Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in South Carolina
One motorcyclist died every three days in a South Carolina traffic crash in a recent year. That staggering figure comes from the state Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), which recorded 125 motorcyclist fatalities during that time. Nearly 1,850 people also suffered motorcycle accident injuries, according to the data.
But numbers only tell part of the story. Statistics can’t show the suffering that motorcyclists and their loved ones face in the aftermath of a collision. Understanding the causes of motorcycle accidents may not prevent a wreck, but it can help bikers recognize safety threats and drive defensively in those traffic situations.
Did a negligent driver hit you while you were riding your motorbike? Get in touch with a motorcycle accident lawyer at Wilson Law Group, LLC today. Our lawyers may be able to help you pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses if someone else is responsible for your injuries.
Lessening your burden is our priority. Our legal team does more than prepare your legal claim and fight for you. We can also arrange transportation to medical appointments for you, connect you with specialists who understand your injuries, and keep in touch so your needs are met at all times. Serving South Carolinians is what we do, and our motorcycle accident attorneys do it well.
Call or contact us today for a free consultation with our motorcycle accident attorneys.
Most Common Motorcycle Accidents in SC
With nearly 114,300 registered motorcyclists in South Carolina, some accidents are inevitable. But most are preventable and nearly always due to driver error or someone else’s carelessness. Sometimes, both the other vehicle’s driver and the motorcyclist share some responsibility for a wreck. Other times, a local or state government may be liable.
The most common bike accidents include:
Rear-end motorcycle accidents
A rear-end crash occurs when a motorcyclist is struck from behind. In almost all cases, the driver of the following vehicle is to blame for a rear-end motorcycle accident.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-end collisions involving motorcycles made up just seven percent of all motorcycle crashes in a recent year. Though these accidents are not as common as other types of wrecks, they are still capable of causing serious injuries.
A motorcycle hit from behind could be propelled upward, tipping the rider onto the road or other vehicles. At high speeds, a biker struck from behind could flip over the motorcycle and sustain life-threatening trauma.
Front-end crashes
NHTSA data shows that three-quarters of motorcyclists involved in fatal two-vehicle wrecks were hit from the front. Also called head-on collisions, these crashes often occur due to drunk driving, distracted driving, fatigued driving, unsafe passing, or when people drive on the wrong side of the road.
Head-on motorcycle accidents are frequently fatal. Motorcycles are much smaller than passenger cars, and riders have less protection from the violence of impact. Survivors of frontal crashes may sustain spinal cord injuries, catastrophic brain damage, and other injuries that lead to permanent disabilities.
Left-turn motorcycle accidents
Many motorcycle accidents happen when a driver attempts to make a left turn, often at intersections. Most collisions happen when the motorcyclist travels straight and gets hit while the car is turning. They also occur when motorcyclists are passing or overtaking other vehicles.
The common defense from drivers in left-turn motorcycle crashes is that they never saw the rider coming. Usually, drivers are on the lookout for bigger cars and miss less visible motorcycles in their path. When drivers fail to spot motorcycles and cause a crash, they can be held liable for any resulting injuries.
Failure to Yield
South Carolina law grants motorcyclists the same rights and responsibilities as other drivers. This means that both bikers and motorists must obey rules regarding the right of way.
A landmark study from the 1980s shed light on some of the most common causes of motorcycle crashes. In that report, the author noted that 51 percent of collisions between cars and motorcycles were due to the automobile drivers’ failure to yield the right of way to motorcyclists, particularly at left turns. While visibility is a factor in some failure-to-yield accidents, many occur because drivers simply weren’t paying attention.
Dooring accidents
A dooring crash occurs when a parked driver opens the door into the path of an oncoming motorcycle. South Carolina law states that “no person shall open any door of a motor vehicle unless it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic.” The statute also says doors should not be kept open for longer than is necessary to unload passengers safely.
Dooring accidents can be particularly harmful to motorcyclists because the impact can eject them from their bikes into the path of oncoming traffic. Negligent motorists who open their doors into a biker’s path could be held financially responsible for any medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses under S.C. personal injury law.
Drunk driving
Driving under the influence is an area where both drivers and motorcyclists need to improve. Nearly 30 percent of motorcyclists killed in U.S. motorcycle accidents had blood-alcohol concentrations (BACs) of 0.08 or higher in a recent year. NHTSA also found that motorcyclists had the highest levels of impairment than any other type of motor vehicle driver.
Alcohol impairs balance, judgment, coordination, and crucial aspects of motorcycling, such as throttle control and the ability to switch gears. But injured bikers could still be entitled to compensation if they were injured in a motorcycle accident while intoxicated in South Carolina. A “dram shop” lawsuit could hold a bar, restaurant, or other business accountable if it overserved a visibly intoxicated customer.
Dangerous road conditions
State and local governments must keep roads in good condition by fixing potholes, removing debris, and keeping shrubs and tree branches from obscuring a motorcycle’s vision while riding. If negligent maintenance contributed to your motorcycle accident injuries, you need to get a personal injury attorney on your side right away. The deadlines to file injury claims against the government are short.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
You deserve justice and compensation if you sustained injuries due to someone else’s carelessness. Let the motorcycle accident attorneys at Wilson Law Group, LLC get started on your case. Our accomplished team of lawyers has an impressive track record of obtaining multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured South Carolinians.
Help is just around the corner. Call or contact our motorcycle crash attorney today for a free case review.