Riding a motorcycle is about so much more than getting from one place to another; it is about the journey itself. Unfortunately, that freedom comes at a price, since riding a motorcycle comes with its own set of risks. In 2017 alone, 5,172 motorcyclists lost their lives on United States’ roadways, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III).
Here at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, our Asheville motorcycle accident lawyers fight to protect the rights of injured motorcyclists following a collision. If you have suffered financial losses after being injured in a crash, working with our legal team can help ease your worries regarding the financial recovery process. We can determine who was responsible for your injuries and help you pursue the cost of your economic and non-economic damages.
To learn more about our services and receive a free consultation, call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC today at (828) 286-3866.
Types of Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
Many motorcycle injuries occur when the rider gets thrown from the bike. As a result, their hands and feet often end up being the first part of their body to be injured, followed by any number of other body parts that can be injured from their body hitting the pavement. Motorcyclists can also frequently suffer road rash in an accident.
Additional injuries from motorcycle accidents can include, but may not be limited to:
- Broken and fractured bones, especially bones of the upper body like the arms, clavicle, and ribs
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Back injuries, including trauma to the spinal column, which may result in paralysis or limited mobility
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Neck injuries, including whiplash
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, to safeguard your wellbeing, you should seek prompt medical attention. Not only can this promote your safety, but it can also tie your injuries to the collision itself. Your x-rays, prescription medications, and doctor’s statements can all be used later on to bolster your claim.
Causes for Motorcycle Accidents
Many motorcycle accidents are caused by negligent drivers who do not properly check their surroundings before performing certain maneuvers. All motorists have a duty of care to watch for motorcycles while on the road. Any action or behavior that violates this duty could constitute negligence.
According to Human Factors, one of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents is a phenomenon called “looked but failed to see.” This is when a motorist checks for oncoming traffic before making a maneuver, but fails to see another vehicle, and strikes it.
Other causes for motorcycle accidents can include, but may not be limited to:
- Reckless driving, such as speeding, engaging in road rage, or attempting to make improper lane changes
- Driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or fatigue
- Distracted driving, such as texting and driving; North Carolina has laws against texting behind the wheel, according to S. §20-137.4A
- Dooring, where a motorist opens their door into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist
- Braking suddenly
Negligent driving causes countless motorcyclists to crash each year. At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, our attorneys will fight for your right to be compensated when you have been injured due to another party’s negligence.
No matter who was at fault or how your accident occurred, even if you may have been partially at fault, a motorcycle accident lawyer can help you understand your legal options. To learn more, call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC today at (828) 286-3866.
Potentially Recoverable Damages
When you work with an Asheville motorcycle accident lawyer, they can help you get compensation for your financial expenses and your pain and suffering. At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, without speaking to you and understanding your situation, we cannot tell you how much your claim is worth. One of your lawyer’s tasks will be to look at your damages and assign a monetary figure to each of them, including those that do not have a verifiable value.
Some items you may be seeking financial recovery for could include:
- Medical bills, including the cost of prescriptions and hospitalization
- Lost wages, due to missed time from work
- Reduced earning capacity, if you cannot return to your preferred field of employment
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering and inconvenience
- Emotional trauma
- Dismemberment
- Disfigurement
- Disability
You may be seeking compensation for items that we have not included here. If so, we encourage you to share those details with your legal team.
North Carolina’s Statute of Limitations
You may be able to recover the cost of your expenses through an insurance settlement. In this situation, you would not have to go to court since you were left with no out-of-pocket expenses. However, for many claimants, the legal process is not so simple. If you decide to take your case to court, under G.S. §1-52, you have three years from the date of the accident to do so. If you do not take action within this period, you will be unable to pursue the cost of your damages through the court system.
Depending on the facts of your case, you may not have a long time to act. We encourage you to reach out to Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC to prevent the state’s statute of limitations from expiring on your case.
Call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC for a Free Consultation
If you are looking to recover the cost of your accident-related expenses, an Asheville motorcycle accident lawyer can handle the legal side of your affairs while you focus on your recovery. At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, our goal is to recover compensation from the party responsible for your losses. To prove liability, we can speak with eyewitnesses, check traffic surveillance footage, pull cell phone records, and consult with accident reconstruction experts.
To learn more, call us today at (828) 286-3866.