Columbia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

When you or a loved one has been hurt in a motorcycle wreck, work with the experienced Columbia motorcycle accident lawyers at Rikard & Protopapas. Our law firm represents injured victims to seek financial compensation. Contact us via our secure & confidential online form or call 803-978-6111 now to discuss your case and begin.

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 Now

The law firm of Rikard and Protopapas believes our work can be a critical part of your healing process. Let our experience help you secure a meaningful future as we meet the challenges you face following a motorcycle accident.

We offer free consultations for anyone who may need legal assistance following a motorcycle accident. Through contingency fee agreements we make our services affordable. That means we do not get paid until and unless our client makes a recovery. Our fees generally will be a percentage of any recovery, and that percentage is computed before deducting expenses. The expenses are typically deducted from the settlement and our firm is reimbursed for any advanced expenses. Each matter is on a case-by-case basis and the fee structure is disclosed in writing if we proceed with your potential claim.

Time is limited, so contact us immediately to talk about your case and begin. See how a motorcycle accident lawyer from Rikard & Protopapas can assist you. Call or message us now.

Motorcycle Accident Resources and References

Rikard & Protopapas
2110 N Beltline Blvd
Columbia SC 29204
803-978-6111