843-636-TREY
No matter how safe you are when you get on your motorcycle, or how much training you have had, there is little that you can do to control the actions of other drivers. When one of them has injured you through their carelessness, you can make them and their insurance company pay.
Before you can reach the point of a check being deposited into your account, you need to hire an attorney who will fight for you at every step of the way. Trey Harrell Auto Accident and Personal Injury Lawyer is the fighter who you need in a motorcycle accident case.
How Our Charleston Motorcycle Accident Attorney Trey Harrell Can Help You
After you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle crash, one of the first things that you want is answers. You want to know how you can hold the person responsible for the crash accountable and how you may get financial compensation. We will compassionately listen and explain your case and what you may be able to do going forward. We are an integral part of the Charleston community, and we have established ourselves by successfully helping injured clients like you. Allow us to explain what we can do for you when you have been injured by someone else’s carelessness.
Causes of South Carolina Motorcycle Accidents
Drivers do not always know how to safely share the road with motorcyclists. In many cases, they may simply not care. These days, motorists are being far more reckless and selfish behind the wheel, and motorcyclists often suffer as a result.
Some causes of motorcycle accidents in South Carolina include:
- Distracted driving
- Illegal turns, where the driver cuts in front of the motorcyclist
- Reckless driving
- Failure to check blindspots before changing lanes
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
No matter the cause of the accident, your obligation remains the same. You need evidence to show what happened during the accident. You do not need to worry about building your case on your own. We can do that for you once you hire us for your case.
Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
No amount of safety gear can fully protect you from the fact that you will suffer direct impact with a car and be thrown to the ground during the course of a motorcycle accident. A large majority of motorcyclists will suffer some type of injury in a crash. Few will walk away unscathed.
Common motorcycle accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Road rash
- Neck and back muscle injuries
- Fractures and broken bones
- Lacerations and contusions
- Burns
- Internal injuries
Your period of rehabilitation after a motorcycle accident injury can be lengthy, and you may never even recover the full function that you had before the accident.
Defendants in a Motorcycle Accident Case
The most likely defendant in a motorcycle accident case is the driver who was involved in the crash with you. In order to win your motorcycle accident case, you would need to prove that the driver was negligent. In any personal injury case, showing negligence means that you have proven the following elements:
- The driver owed you a duty of care
- They failed to uphold their duty of care by doing something that is unreasonable under the circumstances
- You suffered an injury
- You would not have been injured had it not been for the actions of the other party
There may be other defendants responsible for your accident, including:
- A driver who cut in front of you, causing you to fall from your bike
- The manufacturer of a defective motorcycle, or part, that malfunctioned and caused your accident
- The government, who was responsible for maintaining the road, and failed to maintain it in a reasonable condition
Your attorney would investigate the cause of your accident and learn all possible defendants who may be held responsible for your accident injuries.
Motorcycle Accident Damages
Your settlement check in a motorcycle accident would depend on the extent of your injuries. Since motorcycle accident injuries tend to be more serious, on average, than in other motor vehicle accidents, it follows that the average motorcycle settlement may tend to be larger. However, you must focus on your own case as the benchmark for your recovery, as opposed to an average figure about which you may know.
Your motorcycle accident money would pay you for your financial losses and for the post-accident ordeal that has overtaken your life. The elements of your damages would include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional distress
Before you can even file a claim, you must understand the value of your case and be able to support the amount of money that you are seeking. It is vital to have an experienced injury attorney in Charleston perform this task for you because they are in the best position for this.
Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident in Charleston
You must simultaneously tend to your health and deal with the legal process after you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident. You should:
- Seek medical help from a doctor and follow up on all the prescribed treatment
- Retain any evidence that you have that could prove liability in the accident or can support your damages
- Contact an experienced attorney who can represent you during the legal process as you seek financial compensation
- Be careful about what you say to whom about the accident and refrain from speaking about it, especially to the insurance company
You can be confident that you will get the help you need when you contact and hire an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to represent you.
Contact a Charleston Motorcycle Accident Attorney
You will need a strong and aggressive attorney to help you after your motorcycle accident. Trey Harrell Auto Accident and Personal Injury Lawyer goes to bat on behalf of clients, taking the fight to the insurance company when you need us in your corner. We take no prisoners and we do not take no for an answer.
You can speak with us during a free initial consultation, where we will review the details of your case and discuss your legal options. Call us today at 843-636-8739 or message us online to begin the legal process.
FAQs About Motorcycle Accidents
When should you hire a motorcycle accident lawyer?
You should hire a motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. The insurance company may try to compromise your legal rights if you are not protected. If you cannot make the call yourself, you should have someone do it for you.
Will my lawsuit go to trial?
It is actually very rare for a motorcycle accident case to actually go to trial. Most cases will settle before they reach a jury, regardless of whether you have filed an insurance claim or a lawsuit. Nevertheless, you need an attorney with trial experience in case your lawsuit does go to trial.
Does South Carolina have a helmet law?
South Carolina does not have a mandatory helmet law for riders over the age of 21. Still, insurance companies will try to blame you for the accident if you were not wearing a helmet.
