Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Lexington, SC

Helping You Recover from Serious Injuries in South Carolina

Many people are wary of motorcycles because of their known dangers – there are countless families who warn their children who express interest in getting their motorcycle license, and some associate motorcycles with risk-taking, reckless riders. However, it’s important to know that many motorcycle accidents aren’t caused by motorcyclists themselves but involve other vehicle drivers. Crashes involving motorcycles and other vehicles account for 56% of motorcycle accident deaths.

If you were injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver or some other party, you may be eligible to seek financial compensation to tend to your wounds and other damages. The Rick Hall Law Firm, LLC offers caring legal counsel for individuals and families coping with their pain. For more than 35 years, our motorcycle accident lawyers in Lexington, SC have faithfully served the injured throughout South Carolina, including victims of motorcycle collisions.

Contact us online or by phone at (803) 590-9900 to schedule your free consultation – if you’re unable to come to the office, we can come to you at home or in the hospital for your convenience.

Common Motorcycle Accident Causes & Injuries

Because motorcycle accidents often involve cars that weigh 3,000 pounds on average and can apply a serious amount of force to anything they hit, motorcyclists tend to experience catastrophic injuries. Motorcyclists are, on average, 27 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled and are more than 5 times as likely to be injured.

Motorcyclists lack outer protection to defend them from collisions, like seat belts or outer structures that cars have. Catastrophic injuries are injuries that are long-term or permanent and impair one’s functional abilities. Common injuries include burns, amputations, spinal cord and neck injuries, and head and brain trauma like traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Other minor injuries that can result from a motorcycle accident include cuts and abrasions, sprains and fractures, and broken bones.

Common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

• Speeding: Speeding accounts for a vast number of auto accidents, and motorcycle accidents are no exception. Speeding reduces a driver’s chance of being able to notice and respond to other drivers and obstacles on the road in time to prevent an accident. Additionally, the greater the speed, the greater the impact and more serious the injuries.
• Lane splitting: Lane splitting is a dangerous maneuver that involves motorcyclists riding between lanes and thus, between cars. In fact, lane splitting is illegal in all 50 states except for California due to the dangerous nature of the practice. Inexperienced riders can get into accidents if they’re not careful and need to be aware of the cars around them that are changing lanes while they’re riding.
• Unsafe lane changes: It’s common for motorcyclists to be hidden in blind spots, which is why drivers must always practice safe driving by signaling and checking their blind spots before they merge or change lanes. When drivers merge without looking, they can collide with motorcyclists occupying the lane and cause serious injuries to riders and nearby passengers and drivers.
• Left-turn accidents: One of the most dangerous situations for motorcyclists occurs when cars are making left-hand turns, as these accidents account for 42% of all accidents involving cars and motorcycles. Cars tend to strike motorcycles when they’re going through the intersection or passing the car.
• Motorcycle defects: Sometimes, drivers aren’t responsible for accidents. A manufacturer, designer, or distributor can be liable for damages if a motorcycle defect or faulty part, like broken brakes, caused the accident and injuries.
• Dangerous roads: Motorcyclists have to be wary of some road hazards that most cars don’t need to worry about, like loose gravel, potholes, and cracked roads. If a dangerous road causes the accident, victims can file a claim against the government agency responsible for maintaining the road.

South Carolina Motorcycle Laws

Like most states, South Carolina requires motorcyclists to follow all the same laws as cars. However, there are additional rules that only apply to motorcyclists to keep them and other vehicles safe:

Common motorcycle laws in the state include:

• Giving motorcyclists the right to full use of the lane – it’s illegal for cars to prevent motorcycles from occupying a lane
• Motorcycles can’t pass vehicles in the same lane occupied by that vehicle
• Lane-splitting is illegal
• Headlights must be kept on
• Motorcycle groups can only ride two bikes wide in a lane

What Are the Motorcycle Helmet Laws in South Carolina?

South Carolina requires riders under 21 to wear helmets. If a rider is over the age of 21, it's their choice whether to wear a helmet or not. However, wearing a helmet decreases motorcycle fatalities by a significant amount. A rider can easily be injured in a motorcycle accident when not wearing proper protective gear. A helmet can help reduce some head injuries, especially common ones like concussions. Helmet laws could also help cut back on motorcycle thefts due to thieves possibly forgetting a helmet when stealing a motorcycle. This will draw the attention of law enforcement.

When you call us, we can inform you of your rights as a motorcyclist and investigate your accident to determine who is at-fault for your injuries. The sooner you act, the sooner we can recover damages such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and more.

Our motorcycle accident attorneys in Lexington, SC are ready to listen to your story. Call us for a same-day appointment at (803) 590-9900 or contact us online.