Lane splitting is the practice of a motorcycle rider driving their vehicle between the lanes of traffic on a street. While it is not legal in South Carolina to engage in this action, that does not mean that you cannot recover losses if you are hit while doing so. At Shelly Leeke Law Firm, our South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyer fights to protect the rights of our clients when hurt in motorcycle accidents like this.
Lane Splitting Is Not Legal in South Carolina
Under SC Code §56-5-3640(c), it is illegal to engage in lane splitting. This means that you could receive a ticket for driving your motorcycle between lanes of traffic. This does not mean, however, that you cannot recover damages in the case.
This is due to South Carolina’s laws that enable a person who may be partially responsible for an accident to still recover compensation. In order for that to occur, you must hold under 50% of the liability in the incident. This is where it can become confusing in cases like this.
Our motorcycle accident attorney will work very closely with you to pursue fair compensation in a case like this. We will gather the evidence to protect your rights and then work to prove that you deserve financial recovery for your injuries. Because of the complexities of these types of cases, we strongly urge you to speak to a motorcycle accident attorney in South Carolina before settling this claim.
How We Gather Evidence to Support Your Claim
As an illegal action, lane splitting puts you at risk of being hurt. However, the driver of a vehicle still has the responsibility of ensuring that they take steps to minimize risks to others. Our goal, as your motorcycle accident attorneys, is to prove that they were negligent, and to do that, we need evidence from an investigation:
- Witness statements can offer insight into who was wrong in the incident
- The police report will include some details gathered from both parties and may offer some insight into what occurred
- Cameras, including traffic cameras, business cameras, and photos of the incident, may also help with proving fault
- Accident recreationists will work to uncover any demonstration of what could have happened, proving you were not at fault
- A driver who was distracted, intoxicated, or operating a vehicle in a reckless manner may be held responsible for the incident fully
The circumstances of your case determine if you can file a claim for compensation after lane splitting. Our South Carolina motorcycle attorneys have experience helping clients navigate these very challenging legal scenarios. Do not go into a claim without an experienced professional by your side.
You May Recover Significant Losses After Your Motorcycle Accident
One of the core reasons to seek out a claim after a motorcycle accident is to get money to cover your medical costs. Emergency medical care, surgeries, hospital stays, and ongoing rehab are expensive. This is not the only type of compensation you may qualify for in a motorcycle accident.
- Lost time at work: If you lost time working because of your injuries or other benefits related to not being able to work, you could include this in your claim.
- Damage to your motorcycle: If you have damage to your motorcycle due to the incident, you may qualify to get compensation for those losses.
- Pain and suffering: Being hit by a car or truck on a motorcycle is painful and can lead to years of struggle, and that can be a component of your compensation as well.
- Emotional trauma: Those facing emotional trauma from such an accident may be able to pursue claims there, too.
- Loss of quality of life: You may not be able to ride your bike again and it may cause damage to your relationships.
Keep in mind that you may not receive compensation for all of these losses if you are found partially at fault. However, even a smaller amount may help you to recover from the impact this accident has had on your life. We can help make that happen by providing you with the legal representation you need to file a claim.
The Shelly Leeke Law Firm Is Ready to Help You
At The Shelly Leeke Law Firm, our highly experienced and dedicated South Carolina motorcycle accident attorneys bring experience and compassion to the fight. We recognize just how damaging this type of motorcycle accident can be to your quality of life, mental health, and overall ability to move forward. When you choose to work with our attorneys, you can expect:
- Aggressive legal representation: We do not stand down when fighting for our clients, even if they may hold some responsibility for the cause of the incident.
- Dedicated support in pursuing maximum compensation: Throughout our history of serving accident victims, we have recovered millions of dollars to support our clients in their recovery efforts.
- Exceptional compassion for your needs: We care about you and your recovery, and we will take the pressure off you so you can focus on that recovery over the long term.
As a proven South Carolina motorcycle accident law firm, we will pursue full and fair compensation to the letter of the law. Even if you are not sure of your rights, we can help. Lane splitting does not have to mean you are faced with substantial losses.
You Pay No Fee to Us Unless You Win
There is no risk in reaching out to our motorcycle accident attorneys in South Carolina to discuss your rights. We do not charge you a fee for the consultation and we will not pursue financial compensation for our attorneys unless you win your case. Let us take on your battle and help you find the best possible outcome.
Put Your Trust in a Proven Motorcycle Accident Attorney
At The Shelly Leeke Law Firm, we are committed to providing our clients with exceptional legal representation. To learn more about our successful record of success and the legal strategies we can employ in lane-splitting cases, call our team. Reach out to us now for a free consultation.
