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Injured In A Motorcycle Accident In South Carolina?
Riding a motorcycle is a popular pastime and a way to get from A to B, but it’s not without its dangers. When drivers don’t keep an eye out for motorcyclists or fail to share the road safely, catastrophic injuries can occur.
You may be entitled to compensation if you’re injured in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence. But determining and proving liability requires a thorough investigation by an experienced Greenville motorcycle accident lawyer.
We’re the local personal injury lawyers Greenville residents trust.
Contact our South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyers today for a free, no-obligation case review and see if you have a claim.
Why South Carolina Motorcycle Accidents Are Dangerous
Many people who live in Greenville, South Carolina, and the surrounding areas choose to ride motorcycles as a fun and fuel-efficient way to travel. But while motorcycles are a great alternative to commuting in a car or truck, they also make you more vulnerable to the elements and susceptible to severe motorcycle accident injuries.
These can range from brain and spinal cord injuries to severe burns from road rash caused by being thrown from a motorcycle and skidding across the road.
Motorcycle accident injuries are particularly severe because motorcyclists lack the protection a car or truck provides during a collision. Without added safety features like seat belts, airbags, or even an enclosed structure that can absorb or soften the blow of an impact, riders are much more likely to sustain traumatic, life-altering injuries in an accident.
Such injuries also have a huge financial impact. You may need extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation and be out of work for several months, years, or longer. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Greenville, SC, can help you recover your past and future expenses and fight for compensation for the long-term impact of your injuries on your life.
How To Prevent South Carolina Motorcycle Accidents
The best way to avoid potentially significant injury in a motorcycle accident is to prevent the accident from happening in the first place.
Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to reduce the risk of a crash or — at the very least — minimize the impact if you are in one.
Wear Your Helmet
Although wearing safety gear won’t prevent a motorcycle accident, a helmet can significantly reduce your likelihood of sustaining life-altering injuries. In South Carolina, you aren’t legally required to wear a helmet if you’re over 21, but it’s strongly encouraged. A helmet helps protect you from traumatic brain injuries that can cause permanent impairment.
Wearing thick clothing can protect your body from friction burns from contact with the pavement. While burns may not be immediately life-threatening, they can cause painful open wounds that can become infected.
Slow Down
Even if you’re within legal limits, riding fast reduces the time you have to react to hazards, such as debris or other vehicles. An accident can happen anytime, but an extra second could be the difference between safely maneuvering around a hazard or having to brake suddenly and flying off your bike.
Stay On Top Of Bike Maintenance
While other motorists pose a major risk to motorcyclists, driver error isn’t the only cause of motorcycle accidents. Brake failures, engine issues, worn tires, and other auto defects can cause a motorcycle crash anytime. While issues can go undetected even with regular maintenance, many faults can be identified and fixed before they can contribute to a collision.
Be Mindful Of Other Drivers
Motorcycles are much smaller than other vehicles, such as cars and trucks, and they can easily get stuck in a driver’s blind spot. When on the road, be mindful of where you are compared to other vehicles and avoid staying too close to larger vehicles and cutting between traffic.
Unfortunately, you can’t control other drivers, and sometimes, even being the best motorist on the road isn’t enough to avoid a crash. If a careless or reckless driver has injured you, you might be entitled to file a personal injury claim. Our Greenville motorcycle accident attorneys can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
What Can A Greenville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Do For You?
To receive compensation after a motorcycle accident In South Carolina, you need to determine who was responsible. Liability can be complex, and multiple parties could be responsible, from a driver to a parts manufacturer or another third party.
Our South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyers can help you figure out who’s responsible for your crash and gather the critical evidence to prove it. We can also handle all communication and negotiations with tedious insurance adjusters who aim to get away with paying you as little as possible.
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses that are more concerned with making money than your health and well-being. The insurance company you’re looking to pursue a claim with may try to hold you partly responsible for your motorcycle accident, even if you were not at fault. They may also make an unfair settlement offer, hoping you’ll settle early for a quick buck — even when it’s not enough to cover your medical expenses or damages.
Motorcycle accidents can be costly, so accepting a low settlement offer is rarely wise. Your injuries may get worse, or you might not be able to work for months or years, and the cost quickly adds up. To ensure you get the compensation you deserve, hiring an experienced personal injury attorney is vital. Your local Greenville, South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyer will calculate what your claim is really worth and gather evidence that proving you weren’t at fault.
Calculating the costs of damages after your motorcycle accident can be tricky because you’re not just dealing with the tangible costs of medical treatment and taking time off work. A motorcycle crash can lead to emotional and mental distress (pain and suffering) that can take years to heal from. Just as you deserve compensation for damages to your motorcycle, lost wages, and medical expenses, you also deserve compensation for the long-term impact of your injuries.
Don't Wait To Contact A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
In South Carolina, there’s a limit on how long you have to file your motorcycle accident claim. The statute of limitations dictates that you only have three years to file your accident claim.
Three years might seem like a long time, but it flies by fast, and you shouldn’t wait to start the process. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to gather evidence of the other party’s fault and the more likely you’ll miss the deadline for recovering the compensation you’re legally entitled to.
Be Careful What You Say After A Motorcycle Accident
After a motorcycle accident, the other party will often try to blame you for the crash, even if you weren’t remotely responsible. The insurance company will try to support this argument by using your statements against you. Unfortunately, if you’re found partly liable for your accident, it will impact how much compensation you can recover — or if you can claim at all. That’s why it’s crucial to watch what you say after your crash and not apologize for being in it. A motorcycle accident lawyer can handle communications with all relevant parties for you, so you don’t jeopardize your claim.
Do You Need A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer In Greenville, South Carolina?
Contact our personal injury lawyers in Greenville, SC, today for your free case review and get started on your car accident claim.
If you’re dealing with a driver or insurance company that wants to pin the blame on you and refuses to accept responsibility, don’t hesitate to seek legal help from a Greenville, South Carolina, motorcycle accident lawyer. Our motorcycle accident attorneys will help you collect the evidence you need to support your case and fight to recover the maximum possible compensation.
If you are considering filing a lawsuit for a motorcycle accident or have questions about your rights, call (864) 233-8888 or click here to request a free consultation from your local motorcycle accident lawyers.
Frequently Asked Questions Our South Carolina Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Receive
Our experienced South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyers can get you the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses and pay for the damages sustained to you or your property during your motorcycle accident. A motorcycle accident attorney can walk you step by step through the process of pursuing a claim. While you focus on recovery and healing, we’ll review your case, add up the total cost of your damages and expenses, and fight back if the at-fault party tries to blame you for your accident. If you’re unsure if we’re a good fit for you and your needs, contact one of our professional South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyers for a free case evaluation.
Unfortunately for motorcyclists, the parties responsible for an accident often try to oppose a motorcycle accident claim. But you don’t have to fight them or their insurance companies alone. Get an experienced motorcycle accident attorney from The Clardy Law Firm on your side. Our motorcycle accident lawyers have the experience you need to get the compensation you deserve.
Motorcycle accidents aren’t just caused by driver error. Motorcycles are particularly vulnerable to hazards from poorly maintained roads, such as uneven pavements or potholes. If a road hazard is to blame for your motorcycle crash, you may be able to hold a government road agency responsible.
In other cases, an auto defect may be to blame. If one of the vehicles involved in your crash suffered a blown tire or brake failure and this contributed to the accident, you may be able to recover compensation from the manufacturer.
Shortly after your motorcycle accident, you’ll likely get a call from an insurance adjuster appointed by the other party’s insurance company. They will come across as empathetic and concerned about your injuries, but it’s crucial to remember who they’re working for.
Anything you say to the insurance adjuster may be used against you to reduce the other party’s liability and, therefore, how much your claim is worth. In some cases, it can impact whether you can recover compensation at all.
Fortunately, you’re under no obligation to speak to an adjuster. One of the many benefits of hiring a South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyer is that they will handle all communication with insurance companies for you. If you intend to hire a lawyer but haven’t sought counsel before an adjuster gets in touch, you must state politely but firmly that you are appointing an attorney and all communication should go through them.
If you decide to speak to an adjuster, stick to the facts, such as when and where the accident happened. Avoid talking about the extent of your injuries, as an adjuster may rely on these statements to reduce how much they should pay you, even if your injuries later get worse.
Not all motorcycle accidents are purely another person or party’s fault, so where do you stand in terms of recovering compensation if you contributed to the crash?
Every state has negligence laws that determine whether or not you can claim if you’re partly responsible for an accident. Some states bar you from recovering compensation if you’re just 1% liable. Fortunately, South Carolina isn’t one of them.
South Carolina has moderate comparative negligence laws. In essence, this means you can still recover compensation as long as you are less than 51% responsible for your accident. Your level of fault will reduce the compensation you deserve.
For example, if another motorist is intoxicated and suddenly swerves and hits you, but you were following too closely, you may be partly liable. However, the other driver’s fault far exceeds your own, allowing you to claim compensation. If your level of fault is 20% and you suffer $100,000 in damages, you will receive the difference (80%).
If you’re at fault for your motorcycle accident, speaking to a personal injury lawyer is vital. You may still be able to claim, and our South Carolina motorcycle accident attorneys can fight to recover a fair payout.
What you do immediately after your motorcycle accident can hugely impact your claim’s success. The first step you should always take is to seek medical attention — even if you initially feel fine. Your health should always be the priority, and a check-up can diagnose and treat any hidden injuries. Seeing a doctor also allows you to document your injuries, providing vital proof for your motorcycle accident claim. Keep all bills and receipts to make sure you recover the full cost of your medical treatment. You should also stay away from social media. While it can be tempting to let your friends and loved ones know you’re okay, know that the insurance adjuster appointed to your case will be checking up on you. Even an innocent statement saying you’re okay can be twisted and used against you, so it’s wise to avoid talking about your accident until your claim is settled. If social media is your primary or only way of communicating with loved ones, consider sending multiple private messages instead of making a blanket statement anyone can see. Of course, you should also seek advice from a motorcycle accident attorney. Our Greenville motorcycle accident lawyers can determine if you have a claim and explore all avenues of recovering compensation. |
Motorcycle Accident Blog:
- Injuries Caused By Motorcycle Accidents
- 5 Things to Do Straight after a Motorcycle Crash
- Motorcyclist Safety: Sharing the Road
- Reasons to Consider Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
- Motorcycle Safety Tips From A Pickens Motorcycle Lawyer
- South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyer will make your case stronger
- Why You Should Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney
- How To Prevent Motorcycle Accidents
- Who’s At Fault In A Motorcycle & Pedestrian Accident?
- Lost Control Of Motorcycle? Here’s What To Do
What Our Clients Have To Say About Our South Carolina Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
