There is nothing quite like a motorcycle ride through the historic waterfront parks and highways of Beaufort. If you are one of the many who have suffered a devastating accident while exploring this area, you are not alone.
At Shelly Leeke Law Firm, our Beaufort personal injury lawyer is dedicated to helping victims get the help they need after someone else causes their injuries. We have recovered more than $6 million for our clients. Talk to our Beaufort motorcycle accident lawyer today.
Put Your Trust in a Beaufort Motorcycle Accident Attorney
You are not alone if you feel overwhelmed by what is to come. You can turn to a compassionate Beaufort motorcycle accident attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm for the legal support and advice you deserve. Contact a dedicated legal team for a free consultation today to find out who is to blame for your injuries and the steps you can take to bring them to justice.
Were you recently injured in a motorcycle collision? If so, the injuries you sustain may be life-changing. When another party is at fault, there are legal steps to hold the party accountable for their recklessness and to recover your losses in their entirety.
In South Carolina, motorcycle riders are constantly at risk just being on the road. With one motorcyclist dying every 2.3 days in 2021 in accidents on the state’s roadways, it is terrifying to be a victim here when you learn about South Carolina’s motorcycle accident statistics. Yet, with the help of an experienced lawyer, you will gain an advocate willing to work hard to recover your losses.
How Insurance Companies Limit Motorcycle Accident Claims
As motorcycle accident attorneys in Beaufort, our legal team has seen many instances in which victims of motorcycle accidents face an uphill battle trying to recover fair damages for their losses. Insurance companies are often to blame.
There are several ways they may try to limit your compensation, which is why working with an attorney becomes so critical:
- Denial of compensation. Insurance companies often try to shift the blame to the motorcycle rider. They may do this by using past accidents or reckless driving charges against you. They may say you do not have the right to compensation.
- Forcing you to settle fast. Since motorcycle accidents often cause serious injury and losses, insurance companies know that pushing you to settle sooner could mean reducing the amount they pay out. Once you agree to a settlement, you often cannot get more.
- Limitations of coverage. In some cases, insurance companies may try to reduce how much is paid by showing that you had previous injuries and preexisting conditions, such as from another accident, that caused this incident.
The complexities in these actions make it hard for victims to recover damages fairly, even if they know the other driver is responsible. Let an experienced and compassionate attorney help you. With our legal guidance, we do not let the insurance company cause you more harm.
How Motorcycle Accident Claims are Paid in Beaufort
Being involved in a motorcycle accident can be a jarring experience. However, one of the most important elements of the motor vehicle accident claims process is recovering the compensation you will need to cover your costs. The financial burden can often worsen your emotional trauma and physical injury.
Your attorney will carefully scrutinize the details of your case to determine how to recover the compensation you deserve. Generally, motorcycle accident claims can be paid out through insurance claims or a trial verdict. When filing a claim with the insurance company, you may expect to be awarded compensation for your medical expenses and property damages, such as the cost of repairing or replacing your motorcycle.
However, when you pursue a civil lawsuit, your lawyer has the opportunity to seek compensation for multiple types of economic and non-economic damages. This might include pain and suffering damages, reduced quality of life, lost income and tips, and much more. A leading legal advocate with our firm will ensure the value of your claim is calculated accurately to maximize your payout wherever possible.
Filing a Wrongful Death Claim After a Motorcycle Accident
Victims of motorcycle accidents do not always survive. Some people pass away at the time of the accident, while others may struggle for weeks or longer in the hospital before succumbing to their injuries. This leaves the family responsible for taking legal action against those who caused the losses.
Our legal team knows this is an incredibly challenging time. Yet, it is your right to pursue justice for your family members. Let us help you.
If you believe your family member died as a result of a motorcycle accident caused by another person, reach out to our legal team. Allow us to get to work building a strong case to support the process of recovering fair compensation and holding those who hurt your family accountable. We cannot bring them back, but we can make sure that those who did this pay for the losses they caused.
Most Common Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle accident injuries can come in countless forms. Many are serious enough to alter the injury victims’ lives permanently. Some of the more common types of motorcycle accident injuries you may be able to seek compensation for with help from your Beaufort traumatic brain injury lawyer include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Surgical or traumatic amputation
- Hearing or vision loss
- Compound fractures and broken bones
- Road lash, whiplash, and back injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ failure
- Conclusions, lacerations, and abrasions
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Other catastrophic injuries
These are just a few examples of the different types of injuries you may be able to recover compensation for after a motorcycle crash. Have you been diagnosed with another type of injury that is not included above? Be sure to contact our Beaufort motorcycle accident attorney to discuss your financial relief options.
What to Expect from Your Beaufort Motorcycle Accident Insurance Claim
In South Carolina, if another driver causes your motorcycle accident, you can seek compensation for the losses you incurred through their insurance company’s liability policy. That driver is accountable for any losses you can document and clearly provide evidence for, but doing so is more challenging than many realize. Filing a simple motorcycle insurance claim with an attorney in Beaufort is the better route to take.
Insurance companies will do all they can to limit your compensation, but with the help of an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer, you can feel confident your claim will be taken seriously. Before you speak to the insurance company, it is beneficial to reach out to our law firm for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let us guide you in getting the financial support you deserve.
One of the most complex elements of the motorcycle accident claims process is dealing with the insurance company. Recovering compensation through an insurance claim is one of the top ways to recover your losses. For this reason, it is important to understand how insurance claims work after a motorcycle crash so you can protect yourself and ensure you are not taken advantage of. Browse our case results to see how we have helped others like you.
How Motorcycle Accident Insurance Claims Work
South Carolina is a fault-based state when it comes to automobile insurance for motor vehicle accidents, including motorcycle crashes.
Drivers are not required to carry personal injury protection coverage. However, those who do may have the option of filing a claim with their insurance company if they are involved in an accident.
You May Be Accused of Causing Your Motorcycle Accident or Damages
It is not unusual for motorcycle accident victims to be accused of sharing liability for their damages. Insurance companies make money by paying out as little on claims as possible. If they have to pay out on your claim, they are losing money.
However, if they can blame you for causing the accident or your subsequent injuries, they may be able to get away with paying you less than you deserve or nothing at all. Thankfully, South Carolina follows modified comparative negligence laws with a 51% threshold, which means if your portion of blame does not exceed 51%, you can still recover compensation at a reduced payout.
However, your attorney will be by your side every step of the way to ensure liability is assessed accurately and the insurance company does not take advantage of you during your greatest time of need.
You do not need to worry about documenting your losses or proving your innocence if you have been accused. We will take every step possible to protect your rights and provide you with a fair claim that maximizes your compensation. Do not give up if you have just been denied coverage.
Motorcycle Accident Insurance Payouts Do not Cover Every Loss
We previously mentioned that insurance covers certain types of losses. However, it is important to understand the types of losses insurance covers. When you purchase bodily injury liability or property damage liability coverage, these are designed to cover vehicle repair costs and medical expenses when someone else is injured, and you are at fault.
Motorcycle accident insurance does not cover any other types of financial losses the victim might experience, nor does it cover any of the non-economic damages. When you hope to maximize the compensation you are awarded, you cannot rely on an insurance settlement alone. You should always be prepared to bring your case to court if it is your best opportunity to get the most out of your motorcycle accident claim.
Navigating the insurance company is hard, but with the experience our attorneys bring to the process, you can feel confident knowing there is help available to you. Our compassionate lawyer will provide you with transparent, clear insight into your legal rights and options. Until you speak to us, do not settle your case. Make sure you read our FAQs section to learn more.
How to Determine the Value of Your Motorcycle Accident Claim
Working with our motorcycle accident lawyer in Beaufort begins with a careful understanding of what happened in your accident and why it occurred. Our legal team will analyze all evidence and create a comprehensive outline of the compensation you are owed. You can expect our legal team to routinely be available to talk to you about your rights in these cases.
To determine the value of your motorcycle accident case, we look at all factors involved in the losses. That includes medical bills you have and lost time at work, as well as the value of your now-destroyed motorcycle. In addition to this, our attorneys calculate maximum compensation for your pain and suffering, emotional loss, and other losses you have incurred as a result of this accident.
The value of your motorcycle accident in Beaufort may range widely from $10,000 up to $1 million, depending on various factors. When you set up a consultation with us, we can offer a bit more insight into the value of your case after learning more about your situation. With our experience, we will hold them accountable.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Beaufort
You were in a motorcycle accident, got medical care, and filed a police report, but now you may not be sure what else you need to do to protect yourself and recover the damages owed to you. That is where the help of an attorney is key. Once you contact our legal team, we can take over and minimize the risks to you, but there are a few more steps you can take to protect your case in the long term:
- Avoid using social media to discuss your accident, recovery, injuries, or any other data about the incident. This information can be used against you by the insurance company even if you believe it is harmless.
- Document your quality of life, the pain and suffering you have, and other losses you incur on a day-to-day basis from your accident. You certainly want to pursue full evidence of any claims, but having a journal that logs what occurred to you is important to proving pain and suffering.
- Invest in your care. Work on your full rehabilitation and recovery by getting the care your doctor recommends. Following through allows you to show you are doing all you can to regain your well-being.
With the help of our motorcycle accident attorney in Beaufort, you can get the insight you need to confidently move your case forward. We strongly encourage our clients not to wait to contact us. The statute of limitations in South Carolina for filing a case like this is three years, which is not as much time as it may seem.
Contact a Beaufort Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for Help Today
It is not unusual to feel overwhelmed and intimidated at the thought of going to court, filing insurance claims, and being a part of a motorcycle accident investigation. However, when you have the support of Shelly Leeke Law Firm, you can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing our legal professionals are fighting for you.
When you are ready to start working on your case but unsure where to begin, fill out our contact form or call our office to schedule your no-cost, risk-free consultation.
