Managing Partner Anthony Harbin is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of less than one percent of U.S. lawyers. Membership is limited to attorneys who have secured multi-million-dollar verdicts.
An initial consultation with one of our licensed attorneys is free of charge. There are also no upfront fees for our services. There is no risk in contacting us to learn how we may be able to assist you during this difficult time.
You cannot count on the insurance company to take care of you. Harbin & Burnett is committed to pursuing full compensation to help victims and their families.
When you hire Harbin & Burnett to represent you, you can count on us to aggressively pursue maximum compensation on your behalf. There are several steps we are prepared to take:
We may be able to connect you with doctors and specialists who can provide the treatment you need. While we are committed to trying to secure financial compensation, we also want to help aid in your recovery.
If you are struggling to pay your medical bills while we pursue a settlement, we may be able to help get creditors off your back until a settlement is reached. We may also be able to recommend a repair shop for your motorcycle.
You do not need the added stress of talking to the insurance company about the crash.
Talking to insurance company representatives can also be risky because they know how to manipulate accident victims into saying things that may hurt their credibility. They might make a lowball settlement offer that you may be tempted to accept.
Fortunately, the attorneys at Harbin & Burnett are here to communicate with the insurance company on your behalf. We know how to protect the value of a claim when talking to the insurance company.
This means visiting the crash site and talking to the police officers and emergency medical personnel who were at the scene.
Sometimes we bring in accident reconstruction experts to review physical evidence and help determine why the crash occurred and how another driver may be at fault. We may also bring in other experts as needed.
While most motorcycle crashes are the result of another driver’s negligence, there may be other at-fault parties. For example, product manufacturers may be partially liable if a defective part contributed to the crash.
Over the years, we have negotiated many motor vehicle accident settlements. We know how to determine the full value of a claim and do not accept lowball offers from the insurance company. We want our clients to have the money they need for past and future medical treatment and other out-of-pocket expenses, such as repair costs and lost wages. When possible, we are also prepared to pursue compensation for non-economic damages.
Motorcycle accident cases are usually resolved through insurance settlements. However, sometimes insurance companies deny claims or make unfair offers that we cannot accept. That is why we are always prepared to take matters to court to allow a jury to decide if another driver is at fault and what compensation should be paid out.
You need an attorney with courtroom experience because insurance companies may be less likely to offer fair compensation to an attorney who rarely goes to court.
Our motorcycle accident lawyers know crash victims have many questions about their claim and the legal process. We are committed to being available to answer your questions and getting back to you as quickly as possible. We also keep our clients updated on the status of their claim.
You may still be eligible to file a claim for compensation. Under South Carolina law, crash victims who bear fault for their injuries are only barred from seeking compensation if they are 51 percent or more to blame.
If you are less than 51 percent to blame, your compensation award will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
In other words, if you were 20 percent at fault and your lawyer files a claim for $100,000, you would only be able to receive $80,000.
However, crash victims often think they are partially at fault or bear a significant amount of fault when that is not the case. Insurance companies often tell victims they are at fault when that is not true.
You should only discuss fault with your lawyer to help protect your claim.
Yes, you should still be able to file a claim, even if you are under 21 years of age and required to wear a helmet. While the insurance company may argue you were more likely to be injured by not wearing a helmet, these arguments usually do not hold up in court.
Typically, insurance companies and juries must take the victim as they find him or her. Your decision to not wear a helmet has nothing to do with the other driver’s negligent actions. That means insurance companies should not be able to reduce the value of your claim based on the fact you were not wearing a helmet during the crash.
It is best to get things started as quickly as possible. If you think you may have a case against a negligent driver, call us as soon as possible to review the crash. We can determine if you may have a case and get started if you choose to hire our firm.
Our attorneys need time to investigate the crash, gather evidence, review medical bills and other damages, consult experts and take additional steps as appropriate.
While most cases settle, sometimes lawsuits are necessary, and they must be filed within three years from the date of the crash. This deadline is set by South Carolina’s personal injury statute of limitations.
If you attempt to file a claim after those three years pass, it will likely be dismissed in court. That means you would be unable to seek compensation, even if another party is at fault.
Motorcycle crash victims who have been severely injured could greatly benefit from experienced legal representation. Insurance companies are committed to protecting their profits, which means paying out the least possible amount of compensation or trying to deny a claim altogether.
You will need to build a strong case to challenge the insurance company’s attempts to deny or devalue your claim. It may even be necessary to take the insurance company to court.
These are tremendous challenges for crash victims who are seriously injured. You could unknowingly hurt your chances of recovering compensation if you attempt to manage the legal process alone. The insurance company may try to convince you to accept a lowball offer.
Not only can an experienced lawyer from Harbin & Burnett manage the legal process on your behalf, he or she can do so at no upfront cost. Our attorneys have decades of combined experience advocating for motor vehicle accident victims. We have helped many secure compensation to help them move forward.
Choosing a lawyer is an important decision, so it is important to do your research. You should search for a lawyer that has years of experience handling cases like yours.
However, be wary of attorneys who promise or guarantee results. There are no guarantees in the legal process. Instead, you should search for an attorney that has a proven record of success and is committed to pursuing a favorable outcome.
It is important to hire a lawyer you trust to manage your case. You should be able to get in touch with him or her when you need to. If you call and the attorney is not available, you should get a return phone call within a reasonable amount of time. Search for reviews of the firm and see what past clients have to say about communicating with the attorney in question.
Your lawyer should carefully listen to your questions and keep you informed about the status of your case. He or she should also have experience in the courtroom.
Friends or family members may have recommendations about lawyers or law firms to contact. However, you should still do your own research.
Most personal injury lawyers, including those at Harbin & Burnett, work on contingency. That means an initial consultation is free, and if the attorney represents your case, there are no upfront fees. The attorney is not paid until the end of the legal process if a settlement is agreed to.
Make sure to ask the lawyer about fees when you meet with him or her. The attorney should be able to clearly explain how he or she is paid and what fees may apply to the case. If the attorney does not clearly explain the fee arrangement, you may want to consider another attorney. The last thing you want is a surprise bill.
This is a question you should discuss with your lawyer. There are various factors to consider, especially the severity of your injuries, ongoing treatment needs, lost wages, the effect of your injury on future earning capacity, and emotional/psychological damages.
When you meet with an attorney from Harbin & Burnett, we can review the damages that may be available. The value of a claim is usually determined after the crash has been investigated and the victim has reached maximum medical improvement. Each case is unique, which is why the investigation is so important.
Our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers have evaluated countless claims, so we have a comprehensive understanding of how to determine a claim’s worth.
One of the most important things you can do is hire an experienced attorney to deal with the insurance company on your behalf.
When crash victims talk to the insurance company on their own, they often say things that hurt their credibility or diminish the value of their claims. For example, crash victims may not realize answering questions about the severity of their injuries is often a bad idea. For some reason, crash victims tend to downplay the severity of their injuries.
It is also difficult to stay consistent in your statements about the crash. You might say one thing after the crash and say something a little different a few weeks later. The insurance company can use discrepancies like these to attack your credibility.
Another step to take besides hiring an attorney is to follow through with your medical treatment. Get to the hospital as soon after the accident as possible and attend your follow-up appointments. If the doctor tells you to avoid certain physical activities, make sure to follow his or her orders. If you disregard these orders, the insurance company may devalue your claim.
The licensed attorneys at Harbin & Burnett can explain how to protect your claim when you meet with them.
Our attorneys may be able to file a claim through the uninsured motorist coverage in your insurance policy. If you have additional first-party coverage in your insurance policy, we may also be able to use that to help cover your damages.
Uninsured motorist claims are often filed after hit-and-run accidents when the at-fault driver cannot be located, or when he or she lacks insurance.
This may happen if you have a long-term or permanent disability and need extensive medical treatment. Fortunately, we may be able to file a claim against the underinsured motorist coverage in your policy. This provides compensation for the difference between the liability limits of the at-fault driver’s policy and the cost of your damages, up to the limits of your underinsured motorist coverage.
In some cases, there are multiple at-fault parties. That means our motorcycle accident lawyers may be able to seek compensation from those other parties.
It often takes several months or more to reach a settlement. However, every case is unique. Your lawyer should be able to give you a better idea about how long your case may take.
At Harbin & Burnett, we are committed to working as efficiently as possible to try to secure a favorable settlement. However, there are some factors that are out of our control, like the length of your treatment and the cooperation of the insurance company. Sometimes insurance companies deny claims or make a series of lowball offers.
If you have any questions about the duration of a case, our attorneys are here to answer those questions. We want to keep you fully informed, so you know what to expect.
Most cases do not end up in court, however, sometimes your attorney may recommend it. This often happens in cases with significant injuries that totally change victims’ lives.
While crash victims are often nervous about going to court, it is important to remember your attorney should help prepare you for it. He or she should explain why going to court may be a good idea and what to expect. More importantly, your lawyer can explain what to do if you need to provide testimony.
Hiring an experienced attorney to manage the process on your behalf could help provide peace of mind during this difficult time.
Seeking medical treatment right away is one of the most important steps you can take. Your first priority is your health and safety. You need a doctor to stabilize your injuries to help prevent them from worsening.
While our attorneys are prepared to conduct a thorough investigation, it can be helpful when victims collect evidence at the scene. However, you should only do this when it is safe and you will not be putting yourself in harm’s way or making your injuries worse.
Taking picture of the damage to your motorcycle, visible injuries, damage to the at-fault driver’s vehicle and other parts of the scene may be helpful.
If you see witnesses, ask them what they saw and if they may be able to help you with seeking compensation. Ask for their contact information as well. That way your lawyer can get in touch with them later.
You should strongly consider contacting a lawyer to assist you. By contacting a lawyer right away, you can determine how he or she may be able to assist you. You can also refer the insurance company to your lawyer so you do not have to deal with it.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle accident, our firm may be able to help.
Call today to discuss your accident with one of our licensed attorneys. The initial consultation is free and comes with no obligation to you. If you decide to hire one of our attorneys for your motorcycle accident claim, there will be no upfront fees. Our attorneys do not get paid unless you win.
