Mount Pleasant Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Between the way motorcycles are built and the speeds they are capable of reaching on highways, riders often have much greater odds of sustaining serious injuries in accidents than other drivers. Accordingly, civil recovery is often especially crucial for victims of motorcycle wrecks caused by the negligence of another motor vehicle operator.
If you got hurt because of another driver’s recklessness or carelessness, a conversation with a Mount Pleasant motorcycle accident lawyer may be in your best interests. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney could walk you through your legal options and, once retained, work with you to preserve your financial security and future prospects.
Establishing Liability for a Motorcycle Crash
All motorists are obligated to follow the same basic traffic regulations and avoid taking reckless actions that put themselves and others at risk, regardless of what they are driving. Any driver who violates this duty of care—whether by breaking a traffic law or simply doing something irresponsible like driving while distracted—could bear civil liability for all forms of harm an ensuing accident causes.
Through successful civil litigation, a motorcycle accident victim could recover for both economic and non-economic damages they sustained at the hands of a negligent driver. Specific losses a Mount Pleasant motorcycle accident attorney could help seek restitution for include, but are not limited to:
- Medical expenses for both inpatient and outpatient care
- Lost wages, including loss of future capacity to earn income
- Motorcycle damage, including the costs of replacing a totaled bike
- Physical pain
- Emotional anguish
- Various losses stemming from a permanent disability or disfigurement, including loss of enjoyment of life
However, motorcycle wreck victims do not have an unlimited amount of time to pursue civil restitution for their injuries. South Carolina Code §15-3-530 sets a statutory filing deadline of three years on all personal injury claims, meaning any prospective plaintiff who waits more than three years after discovering their injuries to file suit might have their case time-barred and become ineligible for compensation.
What If an Accident Victim Bears Fault for a Wreck?
Aside from the statute of limitations, another legal roadblock that commonly inhibits recovery in motorcycle accident claims is comparative negligence on a plaintiff’s part. If an injured motorcycle accident victim is found partially to blame for causing the incident in question or exacerbating their injuries after the fact, the court hearing their case may proportionately reduce the total compensation available based on their percentage of fault. For example, a plaintiff found 10 percent responsible for a crash could recover 90 percent of their total damages.
Furthermore, any plaintiff found more than 50 percent to blame for their own accident could be barred from recovering any compensation whatsoever. In addition to proving fault by a negligent motor vehicle driver, assistance from a skilled motorcycle accident lawyer in Mount Pleasant could also be crucial to effectively fighting accusations of comparative fault.
Learn More from a Mount Pleasant Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Motorcycle crashes often result in severe damages compared to other types of auto accidents, often with life-altering, long-term consequences for the motorcyclists involved. Between physical disabilities, financial expenses, and various personal losses, comprehensive civil recovery is often the only way for a victim of these types of incidents to live a normal life after the smoke clears and their injuries reach maximum medical improvement.
If you want to hold someone else financially liable for the effects of your motorcycle crash, experienced legal counsel may be able to help you do so. Contact a Mount Pleasant motorcycle accident lawyer today to discuss your legal options.
