Why Hire Roden Law After a Charleston Motorcycle Accident
Riders are often blamed for crashes they did not cause. The other driver’s insurer may assume you were speeding or weaving, and it may treat a missing helmet as the whole story. A motorcycle claim is won by showing what actually happened, and much of that evidence, such as video, the scene and the bike itself, does not last long.
- No fee unless we win. The consultation is free, and you pay nothing up front.
- A South Carolina lawyer on your case. Your case is handled under South Carolina law by attorneys licensed here, from our office at 127 King Street.
- Evidence preserved early. We work to secure video, the crash report, witness accounts and your damaged bike and gear before they are lost or repaired.
- The full value of the claim. Medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and the bike, riding gear and aftermarket parts.
Where Charleston Motorcycle Crashes Happen
Charleston’s riding season runs most of the year, and bikes share the same roads as port trucks, commuters and beach traffic.
I-26 and I-526
The interstates carry fast, heavy traffic through North Charleston, where frequent merges and lane changes leave little room for a driver who fails to check a blind spot. For crashes near the port and North Charleston, our North Charleston office at 2703 Spruill Avenue is closer.
Dorchester Road and Rivers Avenue
These are busy commercial corridors with many driveways and turning lanes. See motorcycle accidents on Dorchester Road.
US-17: the Ravenel Bridge and Savannah Highway
US-17 carries riders over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge into Mount Pleasant and through West Ashley on Savannah Highway.
Folly Road and Maybank Highway
The routes to Folly Beach, James Island and Johns Island draw riders on weekends, along with visitors unfamiliar with the roads.
How Motorcycle Crashes Happen
Many crashes happen when a driver turns left across a rider’s path, pulls out from a side street or driveway, or changes lanes into a motorcycle they did not see. Others involve rear-end collisions, road hazards or a vehicle that leaves the scene. See hit-and-run motorcycle accidents and single-vehicle motorcycle crashes, and for what to do in the days after a crash, mistakes to avoid after a motorcycle accident and gathering evidence after a motorcycle accident.
South Carolina Rules That Shape a Motorcycle Claim
Your right to the lane
South Carolina law entitles every motorcycle to the full use of a lane, and no driver may operate a vehicle in a way that deprives a motorcycle of it, except when motorcycles ride two abreast in the lane (S.C. Code § 56-5-3640). The same section prohibits riding between lanes of traffic or rows of vehicles, and riding more than two abreast in a single lane.
Helmets
South Carolina requires a helmet only for operators and passengers under 21 (S.C. Code § 56-5-3660). If you were 21 or older, riding without a helmet broke no law. Insurers sometimes raise it anyway, which is one more reason to have the evidence of how the crash happened.
Vehicles owned by a city, county or state agency
If a City of Charleston, Charleston County or SCDOT vehicle caused the crash, the South Carolina Tort Claims Act applies. Suit must be filed within two years of when the loss was or should have been discovered (S.C. Code § 15-78-110). Filing a verified claim with the agency within one year is optional and extends that period to three years (S.C. Code § 15-78-80). Recovery against a government entity is capped at $300,000 per person and $600,000 per occurrence, with no punitive damages (S.C. Code § 15-78-120). See government vehicle accidents.
Your own coverage
Every South Carolina auto policy must include uninsured motorist coverage (S.C. Code § 38-77-150), and insurers must offer underinsured motorist coverage (S.C. Code § 38-77-160). Because injuries in motorcycle crashes are often severe, your own UM or UIM coverage can matter when the at-fault driver’s policy is not enough.
Where your case would be filed
Most Charleston County motorcycle accident lawsuits are filed in the Court of Common Pleas at the Charleston County Judicial Center, 100 Broad Street, about a block from our King Street office. For how South Carolina motorcycle settlements are valued, see South Carolina motorcycle accident settlement value, and for crashes elsewhere in the state, our South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyers. If you were in a car rather than on a bike, see our Charleston car accident lawyers.
