Rock Hill Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Recovering Compensation for Injury Victims

There are roughly 150,000 registered motorcycles in South Carolina. Many of these bikers can safely enjoy what has become both a mode of transportation and their passion.

Unfortunately, South Carolina is also known as one of the most dangerous states in the country for motorcycle riders, with the eighth-highest fatality rate in the country. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you may have a legal case for financial compensation. Call the motorcycle accident attorneys at Schiller & Hamilton in Rock Hill to learn more about filing a motorcycle accident claim or lawsuit.

Trust Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Rock Hill, SC

At Schiller & Hamilton, we have over twenty years of experience fighting for injured clients like you. Our law firm is recognized by many major national publications and directories that include only the top attorneys in the area. These rankings take into account our track record of success and the size of the settlements and verdicts that we have delivered for our clients.

We also strive to provide you with dedicated and personal service to make your life easier when you are going through a difficult period. We take the burden off you, so you and your family can focus your attention where it is needed while you recover from your injuries to the fullest extent possible.

Our legal team understands how overwhelming the aftermath of a motorcycle crash can be. From navigating South Carolina law to preserving evidence at the accident scene, we guide you every step of the way. We will work to recover a fair settlement that helps cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other financial losses caused by the accident.

Because most motorcycle accidents involve multiple vehicles, determining liability for the vehicles involved can be complex. Our attorneys carefully examine how motorcycle laws apply to your case to identify the at-fault party and pursue maximum compensation.

We handle every personal injury lawsuit on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your case. Call today for a free case review and start your path to recovery with confidence.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in South Carolina

Motorcycle accidents in South Carolina often result in severe injuries and extensive financial losses. Many injured motorcyclists require ongoing care, face lost income, and need help navigating the legal process. Below are some of the most common causes behind these collisions.

Driver’s Negligence

A leading cause of motorcycle accidents is the driver’s negligence, led by car and truck drivers who fail to notice motorcyclists on the road. Whether it’s due to distraction, speeding, or failing to yield the right of way, this negligence puts motorcyclists at serious risk. An accident lawyer can help determine fault and support your motorcycle injury claim.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving, including texting, eating, or adjusting in-vehicle controls, has led to countless motorcycle accident cases across South Carolina. When drivers take their eyes off the road, even for a moment, the consequences can be devastating, resulting in traumatic brain injuries or even motorcycle accident fatalities.

Improper Lane Changes

Many car accidents involving motorcycles happen because a vehicle merges into a lane without checking blind spots. These incidents can lead to a motorcycle collision or motorcycle wreck, often causing catastrophic injuries to the rider.

Speeding

Excessive speed reduces a driver’s reaction time and increases the severity of a crash. Motorcycle accidents caused by speeding often leave victims with serious motorcycle accident injuries and mounting medical expenses.

If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident in South Carolina, contact our personal injury law firm for legal guidance. Our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers are here to help you seek fair compensation and recover damages.

Fatal Motorcycle Accidents and How We Can Help

Common Causes of Fatal Motorcycle Crashes

There are a myriad of reasons why a motorbike collision could occur. Typically, the most common motorcycle accident is somebody turning left in front of a motorcycle. It is hard to evade that type of accident. Other examples are somebody pulling out from a side street or running a red light and broadsiding someone on a motorcycle. The most common is somebody making a left turn in front of a motorcycle, and as a result of that crash, the individual on the motorcycle dies, which gives rise to a wrongful death action.

In many situations it is usually another vehicle causing the accident. The other vehicle could be considered negligent by not obeying the traffic rules and making either a left turn or pulling out in front of a motorcycle.

The difficulty for most drivers in automobiles is that it is hard for them to judge both the speed and the distance of a person on a motorcycle. Often, when the driver first sees the motorcycle, they are not able to judge the speed or the distance of the motorcycle because they are so used to seeing two headlights or a larger vehicle coming in their direction. They could judge that a little better, because they are used to it.

What Damages Could Be Sought by The Decedent’s Surviving Estate?

There are two damages that could be sought by the survivors of an individual who was in a fatal motorcycle accident: the wrongful death and the survival benefits.

The wrongful death are the damages that are suffered by the individuals who have lost their loved ones. It is financial support, love, and affection.

The survival action are the damages that the individual who is deceased suffered. It could be conscious pain and suffering, medical expenses, and funeral expenses. The state brings both actions for those damages.

When a loved one is killed in a fatal motorcycle crash in Rock Hill, the surviving estate could file a claim against the negligent party. A knowledgeable wrongful death attorney could help you file the claim within the deadline and hold the reckless party accountable for their actions. If you need help with your claim, reach out to a compassionate attorney at Schiller & Hamilton today.

How Motorcycle Crashes Differ from Car Accidents

Any type of motor vehicle crash can have serious consequences. On average, motorcycle accidents are more serious than car crashes. Motorcyclists have little to protect them from direct impact with either a car or the road. Motorcyclists are often ejected from their bikes in a crash, and they are often thrown a far distance because of the physics of the crash. The faster the motorcycle is traveling, the farther the driver may be thrown.

Because the motorcyclist may be more seriously injured, it follows that their compensation may be higher than one would receive from a car accident. Motorcycle accident settlements are directly tied to the severity of your injuries.

Another major difference between car and motorcycle accidents is that the insurance company is far more likely to try to blame the biker for their injuries. They will try to take advantage of the perception that motorcyclists are riskier to save themselves money. Your lawyer’s job is every bit as much about defending you as it is proving fault.

Proving Negligence in Motorcycle Accidents

In a claim for compensation, an injured Rock Hill resident and their legal counsel must show that other parties’ negligence contributed to the motorcycle accident and ensuing damages. The victim also must prove that they were not negligent or less negligent than others involved in the accident. A motorcycle rider might avoid findings of liability by wearing a helmet, obeying all applicable laws and regulations, and properly maintaining their vehicle.

A discerning lawyer could investigate a scooter accident in Rock Hill to determine contributing causes and potentially negligent parties. Some common examples of factors in motor vehicle collisions include:

Inattentiveness of other drivers
Violation of traffic laws by other drivers
Poorly marked or maintained roads
Mechanical failure of any of the involved vehicles

In addition to showing that a party behaved negligently, the injured rider also must show that the negligence directly led to their injuries. Proving direct causation can be complicated, as there might be multiple factors that contribute to an injury, so it is best to enlist the help of an experienced personal injury attorney who focuses on motorcycle accidents in Rock Hill.

Motorcycle Accidents Around Rock Hill

In 2021, the latest year for which full statistics were available, there were 105 motorcycle accidents in Rock Hill. This number is up 10% from 2019. Of these 105 accidents, 78 of the motorcyclists involved suffered some type of injury. There were 26 serious injuries and five fatalities. Most bikers will not walk away from an accident unharmed.

Overall, there were 2,215 motorcycle crashes in South Carolina. In 2021, 166 people lost their lives in these crashes. The fatality rate in the state has risen steeply in the past decade. Some of the increase can be attributed to a rise in the overall level of reckless driving. Motorists have less respect for the rules of the road and societal norms. The result is that more motorcyclists are paying for it with their health and lives.

All it takes is one driver’s miscalculation to cause the most critical motorcycle accident of all; the one that injured you or a family member. When that has happened, you may want to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer to pursue full financial compensation on your behalf.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

It is very rare for a motorcyclist to walk away from an accident completely unharmed. Roughly 6-7% of bikers die from their injuries in a crash. Also, roughly three-quarters of motorcyclists are hurt to some extent in an accident. Of course, the severity of the injuries will vary.

Motorcycle accident injuries include:

Fractures and broken bones
Neck and back injuries
Burns
Road rash
Internal injuries
Traumatic brain injuries
Cuts and lacerations
Spinal cord injuries

Serious motorcycle injuries can lead to a lengthy rehabilitation period if the accident victim is even able to recover at all from their injuries. They can be looking at steep medical expenses at the same time that they are unable to work. Your costs can add up quickly, making it even more crucial to act now to begin work on filing a motorcycle accident claim.

Potentially Responsible Parties for Your Motorcycle Accident

To qualify for financial compensation, you will need to prove that someone else’s carelessness was what caused your injuries. Usually, you are filing a claim or lawsuit against the driver who was involved in the accident with you.

Our motorcycle accident attorneys can gather the evidence that you need to show exactly what the other driver did and argue why it was unreasonable under the circumstances. For example, a reasonable driver does not make an illegal left turn that cuts in front of the motorcyclist.

There may be other responsible parties for a motorcycle accident, which can include:

Another driver who cut you off or otherwise did something that forced you off your bike
The government failed to maintain the roadways in reasonable condition — should your accident have been caused by a pothole or poor roadway design
The manufacturer of a defective motorcycle part failed and caused the accident

Our personal injury attorneys in Rock Hill can perform a full investigation of the crash to help determine if you can file a personal injury claim.

Contact a Rock Hill Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today

Motorcycle accident victims in Rock Hill, South Carolina, often suffer severe injuries that require emergency medical treatment, long-term medical care, and time away from work. These serious accidents can leave injured motorcyclists struggling with lost income, emotional distress, and overwhelming medical expenses. At Schiller & Hamilton, our legal team understands the unique challenges that injured riders face.

Whether your motorcycle crash was caused by a negligent driver, unsafe road conditions, or another motor vehicle, we are here to help. Our firm handles motorcycle accident claims throughout South Carolina and fights to hold the at-fault party accountable. From gathering the police report to negotiating with insurance adjusters, we handle every step of your motorcycle injury claim so you can focus on healing.

If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident, you should contact an experienced motorcycle lawyer at Schiller & Hamilton today. You cannot afford to be without legal representation for any time because the insurance company may already be at work, compromising your legal rights. They stop taking advantage of you when you bring an aggressive motorcycle accident lawyer into your case. You can speak to one of the motorcycle accident lawyers about your case in a free consultation by calling us today at 803-620-9690 or sending us a message online.