The reality is that many motorists are distracted and do not exercise caution when operating their vehicles, creating dangerous situations for those riding motorcycles. As a motorcyclist, every collision has the potential to be devastating. In fact, even non-contact accidents – where a motorist forces a motorcyclist to swerve or lay their bike down to avoid being struck – can be deadly. Unfortunately, after a collision, motorcycles often face bias by those reporting or investigating the accident.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you need a Charleston injury attorney that understands the issues involved and the difficulties you face in recovery. At Mickelsen Dalton, we have significant experience handling serious injury claims. We are trial lawyers skilled at representing those who can’t always fight for themselves. We pride ourselves on getting our clients the compensation they deserve after a motorcycle accident in Charleston, South Carolina.
While every motorcycle accident case could benefit from legal representation, there are some situations in which hiring a lawyer is strongly recommended.
An injury from a motorcycle accident can have lifelong repercussions. Recovery may be long and difficult, not to mention costly with medical bills and lost income. It is important to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your suffering, so consider hiring an experienced lawyer who can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
If you’re facing a dispute as to who is to blame for a motorcycle accident, then it’s important to take action. Hiring a skilled lawyer is your best bet for establishing liability and getting the compensation you deserve. They will be able to conduct an investigation of the incident, gather evidence, and call on accident reconstruction experts to prove their case if necessary.
Insurance companies may try to deny your claim or offer inadequate compensation, but with the help of legal representation, you will have better luck getting what is rightfully yours.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of another person, it is important to hire an experienced attorney to represent your case. Here’s why you should choose Mickelsen Dalton:
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and to get more information about how we can help.
Damages for motorcycle accidents can come in a much greater fashion. Victims of motorcycle accidents are at a 29% greater risk of death because of the accident. Physical injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident can be severe, but so are the economic and emotional damages. Those are devastating. Damages you may be eligible to receive include:
Economic damages cover any financial losses directly related to your motorcycle accident. In some cases, economic damages are easy to calculate because they are based on tangible expenses like medical bills or lost wages.
However, economic damages can also include more abstract expenses like future income loss if your injury is expected to impact your ability to work in the long term. In the short term, this may be wages that were expected to be earned while a victim is out of work recovering from their injury. In the long run, it could affect a person’s ability to take on new jobs or promotions due to disability or health conditions resulting from the accident.
Non-economic damages are meant to compensate victims for intangible losses related to their injuries, such as emotional distress or pain and suffering. These types of claims can be difficult to prove since there is no concrete way of measuring them, but it is important that victims receive proper compensation for these injuries as well.
An experienced motorcycle accident attorney will be able to accurately assess all losses associated with your case so that you receive full compensation.
Punitive damages are designed to penalize those who have wronged another, acting to deter them from committing similar acts in the future. They do not reflect the actual financial losses of the victim, but instead focus on punishing the defendant for their wrongful behavior.
For punitive damages to be awarded in Charleston, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant behaved in a way that was either intended to cause harm or showed gross negligence due to knowledge of possible consequences. The burden of proof lies with the plaintiff to provide clear and convincing evidence of this behavior in order to receive punitive damages.
Compensation for motorcycle accidents is necessary as these accidents cause some of the worst injuries, including:
If your injuries have impacted your life or took your loved one too soon, Mickelsen Dalton will fight for you. We understand how these injuries can impact your daily life. We’re here to get you the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
Motorcycle accidents change your entire life in a moment. You can take a few steps to help us prove your case.
Proving negligence is essential to any personal injury case in South Carolina. There are four steps.
As your motorcycle accident lawyers, it’s our job to help you prove negligence. Evidence that can assist in proving negligence in a motorcycle accident includes:
By using this information as evidence, you can show that you were not at fault.
Motorcycle accidents can be devastating to the rider, resulting in potentially life-altering injuries or fatalities. Establishing liability allows for those who are responsible to be held accountable for any damages that occur. By understanding the various aspects of liability, you will improve your odds of getting the compensation you deserve for any medical bills and other losses.
Figuring out who is at fault in a motorcycle accident involves identifying instances of negligence. This occurs when an individual does not take sufficient care and it results in harm or damage to another. When dealing with motorcycle accidents, there are numerous parties that could potentially be liable for negligence, such as:
The other driver: If the other driver was negligent – for example, they ran a red light or were drinking and driving – they could be held liable for any damages that occur as a result of their negligent behavior.
The motorcycle rider: If the rider was found to be negligent, such as by speeding or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they could be barred from recovering compensation, or their compensation could be reduced by their percentage of responsibility, depending on the percentage.
The motorcycle manufacturer: If a motorcycle is found to have a defect or malfunction, the manufacturer of the vehicle or parts of it could be held liable for any damages sustained as a result. Examples of a defect in a motorcycle could include a malfunctioning brake system, faulty engine parts, or an issue with the bike’s frame.
The government entity responsible for road maintenance: If a motorcycle accident was caused by hazardous road conditions, such as a pothole or a lack of proper signage, the government entity responsible for road maintenance may be liable for any damages incurred.
In South Carolina, all motorcyclists under 21 are required by law to wear a helmet approved by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety when they are operating their vehicle. The helmet must have a neck or chin strap, plus reflectors on both sides. This is regardless of whether they have an endorsement on their driver’s license.
If you’re under 21 and violate this law, you can be charged with a misdemeanor offense and face up to $100 in fines as well as 30 days of incarceration if convicted. Additionally, if you were involved in an accident while not wearing your helmet, it could affect your ability to collect compensation from any other party involved in the accident who may be at fault for your injuries.
South Carolina follows what is known as a “modified comparative negligence” rule when assessing damages in motorcycle accident claims. This means that if a motorcyclist is deemed less than 51% at fault for an accident, then they are still allowed to recover from the other parties involved in the crash.
The amount of compensation that can be recovered will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to them (e.g., if a motorcyclist is 25% at fault for an accident, then any damages awarded would be reduced by 25%).
The insurance company will likely try to use the fact that you weren’t wearing a helmet as evidence that you were negligent and contributed to your own injuries, therefore either barring your ability to recover compensation or reducing the amount you can obtain.
When you’ve been injured, the last thing you want to worry about is dealing with insurance companies and their adjusters. Unfortunately, you often don’t have a choice. Here are two tips for navigating insurance after a motorcycle accident.
1. Talk to a Lawyer Before Speaking With Insurance – Prior to making any statements about an accident or injury to an insurance adjuster, you should always speak with a qualified personal injury lawyer. The adjusters do not have your best interests in mind and may attempt to limit the amount of compensation you receive by using your words against you. Additionally, when you have a lawyer, the insurance company knows that you’re taking your case seriously.
2. Understand Your Rights – If you are ever involved in a motorcycle accident, it is essential to be aware of your rights under the law. When dealing with insurance companies, make sure that you understand all the appropriate rules and regulations, as well as any liability associated with the crash.
In most cases, if another person was accountable for causing the crash, then they should be responsible for covering any damages or losses caused by it – including medical costs and wages lost due to needing time off for recovery.
Mickelsen Dalton are trial lawyers with a mission: helping victims of motor vehicle accidents like you protect their rights and get the compensation they deserve for their injuries. Our office offers free initial consultations where we go over your accident and help you understand what’s next.