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Home Motorcycle Accidents

motorcycle accident lawyerIf your life has been altered by a serious accident injury, trust our experienced motorcycle accident lawyer at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. to help you get the compensation you deserve.

We recognize that motorcyclists often suffer severe injuries because of other motorists’ driving errors. We know the difficulties motorcyclists often encounter when trying to obtain money for medical bills, lost income, and other losses in motorcycle accidents caused by others, which is why our attorneys are here to help.

Our firm provides hands-on advocacy for people who have suffered a catastrophic injury. Our legal team includes staff members who speak Spanish as well as English. We’ll do everything we can to look out for you and help you regain your financial stability. While we handle the legal issues in a motorcycle accident claim, we want you to focus on your physical and emotional recovery. Contact our team today to get started on your case.

How Can Our Raleigh Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Help You?

Our experienced Raleigh motorcycle accident attorneys can guide you through the process of pursuing appropriate compensation for serious injuries that you have suffered in an accident caused by a motorist in a passenger car or truck, or even by another motorcyclist.

  • We will investigate the accident to identify all parties at fault and their applicable insurance coverage available to provide compensation to you.
  • We will calculate the extent of your losses from the motorcycle accident, including your present and future medical expenses related to the crash, lost income, and costs to repair or replace your motorcycle. North Carolina allows you to seek compensation for pain and suffering, too.
  • In cases of disabling injury, we will consult with your doctor about your ongoing medical needs. As part of your injury claim, we seek compensation on your behalf for your future medical and rehabilitation expenses, the cost of remodeling your house to make it accessible, and your reduced earning capacity.
  • After gathering evidence of liability and documenting the full costs of your injuries, we will submit a claim to the liable party’s insurance company and negotiate aggressively for a full settlement. Most motorcycle accident cases are settled out of court. We will discuss any settlement offers we receive and offer our perspective on whether the settlement is reasonable. The final decision as to whether to accept any settlement offer we receive is yours.
  • If the insurance company refuses to make a fair settlement offer, the attorneys at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A., will be ready to present a solid and persuasive case on your behalf in Wake County court.

Our Client Testimonials on Motorcycle Accident Cases

This was my first time using an attorney for an accident. I’m glad I chose Attorney David Vtipil to represent me. Along with his secretary Carmella, and the rest of Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Bank…They made the process clear, and workless. They kept me informed through the case and, were very professional.Thank you all so much!

Wanda Phillips

Chip Younce did an excellent job for me. He was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. His communication with me was top-notch. Chip is very personable and he really cares about you and your outcome.

John Smith

Joe & Adrienne both delivered an easy, straight to the point experience. They stayed on top of everything, overall a very transparent and professional firm. Highly recommend.

Orlando M

Read More Reviews

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Common Injuries from Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists do not have the enclosed compartment of a vehicle to protect them in a crash. Further, in a motorcycle accident, the motorcyclist may be injured by the initial collision with a motor vehicle, and again as their body hits the ground and/or another object on the roadside. In some cases, a motorcycle that has been hit and knocked over by a car may drag the rider along the pavement.

Injuries commonly suffered in motorcycle accidents include:

  • Head injuries (concussions and more severe traumatic brain injury)
  • Spinal cord injuries, which may lead to paralysis
  • Broken bones and/or amputation of arms, legs, wrists, ankles, hands, feet, fingers, toes
  • Facial injuries, including fractures of the face and jaw, loss of teeth, or disfigurement
  • Trunk/chest injuries, such as broken ribs, fractured sternum
  • Abdominal injuries, such as vital organ and bowel damage, crushed pelvis
  • Burns from contact with hot vehicle parts

Experienced motorcyclists are familiar with “road rash” injuries – cuts, bruises, scrapes, and potential degloving injuries – that happen when a rider has been hit and thrown from his motorcycle.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says wearing an FMVSS No. 218-compliant motorcycle helmet is estimated to be 37 percent effective at preventing fatal head injuries to motorcycle drivers and 41 percent effective for passengers. In other words, for every 100 motorcycle operators killed in crashes while not wearing a helmet, 37 could have been saved had all 100 worn helmets.

Whether a motorcycle accident victim was wearing a helmet has no effect on a claim, because a helmet is not a factor in responsibility for the accident. However, wearing a motorcycle helmet may be the deciding factor in pursuing a personal injury claim.

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About Our Firm
"Mr. Vtipil was great! Very kind, calm, knowledgeable, and actually cares about you as a person! This law firm is very organized as well. Highly recommend!" - Lanie Luck
"I would recommend this lawyer firm they do a great job." - Karen Gaddis
"The entire staff made me feel welcomed. They worked hard to ensure they had everything they needed for my case. I would definitely refer them." - Nicole Jones
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North Carolina Motorcycle Laws: Rights and Responsibilities

Under North Carolina law, an individual must have a motorcycle learner permit or a motorcycle endorsement on their provisional, regular, or commercial driver’s license to operate a motorcycle in the state. To be street legal, a motorcycle must have certain safety equipment.

North Carolina law requires all operators and passengers on motorcycles to wear a motorcycle safety helmet that complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 218.

A motorcyclist must follow all the state’s general traffic laws, including speed limits, right-of-way rules, stopping for stoplights and stop signs, and signaling lane changes or turns. These requirements, which are part of N.C. General Statutes Chapter 20 – Motor Vehicles, underscore the state’s intention that motorcycles and motorcyclists will use North Carolina’s public roads alongside other vehicles and other users.

The N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) says motorcycles represent about 2 percent of all registered vehicles in North Carolina, but motorcyclists account for about 10 percent of all fatalities on the state’s roads.

The DMV says there were 3,566 motorcycle accidents in North Carolina in 2018, of which 176 were fatal and 2,806 caused injuries. This does not include more than 1,000 more accidents the DMV classifies as “moped,” and “motor scooter or motorbike” accidents with 20 deaths and 850 injuries.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

About 75% of motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle, usually a passenger car. In these accidents, the motorist has usually violated the motorcycle’s right of way. Many drivers say afterward they never saw the motorcyclist before the accident occurred.

Motorcycles are smaller and harder to see in traffic. But because motorcyclists have a right to the public roads, it is every motorist’s responsibility to expect and look for motorcycles to avoid accidents.

When motorists fail to look for and see motorcycles, accidents are likely to happen.

Accidents occur when the motorist violates the motorcyclist’s right of way by:

  • Attempting a left turn across the path of an oncoming motorcycle proceeding straight ahead.
  • Changing lanes and sideswiping a motorcycle or pulling into a motorcyclist’s path.
  • Violating a traffic signal or making a right turn at a stop sign, yield sign, or red light into the path of a motorcycle.

In addition to the reduced visibility of motorcycles, the smaller size of motorcycles leads to collisions with motorists because of:

  • Misjudged speed. Even when a motorist sees a motorcycle coming, its size may lead to difficulty judging its speed.
  • Shorter stopping distance. Because a motorcycle is lighter than a passenger car, it stops faster. Drivers who neglect to allow adequate room between their vehicle and a motorcycle ahead can easily cause rear-end accidents.

Motorcycles are also more susceptible to accidents caused by road defects because of their smaller size and lighter weight. Potholes, uneven surfaces, pooled water, and loose gravel may cause a crash. After some accidents, the local government and/or the contractors responsible for maintaining the roadway may be held liable.

Of course, motorcyclists are vulnerable to injuries caused by the following types of automobile driver errors and negligence such as:

younce-ssd-infographic-icon Distracted driving, including texting while driving

younce-ssd-icon Drowsy/fatigued driving

younce-ssd-icon Drunk/drugged driving

younce-ssd-infographic-icon Speeding / too fast for conditions

younce neck injury icon Aggressive driving.

Younce Vtipil Baznik & Banks personal injury law team

Contact Our Expert Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Raleigh

Motorcycle accidents are different from car and truck accidents because there is a lingering bias against motorcycle riders. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you have the same rights and deserve the same robust legal advocacy as anyone else. We’re here to offer personalized legal advocacy after a motorcycle accident in Raleigh and central North Carolina.

A personal injury attorney from Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A., can review the facts of your accident and provide you with free legal advice about your options. If you or your loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, you need a dedicated attorney who cares about your recovery and your future. Let us answer your questions at no cost to you and with no strings attached.

Our attorneys are ready to talk whenever you are. Contact us online or by phone any time of day or night, any day of the week. To get started now, just fill out our simple online contact form or give us a call.

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