motorcycle safety laws

Motorcyclists have the same rights on South Carolina’s roads as any other driver — and they bear the same responsibilities.

So says the South Carolina Code.

Despite what the law says, many drivers treat motorcyclists like second-class citizens on the highways, sometimes with tragic results.

And when a motorcycle and a vehicle with four or more wheels get into an accident, the motorcycle almost always loses.

Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today

Our South Carolina personal injury attorneys at Joye Law Firm can help you through the confusion and strain that follow a serious motorcycle accident. Respect and compassion are what you will get from our lawyers and staff from your first call until your case is resolved. Since 1968 we have helped injured people like you recover not just the money and benefits they deserve, but also their lives.

Let us help you too. Call Joye Law Firm. You can reach us at (888) 324-3100 or fill out an online form for a free case review.

Joye Law Firm has offices in Myrtle Beach, Clinton, and Charleston, but our motorcycle accident attorneys are ready to handle your case anywhere in South Carolina. We represent clients all over our state, including Florence, Richland County, Orangeburg, Columbia, Horry County (including Conway and North Myrtle Beach), North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, and Summerville.

Experience Counts

Our personal injury attorneys at Joye Law Firm are committed to our clients. With nearly 250 years of combined litigation experience, our South Carolina motorcycle accident attorneys at Joye Law Firm have received an AV rating from the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell, and several lawyers have been recognized as Super Lawyers.

Results we have attained for previous clients include a $5.9 million settlement for a client who suffered brain injuries in a car accident, a $1.15 million settlement for the family of a man killed in a car accident, and a $500,000 verdict for a man whose back was injured in a collision.

While every case is different, and past results are in no way intended to guarantee that a similar result can be obtained in another case, past results obtained by a law firm are an indication of the firm’s experience when it comes to serious injury and wrongful death cases. For more details about the results obtained for previous Joye Law Firm clients, please click on the Results tab on our home page.

Highlights of South Carolina Motorcycle Laws

The main thrust of South Carolina’s statutes regarding motorcycles is that motorcyclists are entitled to all the rights – and bear all the responsibilities – of other motorists on the road.

Some Other More Specific Safety Rules Related To Operating A Motorcycle In South Carolina

  • Motorcycles are entitled to the full use of a lane, and other vehicles cannot intrude on a motorcycle’s lane.
  • However, motorcyclists are permitted to ride two abreast in a single lane, but no more than two side-by-side.
  • Motorcyclists cannot pass another vehicle in the same lane.
  • Motorcyclists age 21 and older do not have to wear a helmet or eye protection; those younger than 21 must wear an approved helmet and must also wear goggles or a face shield unless they are riding a motorcycle with a windshield.
  • Riders must sit on the seat, facing forward with one leg on each side of the motorcycle.
  • Motorcyclists can go straight through a red light, provided that (1) they first come to a complete stop at the intersection, (2) wait 120 seconds, and (3) exercise due care, treating the stoplight as if it were a stop sign.
  • If a passenger rides on a motorcycle, the vehicle must be designed to carry more than one person and must include footrests for the passenger.
  • Motorcyclists can’t carry anything while riding that prevents them from keeping both hands on the handlebars.
  • At least one rear-view mirror is required.
  • A headlight must be illuminated when the motorcycle is in use.

Contact Our South Carolina Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today

If you’ve been seriously injured in a South Carolina motorcycle accident, you can trust our attorneys to work to get you the money and benefits you are entitled to.

Call Joye Law Firm at (888) 324-3100 or fill out our free online case evaluation form.