Some Recent Case Results
Motorcycle accidents often happen because other drivers on the road fail to pay attention to motorcycles. If you or a loved one was hit while driving a motorcycle, it is likely that the accident was not your fault. Victims of these kinds of crashes deserve help with their medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. That’s where a motorcycle accident lawyer comes in.
When you work with a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer, your attorney can fight to get you compensation for your injuries. The at-fault driver and their insurance companies may try to avoid liability or offer low-dollar settlements. An attorney can negotiate for higher damages and, if they refuse to pay, take your case to court.
For a free legal consultation on your motorcycle case, call Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers. Our Columbia, SC motorcycle accident lawyers can fight for you and work to get you the compensation you deserve. For a free case consultation, contact us at (803) 451-4000.
Typically, motorcycle accident victims can sue the driver who hit them. In many cases, drivers will try to shift blame to the motorcyclist. Ultimately, courts and insurance companies need to look closely at the facts of the case and decide who was in the wrong to determine whether or not the motorcyclist’s case will be successful.
Drivers are responsible for car crashes when they do something negligent behind the wheel. For drivers who hit motorcycle riders, that could mean failing to keep an eye out for other vehicles on the road – motorcycles included. It could also mean violating traffic laws. Many motorcycle accidents happen because drivers drive drunk, fail to signal before changing lanes, or text while driving.
Courts can find that the driver was mostly at fault, but that the motorcycle rider also did something wrong. Things like lane splitting or speeding are often problems that put motorcyclists partly at fault for their own crashes. As long as fault is divided 50/50 or the victim is less at fault than the other driver, they can still recover damages in a lawsuit. However, the at-fault driver will only pay their fair share of damages. It is important to work with a lawyer to help protect yourself in court and avoid accusations that you contributed to your own accident.
In single-bike crashes, the injured motorcycle rider might not have anyone they can sue. Instead, they might be able to file a claim with their motorcycle insurance. Injured motorcycle passengers may be able to sue the driver of their motorcycle, even in single-vehicle crashes.
Motorcycle accidents often cause severe injuries to riders. Riders do not have the same protection as car and truck drivers because they do not have the vehicle around them. However, this does not automatically mean that riding a motorcycle is their fault. Instead, drivers who cause these accidents are still responsible for the injuries they cause – even if they are more severe.
Injuries in motorcycle accidents commonly include back and neck injuries. Some of these injuries are severe enough to cause paralysis or long-term negative effects. Further, head injuries (with or without helmets) can also cause long-term disabilities. Broken bones, amputation, and other severe injuries are also common, alongside abrasions (road rash) and other cuts and scrapes.
If these injuries require medical treatment, doctor’s appointments, rehabilitation, and other care, these costs could be claimed as damages. In addition to these damages, you could also claim compensation for lost wages related to the injuries.
Injuries themselves can also justify compensation because of the pain and suffering. Any time you face an injury, you can face physical pain, emotional distress, discomfort, and mental anguish. Especially when injuries involve amputation or severe scarring, the effects on your life can be immense. This can justify claims for high-dollar compensation for pain and suffering.
After an accident, you may be too injured to collect any evidence. If that is the case, then call 911 and take an ambulance to the hospital. If you need treatment, that should be your first concern.
If you are able to stay at the scene of the accident, there is some information you will need to collect. This info can help insurance companies and your Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer determine who was at fault. It can also help you prove your case.
The most important information to collect is the name and contact info of the driver who hit you. Without this, you will not know whom to sue. You should also collect contact info for all drivers and witnesses as well as insurance info for all drivers involved.
Also, seek evidence about what vehicles were involved. Write down the make, model, color, and license plate number of each car involved.
Any details you can record about the accident scene will also be helpful. Take note of where there were skid marks, where lights and signs are located, and what the weather conditions were like. Also take note of the location by noting the street signs, mile markers, or addresses nearby.
If anyone had a dashcam or helmet cam, make sure to get a copy of that footage. Likewise, nearby storefronts or houses might have had security cameras that caught the accident on film. This can also be excellent evidence.
Lastly, take photos of the accident scene and vehicle damage as well as any injuries. This can show the judge and jury what the accident scene looked like at the time of the accident.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in the Columbia area, contact Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers right away. Our Columbia, SC motorcycle accident lawyers are prepared to fight for you. Call us at (803) 451-4000.
Get Your Free Consultation With Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers.
Our Caring Attorneys in Columbia, SC are here to help.
Get Your Free Consultation With Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers.
Our Caring Attorneys in Columbia, SC are here to help.
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