Goose Creek Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Goose Creek SC Protecting Riders Every Day

The blunt truth is that motorcycles offer very little protection for their passengers, and as such, can be challenging to operate in adverse driving conditions. Their small size also makes it difficult for other motorists to see them. While not every accident can be prevented, unfortunately, Hopkins Law Firm helps motorcyclists who have been in accidents caused by everything from negligent drivers to poor roadway conditions.

If you or a loved one were hurt in a motorcycle accident in the Goose Creek area, the attorneys at Hopkins Law Firm are here to help. After all, a good motorcycle accident lawyer in Goose Creek represents motorcyclists injured in traffic collisions, helping them pursue compensation by applying South Carolina state motorcycle and personal injury laws to establish fault and damages.

When you choose us to represent your case, you’re getting the benefit of our vast experience with personal injury claims. Please get in touch with us so we may connect you with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Goose Creek who will assess your situation.

Why a Motorcycle Accident May Occur in Goose Creek

Motorcycles comprise three percent of all registered vehicles in the United States, according to the National Safety Council. The majority of riders wear a helmet, follow the rules of the road, and take other precautions when they ride their bikes. Regardless, motorcycle accidents continue to occur daily in Goose Creek, as well as other cities and towns across America.

There are many reasons why these accidents occur, including:

Distracted Driving

A driver can use a cell phone or GPS, take their eyes off the road, and strike a motorcycle rider. In this instance, the distracted driver can be held responsible for their negligence; the rider can also sue the driver and request compensation for any harm incurred.

Drunk Driving

There is no excuse for a motorist to drive while intoxicated. Even still, thousands of drunk driving-related accidents are reported in the U.S. every year. If a drunk driver causes a motorcycle accident, the driver is liable for any damages.

Ignoring the Rules of the Road

If a driver speeds, makes an illegal left turn, or breaks other rules of the road, an accident can occur. In instances wherein a driver breaks the law and strikes a motorcycle rider, the motorist is accountable, plain and simple. This driver can get sued and be required to pay tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.

What Our Attorneys Can Do for You

Immediately after you retain a motorcycle accident lawyer in Goose Creek via our office, you can expect us to start working on your case. We thoroughly investigate every claim to uncover relevant evidence, find and interview witnesses, and gain a better understanding of what happened in the moments leading up to an accident involving a motorcyclist. This degree of up-front work is crucial to combat the common biases that jurors and other members of the public often hold about bikers; many people believe that motorcyclists are risk-taking bad guys who are more likely to be blamed for the accidents they get themselves into. Insurance companies, meanwhile, are aware that jurors tend to hold this bias and try to use it to their advantage by offering unreasonably low settlements.

By building unassailable cases of liability, the attorneys at our firm are frequently able to convince insurance companies to settle fairly with our clients instead of rolling the dice against us in a trial.

What’s also important to note is that insurance companies use any number of tactics to try to avoid paying claims. In fact, when an insurance representative acts as if he or she cares about your injuries, this is almost always a facade – you must remember that an insurance adjuster’s loyalties are to his or her employer, not you. We know the types of tactics insurance companies commonly utilize, and a motorcycle accident lawyer in Goose Creek, SC, is prepared to counter them. By retaining the services of Hopkins Law Firm soon after your accident, you can avoid making critical mistakes when trying to deal with the insurance company and its representatives.

Our primary goal is to help you recover maximum compensation for your injuries and losses, with some of the types of compensatory damages being:

• Medical expenses, including future medical costs your injuries might require.
• Income losses, including any reduction in your future earning capacity.
• Burial and funeral costs if your loved one died.
• Loss of the contributions your loved one would have made to your family over his or her life if your loved one died.
• Property damage.
• Your loved one’s lost rights to an inheritance if he or she perished.
• Pain and suffering, including mental and emotional anguish, reduction in quality of life, scarring/disfigurement, disability, loss of guidance/consortium, and punitive damages (if applicable).

Common Types of Motorcycle Collisions in South Carolina

Our motorcycle accident lawyer in Goose Creek team takes on many different types of motorcycle accident cases, including the following common varieties:

Lane Change Collisions

These result from motorists changing lanes without signaling or checking their blind spots for other vehicles, including motorcycles. These types of accidents commonly result when people drive aggressively or fail to pay attention to the traffic around them.

Left Hand Turn Accidents

These are very common for motorcyclists, and they occur when motorists turn left at intersections or onto highways without checking for oncoming traffic. When a motorist turns left in front of a motorcyclist who has the right-of-way, the biker can crash into the car and be thrown from his or her bike.

Rear-End Collisions

These occur when other motorists crash into the backs of motorcycles in front of them. They are common accidents that are frequently caused by distracted driving or tailgating, and, depending on the speed of impact, the motorcyclists may be thrown from their bikes and suffer severe injuries.

Head-On Collisions

While head-on crashes are rare, they are often fatal just due to their nature. In this type of accident, a vehicle crosses into the path of an oncoming motorcycle and crashes into the front of it. The motorcyclist may be run over, thrown onto the hood and through the windshield, or thrown into a stationary object along the side of the road.

Hopkins Law Fact Corner: Head-on accidents frequently occur when people try to pass in no-pass zones or when they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Dooring Collisions

These occur when motorists parked alongside the streets next to traffic lanes fail to check for oncoming traffic before opening their car doors. Oncoming motorcycles in the adjacent traffic lanes are then unable to avoid the doors or stop before crashing into them.

Establishing Liability Following a Motorcycle Crash

If you are looking to collect financial compensation for any injuries you suffered while riding your motorcycle, you are required to show how the defendant, due to their actions, was responsible for the collision. Examples include many of the things we discuss with clients, such as operating a vehicle while under the influence of a substance, texting while driving, or failing to signal before making a turn. If the other party received a ticket from a police officer following the accident, a conviction for that offense can become powerful evidence of fault in a motorcycle accident case.

Sometimes, incidents can involve simple carelessness on the part of the other motorist. In these situations, courts and insurance companies will evaluate the actions of all parties and assign shares of blame for the accident.

In order to guard against certain risks, it is important to speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Goose Creek. After reaching out to Hopkins Law, one of our attorneys can secure evidence and present the narrative that proves you were not at fault.

Let a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Goose Creek SC Conduct Your Case

When a motorist is injured in an accident that was not his or her fault, there is a right to make a compensation claim. However, bikers may find they have difficulty proving their cases or explaining the extent of their losses to insurance companies.

A good motorcycle accident lawyer in Goose Creek can help in each of these vital areas. The Hopkins Law Firm team is on your side to explain your rights, investigate the crash, prove liability, and seek appropriate compensation. Reach out to us today for immediate representation.