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Hi, my name is Kenneth Berger, and I help people across South Carolina who've been injured in motorcycle accidents. One of the things that we see in these cases is the insurance company will try to blame the motorcycle rider for doing something that they've got a lawful right to do. The insurance companies will try to convince juries and the public that the person on the motorcycle is in some way to blame for someone else's negligence, whether the other driver failed to look twice, improperly changed lanes, or chose to drink a few beers before getting on the roadway with you. Their negligence is not your fault. Motorcycles oftentimes are not dangerous until someone else chooses to violate our safety rules and put you in harm's way. Regrettably, when they do, the injuries can be severe, and the major challenge is often finding enough insurance coverage or personal assets to ensure you're fully compensating. Your medical bills may be hundreds of thousands of dollars, but the driver who hit you may only have a minimum limits policy. When that happens, we've got a search high and low for every available source of insurance to make sure you're taken care of and put back on the road to recovery. Our job is to allow you to focus on getting well while we ourselves concentrate on the insurance and legal issues. We want to help you. We pride ourselves on treating clients like family and making sure that motorcycle riders aren't prejudiced by insurance companies and are made to feel like they're in some way responsible for someone else's negligence. To find out what we can do for you, call us today and request a free consultation and free copies of my books. I look forward to being of service and to speaking with you personally.

South Carolina Motorcycle Accident LawyersMotorcycle Accident in South Carolina

Devastating motorcycle accidents can happen to even the most careful riders, leaving the injured person and their families with questions about liability and how medical costs and other expenses from the crash are going to be paid.

If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident, our South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyer team is here to help you navigate the legal system and ensure your legal rights are protected. Below, we’ve answered common questions people have after a collision, and we are also available via chat, contact form, or telephone to speak with you and schedule a free consultation.

Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident in Columbia, SC

Whether your collision occurred on a busy road, interstate, or back road, South Carolina law dictates that you have a right to seek recovery for any harm another driver caused you. That said, after being injured in a crash, a motorcycle accident lawyer in Columbia can help you seek compensation for:

  • Medical bills and treatment costs (current and future);
  • Damages to your motorcycle or other property;
  • Pain, suffering and mental anguish;
  • Current lost wages or income;
  • Future lost income (if the injury has affected your earning capacity);
  • Permanent disfigurement or impairment; and
  • Loss of consortium (if the injury has affected the quality of your relationship or companionship).

In cases in which the at-fault driver was particularly careless, you may be due punitive damages. These seek not to compensate victims for damages, but to punish the at-fault party for malicious or reckless behavior and to discourage such behavior in the future. For instance, punitive damages are not uncommon in drunk driving cases.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in South Carolina

These five steps can help ensure your legal rights are protected after a motorcycle crash in South Carolina.

  1. Focus on getting well. After an accident, you should prioritize your health and seek proper medical care. Motorcycle wrecks often leave people with serious injuries, including some that may not be visible to the eye, like a TBI or internal bleeding. Seeking medical treatment after a wreck can help ensure no injuries go untreated.
  2. File all medical bills with your health insurance company. Hospitals will often claim they are unable to file your medical bills with your insurance provider if you were injured in a vehicle accident. Do not let them mislead you. If you have health insurance, insist that all bills are submitted to your provider, who will then cover all procedures covered by your plan. For more information on using health insurance after a wreck, read this article: Can the Hospital Refuse to File My Bill with the Health Insurance Company?  
  3. Proceed with caution when speaking with insurance adjusters. An adjuster’s job is to pay you as little as possible to settle your injury claim. So, when they call to discuss the collision, be mindful of how you describe your health and the wreck and know that you are not obligated to give a recorded statement. We recommend at least consulting with a motorcycle accident attorney before speaking with an adjuster to ensure your rights are protected.
  4. Be careful when sharing information on social media. It can be tempting to post details about your motorcycle wreck on social media to let people know how you are doing. Unfortunately, insurance adjusters often try to use this information against you. Sharing updates offline via text or phone call may be a safer route to prevent adjusters from twisting your words to prove you deserve a smaller settlement.
  5. Schedule a free legal consultation. After your crash, you may also want to contact a South Carolina motorcycle accident attorney. A lawyer can help you understand your rights pertaining to fair compensation and help you determine whether a lawsuit is worth pursuing.

Contact a Columbia, SC Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today

Insurance companies are quick to blame motorcyclists for the negligence of other drivers. They also claim that motorcycles are dangerous. However, most times it is passenger vehicle drivers who choose to violate the rules of the road and put riders in danger. When that happens, accidents and life-changing injuries often follow.

Between escalating medical costs, time missed from work, and accusatory or insincere insurance adjusters, people hurt in motorcycle accidents face many challenges in addition to recovering physically. 

As a Columbia attorney dedicated to helping seriously injured people, it is my responsibility to ensure that unsafe drivers in South Carolina are held accountable for their carelessness on our roadways. 

If you've been in a motorcycle wreck, don't let anyone tell you that you're to blame for someone else's recklessness. Allow me and my team to protect your rights and reputation so you can focus on getting well. Call our office today at (803) 790-2800 for a free consultation or copies of my books. I look forward to being of service on your road to recovery.

Kenneth Berger
Columbia and Myrtle Beach car accident and personal injury lawyer dedicated to securing justice for clients.
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