Raleigh Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

The popularity of motorcycles has increased rapidly in North Carolina for the past few decades. There are more than 9 million motorcycles registered in the United States alone.

Riding a bike, be it a motorcycle, motorbike, moped, scooter or any other motorized bicycle, is a favorite American pastime. The rising popularity of motorcycles among people from all walks of life illustrates that many people love to ride. Sadly, this is also reflected in motorcycle accident statistics.

There are more than 70,000 motorcycle accidents each year, making up about 10 percent of all highway fatalities. In 2020 alone, 5,579 people were killed in motorcycle accidents. Eighty percent of reported motorcycle crashes result in serious injury, versus 20 percent of car crashes.

For more accident statistics, see our North Carolina Motorcycle Accident Statistics page.

If you are injured in a motorcycle accident in North Carolina, you may be entitled to compensation. Damages could include medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost wages, and future expenses.

A Raleigh motorcycle accident lawyer at Hardison & Cochran know that a collision of this sort can be devastating. We understand that you need to recover from your injuries without the stress of mounting financial problems.

So we’re ready to fight for your right to compensation. If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident due to another driver’s negligence, call the experienced lawyers at Hardison & Cochran toll-free at 800-434-8399 now or fill out our online contact form. You’ll get a response within 24 hours, and your initial consultation is always free.

Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

If you are involved in a motorcycle accident, the likelihood of being injured is extremely high. Ninety-eight percent of motorcycle riders involved in multiple-vehicle collisions are injured, and 96 percent of those in single-vehicle collisions.

Common motorcycle accident injuries include:

Common Causes of Motorcycle Wreck

Most crashes involving motorcycles are not caused by the motorcyclist, but by another driver. Approximately three-fourths of motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle. In the majority of cases, the other vehicle is a passenger automobile. Furthermore, the motorcyclist had the right-of-way at the time of the accident in about 60 percent of these crashes.

Common factors that play a role in many North Carolina motorcycle accidents include:

• Reduced visibility of motorcycles – Since motorcycles are smaller in size, it is more difficult to see them in traffic. This makes them vulnerable to collisions with other vehicles whose drivers might not take the time to see a motorcycle. Other motorists who make left-hand turns in front of oncoming motorcyclists are a particular threat, as are drivers who pull out of side streets, driveways or parking lots right into the path of a motorcycle.
• Motorcycles can stop more quickly than other motor vehicles – A motorcycle is able to stop at a faster rate than most other vehicles on the road. This increases the odds of a rear-end collision with a car, truck or tractor-trailer that is following too closely.
• Drivers misjudge the speed of a motorcycle – Due to the small size of motorcycles, some other drivers are not able to correctly judge the speed of an oncoming bike, prompting them to pull out in front of a motorcycle or change lanes into one.
• Not checking blind spots – It is easy for a motorcycle to get lost in another driver’s blind spot, increasing the likelihood that the driver will cut off the motorcycle if he or she doesn’t perform a proper head check and have a motorcycle accident.
• Drunk driving and distracted driving – Motorists whose abilities are impaired by alcohol, drugs or distractions are unable to devote their full concentration to seeing motorcycles and taking appropriate steps to avoid accidents.
• Road defects – Motorcycles are particularly susceptible to accidents caused by imperfections in the roadway, such as potholes, uneven lanes, pooling water, loose gravel and more. In some cases, the government agency responsible for maintaining the road could be held liable for a resulting motorcycle accident.
• Flawed equipment or mechanical problems – The motorcycle itself may be the problem. A defective design or manufacturing process can make a motorcycle dangerous to operate.

Read our Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents page for more details.

Talk to our Raleigh Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today

An enjoyable motorcycle ride can turn into fatal motorcycle wreck in an instant. All it takes is a careless driver to turn your life upside down, potentially causing severe injuries and overwhelming medical bills. But you don’t have to struggle alone.

The North Carolina motorcycle accident attorneys at Hardison & Cochran care about what you’re going through, and, most importantly, we know the law. We are here to help you get the full compensation you deserve for your injury.

If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident because of the negligence of another driver, call the experienced Raleigh motorcycle accident lawyer at Hardison & Cochran toll-free at 800-434-8399 now or fill out our online contact form.

We represent victims of motorcycle accidents in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Wake County, Fayetteville, Greenville, Dunn, Greensboro, Research Triangle Park, Wilmington, the Triangle, the Triad, Person County, Southern Pines and throughout the state of North Carolina.