Charleston Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

The last thing any motorcycle rider wants to think about while cruising along the open road is an accident. However, like all accidents, motorcycle accidents are unpredictable and can happen to anyone at any time, even the safest riders.

Representing Those Injured in Charleston, SC Motorcycle Crashes

The legal team at Cavanaugh & Thickens has vast experience in many different forms of motor vehicle crashes, including motorcycle accidents. Our Charleston motorcycle accident lawyers will fight to get you or your loved one the compensation you deserve for all physical, financial, and emotional damages the accident caused. To schedule your free consultation and get an award-winning lawyer on your side, call our office today at (843) 888-9000.

Compensation Available After a Motorcycle Accident

Sadly, we can’t go back in time and prevent the accident from happening, but we can help you through the legal process and ensure that you and your family get the justice and compensation you deserve. We understand that this does not take back what you’ve been through, but we take pride in at least being able to help ease the physical, financial, and emotional burden for you so you focus your energy on recovering.

While it’s impossible to put an estimate on how much your case may be worth until we’ve sat down with you, thoroughly investigated your case, and optimized your claim, there are many forms of compensation that may be available to you based on the specifics of your motorcycle accident that we will help you recover, such as:

Medical Expenses –

This includes compensation for any past, present, and future medical expenses related to the accident, such as ambulance costs, hospitalizations/emergency visits, tests/screenings, surgeries, follow up visits, rehabilitation treatment including physical therapy and chiropractic costs, home health care, and more.

Lost Wages –

You can receive compensation if your injuries have prevented you from returning to work and/or from returning to work in the same capacity.

Minor Injuries: If you’ve missed days from work due to your motorcycle accident, you may qualify for compensation for those hours/days.

Severe Injuries: If you’ve missed weeks, months, or years of your salary/pay due to your injuries, you are likely eligible to receive compensation.

Reduced Earning Capacity: If your injuries prevent you from returning to work in the same capacity, you can be eligible for compensation for your future reduced earning capacity.

Property Damage –

This can include compensation for any damage to your vehicle, as well as personal belongings such as a cell phone, watch, etc.

Pain and Suffering –

Pain and suffering compensation is designed to compensate you for the physical and emotional injuries you suffered as a result of the accident. Unlike other damages, there is not an exact monetary amount tied to your pain and suffering, so our motorcycle accident lawyers at Cavanaugh & Thickens will use their experience to help you understand what you may be entitled to for your pain and suffering.

Wrongful Death Damages –

If the accident resulted in tragic loss of life, we are so sorry. In this case, you may qualify for compensation for funeral and burial costs, punitive damages, loss of companionship, and other expenses related to the death.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Motorcycle design offers much less protection to riders and passengers than typical cars and other forms of transportation. Unfortunately, with less protection, accidents involving motorcyclists often result in severe or catastrophic injuries. In fact, the proportion of people killed outside the vehicle (motorcyclists, pedestrians, pedal cyclists, and other nonoccupants) has increased from a low of 20 percent in 1996 to a high of 34 percent in 2021, according to the NHTSA.

While every accident is different and can result in a wide array of injuries, some injuries are more common than others, including:

• Road Rash: Road rash is a friction wound often caused when a rider skids against pavement. Common places to have road rash following these accidents can include the knees, elbows, hands, face, and forearms. Road rash can also lead to infection and scarring if not treated properly.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), “Spinal cord injuries (SCI) is damage to the tight bundle of cells nerves that sends and receives signals from the brain to and from the rest of the body.” Symptoms of these injuries can include numbness, paralysis, pain and pressure, loss of movement, loss of bladder/bowel control, problems walking, difficulty breathing, and more.

• Paralysis: Paralysis can result from serious spinal cord injuries and prevents people from making voluntary muscle movements. Paralysis has multiple degrees, including partial and complete paralysis.

• Amputation: Amputation is surgery to remove all or part of a limb, this can include above-knee and below-knee amputations.

• Back Injuries: These can include pinched nerves often from whiplash, muscle strains and sprains, or severe spinal cord injuries and paralysis.

• Neck Injuries: Even with a helmet, the force of motorcycle accidents can result in serious neck injuries. Neck injuries can include broken collarbones to paralysis, and even loss of life.

• Brain Injuries: Brain injuries can occur whether the rider was wearing a helmet or not, and can result from being thrown off the bike, striking the head during a fall, and more. Symptoms can include worsening headaches, weakness, numbness, seizures, nausea and vomiting, slurred speech, mood swings, dilated pupils, and more.

• Broken Bones: Motorcycle accidents can lead to broken bones including broken arms, elbows, fingers, and more.

• Nerve Damage: It is not uncommon for motorcyclists to experience permanent nerve damage following an accident.

We understand that these injuries can be very traumatic for you or your loved one. From long rehabilitation plans to relearning day-to-day tasks, continuing pain, phantom pain, and emotional trauma, the impact these accidents and injuries have can be extremely difficult to navigate, even with a solid medical team on your side.

Hiring a lawyer will help you understand your rights, keep you informed throughout the process, and fight to get you the maximum of what you’re owed.

Handling The Insurance Company

Unfortunately, it is our experience that injured motorcyclists have difficulty getting what they’re owed from insurance companies. It is to be expected that the insurance company will try to deny your claim or settle with you for much less than the true value of your case if you don’t have an attorney on your side.

Our attorneys have over 60 years of combined experience negotiating with and fighting insurance companies on behalf of our clients who have suffered serious injuries. Understanding different insurance policies, getting the runaround from adjusters, and being tricked into something after an accident is extremely frustrating. With Cavanaugh & Thickens, we won’t let that happen. We will fight every day to make sure that you get the compensation you deserve for the damages you have suffered from a motorcycle accident. For a free consultation, call our team at (843) 888-9000.

Charleston, South Carolina Motorcycle Helmet Laws

In Charleston, and throughout the state of South Carolina, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to operate or ride upon a two-wheeled motorized vehicle without a Department of Public Safety-approved, protective helmet. Those over 21 are not required to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle in South Carolina. However, all passengers must wear a helmet.

Although it is required by law, failure to wear a helmet is not typically admissible at trial.

Did you know: Only 18 US states and the District of Columbia have universal motorcycle helmet laws requiring all riders to wear helmets? 

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

According to the NHTSA, motorcycle crashes resulting in loss of life increased 7.7% between 2020 and 2021.

In 2020 alone, it was reported that 85,528 motorcyclists were injured.

Motorcycle helmet use has decreased by 6% from 2000 to 2020. As of 2020, 65% of riders wore helmets while on their motorcycle, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Common Causes of Charleston, SC Motorcycle Accidents

There are a few common causes of crashes involving motorcyclists. These can include:

• Alcohol and Drug Use
• Speeding
• Mechanical Problems
• Inexperience/Inattention
• Other Vehicles on the Road
• Distracted Drivers
• Poor Weather Conditions
• Poor Roadway Conditions, and more

There are other important factors at play with motorcycle accidents to keep in mind as well. For example, motorcycles only have two wheels, meaning that they are less stable than a typical passenger vehicle. This can make what seem to be smaller hazards, such as potholes or uneven roads, have larger impacts on riders. At a much smaller size than typical cars, motorcycles can also be harder to see, causing riders to get hit.

No matter the factors at play in your accident, it’s in your best interest to call our team sooner than later to get a clear understanding of what you may be entitled to and the next steps you should take to protect your rights. To contact our experienced legal team, simply dial (843) 888-9000 or complete an online consultation request form and a member of our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

Free Motorcycle Accident Consultations

If you or a loved one has been injured or lost their life to a motorcycle accident, we are here for you. Get the justice and compensation you deserve and are owed under South Carolina law.

To schedule a free consultation with our award-winning motorcycle accident lawyers in Charleston, simply give our office a call at (843) 888-9000, email info@ctlawsc.com, or submit a form and a member of our team will reach out to you.

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