Leading Causes Of Motorcycle Accidents
According to South Carolina’s laws of comparative negligence, most traffic collisions do not involve one driver being entirely at fault for the accident while the other driver could have done nothing to prevent it. In accidents that involve a car colliding with a motorcycle, the motorcycle rider usually gets much more serious injuries than any of the occupants of the car, regardless of how the insurance companies apportion the fault for the accident. You could end up with tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills, or even more, after a motorcycle accident. If the insurance companies determine that you were partially at fault for the accident, you still have the right to get the car owner or his or her insurance company to pay for a portion of your accident-related medical bills, whether or not you file a personal injury lawsuit. A Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer can help you get some or all of your accident-related medical bills covered through an insurance claim or lawsuit, even if the insurance companies determined that you were engaging in risky behavior at the time of the accident.
Excessive Speed
The driving behaviors that increase the risk of a collision in a car also increase your risk of causing a collision on a motorcycle. Speeding is the leading cause of motorcycle accidents. This is true of single-vehicle crashes, as well as of collisions between a motorcycle and a car, regardless of which driver was speeding.
Alcohol and Drugs
Alcohol and drugs play a role in a disproportionate number of traffic collisions. The Christmas holidays are peak season for DUI accidents. If a drunk driver crashed into your motorcycle, then you still have the right to seek damages in a motorcycle accident lawsuit, even if the drunk driver did not face criminal charges or was arrested after the collision but was not convicted in criminal court. The standards of evidence to convict a defendant in a criminal case are much higher than those for ordering a defendant in a civil lawsuit to pay damages to an injured plaintiff.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is as dangerous for motorcyclists as it is for drivers operating any other kind of motor vehicle. While it takes a certain amount of hubris to take a selfie or send a text message while riding a motorcycle in traffic, attempting to converse with other motorcyclists while driving is just as distracting and just as dangerous.
What Motorcyclists Can Do to Reduce the Risk of Collisions and Serious Injury
You cannot control the behavior of other drivers, but you can be cautious when riding a motorcycle. Although South Carolina law allows most motorcyclists to ride without a helmet, you should always wear one. You should also avoid riding your motorcycle in rain or snow.
Let Us Help You Today
The personal injury lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you if you or a family member suffered a serious injury as the result of a motorcycle accident. Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.
Source:
lawyer-monthly.com/2022/03/how-dangerous-is-riding-a-motorcycle/
