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“Can I Sue for a No-Contact Motorcycle Accident in North Carolina?”

No-contact motorcycle accidents, where a motorcycle crashes due to another driver’s negligence despite never touching the other vehicle, are more common than you might think. These dangerous accidents can result in serious injuries and even death. However, because there is no contact between the motorcycle and the other vehicle, victims sometimes wonder, “Can I sue for a no-contact motorcycle accident in North Carolina?”

Can I Sue for a No-Contact Motorcycle Accident in North Carolina - Riddle & BrantleyThe answer is yes. When a driver’s negligence results in a motorcycle accident, but the vehicle and motorcycle do not collide, the at-fault driver can be held liable. In North Carolina, you can sue if you’ve been injured due to another’s negligence that caused a no-contact motorcycle accident.

In this article, we’ll talk about what a no-contact motorcycle accident is, and what Raleigh victims can do to hold responsible parties accountable and recover compensation for their injuries.

IMPORTANT: If you’ve been injured in a no-contact motorcycle accident (or another type of motorcycle accident) in North Carolina, you may be entitled to compensation — call 1-800-525-7111 today for a FREE, no-obligation consultation. There are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we win your case and you receive compensation.

What is a “No-Contact” Motorcycle Accident?

In most motorcycle accidents, a motorcycle collides with another vehicle. This is not the case with “no-contact” motorcycle accidents. A no-contact motorcycle accident occurs when a motorcycle crashes due to another driver’s negligence, but there is no contact between the motorcycle and the other vehicle.

Common Causes of No-Contact Motorcycle Accidents

  • Distracted Driving — Distracted driving is the most common cause of no-contact motorcycle accidents. This might occur, for example, when a driver is texting while driving and swerves into the oncoming lane. A motorcycle traveling in that lane may swerve to avoid hitting the other vehicle, and end up in a wreck.
  • Failure to Check Blind Spots — If a driver fails to check his or her blind spots, by changing lanes or turning, they may cut off a nearby motorcycle, resulting in a motorcycle accident.
  • Unsafe Lane Changes — If a driver moves suddenly into a lane in which a motorcycle is traveling, the motorcycle driver may be forced to swerve suddenly or take evasive action. This can result in a no-contact motorcycle accident in which the other, responsible driver does not end up crashing.
  • Running a Red Light — A driver running a red light may force a motorcycle with the right of way to swerve or brake suddenly in order to avoid an accident, which can cause the motorcycle to lose control and crash.
  • Tailgating — If a vehicle follows a motorcycle too closely, the motorcycle driver may be forced to take evasive action, increase speed, or swerve, resulting in an accident, even if the other vehicle does not crash.

Proving Negligence in No-Contact Motorcycle Accidents

Distracted Driving and No-Contact Motorcycle Accidents - Riddle & BrantleyWhile it can be more difficult to prove fault in an accident without a direct collision, a driver can be determined to be negligent in a Raleigh no-contact motorcycle accident.

As with any personal injury claim, proving negligence in a no-contact motorcycle accident requires the injured party to demonstrate that the defendant failed to exercise reasonable care.

In order to prove negligence in a no-contact motorcycle accident, you must:

  • Prove that the defendant had a “duty of care” (meaning that he or she had an obligation to do his or her best to avoid injuring the plaintiff)
  • Prove that the defendant violated that “duty of care”
  • Demonstrate that the violation resulted in injury

Proving fault in a no-contact motorcycle accident may require a significant amount of evidence, such as:

  • Eyewitness testimony
  • Surveillance or dash cam video footage
  • Photos of the crash scene
  • Medical records
  • The official accident report from law enforcement

At Riddle & Brantley, we have a team of experienced Raleigh investigators on staff to assist with investigating no-contact motorcycle accidents. We frequently bring in outside experts, as well, such as accident reconstructionists, to help prove liability and strengthen our clients’ cases.

Remember, what you do immediately after a motorcycle accident can have a significant impact on the outcome of a potential injury claim. Don’t wait — contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer today by calling 1-800-525-7111.

Contributory Negligence

In North Carolina, personal injury claims are also subject to the doctrine of contributory negligence. This means that in order to recover damages, a plaintiff must prove that they were not even partially responsible for the accident. This can make filing a claim or lawsuit in a no-contact motorcycle accident even more complicated.

If you’ve been injured in a no-contact motorcycle accident, call our North Carolina motorcycle accident lawyers today for a FREE consultation at 1-800-525-7111.

There is never any obligation and you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your case and you receive compensation.

Please call 1-800-525-7111 today and let’s review your claim.

Why Riddle & Brantley for Your Motorcycle Accident Claim?

Our attorneys have more than 220+ years of combined legal experience and we’ve recovered millions of dollars in compensation for victims of motorcycle accidents in North Carolina (see disclaimer below).

We’re proud of our record of settlements and judgments in motorcycle accident injury cases, including:

  • $1,000,000 — We proved the driver was negligent in a motorcycle accident that left our client, the passenger, injured after being thrown off the bike while moving through an S-curve. Through mediation we were able to recover $1,000,000 in total compensation for the injured victim.
  • $1,000,000 — A vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign and hit our client, causing a motorcycle accident that threw the victim 15 feet from the bike. The defendant was charged in the accident and we filed a separate civil claim, securing $1,000,000 in total compensation, the limits of the insurance policy.
  • $300,000 — A motorcycle driver was t-boned by a pickup truck while turning onto a busy highway. He suffered extensive injuries and took the case, negotiating total compensation of $1,000,000 through mediation, representing the limits of the policy in question.

*** Disclaimer: The results mentioned are intended to illustrate the type of cases handled by the firm. These results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and they should not be construed to constitute a promise or guarantee of a particular result in any particular case. Every case is different, and the outcome of any case depends upon a variety of factors unique to that case.

“They turned a heartbreaking situation completely around.”

Tonya Taylor, Riddle & Brantley client 

North Carolina Motorcycle Accident Lawyers - Riddle & BrantleyFor a FREE consultation regarding a no-contact motorcycle accident (or another type of motorcycle accident) with an experienced personal injury lawyer at Riddle & Brantley, please call 1-800-525-7111.

There is no obligation and we don’t get paid unless you do. You won’t owe any attorney fees unless we win your case and you receive compensation.

Please call 1-800-525-7111 today and let’s review your claim.

You can sue or file a claim if you’ve been injured in a no-contact motorcycle accident due to another’s negligence, and we would love to help you if we can.

Justice Counts.