Were You Injured In A Motorcycle Accident?
If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, the chance of sustaining serious or life-threatening injuries is much greater for you than for someone injured in a car accident. To find out if you have a valid motorcycle accident claim after being injured, contact Hardee, Massey & Blodgett, LLP. We have been providing representation to clients in Greenville, eastern North Carolina and beyond on a contingency fee basis for decades.
Our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys will fight for the maximum compensation you may be entitled to after being injured in an accident caused by a careless driver. Along with enduring serious and catastrophic injuries, you could have extensive and expensive damage to your property – which could lead to high costs and stress. Our skilled lawyers will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve.
Let our team guide you through the claims process and help you receive compensation for your injuries. Call 252-787-4627.
Who Is Responsible For The Motorcycle Wreck?
Other motor vehicle drivers may perceive motorcycle riders as being reckless and noncompliant of traffic laws when, in fact, collisions between other vehicles and motorcycles are often caused by the negligence of the other vehicle’s driver.
Common causes of motorcycle wrecks include:
- Failing to recognize and see a motorcycle
- Turning directly in front of an approaching motorcycle
- Failing to yield the right of way to a motorcycle
- Allowing a motor vehicle to drift into the lane of a motorcycle
- Misjudging the rate of speed of an oncoming motorcycle rider
Unlike in a car accident where the driver has the benefit of protection from a vehicle’s structure, motorcycle riders don’t have that type of protection and are more susceptible to serious or catastrophic injury. We know the degree of damage that can happen in a motorcycle accident, such as:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns, scarring and disfigurement
- Wrongful death
Our attorneys have seen many types of motorcycle cases, and they will work to help you get the compensation and financial assistance you deserve for the following:
- Medical and rehabilitation costs
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering as well as lost wages
- Final expenses, if the accident is a wrongful death case
Let us know what losses you are facing after a motorcycle crash. We are here to help you pursue the relief that you need.
Hazards Of Motorcycling In Greenville And Beyond
Greenville is not the largest or most traffic-congested community in North Carolina, by far. Our city’s roads are not as crowded as the half-mile section of Interstate 485 in between exits 65 and 65B in Charlotte. I-485 in that location has been identified as the busiest stretch of road anywhere in the state, with a 62,000 annual average daily traffic count. Nonetheless, Greenville does have its busy roads and dangerous intersections. Five major intersections in the city were selected for red-light violation camera installations in 2017:
- Charles Boulevard and 14th Street
- Charles Boulevard and Fire Tower Road
- Arlington Boulevard and Fire Tower Road
- Arlington Boulevard and Greenville Boulevard
- Arlington Boulevard and South Memorial Drive
At the time these red-light safety cameras were initially installed, law enforcement agents pointed out that Greenville had one of the highest crash rates in the state, with about 400-500 crashes under investigation per month. Critics of the cameras have often pointed out that motorcycle and car accidents do not always happen at intersections. Still, every safety measure can make a difference. The use of cameras at hazardous intersections could have a calming impact on the conditions that can lead to motorcycle, pedestrian and car crashes.
Since the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) has indicated that about 50% of fatal accidents happen at or near intersections, a reduction in the running of red lights at those intersections may be preventing accidents already. However, motorcycle accidents continue to occur in various ways and places throughout the region.
Motorcycle Accidents Do Happen In Our Area, And Our Firm Is A Strategic Resource For The Injured
Even with cautionary measures in place, an internet search for “motorcycle accidents in Greenville, North Carolina,” inevitably yields results showing recent fatalities and serious injuries to motorcyclists in this community.
For these reasons, Hardee, Massey & Blodgett remains dedicated to providing representation to people injured in motorcycle accidents. See examples of some of our case outcomes (claims yielding $980,000, $450,000, $100,000 and $84,000) as evidence of this focus of our practice. Our attorneys achieved these results despite the fact that liability insurance for motorists – drivers of cars as well as motorcyclists – has a legal minimum of only:
- $30,000 per injured person
- $60,000 per accident total for injuries
- $25,000 for property damage
When injuries are serious, we dig in and search hard for resources for our clients. We know how to maximize settlements and verdicts for injured motorcyclists.
How To Prevent Motorcycle Accidents
Both car drivers and motorcycle riders would do well to take precautions to avoid motorcycle wrecks, including:
- Slowing down: As the saying goes, “speed kills,” and research bears this out.
- Looking out: When approaching intersections or highway entrances and exits, it is always prudent to look behind, to the side and in all directions. Careless driving is a cause of countless accidents.
- Watching out for parked cars: Motorcyclists should never ride between moving traffic on one side and parked vehicles on the other.
- Driving sober: Drinking and operating a motorcycle or car under the influence of drugs of any kind is a recipe for disaster.
- Doing regular maintenance: Motorcyclists and other motorists need to know how to conduct safety checks, reviewing tires, brakes and lights. A mechanic can provide an inspection checklist.
- Staying aware of roadway hazards: Watch out for potholes, debris in the road, overgrown tree limbs and effects of inclement weather on road surfaces.
- Staying in one’s lane: Neither car drivers nor motorcyclists should attempt to share a lane with another vehicle – including two motorcycles riding in the same lane of traffic.
For more information about motorcycle riding safety, see a description of a collaborative effort between the Governor’s Highway Safety Program and the N.C. State Highway Patrol known as Bike Safe NC. Our attorneys strongly encourage the North Carolina biking community to take advantage of these excellent training opportunities.
If you have already been in a motorcycle accident, a thorough investigation may uncover harmful practices, such as those cautioned against above, that led to the accident. Ask your lawyer what it may mean to your case if you were cited for speeding or changing lanes illegally at the time of your crash. If you did so as a means of self-defense to avoid a pothole or another dire hazard, you may have a valid defense. Consult with one of our attorneys to discuss all details of your case – the sooner, the better.
Frequently Asked Questions About Motorcycle Wrecks
Bring us any concerns you have such as the following, and our lawyers will offer personalized counsel, whether you are hoping to avoid having an accident or have already had one.
Should I bother to contact a lawyer if my injuries were not serious?
It is common for people with back, neck, head and shoulder injuries to have the illusion of not being injured for a few days. They may even tell their insurance companies and other people that they feel fine. But after the shock wears off, they begin to experience pain and perhaps even quasi-paralysis. Once they visit a doctor and finally call an attorney, much time has gone by, and the chances of a successful investigation have greatly diminished. For your protection, we strongly recommend that you speak with an attorney soon after a motorcycle accident, even if you are unsure of whether you have been seriously hurt.
What if I was given a speeding ticket or another type of traffic citation at the time of the accident? Will this make it impossible for me to file an injury claim?
This is a classic scenario of the type that leads us to urge people not to be their own lawyers. With a timely evaluation of the facts, an experienced attorney on your side may successfully defend you in the traffic ticket case and, at the same time, get your injury investigation underway. Your case could be way ahead or way behind, depending on your willingness to get timely legal counsel.
What is the most common situation that leads to a motorcycle accident?
Experts often mention left turns and intersection accidents as common motorcycle accident settings. In many such cases, drivers of cars and trucks say that they “didn’t see the motorcycle.”
Does North Carolina have comparative fault, and what might that mean for my motorcycle accident claim?
Yes, the state’s laws say that if someone was partially at fault, they may not be able to bring a lawsuit. However, we urge potential clients to let an attorney determine how to preserve an injured motorcyclist’s right to take legal action.
I wasn’t wearing a motorcycle helmet – or, a motorcyclist who collided with my car wasn’t wearing one. Will this make it hard for me to get compensation for my injuries?
The answer to this question, as with many others, will depend on the specific details of your case. But it may be worth noting that North Carolina does not allow a violation of the state’s helmet law to be considered negligence in civil litigation. This legal boundary may be relevant in your case. A lawyer can help determine whether helmet usage is likely to impact your injury claim. It should not keep you from seeking free legal counsel.
Contact Our Motorcycle Attorneys
After an accident, it’s important that you immediately contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to begin working on your case while information about the accident is still fresh. Our team will need to act fast to:
- Gather and preserve evidence, medical records and reports
- Obtain continued medical care for you
- Negotiate with or fight the insurance company or the negligent party to maximize the compensation you can receive
Contact our attorneys at Hardee, Massey & Blodgett by calling 252-787-4627 for a free consultation and case evaluation today.