Motorcycle Accident Attorney In Mooresville, NC
Motorcycle accidents have a very high chance of resulting in life-changing injuries, and resolving the legal aftermath can be challenging in several ways. If you have recently been injured in a motorcycle crash and you believe another driver is responsible, a Mooresville motorcycle accident lawyer at Grimes Yeoman, PLLC, can help you pursue compensation.
Representing Motorcycle Accident Victims in Mooresville, NC
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The attorneys at Grimes Yeoman, PLLC, regularly assist accident victims with their recoveries. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you need an attorney you trust to guide you through the various stages of your recovery. You can rely on our team in several ways throughout your case:
- Proving fault for your accident will be a necessary step in your recovery. We can gather the evidence needed to identify the at-fault driver and prove exactly how they caused your accident.
- If liability for your motorcycle accident is contested, we can resolve any such disputes and preserve your ability to recover compensation. It is important to hire an experienced attorney to gather and preserve evidence establishing that the defendant is responsible for causing your accident and that the defendant’s negligence was a proximate cause of your injuries. It is not necessary to prove that the accident was the sole cause of your injuries, as long as it was a contributing and proximate cause. Many times individuals have preexisting medical conditions that make them vulnerable to injury and the trauma from the accident.
- Filing an auto insurance claim is likely to be an important first step in recovering your losses. Trust us to deal with the defendant’s insurance carrier for you to ensure they handle your claim in good faith.
- Trust us to accurately calculate the full extent of the damages you are eligible to claim. Our goal for every accident victim we represent is maximum recovery in an efficient manner.
- If your case requires litigation, we are fully prepared to represent you in the courtroom and help you secure a fair case result. You may have multiple options for resolving your case and we can thoroughly explain the potential benefits and risks of each of them.
Ultimately, every motorcycle accident case is different, meaning every injured plaintiff will face unique challenges in their efforts to ensure accountability and recover recompense for all their damages. Our firm has the resources, skills, and experience required to handle the most complex accident cases in Mooresville and the surrounding communities of North Carolina.
Proving Liability for a Motorcycle Accident in Mooresville
Under North Carolina law, when multiple vehicles are involved in an accident, the driver at fault for causing the accident is responsible for the resulting damages. This means that if you believe another driver caused your recent motorcycle accident, you must establish fault and that the at fault driver violated safety laws before you can claim any compensation for the damages they caused.
Motorcycle accidents in Mooresville, North Carolina, pose a significant safety concern. According to local safety reports, vulnerable road users like motorcyclists are up to 25 times more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a crash compared to other motorists. While most crashes involve cars, the risk for severe injury or fatality is much higher for motorcyclists. In recent years, Mooresville has seen an upward trend in serious injury and fatal crashes, particularly near major intersections and corridors like NC 150
Most of the motorcycle accidents reported in the Mooresville area happen because of driver negligence. This could mean driving while distracted by a cell phone, speeding, or a moving violation, such as performing an illegal turn or failing to stop for a red light. Your Mooresville motorcycle accident lawyer can help gather any evidence you will need to prove the exact cause of the crash.
It is important to remember that the state of North Carolina follows a contributory negligence statute. This means that in any civil case in which a plaintiff alleges a defendant is responsible for causing damages, the defendant can allege that the plaintiff was also at fault, and if the defendant proves that the plaintiff was not exercising reasonable care that was a contributing and proximate cause of the accident, then the plaintiff’s claim compensation against the defendant is barred.
The defendant has the burden of proving the plaintiff’s contributory negligence, and, additionally, if the defendant was grossly negligent, then any ordinary negligence on the part of the plaintiff will not affect the plaintiff’s claim for compensation.
It is a common tactic for at-fault drivers to assert contributory negligence in their efforts to avoid liability for the accidents they cause. However, if you have an experienced Mooresville motorcycle accident lawyer from Grimes Yeoman, PLLC, representing you, we can gather the evidence and witness testimony necessary to firmly establish liability and negate any allegations of contributory negligence from the defendant.
Damages in a Motorcycle Accident Case
There is a risk of severe injury in any vehicle accident, but this risk is much greater with motorcycle accidents. A motorcycle does not provide the rider with much physical protection in a crash, so motorcycle accidents have a higher rate of causing catastrophic or fatal injuries than most other types of vehicle accidents. This means an injured plaintiff likely has grounds to claim substantial damages from the defendant.
Economic damages in any motor vehicle accident case are the financial losses resulting from the defendant’s actions. Economic damages are proven with documentation that shows the damages were proximately caused by the defendant’s actions. The economic damages a plaintiff may be able to recover in a motorcycle accident case can include:
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs. The plaintiff may also claim compensation for the loss of any other personal property caused by the defendant.
- Medical expenses, including the cost of any future medical care the plaintiff requires if they suffered a catastrophic injury.
- Lost wages. If the plaintiff cannot work while they recover from their injuries, the defendant is responsible for all the income the plaintiff cannot earn during their recovery period.
- Lost earning power. When a plaintiff has been permanently disabled by their injury, they may be able to recover compensation for the future income they are no longer able to earn.
When a motorcycle accident results in the death of the motorcycle driver, Grimes Yeoman has experience helping family members recover Wrongful Death damages, which include medical and funeral expenses, pain and suffering for the deceased’s conscious physical and emotional distress from injury until death, economic losses from loss of the deceased’s monetary support, and non-economic losses for the loss of society, companionship, comfort, and guidance of the deceased.
You need an experienced attorney’s help to accurately calculate all of the economic damages you can include in your claim, especially if you suffered a permanently disabling injury. In addition to economic damages, it is also possible for an injured plaintiff to seek compensation for their pain and suffering.
It may sound difficult to assign monetary value to intangible losses like physical pain and psychological trauma. Your attorney can assist you in securing fair compensation that reflects the severity of the harm you suffered and the scope of long-term effects the accident has caused. Generally, injured plaintiffs who suffer life-changing injuries are able to collect substantial compensation for pain and suffering.
Dealing With Auto Insurance Carriers After a Motorcycle Accident
Every driver in North Carolina is required to have auto insurance, and an individual driver’s auto insurance policy must meet minimum coverage requirements for property damage liability and bodily injury liability. When an accident happens, and one driver is at fault, the injured victim can file a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy to seek recompense for all their damages.
It is crucial that you speak with a Mooresville motorcycle accident lawyer before discussing your accident with an insurance company representative. Do not assume that the insurance company has your interests in mind. They will likely attempt to do everything they can to convince you to accept a lowball settlement offer. They may also attempt to deny liability and refuse to pay a settlement.
Your Mooresville motorcycle accident lawyer at Grimes Yeoman, PLLC, can negotiate with the defendant’s insurance carrier for you to ensure they treat you fairly. If any disputes arise, your legal team can be ready to help you resolve them efficiently.
Building a Personal Injury Case for a Motorcycle Accident in Mooresville
You may need to build a personal injury case against the driver who caused your motorcycle accident in Mooresville. Success with this type of civil claim requires careful gathering of evidence and witness testimony, and having experienced legal counsel on your side significantly increases your chances of success.
When a personal injury happens because of negligence, the plaintiff needs to prove the defendant had a duty of care they breached in the situation, and then they must prove this breach of duty was a proximate cause of their claimed damages. For example, every driver has a duty of care to abide by posted speed limits, so speeding would be a breach of this duty of care. The plaintiff must then show the full extent of the damage caused by the defendant.
Some personal injury cases in Mooresville can be settled privately. As long as the defendant accepts liability for the accident and agrees to negotiate a settlement, it’s possible for the parties involved to resolve their personal injury case without the need for litigation. However, settlement may require both parties to compromise, and this may not be a viable option for some accident cases.
When litigation is necessary, you need an experienced Mooresville motorcycle accident lawyer who can develop a compelling case and represent your interests before a judge or jury. The team at Grimes Yeoman, PLLC, will do everything we can to resolve your case efficiently, and we are fully prepared to represent you in the courtroom if necessary to resolve your case.
Find Your Attorney in Mooresville Today
You have a relatively short timeframe in which to pursue your recovery after a motorcycle accident. Whether you remember exactly how the accident happened or you have no recollection due to your injuries, it is crucial to consult an experienced legal advocate as soon as you can after you have received medical attention. The evidence you may need to establish fault for the accident may not be available for very long.
The team at Grimes Yeoman, PLLC, can meet with you in a free initial case evaluation to listen to your story and learn as much as we can about the effects your accident has had on your life. We can determine whether you have grounds for a case and, if so, explain the legal services we offer that may assist with your recovery. Reach out to our team at your first opportunity so we can begin helping with your case.
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FAQs
The potential value of a motorcycle accident settlement in Mooresville depends on several factors, including the overall severity of the damages you suffered, whether you suffered any permanent harm, whether liability for the accident is contested, and whether you have experienced legal counsel representing you. A Mooresville motorcycle accident lawyer can assess the potential value of your case.
The time required to settle a motorcycle accident case will vary based on the specific details of the case. If the defendant is clearly liable and agrees to a settlement, it may not take very long to resolve. If liability is contested or if the defendant’s insurance company disputes the plaintiff’s claim or the amount of damages claimed, these factors can significantly extend the timeline for resolving the case.
The at-fault driver may face jail time for causing a motorcycle accident if they caused the accident by breaking the law. Most motorcycle accidents in North Carolina happen because of negligence, but it is also possible for them to result from illegal acts like drinking and driving. Your attorney can explain what such factors may mean for your case.
The first thing you should do after a motorcycle accident in Mooresville, if you are able to do so, is to call 911 and report the crash. This will ensure there is a police report on file for the accident, which you will need later to file an auto insurance claim or personal injury suit. Once you receive medical attention, you should reach out to a Mooresville motorcycle accident lawyer at your first opportunity.
You should hire a Mooresville motorcycle accident lawyer because you are significantly more likely to succeed with your case with their assistance. The right attorney can handle your legal affairs and uncover the full extent of the damages you can claim while you rest and recover. You can rely on your Mooresville motorcycle accident lawyer at Grimes Yeoman, PLLC, to provide ongoing support through all stages of your recovery efforts.
The team at Grimes Yeoman, PLLC, has helped many motorcycle accident victims in Mooresville and surrounding areas of North Carolina recover, and we are ready to put this experience to work in your case. You have a short time in which to pursue your recovery, so contact us today and schedule a free consultation with a Mooresville motorcycle accident lawyer. We look forward to assisting with your recovery.