South Carolina No-Contact Motorcycle Accidents and Liability

A no-contact motorcycle accident is an accident where the motorcycle crashes to avoid a collision with another vehicle. Even though the bike and the vehicle do not actually touch one another, the vehicle’s driver can still be found liable for the accident and be responsible for any injuries to the motorcyclist. 

Examples of No-Contact Motorcycle Accidents

Countless circumstances could lead to a no-contact accident. One common example involves a motorcycle riding behind a vehicle on a multi-lane road in separate lanes. The car changes lanes suddenly, without signaling and the motorcyclist swerves to avoid hitting the car, causing the motorcycle to crash. 

Another example involves a motorcycle riding behind a vehicle in the same lane. The car brakes, but the motorcyclist does not notice and must swerve to avoid a collision from behind. In doing so, they could quickly lose control of the bike and crash. 

In the first example, the car driver would be liable for the crash because the car changed lanes without looking and without signaling. The motorcyclist was not at fault and reacted to the driver’s negligent driving. In the second example, the motorcyclist would be at fault. The motorcycle rider should have been watching the surroundings and noticed that the vehicle had slowed. This is similar to how the driver in the back is almost always responsible for a rear-end collision. 

Other causes of no-contact accidents include:

• Tailgating
• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Road rage
• Non-working taillights and signals
• Failure to signal
• Blind spots

Determining Fault in No-Contact Accidents

Although the motorcycle and the car never touch one another in a no-contact accident, fault can be determined by imagining that they had contacted each other. The same factors that lead to motorcycle versus vehicle collisions exist in no-contact accidents. Examining these types of accidents closely, negligence can be found.

Trouble arises when the vehicle leaves the scene of the accident. The driver may be unaware of what happened to the motorcyclist or flee to avoid being held responsible. No matter what reason a driver had for leaving, being unable to identify the other party to a no-contact accident complicates the investigation into how it occurred and who will pay for damages. 

A Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help

If you or a loved one were hurt or killed in a no-contact motorcycle accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at the Steinberg Law Firm for help. For more than 95 years, our dedicated team of personal injury attorneys has helped accident victims and their families get their lives back on track after a serious accident. 

To get the compensation you deserve, you should hire an attorney who regularly handles motorcycle accident cases. Contact an experienced and knowledgeable South Carolina accident attorney at the Steinberg Law Firm today at (843) 720-2800.