Motorcycle crashes in Greenville, SC

How often riders are hurt

South Carolina's 2024 crash data shows how exposed riders are (SCDPS 2024 Fact Book):

• statewide, one motorcyclist was killed every 2.8 days;
• of 2,360 motorcycle occupants in 2024 collisions statewide, 132 were killed and 375 seriously injured;
• in Greenville County, 240 motorcyclists were recorded in 2024 collisions: 10 with fatal injuries, 40 with suspected serious injuries, and 69 with suspected minor injuries. Moped operators added 38 more.

A motorcycle's right to the full lane

South Carolina law gives motorcycles specific lane rights and limits (S.C. Code § 56-5-3640):

• All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane, and no motor vehicle may be driven in a way that deprives a motorcycle of it. The exception is motorcycles riding two abreast in one lane.
• A rider may not overtake and pass in the same lane as the vehicle being passed.
• Riding between lanes of traffic or between rows of vehicles ("lane splitting") is not allowed.
• No more than two motorcycles may ride abreast in a single lane.

These rules matter in crash disputes. A driver who crowds a rider out of a lane may have violated § 56-5-3640(a), and a rider who was splitting lanes may face a fault argument under § 56-5-3640(c).

Helmet and eye-protection rules

• Riders and passengers under 21 must wear a helmet of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety, with a neck or chin strap and reflectorized sides (§ 56-5-3660).
• Operators under 21 must also wear approved goggles or a face shield (§ 56-5-3670).
• These statutes don't require helmets for riders 21 and older. In 2024 statewide data, 46.5% of motorcycle occupants in collisions were recorded as wearing a helmet, 43.8% were not, and the rest were unknown (2024 Fact Book).

Equipment rules

A motorcycle carrying a passenger outside a sidecar or enclosed cab must have passenger footrests, and every motorcycle must have a rear-view mirror that gives the rider ample vision to the rear at all times (§ 56-5-3650). Photograph your bike's equipment after a crash, because these details can come up later.

How motorcycle crashes are reported

When an officer investigates a crash involving injury, death, or apparent damage of $1,000 or more, the report goes to SCDMV within 24 hours of completing the investigation. If a two-wheeled motorized vehicle is involved and the operator or a passenger suffers a head injury, the report must say so (§ 56-5-1270). Read your report carefully for that notation and for the officer's account of lane position. See how to get the report.

Insurance after a motorcycle crash

• If a car or truck driver caused the crash, their liability coverage is usually the first source of payment, with $25,000 per person as the legal minimum (§ 38-77-140).
• Because rider injuries are often severe, that minimum may not go far. Your own underinsured motorist coverage, if you bought it, may apply above the other driver's limits (§ 38-77-160).
• If the driver fled, see hit-and-run crashes for the conditions to use uninsured motorist coverage.

Check the declarations page of your motorcycle policy and any car policies in your household. Which policy applies, and in what order, depends on the policy terms and § 38-77-160 (UM and UIM explained).

Evidence and medical tips for riders

• Keep damaged gear: the helmet, jacket, gloves and boots. Don't repair or discard them; scrapes and impact marks can show how the crash happened.
• Photograph the lane: lane width, road surface, gravel or potholes, and sight lines at the intersection.
• Helmet-cam or ride-tracking data: save it right away; many apps and cameras overwrite on a loop.
• Get checked for head injury even if you feel fine, and keep every record. You are entitled to copies of your medical records, generally within 30 days of asking (45 CFR 164.524).

Deadline

Rider injury claims generally have a three-year deadline (§ 15-3-530(5)). For minors, the time of minority is treated differently (§ 15-3-40). See the deadlines guide.

Common arguments in motorcycle claims

• Lane splitting: riding between lanes or rows of vehicles is prohibited (§ 56-5-3640(c)). Insurers will check whether traffic was stopped or moving and where the bike was.
• Crowding the lane: drivers may not deprive a motorcycle of the full use of a lane (§ 56-5-3640(a)). Lane-change and sideswipe crashes often turn on this rule.
• Visibility: drivers frequently say they didn't see the rider. The 2024 Greenville data lists failure to yield as the second most common contributing factor in all crashes (2024 Fact Book). Rider lighting and gear photos are the usual answer.
• Speed: estimates of a motorcycle's speed vary widely. Physical evidence, video and any data from the bike's electronics are more reliable than impressions.

Damage and gear to document

• Helmet: keep it, even if it looks intact. Don't throw it out or replace it before it's photographed.
• Riding gear: jacket, gloves, boots and pants. Abrasion and tearing show how you slid or were struck.
• Aftermarket parts: keep receipts for exhaust, lighting, luggage and other add-ons, since standard valuations may miss them.
• Visibility: note your headlight, any auxiliary lights, and gear colors, since conspicuity is often disputed.
• Under 21: riders and passengers under 21 must wear an approved helmet, and operators under 21 must use approved goggles or a face shield unless the bike has an approved windscreen (S.C. Code §§ 56-5-3660 to -3680). Expect an insurer to check this.

Questions to ask a lawyer about a motorcycle crash

1. How will lane position and the lane rules in § 56-5-3640 affect the fault arguments in my case?
2. How do you handle disputed speed estimates for motorcycles?
3. Does my own motorcycle policy carry UM and UIM, and at what limits?
4. How are damaged gear and aftermarket parts valued?
5. Was anyone required to wear a helmet under § 56-5-3660, and how could that come up?