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Charlotte Motorcycle Accidents

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Motorcycle crashes are different from car accidents in many ways. Victims who ride motorcycles and become involved in collisions are often very seriously injured. Because of the extent of the loss and the complexity of making a damage claim, victims are strongly encouraged to seek help from an experienced attorney. It is important to look for Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyers who have handled similar cases in the past and are prepared and ready to deal with the specifics of a motorcycle crash case. The team at Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC is ready to step in and get to work on behalf of motorcycle crash victims today.

Understanding Motorcycle Crashes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has described a motorcycle collision as a “complex event involving the interaction of human, vehicle, and environmental factors.” These crashes are “violent” events and those most likely to be hurt are on the motorcycle rather than in a car.

More than 80 percent of all motorcycle collisions that are reported in the United States cause either injury or death to a motorcycle rider. The reason that these crashes are often much more severe and devastating than a typical car accident is that the motorcycle does not provide the rider with any protection from impact.

The motorcyclist is not shielded by the motorcycle from a head injury, and there are no airbags to cushion the blow. The rider is commonly thrown from the motorcycle upon the bike being struck by a car. This also puts the rider at risk not just of hitting the ground at a hard impact but also of forcibly striking objects that are in his or her path when flying through the air.

In a traditional vehicle, door beams, seat belts, the vehicle roof, and the car’s airbags all cushion the blow for drivers and passengers. The four wheels of a typical car make the vehicle much more stable and unlikely to fall or tip over in the event of a crash (although rollover car accidents do occur). Motorcycles, on the other hand, do not have occupant protections and are lacking in crash-worthiness characteristics.

The best safety feature that a motorcycle has is its agility. Motorcycles may be able to stop much more quickly than passenger cars and are also more effective at swerving quickly to avoid obstacles. This added agility can sometimes help motorcycle riders avert a collision from occurring. Sometimes, however, drivers are simply too careless and too quick and the motorcycle rider will be struck by a car. When this happens, an attorney can help prove that the vehicle’s driver was to blame and thus should be made to compensate the motorcyclist.

Motorcycle crashes are caused by many different things, including lack of experience driving a motorcycle, other motorists turning into the path of a rider, and obstacles on the road. To take legal action, the motorcyclist and his or her lawyer need to prove that the defendant did something negligent or careless that caused the crash. An attorney can help conduct a thorough crash investigation and find expert witnesses to testify about what occurred. Contact Brown Moore and Associates to discuss your case.

Riding a motorcycle offers a sense of freedom that no other type of motor vehicle can offer. However, that sense of freedom is not the only thing that is associated with motorcycles in North Carolina. The second thing bikes are known for is that they lack safety.

Motorcycle crashes tend to be deadlier than regular car accidents, and it makes sense why. After all, a bike offers little to no protection to the rider, which is why many motorcycle accidents in Charlotte and all across North Carolina result in catastrophic injuries and deaths.

“Most of the time, motorcycle riders lose both the sense of freedom and their health because of negligent motorists who fail to yield the right of way, do not watch out for bikers when changing lanes or turning, and speed and run red lights in our state,” warns our Charlotte motorcycle accident attorney from Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC.

Fact: According to data available from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, we can see that there were 3,516 total motorcycle accidents reported during the latest year across the state. Out of these incidents, there were 184 fatalities and 2,728 injuries. Unfortunately, the rate of motorcycle injuries and fatalities has remained relatively steady in this state over the last decade.

Timeframe For Filing A Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit In North Carolina

Motorcycle crash victims in Charlotte need to be aware that there is a limited amount of time for them to file a lawsuit against an alleged negligent driver. In North Carolina, the personal injury statute of limitations is three years from the date an injury occurs.  If a motorcyclist is killed because of the negligence of another driver, the statute of limitations for a Wrongful Death claim is two years from the date of death. If a motorcyclist or the motorcyclist’s Estate fails to file a lawsuit within the applicable statute of limitations timeframe, the ability to recover any compensation at all will be lost.

Types Of Compensation Available In These Cases

There may be various types of compensation available to motorcycle crash victims in and around Charlotte. Every case is different, but the attorneys at Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC have a proud history of helping clients recover both economic and non-economic compensation after a motorcycle crash, including the following:

  • Reimbursement of medical expenses
  • Compensation for lost wages or loss of future earning capacity
  • General household out-of-pocket expenses
  • Property damage expenses
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Loss of enjoyment of life damages

The total amount of compensation available in these cases will vary depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding each situation. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Charlotte will work with trusted medical and economic professionals to fully calculate the total expected expenses.

How Much Does A Charlotte Motorcycle Accident Attorney Cost?

At Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC, our attorneys take Charlotte motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients will not have to pay any upfront or out-of-pocket costs related to their case. We only collect legal fees after we obtain the compensation that our clients are entitled to.

Are Younger Motorcyclists More Likely to Cause Crashes?

There is a widespread misconception that younger motorcyclists are more likely to be involved in motorcycle crashes because they are said to be more reckless and less likely to care about the safety of others. “In reality, more than half of motorcyclists who die on our roads are over the age of 50,” says our Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyer.

Interestingly, statistics from the 1970s showed that more than 80 percent of all motorcycle accident deaths in the U.S. were younger than 30 years old. However, it is fair to say that younger motorcyclists are still very likely to be involved in road accidents, largely because they lack experience and the necessary skills to avoid collisions.

The risk of a car driver appearing out of nowhere is always present when you are riding a motorcycle in Charlotte or elsewhere in North Carolina. Not all drivers in our state are good at sharing the road with motorcycle riders, which is why we witness so many crashes on our roads. Interestingly, in most traffic accidents involving a motorcycle and passenger car, the latter is at fault.

What Precautions Do Drivers Have to Take When Sharing the Road with Motorcyclists?

What does it even mean to “share the road with motorcyclists”? Our Charlotte motorcycle accident attorney explains that car drivers in our state have a legal obligation to abide by traffic rules and take the following safety precautions to avoid colliding with bikers:

  • Checking side-view and rear-view mirrors and blind spots before merging with traffic, making turns, or changing lanes
  • Maintaining at least three seconds of driving distance when behind a motorcycle
  • Always signal the intention to turn, change lanes, or merge with traffic
  • Always allowing motorcyclists the full width of a lane

How Can a Motorcyclist Ensure His or Her Safety?

Following traffic rules in North Carolina is not the only thing a motorcycle rider in our state can do to ensure his or her safety and protect from injury or death. Since 2008, the law in North Carolina requires all motorcycle riders to wear a DOT-certified helmet while riding a bike on public roads.

Our Charlotte personal injury lawyer at Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC, also advises bikers to be on the lookout for dangerous, reckless, drunk, distracted, and other motorists who can cause a crash out of nowhere at all times.

Consult with our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys in North Carolina to discuss your case. Here at Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC, we provide a free phone consultation to help you make sense of things when everything seems complicated and confusing. Call at 704-335-1500 today.

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