Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Kansas City

Motorcycles are some of the most liberating and exciting vehicles on the road; unfortunately, they can also be some of the most dangerous. It is not hard to see why since a motorcycle is smaller and lighter than other vehicles and does not offer any protection to the rider. That is why anyone who was injured in a motorcycle crash will likely have some serious injuries to deal with. And of course, they will have to find a way to pay for their medical treatment as well as any of the other expenses caused by the motorcycle crash.

That is why anyone in Kansas City, Missouri who was injured in a motorcycle crash should contact a personal injury attorney to get the help that they need. The personal injury lawyer can help the injured rider file an injury claim and they can negotiate with the insurance company of the person who was at fault for the motorcycle accident. That way the injured rider can get the compensation that they need to take care of any expenses caused by their motorcycle accident injuries. 

The Eslinger Law Firm has been helping motorcycle riders in Missouri and Kansas for years so we have the experience and knowledge they need. So contact us as soon as possible if you were in a Kansas City motorcycle accident.

What Are The Odds of Surviving a Kansas City Motorcycle Accident?

According to the III (Insurance Information Institute), motorcycle riders in Kansas City and across the country are far more likely to sustain serious injuries, or even death, in motorcycle crashes. That means the odds of surviving are decent, but the chances that motorcycle accidents will cause injuries to riders are very high. There is very little protection for riders who get in motorcycle accidents except for a helmet, and even the most sturdy helmet is not enough to protect the motorcycle rider from potentially suffering broken bones, serious brain injuries, and other catastrophic injuries. A catastrophic injury is defined as a severe injury to the spine, spinal column, or brain and they can be permanently debilitating, or even fatal.

Kansas City motorcycle accidents can be caused by many different factors, but drivers who were not paying attention to the road around them are the most common cause. Distracted or careless drivers who change lanes without checking if a motorcycle rider is in their way are often responsible for most motorcycle accidents that are not the fault of the rider. Left turn motorcycle accidents are particularly common and occur when a driver makes a left turn and does not notice an approaching motorcycle. This can result in an accident that causes severe injuries if the motorcycle rider collides with the vehicle.

Where Do Most Fatal Motorcycle Accidents in Kansas City Happen?

A Kansas City motorcycle crash can occur almost anywhere there is a road, but intersections are among the most common. That is typically where a left-hand turn motorcycle crash is most likely to occur. A motorist may not be paying close enough attention to the road and end up either colliding with a motorcyclist coming from the opposite direction or sideswiping one who is also turning left. 

Freeways are also a place where motorcycle accidents in Kansas City are likely to occur. The high speeds in combination with inattentive drivers and dangerous conditions on the road are a recipe for disaster. The high speeds means that a motorcycle accident that happens on the freeway is far more likely to cause severe injuries to the rider.

Another unfortunate factor in motorcycle accidents is alcohol. Drinking and driving come into play in motorcycle crashes more than any other vehicle type.

Should I Get a Lawyer If I Have Been in a Kansas City Motorcycle Accident?

You definitely should because a Kansas City motorcycle accident lawyer can help you to get your life back on track. You will likely have many expenses to deal with after the accident, such as medical bills caused by the accident injuries you suffered, repair bills for your motorcycle, as well as other things like pain and suffering or any emotional or psychological problems caused by the accident. A personal injury lawyer can help you to get the compensation you need to cover all of those expenses.

It can be a complex process, which is why Kansas City motorcycle accident attorneys are so vital. They can help you to gather the necessary evidence that proves that the at-fault driver was responsible for the accident. This evidence can be in the form of police reports, surveillance footage, or witness testimony. Your motorcycle accident attorney can then help you file a personal injury claim and help you calculate how much compensation you need for your injuries and any other expenses. They will then send a demand letter to the insurance company of the responsible driver.

Once the insurance company receives the letter, they can choose to accept it, renegotiate the amount, or reject it. If they accept the demand letter or renegotiate a reasonable settlement amount, then the case ends there. However, if they offer a settlement that is too low, or if they reject the offer, then you will need to file a lawsuit against the driver in order to get the compensation that you need. You will definitely need a motorcycle accident attorney if you need to file a lawsuit because insurance companies will always try to put some or all of the blame for the accident on the victim, but personal injury attorneys are used to defending their clients against such claims.

However, it is unlikely that a lawsuit will become necessary since most personal injury cases get resolved well before that needs to happen. The insurance companies will usually want to settle the case before it goes to trial because their payout could end up being a lot bigger if the court rules in favor of the injured rider.

What is the Average Payout for a Motorcycle Accident in Kansas City?

The payout for motorcycle accidents varies based on a number of different factors, such as the severity of the injuries suffered by the rider, the amount of evidence dug up by the

motorcycle accident attorney, and the negotiations with the insurance companies. Another big factor is whether or not the rider contributed to the accident in some way. That is because some states have contributory negligence and comparative negligence laws that determine how much someone was responsible for an accident and the compensation to which they are entitled.

Contributory negligence states that if a person is as little as 1% responsible for an accident, then they cannot receive any compensation. Comparative negligence is less harsh since someone can receive compensation based on their percentage of the fault. So they can be compensated even if they were partially at fault for the accident. Fortunately, Kansas City uses comparative negligence so injured riders can always get compensation as long as they are not completely at fault for the accident.

Motorcycle accident lawyers calculate the payout based on the victim’s economic and non-economic expenses. Economic expenses are things like medical bills, repair bills, and other expenses that can be measured. Naturally, the more serious the injuries, the higher the economic expenses. Non-economic expenses include things like the pain and suffering experienced by the injured person as well as any emotional or psychological problems caused by the accident, such as PTSD. Those non-economic damages are calculated by multiplying the economic damages by a certain amount.

The payout also depends on the severity of the injury. Soft tissue injuries tend to have payouts in the $2500 to $20,000 range because they are less severe. More devastating injuries, such as severe brain injuries can have payouts from $70,000 up to $1 million. If the accident leads to a wrongful death, then the payout to the victim’s family could be even bigger. But as stated earlier, the amount of money the injured rider receives depends on their percentage of fault for the accident.

Frequently Asked Questions About Motorcycle Accidents in MO

At the Eslinger Law Firm, our attorneys have helped hundreds of accident victims. These are some of the most frequently asked questions by Kansas City motorcycle accident victims. 

If I was in an accident that was my fault, can I still get compensation?

The answer to this question largely depends on the type of coverage you have. If you have a comprehensive policy, there’s still a good chance that you can receive compensation from your insurance company even if you wiped out on your own. 

I feel fine. Should I still see a doctor? 

The adrenaline surge that accompanies a motorcycle accident may be masking your physical pain and injuries. The likelihood that you sustained some type of injury after a motorcycle accident is very high. It’s better to see a doctor and begin a baseline. If you aren’t injured, at least you’ll know for sure.

Contact Us If You Need a Kansas City Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

A motorcycle accident can be a devastating, and possibly life-changing event, which is why anyone who was involved in such an accident needs to be compensated in order to put their life back together. Motorcycle accident attorneys are well aware of just how devastating motorcycle accidents can be, which is why they are dedicated to helping accident victims as much as they can. 

That is why we at the Eslinger Law Firm are fully dedicated to helping accident victims get the maximum amount of compensation to which they are entitled. We will do everything we can to make sure that our clients who have been seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident in Kansas City get the settlement amount that they need and deserve. So be sure to contact us at the Eslinger Law Firm as soon as possible if you get into a motorcycle crash.