Greenville Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Motorcycle Accidents in Greenville County

If you or someone you love was involved in a motorcycle accident in Greenville, SC or the surrounding areas, turn to The Team That Rides®—turn to Tom McGrath’s Motorcycle Law Group.

Since 1990, our firm has provided highly personalized and professional legal representation to injured motorcyclists. We also represent surviving families of those wrongfully killed in tragic collisions. As avid riders ourselves, we understand the unique challenges you are facing; as experienced Greenville motorcycle accident lawyers, we know how to fight for the maximum compensation you are owed. And we won’t charge you a cent until we win your case.

Tom McGrath’s Motorcycle Law Group can fight for you and your recovery. Call (855) 529-7433 or contact us online at any time for a free consultation.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Motorcycles are way less crashworthy than other vehicles. That means riders tend to sustain severe, life-altering injuries when they are struck by large passenger cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and the like.

Some of the most common injuries associated with motorcycle accidents include:

• Burns, including friction burns (road rash)
• Broken bones/fractures
• Serious lacerations, bruises, and abrasions
• Head and brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Whiplash
• Neck, back, and shoulder injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Soft tissue and organ damage
• Amputation/loss of limb

Such catastrophic injuries can have devastating effects, such as lifelong disability. The cost of treating motorcycle accident injuries is often exorbitant, and victims face a painful and time-consuming road to recovery.

How an Accident Can Change Your Life

At Tom McGrath’s Motorcycle Law Group, we recognize that a serious accident can completely change your life. Some changes are brought by the symptoms of an injury, while others are simply the result of surviving a traumatic experience.

Some of the most common challenges our clients face include:

• Mountains of debt
• Increased insurance rates
• Forced to change job fields
• Unable to work, sometimes permanently
• Mood and personality changes
• Emotional lability
• Apathy
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Grief and bereavement

Whether you or a loved one is struggling with these changes, there is something that can be done. A legal claim can help you face, treat, and/or overcome these changes. Let our Greenville motorcycle accident lawyers help you through this painful, disorienting time.

Find Financial Support Through Compensation

Money doesn’t solve everything, but it can support you and your family after a motorcycle accident. The aftermath of an accident is hard enough to deal with on its own.

You may be entitled to compensation for your damages, which may include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost earnings and benefits
• Reduced earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Wrongful death of a loved one

It all comes down to the facts of your case. Tom McGrath’s Motorcycle Law Group offers free case evaluations to accident victims. There is no risk to speaking with our attorneys. On top of helping you figure out the value of your case, we will also take a look at who may be responsible for compensating you.

Who Is at Fault for a Motorcycle Accident?

Whoever caused the crash will be considered at fault and responsible for damages. In most cases, the at-fault party is not the motorcyclist, but another driver who acted negligently.

Some examples of negligent motorist behavior that frequently leads to motorcycle accidents are:

• Distracted driving
• Texting and driving
• Driving under the influence
• Speeding
• Driving aggressively or recklessly
• Following too closely (tailgating)
• Making dangerous turns, lane changes, etc.
• Failing to check for motorcyclists in blind spots
• Failing to see motorcyclists
• Failing to yield the right of way
• Running red lights, stop signs, etc.
• Opening car doors into oncoming motorcyclists’ paths

These are just some examples of how motorist negligence can put motorcycle riders at risk.

If you believe that someone else was at fault for the accident that caused your injuries or the death of your loved one, don’t wait to act. Reach out to Tom McGrath’s Motorcycle Law Group to learn how our Greenville motorcycle accident attorneys can help.

Is South Carolina a No-Fault State?

South Carolina is not a no-fault state. States that follow no-fault systems require motorists to carry minimum amounts of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. After an accident, injured individuals can file PIP claims and recover compensation for certain damages, such as medical bills, regardless of fault.

Because South Carolina follows a traditional fault-based (or “tort”) system, you must typically file a claim with the other party’s insurance provider to recover compensation. This involves proving that the other person or party was at fault for the accident. If insurance refuses to pay your rightful compensation, you could file a personal injury lawsuit against that provider.

You could also sue a third party if other factors contributed to the accident. For example, if an auto defect, such as a faulty braking system, played a role in the motorcycle crash that left you injured, you could have a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

What to Do if You Share Fault for the Crash

An injured motorcyclist can still file a claim for damages if they are partly at fault. These victims must prove they were less at fault for the accident than the other person or party. If they are found to be 50 percent or more to blame, they cannot file a claim or recover any compensation.

Additionally, even if they are less than 50 percent at fault, any degree of fault will affect how much compensation they can recover. Any settlement or verdict will be reduced by the same percentage of fault they are found to have.

So, for example, if you are found to be 30 percent to blame, you could only recover 70 percent of the total amount you are seeking in damages.

This is all made possible under South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence rule for accidents involving shared fault. “Shared fault” refers to accidents in which two or more parties acted negligently or wrongfully, leading to the crash.

Common Challenges in Motorcycle Accident Claims

Bias and Prejudice Against Motorcyclists

Although many people mistakenly believe that motorcycle riders are dangerous, risk-taking drivers, we at Tom McGrath’s Motorcycle Law Group know that this is simply not true. In fact, as a whole, motorcyclists are among the safest and most defensive motorists on the road. (This does not mean they can always predict—or avoid—accidents.)

Sadly, the widespread bias against motorcycle riders can work against them. Insurance providers know that. In court, they typically play into that bias to escape accountability.

A common example of this is when an insurance defense lawyer questions an eyewitness about the sound of a crash. Motorcycles are loud, even when they’re traveling at low speeds. The roar of a throttle, for instance, may make it seem like a rider was traveling way faster than they really were.

The Severity of the Crash

As mentioned, most motorcycle accidents result in severe injuries. That means these claims tend to be worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Most insurance providers will be reluctant to pay this amount.

This challenge is one of the main reasons why it’s wise to hire a Greenvillemotorcycle accident lawyer.

Legal Deadlines

Keep in mind, most accident claims must be filed within three years of the date when the accident took place. If you miss this statute of limitations, your case will be thrown out.

Waiting too long to take action is one of the most common mistakes victims make. It is very easy to see the statute of limitations as a reason to put off taking action. But you should take action as soon as you can. It takes time to build a solid case—the longer you wait, the harder it will be to win.

How Our Greenville Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Can Help

At Tom McGrath’s Motorcycle Law Group, we are here to fight for the justice you deserve. We work tirelessly to hold negligent motorists and other liable parties accountable, seeking full compensation for our clients. While a settlement or verdict cannot undo the pain and trauma you have been through, a successful case can provide the monetary resources you need to heal and move forward with your life.

We frequently work with accident reconstructionists and other experts who help us gather all available evidence and build powerful, persuasive personal injury cases. Our aggressive approach has helped us secure numerous favorable settlements and verdicts in our 30+ years of practice.

Schedule a Complimentary Case Evaluation Today

Our Greenville motorcycle accident attorneys are available to take your call or return your email at any time from anywhere. We provide our clients with highly accessible and personalized legal services; as a client, you will even receive our cell phone numbers so you can always get in touch with your attorney.

To request a free consultation, call us at (855) 529-7433. There are no legal fees unless we win your case!