Columbia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycles are a popular alternative for those who want to save gas but might not be able to bike or walk to the places they need to go. Motorcycles give people a level of freedom that they might not otherwise have. Unfortunately, that freedom may come at a price.

Motorcycles aren’t as protected as other vehicles, which means a motorcycle crash can be especially devastating, leaving you with severe injuries that take time to recover from. If you’ve been in such a crash, you need compensation now, but the insurance company and another driver may not be willing to give you what you deserve without a fight.

That’s why you need to contact a lawyer at HawkLaw, PA. Our attorneys know how serious motorcycle crashes are and how tough it can be to fight back for your compensation. Fortunately, we’ll fight back on your behalf. Get in touch with a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer at our firm.

Motorcycle Crashes Are Serious

Unfortunately, it’s tough to fight back by yourself after a motorcycle accident when you’re dealing with the painful consequences. These damages can be devastating, and they can leave you struggling to recover for some time. In some cases, it may be impossible to fully recover.

Motorcycle injuries can be overwhelming, which makes it even more difficult to fight for the compensation you need. You might have suffered one or more of the following injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Friction burns
• Bone fractures

Some of these injuries can lead to permanent impairments. If you suffer a spinal injury that leads to paralysis, you might need lifelong treatment for your condition. These injuries don’t go away, and it can take months or longer just to recover to the point that the pain is close to manageable.

Even injuries you might consider minor can be serious. For example, friction burns may not seem as serious as brain injuries, but this injury, also called “road rash,” can leave debris in the wound, which can be painful and difficult to clean, raising the chance of an infection. That’s why it’s important that you’re fully compensated for all of your injuries—so you can get all the necessary medical treatment.

Insurance and Columbia Motorcycle Accidents

When you’re seeking help after a Columbia motorcycle accident, your first thought might be to turn to the insurance company. Unfortunately, insurance companies aren’t always so helpful when it comes to motorcyclists.

Motorcyclists are the victims of many untrue stereotypes, many of which are harmful. Insurers might assume that you’re reckless and dangerous on the road simply because you travel on two wheels. Even if they don’t believe that, they might try to make it seem that way to make it look like your crash was your fault. If that effort is successful, you could see your compensation decreased or taken away entirely.

In some cases, the insurance company may try to lowball your settlement, giving you an offer so low it’s insulting. Motorcycle crashes are expensive, so you’ll need the full settlement you deserve. Unfortunately, the other side may claim that the lowball offer is the best they can do in an effort to make you desperate enough to take their offer.

They’ll try other methods, too. You can expect to have trouble contacting them, getting late or slow replies. You may not get a response at all. If you’re having trouble with the insurance company, reach out to a motorcycle accident attorney in Columbia for the help you need with your claim.

Compensation for Columbia Motorcycle Crash Victims

Motorcycle accidents can be expensive, so you’ll need to know the full extent of the losses you’ve suffered before you ever file your claim. Once you accept compensation for your claim, you likely won’t have a chance to recover more, so make sure you get the full amount you need on the first go-round.

This means you’ll need to consider your economic and non-economic damages. That means both your financial losses and the emotional and mental suffering your motorcycle accident has caused should be accounted for.

Unfortunately, the value of a motorcycle crash claim isn’t easy to calculate alone. Non-economic damages can be tough to calculate because they’ll depend on the severity and impact of your injuries. Fortunately, a Columbia motorcycle crash attorney will have the tools you’ll need to accurately calculate your compensation.

Consider including any of the following damages you’ve suffered:

• Lost income
• Damage to your ability to work
• Property damage
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of consortium

Laws That Will Affect Your Case

Make sure you’re keeping in mind the important South Carolina laws that will affect your claim. In some cases, your compensation could be reduced or lost completely if you make a mistake regarding one of these laws. That’s why many people in your situation team up with a Columbia motorcycle crash lawyer. While you may not need to know about every law that affects your claim, your motorcycle accident lawyer in Columbia will review the most important laws that will affect you.

First, remember that you’ll only have a limited time to file your claim. The South Carolina statute of limitations holds that you’ll only have three years to file your claim. If three years pass before you file your claim, your case will be dismissed, and you’ll be barred from recovering compensation. You’ll need to protect your claim by acting quickly.

You’ll also need to be prepared for the negligent driver who harmed you to claim you were also partly responsible for the accident. If you don’t fight back, this could reduce your compensation by the percentage of fault you’re found responsible for. That’s thanks to a rule called modified comparative negligence.

For example, let’s say you were on your motorcycle when another car hit you, but you made a minor error right before the crash and were found 10 percent at fault for the accident. While this might not seem like much, it adds up when you need it most. And if you’re more at fault than the other driver, it could mean completely losing your ability to recover compensation.

Contact a Columbia Motorcycle Accident Attorney

After a motorcycle crash, it’s tough to recover from the suffering you’ve been put through. The physical injuries you’ve suffered are bad enough, but you’ll likely be dealing with financial and emotional losses, as well.

That’s why you need to call a lawyer from HawkLaw, PA. Dealing with any kind of accident can be devastating and complex, but when you’re a motorcyclist, you’ll also need to overcome the unfair assumptions many people make about motorcyclists. Fortunately, our lawyers can handle all of this and fight back for you.

We’ll get started with a free case review, where we’ll show you how our attorneys can help your claim succeed. We understand how important it is to get the full compensation you need, and we’ll help you fight for it.

Ready to get started? We’re a click or call away. Reach out to a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer by calling 1-888-HAWK-LAW (429-5529) or by completing the online contact form.