Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Columbia, SC
If you have been injured as a result of a motorcycle accident that either wasn’t your fault or was only partially your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for the financial burdens of your recovery. Let a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer at the Law Offices of S. Chris Davis fight for the compensation you deserve so that you can focus on rest and rehabilitation.
We offer our clients the aggressive legal representation they need to hold those who have hurt them responsible, but it is an aggressiveness balanced by our belief that each and every client deserves to be treated with compassion and respect.
Don’t wait to demand the money you need for your medical bills, lost income, property damage, and other losses. Reach out to the Law Offices of S. Chris Davis for a free initial case review with a knowledgeable Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer who is ready to help you recover financially, physically, and emotionally from the harm that you have suffered.
Common Causes and Types of Motorcycle Crashes
Our firm handles many different kinds of motorcycle crash cases. Some of the most common accident types that we represent include:
- Single-vehicle accidents, where the motorcycle crashes without the involvement of any other vehicle
- Intersection accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Side-impact collisions
- “Dooring” accidents, where a motorcyclist runs into or suffers a crash because the door of a street-parked vehicle is opened in their path
Many motorcycle accidents occur due to carelessness or errors committed by car, truck, or bus drivers. Some of the most frequent causes of motorcycle accidents in Columbia include:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Turning or changing lanes without first signaling or checking mirrors
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued or drowsy driving
- Passing a motorcycle in the same lane
- Driver inexperience
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Vehicle or auto part defects
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance
How Is Fault Determined for Motorcycle Accidents in Columbia, SC?
In many motorcycle accident cases, the parties involved contest who was at fault for causing the crash. To determine who should be held at fault for the accident, the parties will need to rely on evidence such as:
- Police accident reports and arrest/citation records
- Accident scene photos and video
- Witness testimony
- Surveillance or traffic camera footage
- Dashcam or helmet cam footage
- Vehicle electronic data recorder logs
- Post-accident vehicle inspections
- Expert accident reconstruction reports
- Medical records from the treatment of accident injuries
Do You Have Cause to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit?
You likely have cause to file a claim for financial recovery if you were involved in a motorcycle accident that was caused by another’s negligent, reckless, or intentionally dangerous behavior. Alternatively, you might have a claim if your motorcycle crashed because of a defect on the bike or one of its parts. A successful motorcycle accident claim will require you to prove that you sustained your injuries as a direct result of the accident and to document the amount of losses that you should be rightfully compensated for.
Potential Compensation in a Motorcycle Crash Case
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident that someone else caused, you could have the right to recover compensation for your related expenses and losses. At the Law Offices of S. Chris Davis, we will fight to make sure you obtain maximum financial recovery for:
- Medical and rehabilitation costs, as well as costs of long-term care for permanent disabilities that result from injuries
- Loss of wages/income and future earnings if you cannot work or need to move to a lower-paying position due to injuries or disabilities
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment and quality of life
Why Are Motorcycle Accidents Particularly Complicated?
Pursuing compensation following a motorcycle accident can prove more difficult than for the average car accident case for several reasons, including:
- Motorcycle riders suffer worse injuries – Serious injuries can lead to a more complicated legal situation because the injured motorcyclist will be seeking greater compensation for higher medical bills and lost wages, which may cause insurance companies – and at-fault parties – to negotiate more aggressively when trying to reach a settlement. More serious injuries also make it more likely that a rider will still be undergoing treatment or rehab when pursuing a settlement or litigation in their motorcycle accident claim. A claimant who expects to undergo future medical treatment will need to estimate those costs and factor them into a settlement or a claim. Calculating these losses isn’t easy because they are forward-looking.
- Drivers may have insufficient insurance coverage – Many drivers only carry the minimum amount of liability coverage required by state law. When these drivers hit motorcyclists, they may not be able to fully compensate the injured rider. This can complicate a motorcyclist’s efforts to obtain financial recovery since they may be forced to turn to their own insurance company for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
- Insurers fight liability by relying on stereotypes and biases – Drivers who cause motorcycle accidents and the companies that insure them may try to avoid liability by shifting the blame for the crash onto the rider. They often do so by relying on stereotypes of motorcycle riders as “outlaws” or reckless. This may require the injured motorcyclist to secure additional evidence to definitively show that they should not shoulder the blame for the crash.
Because pursuing compensation for motorcycle accident injuries is not a straightforward process, it will benefit you to work with a lawyer who has extensive experience handling cases that resemble yours.
Understanding South Carolina Motorcycle Laws
Important South Carolina laws governing motorcycle usage – that could impact the outcome of your case, depending upon the unique circumstances that factored into the cause(s) of your crash – include:
- Motorcycle riders under the age of 21 are required to wear helmets approved by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. Operators under the age of 21 must also wear face shields or goggles that have been approved by DPS.
- All motorcycle operators must have a Class M motorcycle license/endorsement or a motorcycle permit.
- Motorcycles must have fixed seats and footrests for all riders, as well as one or two front headlights, a rear stop light, a rear red reflector, and at least one side rearview mirror.
- Motorcycles are entitled to the full width of a road lane. No vehicle may occupy the same lane next to a motorcycle, though two motorcycles may ride abreast in the same lane.
- Lane splitting, or riding between lanes or rows of vehicle traffic, is prohibited.
