens
Driver panics or doesn’t want to face consequences.
The bias
Special challenge — the at-fault driver isn’t there to take responsibility.
The truth
Finding the at-fault driver through investigation and witnesses is critical.
Free Legal Resource
Georgia Motorcycle Rider’s Legal Guide
When you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, the legal and insurance battles begin immediately. You need to understand your rights from minute one.
Available immediately
Our Comprehensive Rider’s Guide Covers
How to protect yourself from automatic blame at the accident scene
What evidence to preserve to prove the car driver’s fault
How Georgia’s motorcycle laws protect your rights
Understanding insurance company tactics against motorcycle riders
The truth about “contributory negligence” and motorcycle accidents
How to find medical providers who understand motorcycle injuries
What to expect from the legal process as a motorcycle accident victim
Georgia Motorcycle Laws
Your rights on the road.
Georgia law gives motorcycles the same rights as other vehicles, but also includes specific protections.
What to expect from the legal process as a motorcycle accident victim
Cars cannot share a lane with a motorcycle without the rider’s consent.
Motorcycles can ride two abreast in a single lane if both riders consent.
Cars must maintain the same following distance from motorcycles as they would from other cars.
“I couldn’t stop in time” is not a legal defense for rear-ending a motorcycle.
Motorcycles must use turn signals and follow the same traffic rules as cars.
Car drivers have an enhanced duty to look for motorcycles because of their smaller size.
All motorcycle riders and passengers must wear DOT-approved helmets.
Helmet law violations don’t automatically make riders at fault for accidents.
“They weren’t wearing a helmet” is not a defense for causing the crash.
Types of Compensation
Comprehensive compensation under Georgia law.
Motorcycle accidents often cause severe injuries due to the lack of protection. Georgia law provides comprehensive compensation.
Economic Damages
No caps
Medical expenses: Emergency surgery, trauma care, rehabilitation, prosthetics.
Lost wages: Often extensive due to severity of motorcycle crash injuries.
Lost earning capacity: Permanent disabilities affecting ability to work.
Property damage: Motorcycle repair/replacement, riding gear, personal items.
Future medical costs: Ongoing care, physical therapy, psychological counseling.
Non-Economic Damages
The human cost
Pain and suffering: Physical trauma from catastrophic injuries.
Mental anguish: PTSD, anxiety about riding or driving again.
Loss of enjoyment of life: Unable to ride or participate in activities.
Permanent disability: Amputation, brain injury, spinal cord injury.
Disfigurement: Road rash scarring, facial injuries.
Punitive Damages
O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1
Available when the car driver’s conduct was willful, wanton, or showed conscious indifference:
Drunk driving that causes motorcycle crashes
Road rage against motorcycles
Texting while driving and hitting motorcycle
Racing that endangers motorcycles
Overcoming Anti-Motorcycle Bias in Your Case
The biggest challenge isn’t the law — it’s prejudice.
Here’s how we fight bias at every stage of your case.
The bias
Police assume motorcycle riders are reckless.
Our approach
We conduct independent accident reconstruction, interview witnesses separately, and analyze physical evidence that doesn’t lie.
The bias
Adjusters routinely lowball motorcycle accident claims.
Our approach
We present comprehensive evidence packages that force fair evaluation based on facts, not assumptions.
The bias
“Motorcycles assume the risk” mentality reduces settlement offers.
Our approach
We educate adjusters about motorcycle rights and the legal principle that motorcycles have equal rights to road use.
Why Choose Landon Crider for Your Motorcycle Accident Case
The Investigator. The fight your case deserves.
FAQ
Georgia Motorcycle Accident Cases
Police reports are not conclusive evidence of fault. We can challenge police conclusions with independent investigation, accident reconstruction, and expert analysis of physical evidence.
Georgia requires DOT-approved helmets for all riders. Not wearing a helmet can reduce your damages under Georgia’s comparative fault rule, but it doesn’t prevent you from recovering compensation if the other driver caused the crash.
“I didn’t see the motorcycle” is an admission of negligence, not a defense. Drivers have a duty to look for all vehicles, including motorcycles, before turning, changing lanes, or entering traffic.
Possibly. Georgia follows comparative fault rules — you can recover as long as you’re less than 50% at fault. Even if you were speeding, the other driver may still be primarily responsible for failing to yield or violating traffic laws.
Two years under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. But evidence disappears quickly in motorcycle cases, and witness memories fade. Contact an attorney immediately to preserve evidence and protect your rights.
Your own insurance company can sometimes create problems with motorcycle claims. We handle disputes with your own insurer as well as claims against the at-fault driver’s insurance.
They can be, which is why you need an attorney who knows how to fight that bias with evidence and legal arguments. Proper representation often dramatically increases settlement value.
Free Motorcycle Accident Case Evaluation
When everyone blames the motorcycle first, you need someone who investigates the facts and fights back.
Free case evaluation
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No fees unless we win
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Statewide Georgia representation
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Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Motorcycle accident cases depend on specific facts and circumstances. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Attorney fees are contingent upon successful recovery.
