Columbia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Columbia Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Motorcycles are popular in South Carolina, and it is important for all riders of all experience levels to acknowledge the risks they face on the road. Motorcycle accidents may be less common than passenger vehicle accidents, but they result in far worse injuries. If you have recently been injured in a motorcycle accident, it is important to consult a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer as quickly as possible to determine your most viable recovery options.

Helping Motorcycle Accident Victims Recover in Columbia, SC

Axelrod & Associates, P.A., has years of professional experience helping injured clients recover in Columbia and throughout the state. If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident or you are caring for a family member who suffered severe injuries because of another driver’s actions, you have the right to seek accountability and compensation for your losses. We have successfully represented many personal injury claims in Columbia and can apply our experience to your case.

While it is technically possible for you to pursue recovery on your own, it would be tremendously difficult while recovering from your injuries. You would be forced to gather evidence to prove fault for the accident on your own, navigate a complex insurance claim filing process, and potentially build a civil suit. Even if you managed to succeed, you would be unlikely to achieve the same results that an experienced attorney could have secured for you.

Our team will listen to your story and learn how your accident has affected you and your family. Whether you remember exactly how the accident happened and who was responsible, or you were seriously injured and have little to no recollection of the event, we can help you piece together a sound legal strategy for proving liability and recovering compensation for the damages you suffered.

Proving Fault for a Motorcycle Crash in Columbia

State law upholds the fault rule for all motor vehicle accidents. This means it is necessary to prove fault for an accident before the victim can recover any compensation for their losses, and the at-fault party absorbs liability for the damages they caused to others. Most of the motor vehicle accidents reported in Columbia are the result of negligence behind the wheel, but accidents also happen due to intentional and illegal misconduct.

Some of the most common causes of motorcycle crashes in Columbia include:

• Speeding, which not only increases the chances of an accident but also the severity of resulting injuries. Speeding consistently ranks as a leading contributing factor to the number of fatal motorcycle accidents reported throughout the United States each year. Drivers must not only abide by posted speed limits but also adjust their speed responsibly to account for changes in road conditions.
• Traffic violations, such as running red lights or stop signs, performing illegal turns, and failure to yield the right-of-way where necessary. When drivers commit moving violations, either intentionally or negligently, they disrupt the flow of traffic and can easily cause serious accidents.
• Distracted driving, such as cell phone use behind the wheel. Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to distracted driving because they are less noticeable than drivers of other vehicles. Anything that distracts the driver’s vision, hands, or attention away from the safe operation of their vehicle can potentially cause a serious accident.
• Intoxicated driving, It is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol in South Carolina, but this is a leading cause of serious accidents each year. A driver who causes an accident in this manner faces criminal charges in addition to liability for the damages they inflicted on others.

Motorcyclists are more vulnerable in some situations than drivers of other vehicles due to their smaller size. However, every driver has a duty of care to remain alert and attentive behind the wheel, to follow posted traffic signs and signals, and to yield the right-of-way where necessary. When they fail to meet this duty of care and cause accidents, they absorb liability for the resulting damages.

If you believe another party was responsible for your recent crash, you will need to gather evidence and witness testimony to prove fault before you can recover any compensation for the damages you suffered. If multiple parties share fault for an accident, each party will have a fault percentage assigned, indicating their respective levels of liability for the accident. Your attorney can advise you as to whether this could be a factor in your case.

Recovering From Your Motorcycle Accident in Columbia

Once you have proven the cause of your motorcycle accident, your Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer can assist you in recovering compensation for your damages. An auto insurance claim is typically the primary mechanism for an injured driver to recover compensation for their damages, but dealing with insurance companies can be very challenging. Most will fight claims in whatever way they can, and some will even engage in bad-faith tactics to avoid paying settlements.

However, an insurance company representative will be more likely to handle your claim in good faith and process it efficiently if they see that you are represented by legal counsel. Your attorney can help you file your claim, handle any requests from the insurance company for additional information, and address any disputes they may raise against you. Once you receive a settlement offer, your attorney can determine whether it is fair and reasonable.

Insurance may not fully cover your damages, or the at-fault driver may not have insurance at all. If either of these factors apply to your situation, a personal injury suit is likely to be your most viable option for recovering your losses. Success with your personal injury claim will require proof that the defendant’s negligence or misconduct directly caused your damages and proof of the full extent of those damages.

South Carolina’s personal injury laws enable you to seek compensation for economic losses that insurance won’t cover, such as property damage, medical bills, and lost income. If you are severely injured and face long-term medical expenses and lost earning capacity, you can claim compensation for these losses as well. In addition to your economic damages, you also have the right to seek pain and suffering compensation from the defendant.

Axelrod & Associates, P.A., is ready to guide you through every stage of your recovery after a motorcycle accident in Columbia. Our team excels at resolving complex personal injury cases, and we have helped many motorcycle accident victims recover compensation for their damages. If you believe you have grounds for legal recourse against another driver, we can help you hold them accountable for the damages you suffered from their actions.

FAQs

Q: How Much Is My Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth in Columbia?

A: The value of your motorcycle accident claim in Columbia depends on the severity of your damages. After you prove another party is responsible for causing the accident, you can seek compensation for the damages they inflicted, which are likely to include your property losses, medical bills, and your lost income. You can also claim pain and suffering compensation that reflects the severity of your injuries and the scope of long-term effects they have caused.

Q: What Happens if I Was Partially Liable for the Accident?

A: If you were partially liable for your recent motorcycle accident, it would be reflected with a fault percentage, which indicates your level of responsibility for causing the crash. As long as you are found less at fault than the defendant, you can still recover compensation, but your fault percentage dictates the percentage of your case award you lose as a penalty for your shared fault. You cannot claim compensation from the defendant if your fault percentage is higher than theirs.

Q: How Do I Prove Fault for a Motorcycle Accident in Columbia?

A: You can prove fault for a motorcycle accident in Columbia with various forms of physical and digital evidence. Photos of the scene of the crash immediately after it happened can be valuable to your case, as can witness testimony from those who saw the accident happen. Your Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer can help you gather other evidence, such as cell phone records and traffic camera recordings.

Q: Why Do I Need to Hire a Columbia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

A: You need to hire a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer because you are substantially more likely to succeed with your recovery efforts when you have legal representation. The right attorney can help you prove liability for the accident, ensuring you can hold the at-fault driver accountable for the harm they caused. Your attorney can also help you succeed with an auto insurance claim and/or personal injury suit following the accident.

Q: What Does It Cost to Hire a Columbia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

A: The cost of hiring a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer can be a percentage of your case award when you choose Axelrod & Associates, P.A., to represent you. Our contingency fee policy means no upfront fees for our legal counsel, and if and when we win your case, we will only charge a percentage of the total compensation we secure for you. This policy ensures legal counsel is accessible when you need it most.

The team at Axelrod & Associates, P.A., can help you make clearer sense of your legal options for recovering from a motorcycle accident. We know the challenges you could face in the aftermath of this incident and how to help you overcome them. You have a short time in which to pursue your recovery, so contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer to help you recover.