Myrtle Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
While motorcycle riders have the same rights as other motorists, other drivers don’t always respect those rights. Unfortunately, this often results in a failure to use the proper degree of caution around motorcycle riders, which can have devastating consequences, especially for the motorcyclist. If you or a family member were injured in a motorcycle accident because of someone else’s negligence, you could be eligible to pursue legal action against the responsible party. To learn more about your legal options, consider reaching out to an experienced Myrtle Beach motorcycle accident lawyer today.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Most motorcycle accidents are the result of driver error, such as:
- Speeding;
- Tailgating;
- Failing to yield the right-of-way;
- Ignoring traffic lights and signs;
- Falling asleep at the wheel;
- Distracted driving; and
- Failing to signal when changing lanes.
While this type of negligence is always dangerous when driving, it can have particularly serious consequences for motorcycle riders who don’t have the benefit of airbags, seat belts, and thousands of pounds of metal between themselves and the road. For these reasons, sustaining an injury in a motorcycle accident is much more likely. In fact, researchers estimate that as many as 80 percent of motorcycle accidents result in injury.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
There are a lot of different kinds of injuries that a motorcyclist can suffer if involved in a collision. However, some of the most common include:
- Head and neck injuries;
- Injuries to the legs, ankles, and feet;
- Fractures to the face, collar bones, ribs, and pelvis;
- Chest injuries, such as pulmonary contusions, punctured lungs, and cardiac trauma; and
- Road rash.
Diagnosing and treating these injuries can be expensive. Furthermore, many injured motorcycle riders suffer from permanent disability and may require treatment and assistance for years to come. Fortunately, it is possible for accident victims to recover reimbursement for these losses from the at-fault party who caused their crash.
Legal Options for Recovery
Like with any type of vehicle-related accident, the victim of a motorcycle crash can file a claim with the insurance company of the person or entity responsible for the collision. Unfortunately, as we mentioned previously, the injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents are often more severe than those suffered in collisions between two similarly-sized vehicles. This means that the policies of most people will quickly be exceeded, especially if the motorcyclist didn’t contribute to the accident in any way.
In these cases, the injured party may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party in court, seeking the remainder of his or her losses via a damages award. It’s important to note, however, that there are time limits for taking this step. In South Carolina, injured parties only have three years from the date of their accident to file a civil claim in court. If successful, an injured party could recover reimbursement for past and future medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and even pain and suffering.
Schedule a Meeting with a Myrtle Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you were recently involved in a motorcycle accident in South Carolina, please call 803-799-4700 to set up a free consultation with our dedicated Myrtle Beach motorcycle accident lawyer at The Stanley Law Group today.
