Every year, thousands of Americans are injured in motorcycle accidents. Over 1,000 of those individuals die from their injuries. Needless to say, motorcycle accidents are frequent and often deadly. 
Motorcycle riders in accidents involving other vehicles have a much higher risk of sustaining an injury when compared to those riding in an automobile. Further, motorists often do not see motorcycle riders and therefore cause a crash that could have been avoided. At Pracht Injury Lawyers, our dedicated South Carolina personal injury attorneys believe that it is critical to look twice and save a life!
Reasons Why Motorcycle Accidents Occur
There are several factors that can lead to serious motorcycle accidents. For example:
- Motorcycles have a smaller profile on the road, which makes them harder to see.
- Motorcycles are lighter than most other vehicles.
- Motorcycles lack the protective enclosures and safety features automobile occupants enjoy.
- Often riders are thrown from the motorcycle, which usually results in serious injury.
- Hazards and abnormalities on the roadway more easily cause a rider to lose control of his motorcycle.
These are just some of the reasons why motorcycle accident injuries tend to be serious and usually involve broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, scarring, permanent disfigurement, spinal cord injuries, or wrongful death.
Do I Have a Personal Injury Case if I Was Not Wearing a Helmet?
It is always a good idea to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. Studies have shown that your odds of surviving a motorcycle crash increase significantly if you are wearing a helmet. However, if you were not wearing a helmet, you may still be able to recover damages, even in states with mandatory helmet laws.
The laws vary from state to state, but in South Carolina motorcycle accidents, the failure to wear a helmet is not an absolute bar to winning your case. We strongly recommend that South Carolina motorcycle riders wear every available piece of safety equipment available, but will fight to protect your legal rights even if you were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Motorcycle wrecks can be difficult cases to litigate, given the numerous factors that can cause a motorcycle crash. South Carolina follows the doctrine of comparative negligence. Essentially, this means that a jury can divide the percentage of fault in an accident between all parties involved. If a jury finds that you were greater than 50% at fault, then you will not be able to recover against a defendant. It is very important that your first call is to a South Carolina personal injury attorney, as the legalities of motorcycle crashes are complex.
How a South Carolina Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help You
Here at Pracht Injury Lawyers, we have the resources to handle your motorcycle accident case. Our office has handled cases in the past that required expert testimony from economists, accident re-constructionists, EMS experts, and other professionals.
We accept personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout South Carolina, including Greenville, Spartanburg, Abbeville, Clemson, Seneca, Easley, Laurens, Newberry, Columbia, Aiken, Greenwood, Charleston, and Orangeburg. Pracht Injury Lawyers is ready to serve you. Contact us today.