Charlotte Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Charlotte Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Motorcycle riders are some of the most vulnerable people on the road, without the seat belts, solid steel frames, or other protections that car and truck drivers have. The attorneys of DAS Law Group, are dedicated to helping motorcycle accident victims recover fair compensation for their injuries. Your Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyer can also help you obtain compensation for the wrongful death of a loved one.

Our experienced Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyers have successfully handled cases for injured bikers throughout North Carolina. Because riders are relatively unprotected, the injuries in motorcycle cases are often, unfortunately, quite severe. We understand how a serious injury such as paralysis or a brain injury can affect a rider and his or her family. That is why we strive to shoulder the legal burden for you, so you can focus on healing. A Charlotte personal injury lawyer from DAS Law Group can help.

To schedule a consultation with the legal team of DAS Law Group, call 704-377-5242 or contact our Charlotte law firm online.

What to Do After a Charlotte Motorcycle Accident?

The steps you take following a Charlotte motorcycle accident can make a large difference when it comes to your case. Immediately following your accident, you should:

1. Get to safety: Get everyone involved in the accident away from traffic, but don’t try to move anyone who might have suffered a severe neck or back injury.
2. Call 911: Call to report the accident with CMPD and ask for EMS, even if the pain feels manageable in the moment. You could have hidden injuries.
3. Collect information: Get a copy of the crash report from the police and collect contact information from witnesses. Your lawyer may be able to use this information to help build a case.
4. Take photographs: Take photos or videos with your phone, if it’s safe to do so, of the vehicles, any damage they sustained, road debris, skid marks, any injuries you sustained, and any damage to your helmet or gear.
5. Seek medical attention: Even if you were evaluated at the scene by EMS, you should seek medical attention within 24 to 72 hours following the crash. This ensures your safety, and having a doctor’s report from soon after the accident can help your case.
6. Preserve evidence: Save your gear and avoid getting your bike repaired immediately, if possible.
7. Don’t talk to insurers: Avoid talking to the responsible driver’s insurance company without a lawyer. You could accidentally say something that harms your case.
8. Discuss your case with an attorney: Attorneys understand motorcycle accident laws and what it takes to maximize compensation in these types of cases. You should speak to one as soon as possible after your accident, before signing anything.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in Charlotte and How to Prove Them

Motorcycle accidents happen for all kinds of reasons. Many times, it’s a driver who’s to blame, not the rider. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle crashes in Charlotte include:

• Failure to yield: Drivers sometimes fail to yield the right of way to motorcycles when making left turns, with devastating results.
• Blind spot merges: Making unsafe lane changes without double-checking for bikers can lead to accidents on major highways.
• Distracted driving: Using a cell phone, engaging in personal grooming, or even eating can all be distracting to drivers, causing accidents.
• Aggressive driving: Speeding and other forms of aggressive driving increase the chances of an accident occurring.
• Impaired driving: No one should drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, yet this problem is relatively common in Charlotte and elsewhere in North Carolina.
• Tailgating: Tailgating is a specific form of aggressive driving that can lead to extreme injuries for riders.
• Road hazards: Potholes, loose gravel, uneven pavement, and construction zones can all pose unique hazards to riders that aren’t applicable to larger motor vehicles.

DAS Law Group, can take all the information from your crash report, photos or videos of the scene, and witness statements, along with other available evidence, and use that to reconstruct the accident, proving what happened and who was at fault. In some cases, we may need to subpoena camera footage from local businesses or traffic cams, or hire a professional witness to evaluate vehicle damage patterns and reconstruct the incident.

What if a Motorcycle Defect Caused My Accident?

If your accident was caused by a defective part or an unsafe motorcycle design, you can still pursue compensation for the crash even if it didn’t involve anyone else. Your lawyer can help you determine who was to blame for your mechanical failure. In some cases, it’s motorcycle manufacturers. In others, it’s parts manufacturers or mechanics. You can trust your Charlotte motorcycle accident attorney to determine who’s to blame.

Types of Compensation You Can Pursue

There are several types of compensation you can pursue in a motorcycle accident case. They can be broadly divided into:

• Economic damages: Economic damages include medical bills, lost wages, the cost of future medical care, and reduced earning capacity. Property damage can also be counted under economic damages, as can modifications to your home or vehicle required to compensate for a disability acquired during the accident.
• Non-economic damages: Non-economic damages include factors that can’t be easily quantified, such as pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life. If you’ve suffered scarring, disfigurement, mental health impacts such as anxiety, PTSD, or sleep disruption, you can be compensated for it.
• Punitive damages: It’s rare for punitive damages to be awarded in motorcycle accident cases in North Carolina. The state only levies punitive damages in cases of intentional action or exceptional negligence.

Factors That Influence How Much You’re Compensated

Every motorcycle accident is different, and so is every settlement. Monetary compensation can vary widely, depending on the circumstances of the case. It’s important to have realistic expectations regarding your claim, so don’t be afraid to discuss potential outcomes with your lawyer. Factors that could influence your settlement amount include:

• Medical expenses: The cost of your past and future medical expenses can substantially impact your settlement value. Your lawyer should make sure the settlement covers everything, including rehabilitation costs, medications, and ongoing therapy.
• Injury severity: More severe injuries or those that result in permanent disability typically lead to higher settlement amounts.
• Your former wages: If you are unable to work either temporarily or permanently, how much you made before the accident can influence your compensation for lost wages and future earning capacity.
• The state of your bike: If your motorcycle needs substantial repairs or needs to be replaced entirely, that may contribute to your settlement amount.
• Insurance policy limits: There are usually caps on settlement amounts set by insurers. Your lawyer can let you know what the policy limits are in your case.

Common Injuries From Motorcycle Accidents

The injuries incurred during motorcycle accidents range from relatively minor issues like road rash to potentially deadly or life-altering injuries caused by spinal cord damage or TBIs. Some of the most common injuries from motorcycle accidents include:

• Road rash
• Skin lacerations
• Broken bones
• Injuries to extremities
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries

Wrongful Death Cases Pertaining to Motorcycle Accidents

In the most severe cases, motorcycle riders don’t survive their injuries. When that happens, their surviving family members can often recover wrongful death damages from the liable party by filing a wrongful death claim. Wrongful death claims are slightly different than standard personal injury claims. The damages recoverable via this means include:

• Medical bills
• Loss of future earnings
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of companionship
• The deceased’s pain and suffering

It’s important to work with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney if you plan to file a wrongful death claim.

Overcoming Stigmas

At our law firm, we understand the legal challenges facing motorcycle accident victims, especially if the case goes to a jury. Many car drivers − who may be jury members − simply do not understand or appreciate the dynamics of a motorcycle. They tend to place blame on the motorcycle rider, assuming that he or she must have done something to contribute to the collision. Further, the opposing adjuster or attorney may attempt to unfairly blame the injuries on the lack of certain protective measures, such as a helmet.

In a “pure contributory negligence” state like North Carolina, where an injured person cannot recover any compensation if he or she is even 1 percent at fault, sentiments like these can have powerful consequences.

To overcome these false perceptions, our motorcycle accident lawyers thoroughly investigate the facts of every case, working with the appropriate experts to show how the incident unfolded. We have built a reputation for rising to the challenge in difficult cases, and we have a record of results to prove it.

Why Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

Of the 3,866 motorcycle accidents that occurred in North Carolina in 2024, an astonishing 2,948 of them led to injuries. Unfortunately, this isn’t surprising. Motorcyclists are five times as likely to be injured in an accident as drivers, and 28 times more likely to die in one.

If you’ve sustained injuries during a motorcycle crash, you deserve to be compensated for them. You can hire a motorcycle accident lawyer to assist you with everything from filling out paperwork for your claim to gathering and analyzing evidence to support your case. Your lawyer can be there for you every step of the way, getting the hard work done so that you can concentrate on what’s important: healing and moving forward.

FAQs

Should I Get a Lawyer for a Motorcycle Accident?

Yes, you should get a lawyer for a motorcycle accident. Auto insurance companies are notorious for offering low payouts to people without lawyers, who often don’t know any better and accept them. Instead, you can work with a Charlotte motorcycle accident attorney to recover your total damages. Many work on a contingency fee basis, so you have nothing to lose.

What’s the Average Settlement for a Motorcycle Accident?

There is no such thing as an average settlement for a motorcycle accident because every crash is so different. Your settlement amount can vary based on factors such as the severity of your injuries and whether you are left with any permanent disabilities or disfigurements. If you want to get a clear idea of what your motorcycle accident case is worth, contact our office.

How Long Do Motorcycle Accident Settlements Take?

How long motorcycle accident settlements take varies depending on factors such as how complex the case is and whether it has to go to court. Cases that settle outside of court and those that are relatively simple and easy to prove take less time than complex ones that may require going to trial.

How Much Can I Get Paid for Pain and Suffering in North Carolina?

How much you can get paid for pain and suffering in North Carolina varies on a case-by-case basis. Most of the time, pain and suffering are assessed using either the multiplier method or the per diem method. Each of these methods involves assigning a monetary value to your pain and suffering in different ways. The first multiplies your medical bills by a certain predetermined factor. The second adds a daily rate for pain and suffering to your overall compensation.

Discuss Your Options with Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyer today

You may be worried about filing a lawsuit because you think you may be at fault or are not sure if you followed proper safety precautions. Scheduling a free initial consultation with a Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyer by calling 704-377-5242 will cost you nothing. We will discuss the circumstances of your accident and help you better understand your situation.