If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a motorcycle wreck in or around Spartanburg, SC, a motorcycle accident lawyer from Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC would like to help. Our Spartanburg motorcycle accident lawyers can make sure you fully understand your rights and fight to recover a fair settlement from the liable party.
Motorcycles do not offer drivers the same protection as cars or trucks, so motorcyclists may suffer more severe injuries in a crash. We can calculate what those injuries are worth and seek the maximum compensation possible for your case. With our support, you do not have to worry about paying for medical care or supporting your family as you recover. We take care of everything.
Our Attorneys File Your Claim After a Motorcycle Accident
There are two main ways to get compensation from the liable party following a motorcycle wreck. First, you can seek a pretrial settlement from their insurance company. Second, you can take the liable party (or their auto insurance company) to court and try to persuade a jury to award you compensation. Often, it is easier and faster to get a settlement. Most motorcycle accident cases settle without requiring a lawsuit or going in front of a jury.
Our experienced team of Spartanburg personal injury lawyers at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC is ready and willing to help with even the most difficult aspects of your case. We can take the steps necessary to build a solid claim. Whether we negotiate a payout with the insurer or represent you at trial, we will fight for the compensation you deserve based on your medical expenses and other collision-related losses.
Our Lawyers Can Determine Fault for Your Motorcycle Accident
According to South Carolina’s comparative negligence laws (S.C. Ann § 15-38-15), to receive compensation, you must prove that the other party’s negligence primarily caused the wreck.
We can work to prove fault and liability in your case by:
- Studying police reports
- Collecting medical reports and records
- Interviewing witnesses to the crash
- Interviewing law enforcement officers, doctors, and other experts
- Reviewing videos of the crash, if any are available
- Speaking with accident reconstruction experts
We can then present this evidence to the insurance company’s representatives during negotiations or to the judge at trial. Remember: even if you caused some of the collision, you’re still entitled to compensation. However, your damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Compensable Losses in Your Motorcycle Collision Case
After a motorcycle collision in which another party was at fault, you could recover damages for:
- Medical bills
- Surgery costs
- Rehabilitation
- Physical therapy
- Medical equipment and mobility aids
- Lost wages, benefits, and earnings
- Repair costs for property damage
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Physical disability (temporary or permanent)
- Intellectual disability (temporary or permanent)
- Lost wages
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
- Lost quality of life
Additionally, as the injured party, you could recover the estimated costs of future medical bills and future earning power if you are unable to continue working at the same level you did before the crash.
We will help you identify and document your losses and fight for a fair settlement based on the actual damages you incurred and the intangible losses you experienced.
Our Personal Injury Attorneys Manage Your Motorcycle Injury Case
If you or a loved one suffered a motorcycle accident injury caused by a negligent party, you have the option of filing a liability insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit to hold them financially responsible. This requires showing that the defendant’s careless, reckless, or wrongful actions caused the crash.
Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can build your case by:
- Investigating your collision and determining liability
- Identifying the at-fault driver
- Scheduling a meeting with the insurance company
- Negotiating to secure the best possible settlement
- Preparing the settlement agreement if negotiations are successful
- Preparing for trial if negotiations are not successful
- Representing you in the courtroom if necessary
- Keeping you updated so you always know what is happening
Our Lawyers Advocate for Wrongful Death Claimants
You have our thoughts, prayers, and sympathies if you lost a loved one to a motorcycle collision. While legal action may seem like the furthest thing from your mind, our wrongful death attorneys can seek compensation for your financial losses and personal hardships.
Our Spartanburg wrongful death lawyers can seek compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of the decedent’s companionship, financial support, and services
- Loss of consortium
- Survivors’ mental pain and suffering
In South Carolina, a decedent’s personal representative (executor) must file suit on behalf of qualifying survivors. According to S.C. Ann § 15-51-20, family members who could recover wrongful death compensation include the decedent’s:
- Spouse and children
- Parents (if there is no spouse or children)
- Other heirs (if there are no other survivors)
The steps for seeking wrongful death damages are essentially the same as for personal injury cases. Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC helps clients with both types of cases, including filing insurance claims and suing the liable parties. We’re eager to represent you and your family in your Spartanburg wrongful death action.
How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Collision Lawsuit in SC?
The statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits is three years under S.C. Ann § 15-3-530. The clock starts at the time of your injury or loved one’s death. If you do not file your lawsuit before the deadline expires, the court will likely refuse to take your case. It’ll also reduce your bargaining power with insurers.
Our motorcycle wreck attorneys serving Spartanburg can get started on your case before you lose your opportunity to seek awards.
Our Motorcycle Attorneys Can Protect You From the Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are more concerned with saving money than providing fair compensation to motorcycle accident victims. An adjuster may try several different tactics to get you to accept less than you deserve, including:
- Pressuring you to accept a settlement immediately (before you completely understand your injuries and the scope of your damages)
- Offering an insufficient, lowball settlement
- Blaming you for the accident
- Refusing to negotiate with you or your representative
A personal injury attorney from the Spartanburg office of Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC is ready to protect you from these tactics and seek a fair settlement. In addition to negotiating and advocating for you in court, we protect your rights by:
- Explaining what the law entitles you to
- Assisting you with important legal decisions
- Responding to all of your questions promptly
Remember: the insurance adjuster does not work for you. They work for the insurance company that wants to wrap up the injury settlement as quickly as possible. Our team can protect you throughout the case and ensure you are not cheated out of your rights. We work for you, not the insurance company.
Paying for Legal Help With Your Motorcycle Case
After a motorcycle wreck, you deserve the chance to heal and spend time with your family while knowing our team is fighting hard to secure the compensation you need. Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can make this a reality.
We do everything possible to make our services available to every accident victim who wants them. For example, we have taken the following steps to increase the accessibility of our services:
- We provide every caller with a free case assessment regarding their personal injury matter. A member of our team can assess your legal options, explain your rights, and determine if there is any way our firm can help with your case.
- We charge a contingency fee instead of an upfront or hourly fee. This means we do not receive attorney’s fees from a client unless and until that client recovers compensation. Our payment is “contingent” on the lawyer’s success with each case.
- We take our attorney’s fees out of the settlement or jury award. Clients do not have to worry about paying these fees out of pocket. We get the check from the insurer, take out our portion, and then get each client their money as soon as possible.
- Our team works out a mutually acceptable fee agreement with each client before accepting their case. We will discuss this agreement openly, answer any questions, and ensure every client understands the terms before signing a contract.
Our Law Firm Learns the Cause of Your Motorcycle Accident
According to the most recent report by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), the “primary contributing factor” in most motor vehicle accidents is a driver, either of a motorcycle or another vehicle. This is true in both fatal and non-fatal collisions. In rare cases, the primary contributing factor may be:
- A flaw in the roadway
- A “non-motorist,” such as a pedestrian
- Environmental factors, such as bad weather
- A defect in one of the vehicles
We work to investigate the cause of your crash and help you understand what happened and who caused it. Determining fault, negligence, and liability is central to recovering monetary damages after a motorcycle accident. We begin the legal process by gathering evidence, such as:
- The report filed by law enforcement
- Medical records
- Eyewitness statements
- Physical evidence
- Photos or videos
- Accident reconstruction data
- A survey of the accident scene
- Expert testimony
Analysis of the evidence usually gives us a good idea of what happened. What’s more, it helps us identify the liable party and determine what insurance coverage is available. Finally, we use the calculated value of your damages to demand a fair payout, negotiate a settlement, or sue the at-fault party.
Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC goes the extra mile for injured claimants in South Carolina. When you’re ready to take legal action, we’re ready to fight for fair compensation.
Prioritize Your Health After a Motorcycle Accident
Our Spartanburg motorcycle accident attorneys want to fight for the compensation that can help you reach maximum medical recovery. To do this, we will need to show that another party was liable for your injuries, and your medical records and bills will serve as key pieces of evidence in your case.
This is why seeing a doctor and following through with your appointments and treatment plan is so important. The last thing you want is for an insurer to argue that you contributed to your losses by delaying or forgoing treatment.
Be Sure to Follow Your Doctor’s Orders
Visiting a doctor is one thing after a motorcycle accident; following your prescribed treatment plan is an entirely different matter. We want to show the insurance company that you did everything possible to promote your health in the collision’s aftermath. This includes:
- Attending physical therapy
- Taking medications as prescribed
- Going to all follow-up visits
- Undergoing lab tests and imaging scans
- Changing bandages
- Limiting your physical activity
You may have many concerns about the cost of medical care in your collision’s aftermath. Yet, with a successful injury claim or lawsuit, the liable party could cover the full cost of your injury-related treatment expenses. You shouldn’t have to forgo a single aspect of your medical care because of concerns about cost. Whether you suffered traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, or spinal cord injuries, you deserve treatment.
Let Us Fight for a Fair Settlement for Your Motorcycle Accident in Spartanburg
You may not feel like dealing with the insurance company after a devastating motorcycle accident, no matter how much you need compensation. It can also be challenging to protect your rights and ensure you get the payout you deserve when trying to navigate the claims process on your own. This is where a Spartanburg motorcycle accident lawyer from our team may be able to help.
Contact Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC to start a free legal consultation. We can seek a settlement on your behalf and fight to make Spartanburg safer for all motorcycle drivers.