Motorcycle Accidents Are Common and Deadly in Missouri

Everything in life has its risks and potential consequences. While we all know this on some level, we accept it in order to live our lives to the fullest. We may weigh certain risks before making certain decisions, deciding what’s worth it and what isn’t, and sometimes, well — it’s worth it. This is the mentality behind certain higher-risk activities like skydiving, bungee-jumping, and — of course — riding a motorcycle. Aside from feeling the wind through your hair as you ride down the freeway, the risk may even be part of the appeal.

There is nothing wrong with that. Training and licensing exists to mitigate as many risks as possible; a responsible motorcyclist is not a unicorn. However, when we start to take our safety for granted (especially if you are an experienced rider who has never been in an accident before), the risks may start outweighing the rewards.

Motorcycles are notoriously dangerous no matter how responsible you are simply because you have no protection from the outside elements. That being said, Missouri happens to rank seventh in motorcycle-related fatalities. Whether due to negligent motorists or a lack of training, dangerous motorcycle accidents happen more often than usual in our state, and it’s getting worse. Every rider is a potential victim, and every rider should know how to handle that.

Understanding the dangers of Missouri motorcycling

When motorcycles collide with cars or other, larger motor vehicles, it is usually not the other drivers who get seriously hurt. Standard transportation has airbags, padding, shock absorbers — all things even the best bikes lack. Even if you wear a helmet (which you should always, always do), the rest of your body is entirely exposed to every aspect of the accident. The most common motorcycle injuries are also, often, the most serious — if you survive at all:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Shattered or broken bones
• Loss of limb or amputation
• Spinal cord injuries
• Road rash (a much more serious injury than one may think)
• Nerve damage

These risks are the same no matter what state you’re in, but Missouri has one major difference that early studies show heavily increases the fatality rate. We do not require motorcyclists over 26 to wear a helmet, as long as they have proof of health insurance. It’s no coincidence that traumatic brain injuries are the most common motorcycle accident injury, and recent trends have heavily supported this.

It is only since that relatively new legislation went into effect that the mortality rate has started to rise. 2021 was the worst year for our state by far. Eighty-one percent of motorcycle accidents resulted in serious injury or death, and 98% of the people who DID die in those accidents were the motorcyclists themselves. Those who do survive rarely do so without multiple serious injuries like those listed above, many of which require a complete upheaval and change of living alongside thousands and thousands of dollars’ worth of medical assistance.

Kansas City motorcycle accident attorneys can help

Whether or not you choose to wear a helmet, you still do not deserve to get involved in a serious accident, especially when it’s caused by the negligence of another driver — and it usually is. You especially do not deserve to go bankrupt trying to recover from that accident. When other motorists fail to drive responsibly, they can and should be held responsible for damages they cause. Victims have rights to compensation as long as they actively pursue them.

Depending on the details of your accident, you may be able to file a claim against any of the following parties:

• Car drivers
• Truck drivers
• Other motorcycle drivers
• Manufacturers of defective motorcycle parts (and possibly manufacturers of the other vehicle’s defective parts)
• Vehicle owners (even if they weren’t part of the accident)
• The state of Missouri or Kansas, the City of Kansas City, or any other county or municipality, Missouri Department of Transportation or Kansas Department of Transportation, if poor road design or maintenance causes an accident

Trying to navigate the law any time can be incredibly daunting, let alone after suffering a traumatic, life-altering event. That is one of the many reasons why you should absolutely not attempt to do it alone. When you hire an experienced personal injury attorney, you hire a personal legal liaison dedicated to letting you rest while they get you the compensation you deserve.

You also put yourself on an even playing field with whomever is responsible for your accident, as they will almost definitely have their own attorneys ready to defend them. Greedy insurance companies, manufacturers, employers, and the driver themselves will do anything and everything they can to avoid taking responsibility for your injuries, no matter how hurt you are or how obvious the accident was.

The second-worst thing you can do as a victim is assume a victory. The first? Doing nothing at all. A skilled personal injury attorney with specific experience handling motorcycle accidents can get you compensated for every medical expense related to your injury, your lost wages, pain and suffering, damages to your vehicle, and for any scarring or disfigurement you suffer. Not only that, but your attorneys may also seek additional damages on your behalf if they are able to, like how we got our client $100,000 and a new Harley. That amount of money is the only way most families are able to afford recovery from something like this.

At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, this is far from our first proverbial rodeo. We know the ins and outs of the law and we know how to use that to your advantage while protecting your rights, because we’ve been doing it for clients for years. Our team passionately believes in putting victims first and supporting them and their families every step of the way with the goal providing of extreme client delight. While our main location is in Kansas City, MO, we also have offices in Lee’s Summit, Parkville and St. Joseph, MO; and Olathe, Overland Park, and Kansas City, KS, by appointment only. To learn more about how we can help, call us today at 816-471-5111 or use our contact form.