Fatal Motorcycle Accidents
Although riding a motorcycle can seem like an exciting and adventurous way to travel, the reality is that motorcycles tend to be much more dangerous than cars. When motorcycle drivers are involved in accidents, they have an increased risk of sustaining serious or even fatal injuries. Fatal motorcycle accidents could be attributed to a lack of structural support since they have no doors or a roof or the tendency for motorcycle riders to take more risks while requiring more balance and strength. They also face challenges when sharing the road with other, larger vehicles and have to deal with congestion and traffic.
Take Motorcycle Training Seriously
Whether you are just starting as a motorcycle driver or have had experience in the past but have not ridden recently, a smart recommendation is to take a motorcycle training course. It will help you become familiar with your bike, understand how it works and how to handle it in a wide variety of road conditions, and, in the end, it may save your life.
Not only will this training allow you to obtain your Motorcycle Only License or Motorcycle Endorsement for your regular driver’s license, but it will also make you a better and safer driver.
Missouri Motorcycle Accident Statute of Limitations
If you have suffered injuries and property loss due to a motorcycle accident in Missouri, the state’s revised statutes section 516.120 states that you have to get a civil lawsuit filed within five years from the date the accident took place.
However, if someone died in the accident, the family member or representative can bring a wrongful death claim against the driver at fault and this must be filed within three years of the collision or from the date of the death.
Motorcycle Accident Damages
The motorcycle attorneys at the Eslinger Law Firm will fight for your rights to receive compensation for all that you have had to endure. This may include:
- The cost of your medical treatment now and in the future
- Loss of income and reduced earning potential
- Disability and disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
The value of your claim will be impacted by a wide range of issues. These could increase or decrease the value and have a direct relationship with the severity of your injuries and whether you were found to be partly at fault for the accident. For insight into the potential value of damages due to your motorcycle accident, talk to your Eslinger Law Firm attorney.
Establishing Fault in a Motorcycle Accident in Missouri
It may be easy to assume that the law treats motorcycle riders differently from car drivers seeing that motorcycles are smaller and offer less protection. However, that is not the case even though motorcycle riders tend to suffer more serious and life-changing injuries.
Since the law does not treat a motorcyclist any different from a car driver this means that it is up to both drivers to prove that the other party was at fault. Liability or fault plays a crucial role in determining the potential settlement value of your claim.
When it comes to proving liability, these and the other factors that may be considered:
- Whether the police report assigns fault
- If the drivers were obeying the rules of the road
- If the drivers received a ticket, were impaired, or driving under the influence
Contact the Eslinger Law Firm if you have been injured in a motorcycle accident or a loved one has lost their life. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will start investigating your accident right away and build a strong case to fight for your rights. And since we work on a contingency basis, there is no out-of-pocket cost to you.