While exciting, driving a motorcycle on the streets of Kansas City can also be dangerous. Motorcyclists have little protection and aren’t as safe as individuals riding in enclosed motor vehicles.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, a Kansas City personal injury lawyer can help you get compensation for your injuries. A Kansas City motorcycle accident attorney at Langdon & Emison can investigate your accident, determine liability, and file a compensation claim. We’ve helped accident victims get the damages they deserve for over three decades.
Types of motorcycle accidents we handle
Motorcycle accidents can be caused by anyone, including the motorcyclist or another driver. There are several common causes of motorcycle collisions. At Langdon & Emison, we handle the following types of motorcycle accidents:
- Drunk driving accidents
- Hazardous driving accidents, including speeding, failing to obey traffic signals, tailgating, and failing to yield the right of way
- Lane splitting and sharing accidents
- Inattentional blindness accidents, including turning left across traffic or changing lanes
- Distracted driving accidents
- Accidents caused by wet or snowy road conditions that cause reduced visibility and difficulty braking and steering
- Accidents caused by potholes or debris in the road
- Accidents caused by taking curves too fast
Various factors such as weather, road conditions, and driver inexperience can play a role in motorcycle accidents. We’ve handled a myriad of motorcycle collisions. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, reach out to us today to discuss your options for financial recovery.
What to do after being in a motorcycle crash
It’s important to take certain steps after your motorcycle crash. Doing so will protect your rights and strengthen your claim. Here’s what you should do after being involved in a motorcycle accident:
- Contact the police and request an accident report.
- Take photos of the scene.
- Get immediate medical attention.
- Get contact information for the other driver and any witnesses.
- Consult with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Kansas City.
How much does it cost to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in Kansas City?
When you hire Langdon & Emison, you will not incur a fee unless and until we win your case. We’re also proud to offer free consultations, so you can ensure we’re the right fit without making a financial commitment.
Who could be liable for the crash?
Several parties can cause motorcycle accidents. For example, they can be caused by the motorcyclist, another driver, a pedestrian, or the motorcycle manufacturer. Even a municipality could be responsible if it didn’t properly repair or maintain a roadway.
You could also be partly responsible for your accident and still be eligible to recover damages for your injuries. Missouri follows a pure comparative negligence standard, meaning you can collect compensation if you are less than 100% at fault for your accident. Your damages award will simply be reduced by the percentage you’re liable for.
How motorcycle attorneys prove negligence
To prove negligence in Missouri, motorcycle lawyers must demonstrate certain elements, which a preponderance of the evidence must prove. This means your claims are more likely true than not. The elements your attorney must demonstrate to succeed in your personal injury claim are as follows:
- Duty: The person responsible for your accident had a duty to act to keep others safe and avoid causing them injuries.
- Breach of duty: The liable party breached their duty.
- Causation: The accident caused your injuries.
- Damages: You’ve suffered actual damages due to the accident.
If your Kansas City motorcycle accident attorney can prove all these elements, you will more likely be awarded damages for your injuries. The personal injury lawyers with Langdon & Emison can investigate your accident and determine liability. Reach out to us immediately after your accident so we can start collecting the evidence necessary to prove negligence for your collision.
Types of damages you can claim
If another party was even partly responsible for your motorcycle accident, they’re responsible for compensating you for your injuries and losses. You can claim several types of damages in a Missouri personal injury claim. These damages include the following.
Special damages
These are your economic losses and can include your medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
General damages
These are your non-economic losses and can include your pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life.
A Kansas City motorcycle accident lawyer can review your claim and inform you about which damages you may be eligible to collect. We’ll gather the evidence necessary to obtain maximum compensation for your losses. Contact us now to begin reviewing your losses and calculating your damages.
How long do I have to file a claim?
In Missouri, you have five years from your accident to file a personal injury claim. If you miss this statute of limitations, you’ll be barred from making a claim, so contact us right away if you wish to pursue compensation.
Missouri motorcycle requirements
Missouri has several requirements for motorcyclists. They include licensing, insurance, equipment, safety gear, and riding rules. Summaries of the state’s motorcycle requirements are as follows.
Licensing
To drive a motorcycle on public roadways, you need a Class M motorcycle license or an M endorsement on your driver’s license, which you can earn by passing a written exam and on-motorcycle skill test.
Insurance
Motorcyclists must have insurance with minimum policy limits of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
Equipment
Motorcycles must have headlights, taillights, brake lights, front and rear brakes, turn signals, a horn, and two mirrors.
Safety gear
You must wear protective headgear at all times the vehicle is in motion if you’re under 26 years old. If you’re 26 or older and ride without a helmet, you must have proof of insurance that’ll provide you with medical benefits if you’re injured in an accident.
Riding rules
Only riders over 16 can carry passengers, and lane-splitting maneuvers are prohibited in some cities, including Kansas City.
Adhering to the state’s requirements for riding a motorcycle is important. Failure to do so can result in fines, points against your license, or imprisonment. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Kansas City can answer your questions regarding what’s required of Missouri motorcycle drivers.
Why are motorcycle collisions so serious?
Examples of what makes motorcycle collisions so serious include:
- Motorcyclists have less protection, such as no airbags, seatbelts, or surrounding frame
- Motorcyclists have a greater risk of accidents because they’re smaller and harder to see
- Motorcyclists have a greater risk of encountering road hazards, including potholes, debris, and gravel
- Motorcycles have less braking power than other motor vehicles
- Motorcycles have more sensitive steering than other motor vehicles and can lose control more easily
- Other motorists are more likely to tailgate motorcyclists and less likely to yield the right of way
It’s important for motorcyclists to be extremely aware of their surroundings while riding to reduce their chances of being involved in an accident. If a motorcyclist is involved in a collision, they’re likely to suffer serious injuries. If you’ve been hurt in an accident, a Kansas City motorcycle accident lawyer can help determine whether you can recover compensation for your damages.
What are some common motorcycle accident injuries?
Because of the seriousness of motorcycle accidents, the injuries sustained in collisions can be severe, if not fatal. Motorcycle accident victims can face extensive medical treatment and long recoveries. The following injuries are commonly suffered in motorcycle accidents:
- Concussions
- Headaches
- Road rash
- Lacerations
- Broken bones
- Back and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Disfigurement
- Amputations
If you’ve suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you don’t have symptoms right away, you may still be injured. It’s important to have a well-documented record of your injuries and treatment.
Why you need to go to the doctor
It’s important to see a doctor right away because the longer you wait to get medical treatment, the more difficult it will be to link your injuries to the accident. To prevail in a personal injury claim, you must prove that the at-fault party’s negligence triggered the accident that directly caused your injuries. A solid record of your injuries and treatment is important in demonstrating your economic and non-economic damages.
“Dos” and “Don’ts” of dealing with insurance after a crash
There are several things you should and shouldn’t say when dealing with the insurance company after an accident. They aim to save their company money and pay as little as possible. Here are some “dos” and “don’ts”:
- Do call the police and document the scene.
- Do notify your insurance company.
- Do seek medical treatment.
- Do retain a motorcycle accident lawyer.
- Don’t admit fault.
- Don’t give a recorded statement.
- Don’t describe your injuries.
- Don’t share your medical records.
- Don’t speculate about what happened.
- Don’t accept the first settlement offer.
It’s important to be careful of what you say to an insurance adjuster, regardless of whether you were at fault for your accident. They can deny your claim or reduce your compensation if you say the wrong thing. The best step is to retain a motorcycle accident attorney in Kansas City to communicate and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
Why work with Langdon & Emison
At Langdon & Emison, we can handle your personal injury claim from start to finish. We will investigate your accident, negotiate with the insurance company, and take your case to trial if needed. If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident caused by another party’s negligence, call us at (866) 931-2115 for a free consultation so we can begin working to get you the compensation you deserve.
