Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

1. Karney Law

Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, vehicle accidents

Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car collisions, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, left-turn crashes, intersection accidents, highway motorcycle accidents, drunk driver collisions, hit-and-run cases

Legal Services: Free case evaluation, accident investigation, evidence preservation, insurance negotiation, personal injury litigation, trial representation, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims

Background: Attorney Bob Karney is an avid Harley-Davidson rider who understands the unique challenges faced by motorcyclists. Karney Law serves motorcycle accident victims in Winston-Salem and throughout the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina.

Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Contact: (336) 615-0058 | https://www.karneylaw.com

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee (no fee unless recovery)

2. James Scott Farrin

Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, insurance disputes

Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, left-turn accidents, intersection crashes, highway motorcycle accidents, drunk driver accidents, uninsured motorist claims, underinsured motorist claims

Legal Services: Case investigation, police report analysis, witness interviews, insurance negotiation, settlement representation, trial litigation, damages recovery

Background: James Scott Farrin is one of the largest personal injury firms in North Carolina with multiple office locations. The firm has represented thousands of accident victims and maintains resources for complex motorcycle accident litigation.

Location: 4020 Wake Forest Rd Suite 210, Raleigh, NC 27609 (serves Winston-Salem area)

Contact: (866) 900-7078 | https://www.farrin.com

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement

3. Riddle & Riddle Attorneys, PLLC

Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, truck accidents, car accidents

Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. vehicle collisions, left-turn accidents, lane change crashes, rear-end motorcycle accidents, intersection collisions, drunk driver accidents

Legal Services: Accident investigation, evidence collection, insurance claim filing, settlement negotiation, trial representation, damages recovery

Background: Riddle & Riddle has over 220 years of combined legal experience. The firm has attorneys licensed in North Carolina and handles motorcycle accident cases throughout the state, including the Triad region.

Location: Cary, NC (serves Winston-Salem area)

Contact: (919) 351-3030 | https://www.riddlelaw.com

Consultation: Free consultation available

4. Daggett Shuler Law

Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, personal injury, workers’ compensation, Social Security disability

Case Types Handled: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, distracted driver and drunk driver crashes, truck accidents, e-bike and bicycle accidents, spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death

Legal Services: Gathering evidence that supports the case, securing police reports, medical records and medical bills, reviewing the insurance coverage of all parties involved, working with experts as needed

Background: Daggett Shuler is a personal injury and disability firm based in Winston-Salem, with a second office in Greensboro, that represents injured and disabled people across North Carolina. The firm lists more than ten attorneys and offers to meet clients who cannot come to its offices.

Location: 2140 Country Club Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27104

Contact: (336) 724-1234 | https://daggettshulerlaw.com/

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee (no attorney fee unless there is a recovery)

5. Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers

Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, vehicle accidents, insurance claims

Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car accidents, motorcycle vs. truck collisions, intersection crashes, highway accidents, drunk driver accidents, hit-and-run cases

Legal Services: Case investigation, evidence collection, insurance negotiation, settlement representation, trial litigation, damages recovery

Background: Auger & Auger has over 25 years of experience representing injury victims in North Carolina. The firm handles motorcycle accident cases from initial consultation through trial and has offices serving the Triad region.

Location: Charlotte, NC (serves Winston-Salem area)

Contact: (336) 702-8711 | https://www.augerlaw.com

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis

Helmet and Passenger Rules, Scene Duties and Wrongful Death Claims for Winston-Salem Motorcycle Crashes

A Winston-Salem motorcycle crash claim can raise North Carolina’s helmet and passenger rules and how a violation is treated in court, what the other driver must do at the scene, and how a wrongful death claim is brought and distributed when a rider dies.

Helmets and Passengers

Under North Carolina General Statutes 20-140.4(a), no person may operate a motorcycle or moped on a highway or public vehicular area when it carries more persons, including the operator, than it was designed to carry, or unless the operator and all passengers wear helmets complying with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 with the retention strap secured. Under (b), a violation is not negligence per se or contributory negligence per se in any civil action.

The Other Driver’s Duties

Under General Statutes 20-166(a1), a driver who knows or reasonably should know of a crash causing injury must stop and remain until an officer completes the investigation or authorizes leaving, unless remaining places someone at significant risk of injury; a willful violation is a Class H felony. Under 20-166(b), the driver must give name, address, driver’s license number and plate number and render reasonable assistance to any injured person.

How a Wrongful Death Claim Is Brought

Under General Statutes 28A-18-2(a), the action is brought by the personal representative or collector of the decedent. The amount recovered is not applied to the estate’s debts except for burial expenses and reasonable hospital and medical expenses up to $4,500 incident to the fatal injury, and the remainder is distributed as the section provides.

Insurance Minimums

The current text of General Statutes 20-279.21(b)(2) requires liability coverage of $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person, $100,000 for two or more persons and $50,000 for property damage in one accident; the North Carolina Advocates for Justice reports that these limits apply to policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025.

Winston-Salem Motorcycle Accident Questions

What if the other side says I was partly at fault?

The other side must prove it. Under General Statutes 1-139, the party asserting contributory negligence has the burden of proof, and under 20-140.4(b) a helmet violation alone is not contributory negligence per se. Other negligence by the rider, if proved, can end the claim: in Smith v. Fiber Controls Corp. (1980), the Supreme Court of North Carolina relied on a torts treatise for the rule that contributory negligence bars recovery and upheld a verdict for the defendant.

How long do I have to sue?

Three years for personal injury under General Statutes 1-52(5), and two years from the death for wrongful death under 1-53(4). For a city vehicle, 160A-485(a) waives the city’s immunity only up to its insurance or risk pool coverage.

What wrongful death damages are recoverable?

Under General Statutes 28A-18-2(b), expenses for care and treatment, the decedent’s pain and suffering, reasonable funeral expenses, the present monetary value of the decedent’s net income, services and companionship to those entitled to recover, punitive damages as the statute provides, and nominal damages.