For nearly four decades, the Rock Hill injury attorneys of McKinney, Tucker & Lemel LLC, have protected the rights of injured motorcyclists and their families. Our lawyers know how these crashes are different from other types of crashes. We use that experience and knowledge to seek maximum compensation for our clients.
Our law firm is all about the people we serve. If you recently suffered injuries in a motorcycle collision in Rock Hill, Fort Mill, or elsewhere in York, Chester or Lancaster counties, or if you lost a loved one in a crash, you can count on us to work hard for you. Our attorneys know what is at stake. We will aggressively pursue all compensation you are due for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more.
To speak with a compassionate motorcycle accident lawyer about your case, contact a personal injury attorney at the law offices of McKinney, Tucker & Lemel LLC, today and receive a free and confidential consultation.
How Are Motorcycle Accidents Different Than Car Accidents?
1) Motorcycle crashes often result in severe injuries
Unlike car riders, motorcyclists have no structure, airbags, or seat belts to protect them in a crash. Even if they wear helmets and other safety gear, they can suffer devastating injuries in a collision with a car such as:
- Head and brain injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Dental injuries
- Eye injuries
- Amputations
- Broken bones
- Burns (including friction burns, or “road rash”).
Our attorneys know how these injuries change people’s lives. We focus on making sure our clients get the medical care they need, and we pursue compensation that addresses the impact on their ability to work and enjoy their lives.
2) Many motorcyclists die from their crash-related injuries
The S.C. Department of Public Safety reports that, over the past decade, 109 people have died each year, on average, in motorcycle wrecks in our state. If your loved one died in a motorcycle crash that another person’s negligence caused, then you may have the right to pursue a wrongful death and/or survival claim. Our lawyers have experience handling the unique, challenging issues that those claims present. We can determine your eligibility to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit and assess the potential damages available to you such as compensation for funeral and burial expenses and loss of your loved one’s financial contributions.
3) Insurance companies frequently claim that the motorcyclist was at fault
- Failing to yield the right of way to motorcycles at intersections
- Trying to share a lane with a motorcycle
- Making left or right turns in front of motorcycles
- Failing to keep a proper lookout for motorcycles
- Following too close, or “tailigating” motorcycles.
Unfortunately, if your own negligence contributed to your motorcycle crash, then under South Carolina law, your damages can be reduced according to the degree of fault assigned to you. If you are 51 percent or more at fault, you may be barred from recovering anything. This is why insurance companies look for ways to blame motorcyclists for crashes.
The motorcycle accident lawyers in Rock Hill, SC at McKinney, Tucker & Lemel LLC, our legal team knows that a thorough investigation of a motorcycle accident and consultation with knowledgeable experts is the best way to counter this insurance company tactic. We work hard to uncover the facts that establish our clients’ rights to a full and fair recovery and that defeat insurance company attempts to deny or minimize claims.
4) If you did not wear a motorcycle helmet, the insurance company will try to use it against you
Studies and statistics show that motorcycle helmets save lives and help prevent brain injury. That is why our law firm always encourages motorcycle riders to wear helmets when they are on the road. However, unless you are under age 21, you have the right in South Carolina to ride without a helmet. If you were helmet-free at the time of your crash, we will not let the insurance company get away with trying to use that fact against you.
5) Many motorcyclists suffer harm in hit-and-run crashes
In most motor vehicle accident cases, you will file a claim against the driver who hit you. However, in many motorcycle crashes, the car driver flees the scene and cannot be identified. If you or your loved one suffered injuries in this type of hit-and-run accident, our law firm can help you to pursue options that may include filing a claim through your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. We know how to tackle the challenges that these claims often present.
