You need professional legal help to prove fault and help recover compensation for your losses after a motorcycle crash in North Carolina. These collisions often result in extremely high medical expenses and can result in disabling conditions that derail your life.

Motorcycle accidents often prove challenging to handle due to the massive damage they cause and the complications brought on by North Carolina’s motorcycle helmet laws.

Injured motorcyclists may also face challenges because our court system can prevent you from getting compensation if you hold even 1% of liability for a crash.

Fortunately, you can hire a Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyer from our team at Auger & Auger for the support you need. We’ve brought our clients over $100 million in compensation and want to help you, so reach out to a Charlotte personal injury lawyer today.

Why Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Charlotte, NC?

Hiring an attorney can improve your chances of successfully navigating North Carolina’s legal system and filing a claim against the negligent driver for fair compensation. You do not have to figure out how to file a personal injury claim on your own.

Instead, experienced motorcycle accident attorneys in Charlotte, NC, can help you by:

Explaining the Laws in Your Area

Our law firm understands the unique laws that govern personal injury claims in North Carolina. We know how important it is to quickly establish another party’s fault because you can lose your chance at getting compensation for holding even 1% of liability.

Finding the Liable Party

We work quickly to determine who is liable for your motorcycle collision. In many cases, we can build a motorcycle accident claim against a motorist who caused a crash through negligent or aggressive driving.

Talk to us now and learn who is at fault in a motorcycle accident.

Handling Insurance Negotiations

You can rely on a professional legal team to deal with the insurance company after a motorcycle wreck. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Charlotte, NC, can review all settlement offers and aggressively negotiate to secure fair compensation for your losses.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

You can file a lawsuit against the party responsible for your accident in some cases. Filing a lawsuit requires going through the court system, and your lawyer may only take this step if the insurance company refuses to negotiate.

You can get legal counsel about the options available to handle your claim for experienced attorneys.

What Types of Damages do You Get for a Motorcycle Crash?

Personal injury attorneys can help you secure payment for all of your losses after a motorcycle collision. You may qualify for funds to pay for your:

Medical Expenses

Motorcycle riders often sustain catastrophic injuries in collisions. You may need emergency medical care for spinal cord injuries (SCIs), traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), broken bones, paralysis, and other severe injuries.

The liable party may need to pay for your current and future healthcare expenses.

Lost Pay

You may miss time at your job while healing from a motorcycle collision. The at-fault party may need to cover your lost wages. If your accident causes a disability, you could also get payment for your reduced earning potential.

Pain and Suffering

An attorney can help you secure fair payment for the non-economic effects of a motorcycle accident. For example, you may qualify for compensation for your:

An attorney can push the negligent party into providing maximum compensation for these non-economic damages.

Property Repairs

Finally, you may receive financial compensation for any property damage caused by the at-fault driver. The liable party may even need to cover the costs of repairing your motorcycle after an accident.

We Understand the Challenges Associated with Motorcycle Crashes

At Auger & Auger, we know how difficult insurance companies can be. We know that many people hold an unfair prejudice against bikers, including:

  • Investigating officers
  • Representatives from insurance companies
  • Potential jurors

People often think bikers are reckless, speeding, or drunk. Unfortunately, some statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tend to support these biases.

But that doesn’t mean they apply to you. Your attorney’s job is to get involved early on in the case to ensure that our injured biker clients get fair treatment and extinguish all preconceived notions by the investigating officer, insurance adjuster, and jury before appearing.

Facts About North Carolina Motorcycle Accidents

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has reported that thousands of bikers sustain injuries in accidents every year, and many collisions result in fatalities. Therefore, motorcycle safety should represent a cause for concern for everyone on the road.

Why Choose Us After a Motorcycle Crash in Charlotte?

The Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyers at our law firm have successfully represented motorcycle accident victims in North Carolina since 1995 and have an average of 19 years each of legal experience in handling injury cases.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident in Charlotte, our motorcycle accident injury attorneys can help you with all your legal needs. We have a reputation for success and recently secured $1 million for a motorcyclist struck by an 18-wheeler.

We work on contingency, so you only have to pay for our legal fees after we resolve your claim. Our firm understands North Carolina motorcycle accident law and can share this knowledge with you.

We Can Help After a Fatal Motorcycle Crash

Your family can turn to our professional team for compassionate help after a loved one sustains fatal injuries in a motorcycle collision. A Charlotte wrongful death lawyer can help you understand your legal options and provide support during this challenging time.

We take your family’s needs seriously and want to help you hold the liable party accountable for the loss of a loved one.

Time Limits on Motorcycle Collision Claims

You must file your motorcycle accident claim before North Carolina’s personal injury statute of limitations expires. Generally, our state gives you three years to seek payment for your losses, with the countdown starting from the date of your accident.

Our team can promptly begin the legal process, ensuring you never have to worry about approaching deadlines.

We do everything possible to expedite the completion of your claim, reducing the time you have to wait to receive fair compensation for your losses.

Frequent Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Charlotte

Riding a motorcycle is risky. Bikers and their passengers lack the physical protection of an automobile. They are especially vulnerable to road and weather conditions and may be difficult for other motorists to see. 

Common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

  • Drunk drivers
  • Distracted driving
  • Reckless driving
  • Not being seen by other motorists
  • Other vehicles failing to yield the right-of-way
  • Unsafe lane changes
  • Actions of fellow bikers
  • Hit and run
  • Sideswipe

We can provide a risk-free legal consultation to discuss the specific causes of your accident.

What Is Contributory Negligence, and Why does This Matter in Your Motorcycle Accident Case?

Why is the other party’s insurance company so interested in blaming you? If they can do so successfully, they will have a legal reason not to pay your claim. In many states, comparative negligence laws apply, in which an injured party can collect damages if they were less than 50% responsible for an accident.

However, North Carolina uses much stricter contributory negligence statutes. If the insurance company can prove you were even 1% at fault, they don‘t have to pay anything! That’s why it is essential to secure solid legal representation as soon as possible.

How does the Insurance Company Claim You’re at Fault?

The insurance company may try to pass the blame to you after a motorcycle accident by claiming that:

You Failed to Make Yourself Visible

Many motorcycle accidents happen because cars turn or pull out in front of the bike. In fact, this is one of the most common accidents we see. Sometimes, the vehicle driver is distracted, but there are also numerous cases where the driver claims they looked around but didn’t see the biker.

Bikes are smaller than cars, so this makes sense. The other driver or their insurance carrier may claim you could have done more to make yourself visible. Wearing bright colors, using reflective devices on your bike, and using your lights on gray or cloudy days are all good ideas, and you may have been doing just that.

Your attorney will work to help you prove that your efforts were sufficient and the driver should have looked more carefully.

You Failed to Yield

A large number of accidents happen because someone fails to yield. In many motorcycle claims, the two parties disagree about just whose failure it was. Your lawyer will gather evidence and, if necessary, may assign an investigator to look for additional witnesses in the area where the accident happened.

Often, police officers responding to a crash don’t have time to do more than an initial canvass of the area and may not have the opportunity to talk with every witness. We can return to the scene and seek out people who may have been present for your accident.

You Were Speeding

As mentioned earlier, the other driver sometimes exaggerates how fast a motorcyclist was going. This exaggeration is not necessarily a conscious decision but could happen due to unconscious bias.

Either way, it can be a problem if there aren’t other witnesses or evidence of your actual speed. In addition to seeking out other witnesses, your attorney may look into alternative options to prove that you weren’t speeding.

You Engaged in Risky Behavior

Sometimes, the driver or their insurer may say that you cut them off, split lanes, or were riding in their blind spot. These things happen, and they are dangerous–but most bikers are aware of the danger and aren’t taking excessive risks.

If your lawyer can find no witnesses, they may seek out any available video evidence. Traffic cameras are one option, but if your crash happened in a rural area outside the city, there may not be any in place.

In some situations, an investigator may be able to track down footage from a bystander or a doorbell camera.

What if You’ve Exhausted Available Insurance Policies and Still Have Unpaid Damages?

North Carolina law only requires motorcyclists to carry liability limits of $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident and property damage of $25,000.

Unfortunately, some motorcycle accidents may lead to multiple serious injuries. If this happens, it could take you months to get back on your feet, not to mention deal with the medical bills. Even with health insurance, you could be drowning in bills for copays or uncovered procedures.

Does that mean you’re out of options? Not necessarily. In some instances, you may be able to sue the other driver directly.

Why Consider a Lawsuit?

Depending on your injuries, you could be in the hospital and out of work for weeks or even months. Additionally, some people may suffer permanent damage or disability as a result of their accident or may develop chronic pain or other issues.

Brain injuries, for example, sometimes result in permanent difficulties or long-term symptoms. All of these things lead to a much higher amount of damages than most insurance policies will pay.

In particularly severe cases, it’s possible to exhaust both the other party’s insurance and your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

Pros and Cons of a Lawsuit

If their insurance carrier has accepted responsibility and paid your claim, or we have won a judgment against them, it will be difficult for the driver to prove that you were at fault.

The downside of this option is that it may not be worthwhile in every situation. If the driver has few financial assets and can’t pay your claim, it may not be worth the time and trouble of going to court.

We’re here to help you decide if you can sue after a motorcycle accident.

Can You Sue Someone Else for Your Crash?

In other situations, there may be third parties who have some liability. For example, suppose a defective helmet or other piece of safety gear failed to perform as advertised, which made your injuries worse. In that case, you might have a claim against the manufacturer.

In other circumstances, there may be a situation where a defective motorcycle part malfunctioned. If you’re unsure about your options for getting your accident-related bills paid, it’s best to consult a Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyer about the specifics of your case.

Contact Us After a Motorcycle Accident in Charlotte, NC

Our experienced Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyers at Auger & Auger know how the insurance companies work. We know the insurance company will develop theories about why the biker is at least partially responsible.

The sooner you contact one of our Charlotte motorcycle accident attorneys, the sooner we can conduct our own investigation to determine liability, assist you with obtaining appropriate medical attention, and locate every possible source of recovery.

We’re ready to help you take legal action, so reach out today.