Not all dangerous motor vehicle accidents occur on the road with passenger cars and trucks. Many motor vehicle accidents involve some type of recreational vehicle, such as motor homes, jet skis, ATVs, or scooters. With so many different kinds of recreational vehicles and so few laws regarding who can drive them, it is no surprise that recreational vehicle accidents are common.
Discuss Your Case With a Charlotte Recreational Vehicle LawyerIf you or your loved one has been injured in a recreational vehicle accident, you are not alone. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Under North Carolina law, victims of recreational vehicle accidents have a right to pursue compensation from the person or company who caused their injuries. One of the skilled personal injury lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, can help you determine whether you have a claim to compensation for your injuries. Contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC, today to schedule your free initial consultation to learn more about our legal services.
Why Are Recreational Vehicles So Dangerous?You need a license to operate a motorcycle or a car. You also need a special license to operate a large truck. However, many recreational vehicles do not require any type of driver's license. As a result, many untrained people operate off-road vehicles and watercraft. What may start as a fun trip to the lake or the mountains could turn into a devastating accident. When inexperienced people operate recreational vehicles at high speeds, they are often in dangerous conditions, making a crash more likely to occur.
Recreational vehicle accidents are often caused by negligence or inexperienced drivers. However, some recreational vehicle accidents occur due to unsafe conditions on the road. Other accidents are caused by dangerous designs or defective parts within recreational vehicles. When you work with Arnold & Smith, PLLC, you can rest assured that we will carefully investigate your case and determine who is at fault. Once we determine who was at fault, we can begin advocating for compensation from the at-fault party.
Common Types of Recreational VehiclesWhen most people think of recreational vehicles, they think of motorhomes. However, there are many more types of recreational vehicles that North Carolina residents use to relax and enjoy themselves. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, we have successfully handled many different types of recreational vehicle accident cases, including the following:
RVs can be classified as motor coaches or towable rigs. Motorcoaches are self-powered and have their own engines. Towable RVs require a separate vehicle, typically a pickup truck, to tow them. Towable RVs are often involved in jackknifed truck accidents and accidents involving a trailer detaching from the vehicle.
Recovering Insurance Compensation After a Recreational Vehicle AccidentMany people do not take out insurance on an ATV, 4-wheeler, dirt bike, or other types of recreational vehicles. However, under North Carolina's insurance laws, these types of vehicles are covered by farm liability or homeowners’ insurance. Even if there is no liability insurance coverage on the recreational vehicle itself, there could be other sources of insurance coverage you can use to recover compensation. In many recreational vehicle accidents, the owners of the vehicles are liable regardless of whether they were even present when the accident happened. The best way to determine who is liable for your injuries is to discuss your case with an experienced lawyer.
Compensation Available in a Recreational Vehicle AccidentEven if insurance covers the recreational vehicle accident, standard insurance will not always cover every loss and expense associated with a recreational vehicle accident. Pursuing compensation through a personal injury lawsuit may be the only way for the victim to become fully compensated after a recreational vehicle accident.
Recreational vehicle accidents can cause serious injuries, creating emotional, physical, and financial hardships for the victim. Through a personal injury lawsuit, a successful plaintiff can recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include compensation for medical bills and lost wages, and non-economic damages include compensation for pain and suffering as well as wrongful death. North Carolina places time limits on filing a personal injury lawsuit. For that reason, it is wise to discuss your case with a lawyer as soon as possible. You do not want to miss out on your ability to bring a lawsuit and recover the compensation you deserve.