Getting into a crash while riding your motorcycle can put you on a rough road to recovery. You may have to deal with legal and financial burdens, all while attempting to heal from injuries. This is a long and difficult process, especially if you have no previous experience navigating the legal field.
Recovering Damages With the Help of Our South Carolina Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Schiller & Hamilton’s South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyers are here to help you through these difficult times. From the moment you get into a crash until you can rest at ease with compensation, you will have support every step of the way.
Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit on Time
In South Carolina, the statute of limitations for personal injuries is three years. This means you, as the injured party, have up to three years to file your claim. Your time starts from when you first receive the injury, not from a hospital visit.
Claims for damage to both real and personal property must also happen within three years. In short: You have three years to pursue any injuries you faced due to a crash, along with any property damage to your motorcycle.
That might sound like a long time to get your paperwork together and start the process of a lawsuit. In reality, though, your time and attention will already feel stretched to a maximum limit as you take care of hospital matters and physical, mental and emotional recovery.
This is where our team of South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyers come in. Leave the ins and outs of the legal process to us. We can handle submitting all documents per legal deadlines, ensuring that you get your claim filed in time. You can put your time and effort toward what’s most important, such as healing.
Affording a South Carolina Motorcycle Accident Attorney
When you search for a motorcycle accident lawyer in South Carolina, you’re likely going to be thinking about the cost. When you already have medical bills and more to worry over, adding attorney fees to the pile may feel like a Herculean feat.
Fortunately, at Schiller & Hamilton, we’re here to help you through your legal hardships without charging you an arm and a leg. We offer a free initial consultation where we can discuss your case at length and answer any questions you may have.
We work on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay a dime out of pocket, and our payment is instead taken out of your final settlement. This also means you don’t pay unless we succeed in getting you the appropriate compensation for your loss.
Motorcycle Accident Case FAQs
If you ride a motorcycle, you should always be aware of the risks of a crash and how you can seek compensation after one.
What are common motorcycle accident injuries?
No matter who the other party is, chances are high that in an accident, the motorcyclist will suffer the brunt of the damage. Unfortunately, even if you wear the proper safety equipment and a sturdy helmet, you’re at risk for more injuries than drivers in a covered vehicle just by the nature of a motorcycle.
As such, some of the most frequently seen injuries are also quite severe and may include:
- Skull and bone fractures
- Injuries to the brain
- Injuries to the spine and spinal cord
- Internal and abdominal injuries
- Burns and road rash
- Eye injuries
Motorcycle accidents can result in damage that leads to organ failure, paralysis and even full body burns. Unfortunately, extremely debilitating or even fatal injuries are not uncommon. Lighter injuries may occur, too, and even those can result in a lengthy stay at a hospital and medical bills for months.
More serious injuries can disrupt your life for months or even years. You may face:
- Paralysis
- Memory problems
- Mental and emotional disorders as a result of trauma
- Brain damage
A motorcycle accident can rob you of the ability to live a free and self-sustaining life. You may require healthcare twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You might need specialized medical equipment or construction changes made to your home so that you can continue living there.
Needless to say, this all can stack up to a hefty sum of money on top of your already expensive initial hospital tab.
What kind of claim can I file for a motorcycle accident?
There are a few types of claims you can file in the aftermath of a serious motorcycle crash. First, you can file a property damage claim. If your personal property, such as your motorcycle, ended up severely damaged or destroyed in the crash, you can pursue compensation.
Next are personal injury claims. You will likely be filing a motor vehicle-related personal injury claim to gain financial compensation for your injuries and the medical difficulties you face in the present and future because of the crash. This covers things like the initial hospital bill and any emergency medical treatment. It can also include long-term healthcare solutions like therapy, mobility aids, medication and future surgeries.
If you are a loved one of a motorcyclist who lost their life in an accident, you may instead pursue a wrongful death claim. This provides compensation for the potential financial loss of a primary earner in a family.
How much can I expect from a motorcycle accident settlement in South Carolina?
On average, motorcycle accident settlements grant around $70,000 or more. However, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s difficult, if not outright impossible, to truly give an estimate on an average for any settlement.
This is because numerous factors go into determining a settlement payout:
- The type of injuries you face
- The severity of your injuries
- If you have any emotional or psychological damage as a result of the accident
- The medical treatment you received
- The prognosis for your recovery
- Your attorney
The more serious and all-encompassing your injuries and damages are, the more money you can seek for compensation. Either way, having the right attorney on your side can make a huge difference in the amount of compensation you see, which is why it’s so crucial to have one that you can rely on.
Why Choose Schiller & Hamilton for Your South Carolina Motorcycle Accident Case?
You shouldn’t just settle for any motorcycle accident lawyer. At Schiller & Hamilton, our South Carolina personal injury attorneys have over two decades of experience in supporting people like you with cases that demand justice and compensation for pain, suffering and damages.
With us, you have guaranteed ease of access. You can reach us through phone, email or even online chat. During your free consultation, you can experience our open communication style and have any questions answered.
Our attorneys have a strong belief in supporting and giving back to the community, too. We sponsor several charities, such as Friends of Caroline Hospice and Bikers Against Bullies/Beaufort, SC Chapter.
With us, you can rest easy knowing that we excel at what we do. Among our numerous accolades include Top 40 Under 40, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and America’s Top 100 Attorneys.
We’ll handle your case with speed, accuracy and grace, taking the heavy weight of a legal battle from your shoulders and leaving you to focus on rest and recovery in this difficult time.
Rest Easy With Schiller & Hamilton
If you need a South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyer, look no further than Schiller & Hamilton. Our attorneys have experience in handling motorcycle accident cases and will fight on your side for you to get the compensation you deserve.
Set aside the worries and stress of handling a legal battle on your own. If you or a loved one has suffered from a recent motorcycle accident and needs backing in the court of law, reach out to us and schedule your free consultation today.