Marlboro County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcycle accidents are among the worst types of accidents people can be involved in, especially on the rural roads of Marlboro County. If you were injured while riding, our lawyers can help by preparing your lawsuit.
By filing a lawsuit against the negligent person, you can get compensation for your economic losses and the pain and suffering their negligence caused. However, you will want to act fast as evidence and witnesses can become scant if too much time passes before filing your claim. To get the right start on your case, have the police investigate the crash immediately afterward, followed by getting medical treatment. Once you get the immediate help you need, our team can collect your records and investigate the scene further to get the information we need to win your claim.
Call our motorcycle accident lawyers at Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers today at (803) 451-4000 for a free review of your case.
What You Can Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Marlboro County, SC
Most riders in Marlboro County are prepared when they take the road, knowing that negligent drivers can strike at any moment. However, even the safest motorcyclist might overlook certain steps to protect their rights after a motorcycle accident. Knowing what to do beforehand will give you the best chance of recovering the most compensation for your injuries in the long run. Our motorcycle accident attorneys will build off the initial steps you take, ensuring that your case is decided on the facts and not negative misrepresentations of riders in general. Thus, we recommend following the steps below as much as possible and as your injuries allow:
Get Help
Of course, the first course of action is to call 911 following your accident. Before that, make sure you are not in immediate danger. If you are in the middle of the road or in a position that could cause a secondary crash, move to a safe location. However, if you are severely injured, it is best to wait for emergency medical services to move you from the scene.
When you call 911, the police will also be dispatched to investigate the accident. It is important to speak with the police when they arrive and provide as many details as you can recall so they can note it in the crash report. Stick to the facts, though. Avoid making statements that could be construed as accepting fault, such as apologizing for the accident or opining on what you were doing when the accident happened. Police accident reports are typically a crucial part of the motorcycle accident claims process, so insurance companies and defense attorneys will comb through them for information they can use against you.
In fact, S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-1210(A) requires drivers involved in an accident resulting in injury, death, or property to remain on the scene until police arrive. However, some drivers panic after hitting a motorcyclist and flee the scene. In this situation, give the police as many details about the other vehicle as possible. Our team can work with law enforcement to help identify the driver and argue for more time to file your claim if criminal charges are filed against them.
Gather Evidence
A motorcycle accident scene is typically cleared quickly to make the road safe, and eyewitnesses will not remain around long. Fortunately, there are a few ways to gather vital evidence while you are still on the scene that might not be available if not collected at the moment.
In today’s world, the best way to preserve evidence of a motorcycle crash is to take pictures and videos with your phone. Take photos of anything and everything that seems relevant to your accident. You can start by getting pictures of the vehicles, showing where they came to rest after the collision and the damage done. Pictures will also give an immediate sense of the severity of the impact. Be sure to photograph the scene, noting any nearby intersections, stop signs, or traffic lights. This can also help you recall the time of day the accident happened and the weather. Also, photograph your injuries so the full scope of the damage is documented early on before they heal.
You might also get evidence from the negligent driver who hit you. If the other driver apologized or made statements about not seeing you before the crash, be sure to note it and relay it to the police so it can be recorded in your accident report. In most cases, though, drivers will probably provide no more information than required. Still, you are entitled to know their identifying information, including name, address, and insurance information. Even just that information will be enough to file a claim later.
Lastly, try to speak to any eyewitness who remained on the scene for additional evidence. This does not need to be a detailed investigation with the witness. Simply ask whether they saw the crash and if you can have their contact information. We can follow up with them after filing your claim so their statements can be taken under oath.
Continue Getting Medical Care
As mentioned, you will likely receive initial care from paramedics and EMS while still on the scene. This is always recommended, as injury victims are rarely good at evaluating their own injuries. The anxiety and adrenaline caused by an accident can significantly mask underlying injuries. Hence, getting care on the scene is the best way to get an objective opinion regarding your condition.
However, you must continue your medical treatment to recover compensation in a lawsuit. This means going to the emergency room directly from the scene. The doctors can examine you much more thoroughly at the hospital and note the cause of your injuries in your medical records. Importantly, your examining physician will instruct you on how to continue treating your injuries after discharge. You will want to follow these instructions to the letter so the other side cannot claim you are not seriously injured.
Contact a Lawyer
Contacting our attorneys as soon as possible is arguably the most critical step you can take to protect your rights. Even if you have trouble collecting evidence or getting the proper medical attention, our team can help you get set up with the care you need. We will gather records and investigate the accident further while you recover.
Starting your case quickly will also help avoid the deadline to file your claim, commonly known as the “statute of limitations.” § 15-3-530(5) only provides victims three years from the date of the accident to file their lawsuits. Once your claim is filed, though, we can take our time completing the case.
Our Marlboro County, SC Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Help
For a free case evaluation with our motorcycle accident attorneys, call Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers at (803) 451-4000.
