Justice for Motorcycle Accident Victims
More than 3,500 auto accidents involving motorcycles occurred in North Carolina in 2013, and if you have been a victim, our Charlotte, NC motorcycle accident lawyer is here to help you. Most of them resulted in injuries (about 3,000), and 154 resulted in death (North Carolina DMV). It is essential to be as safe as possible when operating a motorcycle. You should always wear a helmet, stay out of blind spots and remain visible to others, wear protective clothing, stay caught up with the maintenance of your motorcycle, wear light-colored and reflective clothing, and avoid weaving in and out of traffic. Other drivers may not be as mindful about your safety, however.
Remember that a motorcycle is not as stable as other types of vehicles. It is less visible, and more likely to lead to injury or death in an accident. Should an accident occur with another car, you will need to contact a skilled personal injury lawyer in Charlotte. The attorneys at Ted A. Greve & Associates have years of experience in dealing with motor vehicle accidents of all kinds and are here to help. Just because you were riding a motorcycle does not mean that you deserve to suffer serious injuries, with no consequences for the other driver. Call our offices today at (844)387-8677 to obtain the compensation you deserve for your damages.
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How Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help You
In addition to experienced advice as well as a professional perspective on your advantages and disadvantages in seeking settlement or pursuing legislation, your motorcycle injury lawyer will be able to properly file your claim within the necessary deadline laid down by the law requirements of the State of North Carolina. Motorcycle accidents occurring in and around the city of Charlotte are given a two-year time frame in which the plaintiff must file a motor vehicle accident claim. Four years are given to file claims for property damage. If you are considering hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer, you can discern their level of professionalism if they are sure to inform you of these important deadlines. If you hope to discuss making a claim for compensation from the insurance providers of the other driver involved in the accident, it is best to do so with a working knowledge of the comparative negligence rule (used to determine the percentage of fault in an accident. Imagine you were at least partly to blame for the accident, a good lawyer will be a considerable benefit in negotiating this crucial detail. Attempting to negotiate this without experience and knowledge of motorcycle accident law can be especially difficult. Furthermore, any case made to claim your coverage will only be as strong as the quality evidence that supports it. A qualified and experienced motorcycle accident attorney will have the capacity to gather the right evidence to build a strong case in your favor. This may require a variety of different operations including accessing police documents and conducting other investigative work. One such operation will be revisiting the scene of the accident with an expert who can recreate the event and provide an authority’s testimony. Your lawyer may also interview eyewitnesses and examine other evidence such as the pictures of the accident itself, the position of the bike and any traffic signals in the vicinity. Finally, your attorney may also offer you counsel and emotional support on certain particulars relating to the aftermath of this event. They may even make resources available to aid you during this recovery period. Working with a personal injury attorney you trust and feel good about is important to maximizing the benefits of a legal professional.What to Do in the Aftermath of a Motorcycle Accident
There are many things that you can and should do after an auto accident involving a motorcycle in Charlotte, NC. The first step is to seek medical assistance. Accept emergency treatment, no matter how serious you think the injuries might be. If you do not accept treatment at the scene of the accident, seek a full medical evaluation as soon as possible. If you don’t do this or if you fail to document your injuries and expenses, then you may be unable to prove them later. Before leaving the scene of the accident, you should obtain the information of each vehicle involved and all witnesses. Take pictures of the accident, write down your version of what happened. Stay at the scene until law enforcement arrives. When they do, offer a general statement, but avoid saying anything that might indicate fault on your part. You will also likely need to obtain a copy of the police report Next, you’ll need to contact your insurance company to let them know about the incident, without making any statements that might indicate fault. Then, you need to contact an attorney. Because motorcycle accidents have such a significant impact, you should have legal representation when attempting to recover fair compensation. Especially if there are serious injuries, questions about fault, costly property damage, or any fatalities from the accident. You will likely be contacted by another driver’s insurance company. When this happens, you should not answer questions or give statements without talking to a Charlotte car accident lawyer. Anything you say could be used against your claim. You should maintain all records from lost time from work, damage repairs, and medical treatment and expenses. Hold onto receipts of payments, insurance questionnaires, explanations of benefits, and all other documents that you receive.Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Even with the use of proper protection for the head and eyes, motorcyclists are still in danger of a wide variety of other injuries from an accident. Unlike a motorist in a car, the motorcyclist does not benefit from the variety of protective systems in an enclosed space, like side-impact airbags, seatbelts, and a cradling seat. For this reason, even a relatively minor accident means that the motorcyclist will be impacting hard pavement and suffering considerably worse injuries that will take a considerably longer time to fully recover from. If you have been injured in an accident, you are entitled to certain compensation for your injuries and damages. When pursuing a case against another motorist for acts of negligence it is best to do so with the help and support of a qualified motor accident attorney. This professional will be able to negotiate the following types of reparation. If you’ve been the victim of another road user’s negligence, you might want to consider working with a motorcycle accident attorney for the following types of reparation:Economic Damages
Compensation for economic damages will cover all medical expenses that you were forced to pay in treating injuries and fully recovering from your accident. Economic damages will also cover any wages lost because of time spent recovering rather than working. Under North Carolina Law, you are entitled to economic damages totaling the amount of cash lost in expenses and wages resulting from the accident. This is where a lawyer will be able to go over medical and salary financial records to produce an exact figure that will sufficiently cover your loss.Non-Economic Damages
In addition to the economic damages incurred in an accident, it is quite likely, there is often other tangible damages that are a direct result of physical injuries incurred in the accident. Things like paralysis, disfigurement, coma and the loss of a limb are all common in motorcycle accidents and can dramatically alter a person’s life and have significant implications on their professional, personal and social future. For these damages, there is no exact cash amount that can restore the motorcyclist to their former life, but non-economic compensation seeks to do what it can to relieve some of the financial issues their life-changing injuries will present. A reputable motorcycle accident attorney can help to quantify these numbers and protect your interests in this complex case.Punitive Damages
In other cases, the at-fault driver may be punished with punitive damages which are applied for the sole purpose of punishing the other motorist. These damages are often awarded if the motorcyclist has suffered extreme injuries and lifelong impairment. For these situations, it is very important to work with a lawyer that has extensive experience in working with these cases and has the resources and skill to establish outright negligence or malicious intent. Compensation for any of these damages is possible, but much of the details will be determined by the specifics of the accident and the extent of injuries and damages. Never forget that claims for compensation for injuries and damages must be made before their respective deadlines.What to Look for in Your Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you were hurt in a motorcycle crash, it is important to speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer Charlotte, NC residents trust. An attorney knows the true value of your case and can help you go after the compensation you deserve. Choosing the right lawyer to handle your case can be tricky. Here are some important qualities to look for in a motorcycle accident lawyer.- Specific Experience
- Honesty
- Good Communication Skills
- Strong Negotiation Skills
- Compassion
- Trial Experience
Charlotte Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Charlotte Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are an estimated 5,000 motorcycle-related fatalities each year in the United States.- Motorcycle accidents account for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities in the United States.
- The most common type of motorcycle accident is a collision with a motor vehicle.
- Motorcycle riders are more likely to be injured or killed in a motorcycle accident than car drivers.
- Helmets can reduce the risk of head injury in a motorcycle accident by up to 85 percent.
