Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Greenville, North Carolina
Many people ride a motorcycle as a popular hobby, especially during the summer. Others ride a motorcycle year-round, to get to work or school or to run errands. With so many bikes on the road, it isn’t surprising that some of them get into accidents.
At Dawson & Albritton, we represent motorcyclists who have been injured in collisions. Many of our clients were struck by passenger cars or commercial vehicles, while others were injured by defects in the road. Whatever the circumstances of your accident, you should meet with a motorcycle accident lawyer to determine whether you have a valid claim for compensation.
Types of Motorcycle Accidents
By far, most motorcycle accidents involve collisions with other motor vehicles on the road. In our experience, we have seen people injured in the following:
- Left-hand turns made by cars. At an intersection, a car might make a quick left-hand turn and slam into a motorcycle or pull directly in front of it, leading directly to a crash. Often, the motorist did not even see the person on the motorcycle.
- Head-on collisions. A vehicle might pull out into the other lane to pass but end up colliding head on with an oncoming motorcycle.
- Lane change accidents. A motorist might fail to look over their shoulder and check their blind spot before pulling into another lane. As a result, they slam into a motorcycle.
Other motorcycle accidents are caused by defects in the road, which can make it hard for a motorcyclist to stay upright. Defects include potholes, poorly constructed shoulders, or construction debris.
Proving Fault in a North Carolina Motorcycle Accident
North Carolina law requires that you establish fault before you can request compensation for your injuries. Fault basically means that the driver who hit you made an error in judgment that an ordinarily careful driver would not.
For example, drivers are at fault for collisions when they:
- Fail to check blind spots
- Run a red light or roll through a stop sign
- Pass illegally
- Tailgate
- Refuse to yield
- Drive too fast for conditions
If you have proof that the driver was negligent, you can use that information to get a settlement from the driver’s insurance company. In some situations, you might need to bring a lawsuit to fully protect your rights, and evidence will prove critical at that time as well.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Without a seat belt, air bag, or the protective shell of a car, motorcyclists are exposed to the elements. They bear the full brunt of any collision and often end up getting seriously injured.
If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, you could have suffered:
- Fractures
- Road rash
- Biker’s arm
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
Many motorcyclists unfortunately die in accidents as well, leaving behind grieving family members. If you have been injured, you can receive compensation for medical care, but remember to hold onto your bills. Your motorcycle accident lawyer will use them to help calculate how much compensation you can receive.
What to Do after a Motorcycle Accident in NC
We have seen motorcyclists make some mistakes after an accident that end up hurting their cases. Remember to do the following after a collision:
- Call the police. An officer can come to the scene of the crash and write a police report.
- Get the insurance information for the driver who hit you and for the driver of any vehicle involved in the crash. You might not know immediately who is at fault, so you want everyone’s information.
- Obtain the names of any witnesses to the collision. Your motorcycle accident lawyer might like to speak to them.
- Take pictures, if at all possible, of damage to the vehicle that hit you. Also take pictures of your motorcycle.
- Don’t get your motorcycle immediately fixed. Your attorney might want to look at it.
Above all else, don’t give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster or sign a settlement agreement until you have met with an attorney. Only your attorney has your rights in the forefront of his mind.
Speak to a Greenville, NC Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
After a motorcycle accident, it is perfectly normal to be worried about the future. You might not be able to work and are missing out on thousands of dollars in income. At the same time, your medical bills have probably skyrocketed.
Contact us today for a free consultation. A motorcycle accident lawyer at Dawson & Albritton can review the circumstances of your collision and decide whether you have a valid legal claim. Please avoid delay. North Carolina law gives injured bikers a short window of time to protect their legal rights.