Myrtle Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Driving a motorcycle is not necessarily more or less “dangerous” than driving a car if you are following the rules of the road and driving as you are supposed to. However, other drivers on the road often neglect to look out for motorcyclists, causing accidents through inattention and even frustration with motorcycles. In these cases, you are the victim and often deserve substantial compensation.

Our lawyers know that motorcycle accident victims often face severe injuries as they have no car to protect them from impact. You could be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, any wages you lost because of the accident, and damages for pain and suffering, along with other economic and non-economic damages.

For a free review of your injury case, call the motorcycle accident lawyers at Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers today at (803) 451-4000.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in Myrtle Beach, SC

Motorcycle accidents are often caused by other drivers on the road and their negligent interactions with smaller motorcycles. In these cases, victims can often sue the person who hit them and get compensation for the injuries they suffered.

Inattention

If a driver was not keeping a proper lookout for motorcycles or other vehicles, they could easily cause a crash. Distractions like texting while driving or otherwise taking one’s eyes off the road can be enough to let miles of roadway pass by while the driver looks away. However, even when drivers are paying attention to the road generally, they might not look out for pedestrians, motorcycles, and other smaller vehicles – which are quite common in Myrtle Beach. Failing to do so could mean hitting a motorcyclist and causing a very serious accident.

Not Respecting Motorcycles

Motorcycle riders are supposed to have the same privileges as other drivers on the road. This means that drivers must give motorcyclists the full lane, must not tailgate them, must yield to them at signs and red lights, and must otherwise treat motorcycles like another car or truck on the road. When drivers disrespect motorcycles and their riders’ rights, our motorcycle accident lawyers can often help victims sue them, potentially even seeking additional damages for the driver’s recklessness.

Drunk Driving

Drunk driving is an unfortunately common cause of serious accidents of all kinds, whether they be between two cars or between a car and a motorcycle. When drivers are drunk, their reaction time is reduced, and they cannot make clear-headed decisions as easily. When DUI accidents happen, be sure to call the police so they can investigate the potential DUI and test the driver’s BAC. This will provide excellent evidence for your civil injury case, especially if the driver is ultimately charged with and convicted of DUI.

Tired Driving

Like with drunk driving, tired drivers cannot react as quickly to dangers and cannot think as clearly, making them a danger on the road. If you were hit by a tired driver or even a driver who fell asleep at the wheel, you could be seriously injured. Their inability to stop often means these crashes happen at higher speeds, causing more severe injuries.

Speeding

Speeding is a common factor in most crashes, if not the sole cause. Drivers who are going well over the speed limit might not be able to stop in time, and their accidents happen at higher speeds, causing more damage. These drivers might also come out of nowhere, causing you to actually be the one to hit them; however, the law looks at who was breaking the law, not who hit whom. As such, speeding drivers will often be held accountable for putting you in a dangerous situation in the first place.

Compensation Available for Injured Motorcycle Riders in Myrtle Beach

When you are hurt in a motorcycle accident, you might be able to claim compensation through your insurance. If you have additional policy add-ons like MedPay, then you could be entitled to some coverage without proving fault. This can cover some medical and other expenses, but it is not all you can claim.

In South Carolina, most damages are ultimately paid by the at-fault driver and/or their insurance company. In an insurance claim against that driver’s policy, you can potentially seek much higher damages for a broader range of harms that you suffered, such as medical bills, lost income, other expenses paid to cope with the injury, hospital transportation, childcare, mental and emotional distress, and more.

However, insurance companies are often reluctant to make any payments at all, let alone payments for the full value of your damages in a severe injury case. As such, our lawyers often have to take the defendant to court and file a civil lawsuit against them. Here, the judge and jury can examine your case and determine who was at fault, ordering them to pay you the full damages they owe you.

In most cases, settlement happens before the case ever goes to trial, shortening the overall time it takes to get you the money you need. However, there must often be a drawn-out period of negotiation, during which our attorneys can seek to get the insurance companies and defendants to agree to pay you what you deserve. Trial is often the last resort, but our attorneys are also prepared to take your case all the way to trial if needed to get you the payments you deserve.

In some cases, punitive damages are also available when the defendant’s actions went above and beyond mere negligence and involved serious wrongdoing that put you in danger. Even though these damages are issued to punish the defendant, they are still typically paid directly to you.

Call Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today

For a free review of your injury case, call (803) 451-4000 to speak with the motorcycle accident lawyers at Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers.

$6 Million

The Plaintiff was injured as a result of a failing component of a commercial motor vehicle that fell from the vehicle into the roadway. The Plaintiff brought claims against the owner and operator of the tractor trailer as well as the manufacturer of the vehicle.

$4.1 Million

The Plaintiff was insured as a result of a refrigeration system that malfunctioned, spraying ammonia gas into the Plaintiff's face. As a result of this event, the Plaintiff sustained significant vision loss. The Plaintiff brought claims against his employer and the manufacturer of this system.

$2 Million

The Plaintiff was injured while riding his motorcycle when he collided with another vehicle. This event occurred in the city of Columbia and the Plaintiff sustained significant bodily injury resulting in extensive medical expenses and permanent injury.

$1.8 Million

The Plaintiff was injured when he was rear-ended by a tractor trailer on Interstate 20. The Plaintiff brought claims against the owner and driver of the tractor trailer for his injuries relate to his lower back.

$1.5 Million

The Plaintiff sustained significant injury when she was attacked by a dog while performing repairs on a rental property. The Plaintiff was at the rental property as part of her employment with a rental management agency. She was attacked by the animal and sustained permanent nerve damage in her legs.

$1.3 Million

The Plaintiff was killed as a result of a collision with a logging truck that had been improperly loaded by a timber harvester. The proceeds of the settlement were funded by both the timber harvester and the owner of the logging truck.

$1.5 Million

The Plaintiff underwent surgery to her neck as a result of injuries sustained when she was struck on the head by a piece of loading equipment at her job. The Plaintiff was employed by a national retailer and was engaged in stocking shelves when the piece of equipment failed. After settling her workers' compensation claim, the Plaintiff brought a claim against the manufacturer of this equipment.

$1.1 Million

The Plaintiff brought a claim against a local medical facility for a false positive HIV reading. As a result of this false positive, the Plaintiff lived for 4½ years believing that she had the virus which leads to what she feared was an eventual AIDS diagnosis.