Lack of visibility and other drivers’ inattention are to blame for many motorcycle accidents. About half of all collisions with motorcycles happen at intersections, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Other drivers making left turns in front of motorcycles pose a particular hazard, but wrecks also happen where a car or truck pulls into the path of an oncoming motorcycle from a side street, parking lot or driveway.
Other factors that frequently contribute to motorcycle accidents include: (1) the instability inherent in a two-wheeled vehicle; (2) other drivers’ blind spots; (3) tailgating or “cutting off”; (4) speeding or other reckless driving; (5) distractions; (6) defective road conditions; (7) vehicle defects; and (8) driving under the influence.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today
Whatever the cause, the proven 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. Just Call Joye. You can reach us at (877) 537-1920 or fill out an online form for a free case review.
Joye Law Firm has offices in Myrtle Beach and Charleston, but our highly qualified motorcycle accident attorneys are ready to handle your case anywhere in South Carolina. We have successfully represented 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
The proven personal injury attorneys at Joye Law Firm are committed to our clients. With more than 110 years of combined litigation experience, the South Carolina motorcycle accident attorneys at Joye Law Firm have received an AV rating from the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell, and several have been recognized as Super Lawyers.
Our personal injury lawyers have a track record of getting results for our clients, including a $5.9 million settlement for a client who suffered brain injuries in an auto wreck, 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.
Common Causes Of South Carolina Motorcycle Accidents
Nationwide, there were 2,387 accidents in 2008 that involved a motorcycle and another vehicle. In 41 percent of those wrecks, the other vehicle was turning left while the motorcycle was going straight or passing the other vehicle, according to NHTSA statistics.
It is clear that motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to accidents involving another vehicle making a left turn. The South Carolina Highway Patrol points out that traffic lights are the site of a large number of these types of accidents because left-turning motorists often attempt a quick turn in front of other traffic and don’t see an oncoming motorcycle or misjudge its speed.
Intersections where vision is blocked by obstacles like buildings, parked cars or bushes present another hazard for motorcyclists. Cars backing out of driveways in residential areas are also dangerous. Due to their small size and the fact that motorcycles are particularly hard to see from the front, other motorists can pull into their path even on a straight road with a clear view.
Most fatal crashes involve an impact with the front of the motorcycle – 77 percent, according to 2008 NHTSA figures. Only 7 percent of fatalities resulted from a collision with the rear of a motorcycle.
Collisions can also happen when a motorcycle is in another driver’s blind spot, and that driver fails to perform a “head check” before switching lanes. Since motorcycles typically have shorter stopping distances due to their light weight, they are particularly susceptible to being rear-ended by a tailgating vehicle.
Like all motorists, motorcyclists are vulnerable to accidents caused by distracted driving. However, due to their smaller profile and limited visibility, motorcycles might be harder for a distracted driver to detect.
Sometimes the motorcycle itself is to blame due either to a manufacturing or design defect or to improper maintenance. Wear items like brakes and tires are particularly important for motorcycle safety.
In other instances, the road is the cause of motorcycle accidents. Due to their design, motorcycles face a greater hazard from steep shoulder drop-offs, potholes, cracked or grooved pavement, gaps between different road surfaces, puddles and road debris. In certain instances, the agency that maintains the roadway could be held liable for a motorcycle crash.
Contact Our Myrtle Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today
If you’ve been seriously injured in a South Carolina motorcycle accident, you can trust our dedicated attorneys to get you the money and benefits you are entitled to.
Just Call Joye at (877) 537-1920 or fill out our free online case evaluation form.
