Call our top-rated Columbia motorcycle accident lawyers now at Rikard & Protopapas for client-first legal services if you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle crash.
At Rikard & Protopapas, our seasoned team understands how severe the aftermath of a motorcycle accident is, from serious bodily injuries to emotional and psychological trauma.
With over 120 years of combined experience and more than $100 million in verdicts and settlements collected for our clients, our law firm is more than equipped to fight for the justice you deserve. Feel free to browse through the testimonials of our satisfied clients.
Begin your road to recovery with a trusted partner by calling our Columbia office at 803-219-4784 or fill out our secure and confidential online form.
Why Hire Rikard & Protopapas?
- Over 120 years of combined experience on the Rikard & Protopapas team
- More than $100 million in verdicts and settlements collected for our clients
- We understand the mission – your compensation
- Understanding of the special issues that matter to motorcyclists
- Convenient location in Columbia, SC and representation throughout the region
- A team ten attorneys strong, with experience in litigation and representing injury victims with compassion
- Success through trial litigation and settlement negotiations
- Dedication to providing a personalized experience for each person we represent.
We understand how important it is that you get your compensation, and we handle the legal process on your behalf.
To see how a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer can assist you, contact Rikard & Protopapas today for your consultation.
Do I Have a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
A motorcycle accident claim is based on negligence, or the absence of ordinary care. Here are some grounds for a motorcycle accident claim:
- Turning in front of a motorcyclist
- Backing up into a motorcyclist
- Running someone off the road
- Driving too fast for conditions
- Following too closely
- Impeding the motorcyclist having full use of the lane
- Drunk driving, reckless driving, distracted driving
- Vehicle defects and malfunctions
- Intentional harm, road rage
Drivers must be aware of motorcyclists on the road. An act of negligence — defined as the absence of reasonable care and caution — may be the basis of a claim for compensation.
What do you have to prove in a motorcycle accident claim?
In a motorcycle accident claim, you must prove that the person responsible acted negligently, breaching the duty of reasonable care. Then, you show that their negligence was the cause of your injuries and losses. Finally, you must prove your damages and the appropriate amount of compensation.
As your legal representatives, we build the necessary proofs for your claim.
Compensation for Motorcycle Collision Injuries
Motorcycle victims often face unique injuries. Motorcyclists involved in a crash are more likely to be thrown from their vehicle than occupants of passenger cars. Some of the common injuries that motorcycle accident victims may suffer include:
- Road rash and burns from contacting the pavement or ground
- Internal organ damage from blunt force trauma, including to the thorax, spleen, kidneys, and liver
- Traumatic brain injury, concussion, skull fracture
- Complications including seizures, paralysis, coma, loss of coordination, poor motor skills, infection
- Broken bones, fractures, disfigurement
- Confusion, disorientation, anxiety, depression, irritability, flashbacks, PTSD
- Lacerations, cuts, and bruises
- Speech and communication impairment
- Damages to the senses including vision, touch, hearing loss, and ringing in the ears
- Whiplash, soft tissue damage
- Loss of limb, amputation
- Scars
- Wrongful death
Motorcycle accident victims typically suffer from multiple injuries. Along with physical scars comes pain, emotional anguish, and mental health injury. You may be compensated for all the ways that your life has changed because of the accident.
What Is My Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
A motorcycle accident case is worth the economic and non-economic damages of the victim, subject to the legal liability of the defendant to pay compensation.
Things that may influence what your case is worth are:
- Medical bills that you have already incurred
- Expenses for medical care in the future
- The need for hospitalization, long-term care, nursing, personal care at home
- Whether injuries prevent you from working, and the amount of lost income and benefits
- How serious injuries are, the extent they cause pain and suffering and interfere with your life
- Physical limitations like permanent impairment and disfigurement
- Clarity of causation between the accident and injuries
- Comparative negligence and how fault is apportioned among multiple parties
- Insurance policies and the ability to collect compensation
Each victim is compensated personally, based on the economic and non-economic losses that they have sustained. The more serious your injuries and suffering, the more you deserve to be compensated. At your consultation, our Columbia injury attorneys can give you a personalized evaluation of what your claim may be worth.
Do motorcyclists get less compensation when they are in an accident?
The law treats motorcyclists the same as other motor vehicle accident victims. Victims have the right to recover their damages, whatever they may be. You have a right to use the roads, and you have the right to claim the losses you have incurred because of the negligence of others.
Importance of Legal Representation for Fatal Motorcycle Accidents
If you have lost a loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident, Rikard & Protopapas can help your family with the legal claim. Surviving family members may bring a claim under the same legal standards that apply to personal injury victims had they survived the crash. The compensation in a wrongful death claim is based on the losses that the family members endure because of the death of their loved one.
The fatality rate for motorcyclists involved in accidents in South Carolina is 7.8%. Compared to a fatality rate of .05% for all motor vehicle crashes, motorcyclists suffer fatalities at a high rate. These victims – and their grieving families – have important rights.
Our Columbia motorcycle accident lawyers represent families in wrongful death claims. We serve you with compassion and dedication to the mission of financial compensation for the family’s loss. Contact us to learn about how a case works and how our representation can help you achieve the monetary recovery that can help you in the future.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics – Richland County and Lexington County
- There were 141 motorcyclists involved in traffic crashes in Richland County in 2021.
- There were 111 motorcyclists involved in traffic crashes in Lexington County in 2021.
- 13 motorcyclist fatalities occurred in Richland County in 2021.
- 5 motorcyclist fatalities occurred in Lexington County in 2021.
- Most motorcyclists involved in a traffic crash sustain injuries.
- The SC Highway Patrol Troop 1-7 investigates the most traffic crashes in Richland County, followed by the Columbia Police Department. However, there are many city, county, and campus police departments that may respond to a crash.
- Like Richland County, the SC Highway Patrol Troop 1-7 investigates the most traffic crashes in Lexington County. The West Columbia Police Department, the Lexington Police Department and the Cayce Police Department all investigate a significant number of traffic crashes in the county. There are other city police departments and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department that may also investigate traffic crashes in the county.
Top Roadways for Motor Vehicle Crashes in Richland County, SC
- US-1
- US-76
- I-20
- US-176
- US-21
Top Intersections for Motor Vehicle Crashes in Richland County, SC
- I-20 at US-176
- I-26 at US-176
- I-20 at SC-215
- SC-12 at I-77
- I-20 at I-26
Contact a Columbia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer For a Free Consultation
Consultations are offered at no charge to Columbia motorcycle accident victims and their families. Here are some crucial services you can expect from a consultation with our team:
- Receive personalized legal guidance
- Understand your legal rights and protections
- Discuss possible case outcomes
- Receive emotional support and reassurance
- Discuss our contingency fee structure
Don’t navigate this challenging time alone. Let our experienced team at Rikard & Protopapas guide you every step of the way. Call our Columbia office at 803-219-4784 to begin pursuing your compensation today. You may also fill out our online contact form.
Motorcycle Accident Resources and References
- ABATE of South Carolina
- Eagle Wings Motorcycle Association – SC District
- Blue Iron Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club – South Carolina
- City of Columbia Police Department
- Richland County Sheriff’s Department
- Lexington County Sheriff’s Department
- SCDMV – Motorcycle Driving Information
- NHTSA – How to Identify Unsafe Motorcycle Helmets
Rikard & Protopapas
2110 N Beltline Blvd
Columbia SC 29204
803-978-6111