Many people ride motorcycles every day in South Carolina without issue, but the reality is that when motorcycle accidents happen, they have a very high chance of resulting in catastrophic or fatal injuries. If you or a family member recently suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident caused by another driver, an experienced Sumter motorcycle accident lawyer can help you pursue accountability and compensation for your damages.
The Law Office of Charles T. Brooks III offers client-focused legal representation for motorcycle accident victims in Sumter and surrounding areas. Our personal injury firm has successfully resolved many vehicle accident cases for past clients, and we know the many unique challenges that motorcycle accident claims might present. If you are unsure how to proceed with your recovery after such an incident, we can help.
While it is technically possible for an accident victim to file an auto insurance claim and pursue compensation for their damages on their own, they are unlikely to achieve a positive outcome without an attorney’s help. Instead of making an already challenging situation more difficult by trying to handle it alone, have an experienced Sumter motorcycle accident lawyer assist you with building your case, uncovering all claimable damages, and maximizing your recovery.
Motorcycle accidents happen for many reasons, including speeding, intoxicated driving, moving violations, and driving while distracted. A motorcycle provides little protection in a crash, so when motorcycle accidents happen, riders have a very high chance of suffering severe injuries.
If you believe another party is directly responsible for causing your recent motorcycle accident in Sumter, the first legal challenge you will face in your efforts to recover your damages will be proving fault for the accident. An experienced attorney can help you gather the evidence and witness testimony necessary for proving fault, such as traffic camera footage, cell phone data, and the police report from the crash.
Once you have proven fault for your accident, you can file an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver. State law requires all drivers to have liability coverage that comes into effect when an accident happens; the at-fault driver’s insurance policy will pay for the damages they caused. However, dealing with insurance companies can be difficult as they will often attempt to push back against claims for compensation in whatever way they can.
If insurance will not fully cover your losses, you will need to file a personal injury suit in order to recover fair compensation. State law enables a plaintiff to seek compensation for vehicle repair costs, medical expenses, lost income, and for their pain and suffering. You may be entitled to a larger recovery than you initially expected, and working with a Sumter motorcycle accident lawyer significantly improves your chances of maximizing your case award.
The Law Office of Charles T. Brooks III can work with you through every stage of your case, from gathering the evidence you need to prove fault for the accident to identifying all the various forms of compensation you are eligible to claim from the at-fault driver. Our goal is to help you have some peace of mind in this difficult time; trust our firm to help you recover as fully as state law allows.
No, it is not a no-fault state for vehicle accidents. All accident cases are resolved using a fault-based system. This means that when a driver is at fault for an accident, they are liable for the resulting damages, and an injured driver will need to prove fault for their accident before they can recover any compensation for their damages through an auto insurance claim and/or personal injury suit.
The amount of compensation you can claim for a motorcycle accident in Sumter depends on the scope and severity of your damages. If you can prove another driver is directly responsible for causing the accident, they are liable for any resulting damages, including your medical treatment costs, lost income if you cannot work during your recovery, vehicle repair costs, and the pain and suffering you experienced from the accident.
If you are partially responsible for a motorcycle accident, it will result in losing a percentage of your case award under South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence law. As long as the plaintiff is less at fault than the defendant, they can still recover compensation, but their fault percentage will dictate how much of their case award they will lose to reflect their shared liability.
You are likely to win more compensation if you hire a Sumter motorcycle accident lawyer than you could reasonably expect to secure if you tried to manage your case alone. The right attorney can not only help you navigate the complex series of legal proceedings your case will entail, but they will also know the various forms of compensation you can include in your claim to maximize your recovery.
The cost of hiring a Sumter motorcycle accident lawyer is likely to be a percentage of your case award. Most of the personal injury attorneys in the state operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning the attorney only charges their client a fee if they win the case. There are no upfront fees for the client, and the client pays nothing if their attorney is unable to secure compensation for them with this type of billing arrangement.
The Law Office of Charles T. Brooks III can help you navigate the legal aftermath of a motorcycle accident in Sumter with confidence. Our team has extensive experience building cases, confronting insurance carriers, and securing compensation on behalf of our clients, and we are ready to put this experience to work in your case. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with an experienced Sumter motorcycle accident lawyer.
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