What Riders in South Carolina Should Know About Handling Motorcycle Accident Insurance Claims

Motorcycle accidents can lead to serious injuries, expensive medical care, and financial stress. Dealing with insurance companies afterward only adds to the burden. For riders in South Carolina, understanding how to handle the insurance process after a crash is essential. The way you communicate with insurers—and the decisions you make early on—can directly affect the outcome of your claim.

Why Motorcycle Insurance Claims Are Often More Complicated

Compared to car accidents, claims involving motorcycles often raise more disputes. Insurance companies tend to question liability more aggressively. They may assume the rider was speeding, weaving through traffic, or otherwise at fault—even when evidence suggests otherwise.

Additionally, injuries from motorcycle crashes are typically more severe. This means higher medical bills and longer recovery times, which insurers are not always eager to pay for. These challenges make it important to approach the claims process with care and preparation.

What to Do Immediately After the Crash

The steps you take right after an accident can affect your insurance claim from the start.

Call 911 and report the accident. Make sure law enforcement responds and creates an official accident report. This document will be an important part of your claim.
Seek medical attention right away. Even if you think your injuries are minor, some symptoms take time to appear. Immediate medical records provide a clear link between the crash and your condition.
Take photos or video of the scene, your motorcycle, the other vehicle, road conditions, and visible injuries. This visual evidence may help support your version of events.
Get contact details from any witnesses who saw the crash happen. Their statements can help confirm fault.
Avoid discussing fault at the scene. Stick to the facts when speaking to police or other drivers.

Understanding Insurance Coverage in South Carolina

In South Carolina, all motor vehicle owners are required to carry liability insurance. For motorcycle riders, this means having coverage for bodily injury and property damage in case you cause a crash.

However, what many riders overlook is the importance of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). This coverage helps protect you if the other driver is at fault but doesn’t have enough insurance—or any at all. Given how many crashes involve uninsured drivers, this type of coverage can be critical for motorcyclists.

Filing a Claim With the Right Insurance Company

After the crash, you’ll typically file one or more of the following types of claims:

Third-party claim – Filed with the at-fault driver’s insurance. This is where you seek compensation for medical bills, property damage, and other losses.
First-party claim – Filed with your own insurer under your policy’s provisions, such as collision coverage or UM/UIM.

When you contact either insurance company, you’ll need to give basic information: when and where the crash happened, who was involved, and a general overview of the damage and injuries.

It’s important to understand that insurance adjusters—whether from your insurer or the other driver’s—are not working for you. Their job is to limit how much the company pays. Be polite and truthful, but don’t volunteer unnecessary information or agree to a recorded statement without legal advice.

Documenting Your Losses

To strengthen your claim, keep detailed records of everything related to the crash:

Emergency room visits, follow-up care, and specialist appointments
Diagnostic tests, prescriptions, and physical therapy
Time missed from work due to injury or recovery
Receipts for motorcycle repairs or replacement costs
Pain levels, sleep issues, or emotional struggles in a journal

All of this documentation helps show the true impact the accident has had on your life. The more proof you have, the harder it will be for the insurance company to downplay your claim.

Dealing With Low Settlement Offers

One of the most common frustrations after a motorcycle accident is receiving a low settlement offer. Insurers may try to resolve your claim quickly and for as little as possible. They often hope you’ll accept a small payout before the full extent of your injuries becomes clear.

Before agreeing to anything, consider the long-term costs of your injury. Will you need additional medical care? Are you facing permanent limitations? Have you returned to work?

Once you accept a settlement, you cannot reopen the claim—even if new problems arise. For this reason, it’s wise to have any offer reviewed by a legal professional who understands motorcycle claims in South Carolina.

How Fault Affects Your Claim

South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means you can recover compensation even if you were partially at fault, as long as your share of blame is less than 51 percent. However, your recovery will be reduced based on your level of fault.

For example, if you’re awarded $100,000 in damages but found to be 20 percent at fault, you’ll receive $80,000. Insurance companies often use this rule to reduce payouts, so it’s important to defend your side of the story with strong evidence.

Why Legal Help Matters After a Motorcycle Crash

While it’s possible to file a claim on your own, the stakes are high after a serious motorcycle accident. An attorney can help:

Investigate the crash and collect evidence
Identify all possible insurance policies that may apply
Handle communication with adjusters
Push back on unfair settlement offers
Represent you in court if needed

Many personal injury lawyers in South Carolina offer free consultations and only get paid if they win your case. This means there’s little risk in speaking with someone about your options.

Don’t Wait Too Long to Act

South Carolina law gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you could lose your right to recover compensation altogether. It’s best to begin the process as soon as possible, while evidence is fresh and witnesses are available.

Conclusion

Being involved in a motorcycle accident is overwhelming. But when you take the right steps early, you put yourself in a better position to recover both physically and financially.

Start by getting the medical care you need. Then, document everything and be cautious when dealing with insurance companies. If you’re unsure about your rights or feel the process is becoming too difficult to handle alone, don’t hesitate to reach out for legal support.

Motorcycle riders deserve fair treatment after a crash, and knowing how to handle an insurance claim can help you fight for it.