Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Morehead City, NC
Thousands of motorcycle riders take to the roads across North Carolina every day enjoying the fresh air, scenery, and even convenience of travel. Unfortunately, a collision with another vehicle can lead to disastrous results. Motorcyclists are almost 29 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries than those in passenger vehicles, and others are left with serious injuries affecting them for the rest of their life. Often, the collision is the fault of the other driver who may or may not be held accountable for their negligence.
If you were injured or have lost a loved one after a collision caused by another driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering you’ve experienced. Harry H. Albritton, a motorcycle accident lawyer in New Bern, will fight on your behalf to help you receive the fair compensation you deserve and to hold those responsible accountable.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Often, what would be a minor fender bender between two vehicles is a serious accident when a motorcycle is involved because motorcycles are not equipped with an enclosed frame or safety features like airbags. This leaves motorcycle riders vulnerable to serious injury. Also, they are at higher risk of collision because they are less visible leading to careless actions from passenger vehicle drivers that cause accidents, such as:
- Failing to yield right of way
- Cutting off a motorcycle while changing lanes
- Opening a vehicle door into the path of a motorcycle rider
- Following too closely
- Driving while intoxicated
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
- Spinal cord and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Skull fractures
- Broken bones
- Severe skin lacerations
Why You Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Fighting for You
Following a serious injury, you’re facing a stack of medical bills and ongoing treatment, a loss of income, and most likely, you’re suffering from chronic pain caused by your injuries. You feel the future is uncertain and you’re not sure what your options are. Insurance companies take advantage of this by offering minimal settlements, or even worse, implying your injuries aren’t severe or you may have been to blame for the accident. In fact, you should never talk to the insurance companies without a motorcycle accident lawyer representing you.
The main concern in accident cases in North Carolina is the statute of pure contributory negligence. This means that if the victim is determined to be even minimally responsible at all for the accident, a jury can not award them damages. For example, if a car was speeding and following too closely behind you, resulting in a collision when you slowed down, but you had a brake light out, a jury may find that you were partially at fault for the collision, thus not awarding damages in your favor. The plaintiff must be completely without fault or blame in order to be awarded compensation.
Reaching out to a motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible to negotiate with the insurance companies and investigate your case is essential to pursuing a favorable claim.
Statute of Limitations
In North Carolina, an accident victim has three years following the date of the accident to file a claim. Often, insurance companies will slow down negotiations and try and run out the clock, knowing that once the statute of limitations ends, the victim will be barred from pursuing a legal claim.
Motorcycle Collision Injury Compensation
When a case goes before a jury, they are tasked with finding in favor of the plaintiff (the accident victim) or the defendant. If they find in favor of the plaintiff, they will award damages, sometimes both economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Current and future medical bills and costs
- Lost wages and future lost wages if the victim is unable to return to work
- Pain and suffering, including emotional distress
- Punitive damages which add additional damages in order to punish the plaintiff in severe cases of negligence or malicious intent.
Choosing Irons & Irons P.A.
Attorney Harry H. Albritton is an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in Morehead City who is dedicated to fighting on behalf of our clients to secure fair compensation while holding negligent parties accountable. In addition to negotiating with insurance companies, he and our team work to investigate every aspect of your case, including analyzing reports and working with medical experts to better understand the accident and the extent of your injuries. We strive to advocate on your behalf so that you can move forward with confidence knowing your future is secure.
A History of Successful Outcomes for Our Clients
We have helped our clients secure millions of dollars in damages for accident cases, including:
- $850,000 to a former airline pilot who suffered a head injury following a low-speed automobile accident.
- $300,000 to a college student who sustained orthopedic injuries when his motorcycle was forced off the road when another driver failed to yield while changing lanes.
- $100,000 to a client who suffered orthopedic injuries as the result of being struck by a driver who ran a stop sign.
Schedule a Consultation with a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Greenville, NC
If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle accident through no fault of your own, Harry H. Albritton and the team at Irons & Irons P.A. will fight to secure fair compensation. Reach out to us today at 252-585-5150 or fill out the contact form below to get started.