South Carolina Motorcycle Accidents

Bikers are some of the most vulnerable travelers on South Carolina roads. Traveling without a cage of steel around them, they may feel liberated, but they’re also at risk for serious injuries in the event of a crash. Sometimes, this extreme vulnerability is worsened by drivers’ prejudice or hostility toward bikers; drivers also often report “not seeing” motorcycles that are right in front of them. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2004, per miles traveled, bikers were 34 times more likely to die in a crash than drivers of cars or trucks, and eight times more likely to be injured. Motorcycle crashes are also going up nationwide, according to the NHTSA; between 1997 and 2006, the agency projects a staggering 125% increase in the number of motorcycle fatalities.

If you or someone you care about has been seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident that someone else caused, you are entitled to hold the careless person responsible in a court of law. Contact the Louthian Law Firm today at 1-866-410-5656 or online for a free evaluation of your case.

The definitive report on the causes of motorcycle accidents, the Hurt Report, shows that about three-quarters of all motorcycle accidents are multi-vehicle accidents. Shockingly, two-thirds of those -- half of all motorcycle accidents -- are caused by the driver of the other vehicle violating the motorcycle’s right-of-way, often by turning left in front of an oncoming bike. This matches the NHTSA’s 2005 report on motorcycle accidents, which shows that about half of all crashes are multi-vehicle collisions, and the vast majority of those are impacts to the front of the motorcycle. When other motorists fail to see bikers or don’t take the care they should to avoid a crash, they’re failing in their own legal duty to drive safely. When that failure causes a death or a serious, life-altering injury, it devastates the rider and his or her family. The negligent driver can and should be held legally liable for the rider’s injuries.

Single-vehicle collisions are often fatal -- they made up 13.8 percent of all motorcycle collisions in 2005, but 31.1 percent of motorcycle fatalities. While the Hurt Report shows that many single-motorcycle collisions are the result of rider error, many others can be attributed to bad roadway design that limits visibility; bad roadway maintenance that puts bikers at the mercy of weather, debris and other avoidable obstacles; loose animals, especially dogs; or defects in the motorcycle itself or one of its parts. All of these problems are results of other people’s carelessness -- whether it’s the carelessness of a motorcycle manufacturer, a pet owner, the South Carolina Department of Transportation or a local government agency charged with maintaining safe roads.

Motorcycle accidents may be over in a flash, but they’re often not simple. The aftermath of a motorcycle crash can be complicated by the bad behavior of the other driver, government agencies or even your own insurance company. There are also many complex legal issues that can arise, even in motorcycle accidents that don’t cause a serious injury. If you’re dealing with fallout from a motorcycle wreck, you should consider speaking with the experienced South Carolina motorcycle accident attorneys at the Louthian Law Firm. We have represented motorcycle crash victims and other injured South Carolinians since 1959, and we know our clients are often at a difficult time in their lives. We can help our clients be fairly compensated for a serious motorcycle crash, including money to pay medical bills, repair costs, missed work and other financial costs the accident caused; compensation for a serious injury or permanent disability; and compensation for your pain and suffering. For a confidential case evaluation, call us today at 1 866-410-5656 or fill out the online consultation form.

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