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If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident we can help you receive a fair and just settlement for any injury sustained.

At Kellum Law Firm, we have many years’ experience handling all types of accident and personal injury claims. Our legal team deals directly with insurance companies to negotiate a fair settlement for you.  If necessary, we’ll take your case to trial.

If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident in North Carolina, read this:

We have several motorcycle riders on our team of lawyers here at Kellum Law Firm, so we understand that there’s nothing more exciting and liberating than being on two wheels on the open road.

Distracted Car Drivers Are A Menace To Motorcyclists

While considerable advancements have been made in the realm of automobile safety – seatbelts, airbags etc, clearly this has no benefit whatsoever to a motorcyclist. In fact in many ways the enhanced features of automobiles has made it even less safe on the road for motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians; as many car drivers are often distracted by the plethora of technology inside their vehicles – not to mention cellphones.

Serious accidents often occur to motorcyclists when car drivers become distracted, and in such a situation there’s clearly a case for negligence. “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines distracted driving as any non-driving activity a person engages in while operating a motor vehicle. Such activities have the potential to distract the person from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing (http://www.distraction.gov/)”

Even when a car driver has both hands on the wheel, you’re still vulnerable on the open road. Other common causes of crashes involving a motorcycle is passing a vehicle in the drivers’ blind spot, being struck by a vehicle turning in front of a motorcycle (simply because the car driver doesn’t see you) and a broad range of different accident types involving road markings – such as failing to yield or failing to stop at a stop sign.

Pothole Crashes

Another common cause of accidents on two wheels involves poorly maintained road surfaces – the State of NC or local government is responsible for maintaining roads in good condition, and if it can be shown that this obligation has not been met you may have a case for a compensation claim against the party responsible for the highways. But quite often it’s difficult to know exactly who that is.

In North Carolina, many of the side-streets and roads inside city or town limits are actually the state’s responsibility to maintain, so it can be a difficult task determining just who is liable.

According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation in 2016, motorcyclist deaths decreased by 7.4 percent over the previous year, falling to 163 from 151 (pedal- cyclist deaths also decreased, down 16.7 percent from 2015).
If you add up motorcycle, moped and scooter crashes in 2016 the total is just a hair under 4000.

Wear Your Safety Helmet

In NC, all motorcycle riders and their passengers must wear helmets with chin straps secured. The helmet must be of a design approved by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). If you’re involved in an accident and you haven’t worn an approved helmet it may affect your ability to claim compensation. This will be one of the things insurance companies take into consideration before agreeing on any settlement.

Work With An Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Of course, insurance companies are in no hurry to settle a claim and will often go to great lengths to avoid making a payout even when the issue of liability is clearly in your favor. So if you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, having an experienced lawyer on your side can affect the outcome of your claim.