Kansas City Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Motorcycle riding offers a sense of freedom, but it also comes with heightened risks. When a driver fails to respect motorcyclists on the road, serious accidents can occur, leading to severe injuries, financial losses, and emotional distress.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, Miller & Hine can help you hold the at-fault party accountable. Our Kansas City motorcycle accident attorneys provide victims of these incidents with dedicated and assertive legal advocacy, fighting for their right to fair compensation. Trust us to handle the complexities of your case while you focus on healing and recovery.

Why Choose the Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at Miller & Hine?

• Understanding the risks faced by motorcyclists, our personal injury attorneys in Kansas City apply an aggressive approach to hold negligent drivers accountable and secure fair compensation.
• Our firm will delve deeply into each case, leveraging our comprehensive experience to challenge opposing parties and build a compelling case in your favor.
• We take motorcycle accident claims on a contingency fee basis for maximum affordability. If we do not recover a settlement, you will not be charged legal fees.

Common Dangers That Motorcyclists in Kansas City Face

Motorcyclists in Kansas City face a range of hazards that can significantly increase the risk of accidents. Negligent driving can lead to many of these collisions; drivers often overlook motorcycles due to their smaller profile, leading to dangerous lane changes or turns. Distracted driving, such as texting or talking on the phone, further elevates the risk of collisions with motorcyclists.

These dangers include not only negligent drivers but also hazardous road conditions like potholes, slick surfaces, or debris. Motorcycles are less stable than four-wheeled vehicles, which makes them more susceptible to these conditions. Additionally, inclement weather like rain, snow, or ice poses a significant threat to motorcyclists, further compromising their safety.

Common Causes of Kansas City Motorcycle Accidents

Kansas City residents lead busy lives. They are hard workers and also enjoy active recreation and family outings, leading to busy community roads and congested highways. Traffic congestion increases the chances of an accident with injuries to a vulnerable motorcyclist who faces direct, unprotected impact with the roadway, another vehicle, or obstacles in a collision. Common causes of motorcycle accidents in Kansas City include the following negligent driver actions:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Unsafe lane changes
• Improper merging
• Failure to yield the right of way at an intersection
• Unsafe passing
• Tailgating
• Car-dooring
• Dangerous left turns
• Drunk driving
• Drowsy driving

In some cases, other entities cause or contribute to motorcycle accidents in Missouri, such as a negligent road construction crew, a city road planning agency that designed a dangerous intersection, or the manufacturer of a defective motorcycle part.

Adverse weather also plays a role in many motorcycle accidents, but drivers have a legal obligation to adjust their speed and attention during inclement weather to avoid causing accidents.

Who Can Be Liable for a Motorcycle Accident?

A motorcycle accident can cause significant consequences, including financial losses, pain and suffering, and sometimes disability. Recovering compensation for the consequences of an accident (damages) first requires an investigation to determine the cause of the accident, the negligence that led to it, and the liable party. In Kansas City motorcycle accident claims, common liable parties include the following:

• A careless or reckless driver
• A negligent road maintenance agency
• A negligent road construction crew
• A city road planning agency
• A truck driver or trucking company
• The manufacturer of a defective motorcycle part or car part

An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer investigates the accident to provide evidence of liability. Proving liability requires showing compelling evidence that the at-fault party owed a duty of reasonable care to the motorcycle accident victim, they breached this duty, and the breach of duty directly caused the injury. Finally, a successful claim requires showing that the motorcycle accident victim suffered injuries with resulting damages from the accident.

Common Injuries Motorcycle Accident Victims Face

According to CDC data, helmets prevent 37% of motorcycle rider accident deaths and 41% of passenger deaths. They also reduce the risk of head injuries by 69%. Unfortunately, they do not prevent all brain injuries. A strong jar or blow can cause the brain to bump or twist inside the skull. Also, the remainder of a motorcyclist’s body is vulnerable to severe injuries from direct contact with the road and obstacles, including a collision with an average car weighing around 4,000 pounds. Injuries commonly cited in Kansas City motorcycle injury claims include the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• External head and facial injuries
• Fractures
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Soft-tissue injuries like sprains, strains, and torn ligaments
• Internal organ damage
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic limb loss
• Burns
• Lacerations
• Contusions
• Road rash (severe abrasions)

Motorcycle accidents leave riders with painful injuries and often a lengthy recovery period involving medical procedures, surgeries, and physical therapy. Some motorcycle accidents cause permanent disability or impairment. If you lost a loved one due to fatal injuries in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else, your family could recover compensation through a wrongful death claim.

Types of Compensation Available to Motorcycle Accident Victims

After a motorcycle accident, the expenses quickly add up. Even a single emergency room bill for a relatively minor injury can be expensive and cause a few days of missed pay. More serious injuries may be temporarily or permanently life-altering. Common damages recovered in motorcycle accident claims in Kansas City include:

• Property damage costs for repairing or replacing a damaged motorcycle
• Medical expenses
• Anticipated future medical expenses
• Out-of-pocket costs, such as travel expenses to see specialists or the cost of adaptive equipment
• Lost earnings
• Future income loss or diminished earning capacity due to disability
• Compensation for other damages that apply in some cases, such as loss of limb, disfigurement, scarring, loss of one of the senses, or diminished quality of life.

Wrongful death benefits for a fatally injured rider provide additional benefits to a close family member, such as funeral and burial expenses, and the lost income of the decedent’s remaining earning years had they not died. Our Kansas City wrongful death attorney can help you get started with a claim.

Time Limits to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim In Kansas City

Like other states, Missouri places a limit on the amount of time after an injury that the injury victim may file a claim for compensation or take a case to court. In Missouri, this time limit—or statute of limitations—is five years from the accident date. This is a generous statute of limitations compared to the two years allowed in most states.

It’s important to avoid putting off filing a claim for too long after an accident when evidence may no longer be available or eyewitness testimony becomes unreliable; however, it is also important to avoid accepting a fast settlement offer from an insurance company. Often, fast offers are intentionally made before you know the full extent of your damages and require signing away the right to file a lawsuit.

Speak to your motorcycle accident attorney from Miller & Hine about how the time limit for filing a claim impacts your case.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident In Kansas City

The scene of a motorcycle accident is chaotic and confusing, especially for the injury victim. If you are too seriously injured or incapacitated after the accident, you may be able to do little other than wait for help. However, if you are able to safely use your cell phone—or ask an uninjured person to use it for you—you can begin taking the following steps to protect yourself right at the scene:

• First, call 911 to report the accident and apply emergency first aid
• Then, use the phone’s camera to take photos of the damaged motorcycle and car
• Photograph the accident scene, capturing anything relevant to the cause of the accident, such as a signal light or traffic sign, debris in the road, or skid marks
• Take photos of any visible injuries
• Add the contact information of the involved driver to your phone
• Add the contact information of eyewitnesses (this is critical if there are no traffic cameras or nearby security cameras)

After a motorcycle accident, go directly to the hospital and ask for a complete medical evaluation as well as treatment for your emergency injuries. A detailed medical report and your accident report become critical evidence in your claim.

A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer from Miller & Hine Can Fight for Your Rights

When facing the aftermath of a motorcycle accident, securing skilled legal representation can be critical. A lawyer from Miller & Hine can help you navigate the legal process and secure fair compensation for your injuries, offering numerous benefits to support your case:

• Expertise in Motorcycle Accident Law: Our lawyers have deep knowledge of the specific laws and regulations affecting motorcyclists in Kansas City. We can help you understand every stage of these complex cases, ensuring that your rights are protected along the way.

• Navigating Insurance Claims: Motorcycle accidents often involve intricate insurance claims requiring aggressive negotiation. Our accident lawyers in Kansas City have the experience needed to handle tough negotiations, striving to secure a fair settlement that covers medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

• Litigation Experience: If your case goes to court, having a litigator from Miller & Hine can make a significant difference. Our lawyers are prepared to advocate vigorously on your behalf, presenting a strong case that demonstrates the full impact of the accident on your life.

Speak to a Kansas City Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today

Motorcyclists face unique risks on the road. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Kansas City, you need an attorney who knows how to protect your interests and advocate for your rights. Contact Miller & Hine today at (816) 205-8845 and learn how our Kansas City motorcycle accident lawyers can fight for you.