North Carolina Motorcycle Accidents

Some of the most severe injuries on the road result from collisions between motorcycles and passenger vehicles or other large vehicles. These accidents ususally result in traumatic head injuries, broken bones, heavy lacerations, and even death. Motorcycle accident victims generally face a long, painful, and costly road to recovery. As a North Carolina motorcycle accident lawyer, Alesia M. Vick understands how to use the law to help clients receive compensation to help with the process.

Many passenger car drivers fail to respect the right of motorcycles riders. Accidents often happen when other drivers fail to recognize the distance between themselves and motorcycle riders. While passenger and commercial vehicles come away from the accidents virtually unscathed, motorcyles and their riders are more than 20 times less fortunate.

North Carolina Motorcycle Accident Stats (NCDOT, 2006):

• Most motorcycle crashes and fatalities happen on local streets and secondary roads
• Over 3,500 injuries and 145 fatalities in motorcycle related crashes

What Makes Motorcyclists More Prone To Accidents?

• Many motorcyclists abandon passenger cars for the feeling of freedom gained by riding. This freedom comes at the expense of certain safety features that passengers cars enjoy. By design, motorcycles are less stable than four-wheeled vehicles. There is no structural shell designed to protect the rider, and motorcycles react differently to the elements and road conditions. Accidents are profoundly more complicated by some states' lack of a helmet law.

• Moreover, motorcycles are much smaller than most other vehicles on the road and cannot be seen until it is too late. Most vehicle drivers responsible for motorcycle accidents state that they just never saw the motorcycle. The motorcyclists' ability to quickly accelerate and maneuver, can sometimes place him/her in a precarious position where passenger car drivers cannot react properly. The risk increases dramatically at intersections and during low visibility conditions brought on by rain or fog or riding at dusk or dawn.

• Motorcycle accidents can also be caused by the rider’s inexperience or lack of familiarity with the motorcycle. Some drivers attempt maneuvers that do not match their skillset. High speed wobble accidents are also quite common. This occurs when the front wheel begins to shake at a high speed; causing the driver to lose control of the motorcycle. High speed wobble may be due to manufacturing defects, in which there is a misalignment of the wheels.

Knowing Your Legal Rights in case of a Motorcycle Accident

As a motorcyclist, you must be aware of your rights and legal remedies if you are involved in an accident. Since these legal rights and remedies can vary between states, it is imperative that you speak with an attorney experienced in motorcycle accident liability. You can discuss your claim, including medical treatment issues, motor vehicle regulations, traffic law compliance and the determination of liability.

Our office will work to reconstruct the events of the accident, review documentation, and speak with witnesses and medical care providers in an effort to build a case against the party at fault. In litigation, we seek to dispell the myth that motorcycle riders are care free, and persuade the jury to return a favorable judgment.

Contact us at (919) 217.8425 to discuss your case today.