First steps at the scene
Call 911 and ask for an ambulance if you or a passenger is hurt. If you can move safely, get clear of traffic. In Atlanta, the Atlanta Police Department takes reports for crashes on city streets. On interstates in the city, the Georgia State Patrol handles weekday crashes from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and APD handles the rest (ATL311). Ask for the report number.
The other driver must stop, give a name, address and registration number, and show a license if asked (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270). If the driver leaves, our hit-and-run guide explains what to do next.
- Photograph the motorcycle, the other vehicle, the road surface and your gear from several angles.
- Take the names and contact details of witnesses.
- Keep your helmet, jacket and gloves as they are. Damage to your gear can show how and where you were hit.
- Do not repair the motorcycle until it has been photographed and inspected.
Why riders should get checked the same day
A rider has no seat belt or roof. In NHTSA’s 2023 data, the motorcyclist death rate per mile traveled was almost 28 times the rate for people in passenger cars. In Georgia, 196 motorcyclists died in 2023. Preliminary state data for 2024 count 177 deaths and 978 suspected serious injuries (Governor’s Office of Highway Safety).
Not every serious injury shows at the roadside. The CDC says some concussion symptoms appear at once and others take hours or days. Get emergency care for a headache that gets worse, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, a seizure or confusion. MedlinePlus lists belly pain and swelling, chest pain and changes in skin color as signs of internal bleeding. It adds that wounds to the chest, abdomen and neck may not look serious but can be.
Tell the clinician every place you hit: head, neck, chest, belly, hips, legs and hands. Keep the visit summary and the follow-up instructions. Our symptom timeline shows which signs can appear days later.
Georgia motorcycle laws that come up in a claim
After a crash, an insurer can ask whether you followed Georgia’s motorcycle rules. These rules apply to every ride in the state:
| Rule | What Georgia law says | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Helmet | Every rider and passenger must wear protective headgear that meets the standards set by the commissioner of public safety. | § 40-6-315(a) |
| Eye protection | Required unless the motorcycle has a windshield. | § 40-6-315(b) |
| Lane splitting | No riding between lanes of traffic or between rows of vehicles. | § 40-6-312(c) |
| Passing in a lane | A rider may not pass a vehicle in the lane that vehicle occupies. | § 40-6-312(b) |
| Full use of a lane | A motorcycle is entitled to a full lane. No driver may crowd a rider out of it. | § 40-6-312(a) |
| Lights | Headlight and taillight on at all times. | § 40-6-312(e) |
Georgia’s helmet law covers every rider, not only young ones. Of the Georgia motorcyclists killed in 2023 whose helmet use was known, 91% wore one (NHTSA). Keep your helmet after a crash, because it shows the impact.
Records that support a rider’s claim
Start one folder on the day of the crash and add to it as you go. A short, dated file is easier to use than a box of loose papers.
| Record | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Crash report number and agency | It lets you, your insurer and a lawyer order the same report. |
| Photos of the motorcycle and your gear | They show the impact before repairs or disposal. |
| Medical visit summaries and bills | They link each injury and cost to the crash. |
| Repair estimates and gear receipts | They show the cost of the motorcycle, helmet, jacket and other gear. |
| Notes on missed work | They show income lost while you recover. |
Insurance and the two-year deadline
Georgia is an at-fault state. The driver who caused the crash pays through liability insurance, and the legal minimum is $25,000 for each injured person. Serious injuries can cost more than that. If the driver had no insurance, too little, or drove off, your own uninsured motorist cover may pay.
In most cases you have two years from the crash to file an injury lawsuit. A crash with a city, county or State vehicle needs written notice much sooner. Our guide to Georgia’s injury time limits sets out each date.
Talk to someone about your motorcycle claim
Ask for help if you went to the hospital, if the driver blames you, or if your bills are close to the driver’s policy limit. An injury lawyer in Atlanta, GA can go through the report, the evidence and the fault questions with you.
The free crash review on our home page takes four short questions. It sends your answers to our partner law firm, and its team calls you back. Sending the form does not mean a case is accepted, and you are under no obligation to hire anyone.