Missouri Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcycles have a higher fatality rate per unit of distance travelled when compared with automobiles. Almost 96 percent of every motorcycle accident results in some kind of injury. Motorcycle deaths accounted for 13 percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths. Recent statistics show that in 42 percent of two-vehicle fatal crashes, the other vehicle was turning left while the motorcycle was going straight or passing. These types of collisions are becoming all too common on our roads and interstates today. The investigation of these accidents is made more complicated by the inherent bias that often exists with members of law enforcement and the public against motorcycles.
There are many consequences from motorcycle accidents. You can have a concussion or brain damage. Wearing an approved helmet can reduce your risk of death by 37 percent. You can break many bones, the most common are the shoulder and pelvis. When your body slides across the road’s surface, you can get road rash. This can be prevented entirely with the proper use of motorcycle-specific protective apparel. Biker's arm can occur. This is where the nerves in the upper arm are damaged during the fall and it causes permanent paralysis of arm movement. You can also suffer from facial disfigurement if you are not wearing a full-face helmet.
If you've been in a motorcycle accident, please contact the police. If you or anyone else is injured, immediately call 911. Exchange information with the parties involved and take pictures of the damages and of the scene. Pictures of skid marks or debris on the road can be helpful in the event that you bring a personal injury claim. If there are any witnesses, get a statement from them as well as their contact information. It may not be advisable to give a recorded statement to an insurance company (whether your company or not) until you have discussed the case with a motorcycle accident injury attorney.
In the event that you are involved in a motorcycle accident, it is also helpful to retain the damaged motorcycle. Do not initiate repair or allow the insurance company to take the motorcycle into custody, even if it is completely destroyed. Our attorneys often hire a professional engineer to perform motorcycle crash analysis to help reconstruct the accident. This may be essential in bringing a successful claim. The other driver will always claim that the motorcyclist was speeding or behaving unusually, and a reconstruction expert is the strongest way to combat that defense.
For these reasons, we encourage victims involved in a motorcycle accident to contact an attorney. If the accident involves death, the successors of that person might have a wrongful death claim. You will need to show proof of injuries and losses, as well as proof of the at-fault party's responsibility. The simplest way to find out the facts is to consult with an experienced motorcycle personal injury attorney.
If you've been in a motorcycle accident, you may have the right to recover medical expenses, lost wages, repairs to your motorcycle and pain and suffering. The spouse of the injured person is entitled to recover for the loss of the services of his or her spouse. Although a monetary recovery can never repair the damage that is done to the individual, it can at least ease the financial burdens created by the accident.
You need an experienced attorney on your side. Give Rotts Law Firm in Columbia, MO a call today. Insurance companies will seek to obtain the lowest settlement possible. Therefore, it is important to have an attorney or lawyer with considerable experience dealing with the insurance company on your side. Generally, it is best to retain a motorcycle accident lawyer or attorney who regularly handles personal injury claims involving motorcycles. Your attorney or lawyer must be prepared to institute litigation on your behalf if the insurance company is unwilling to settle your claim for a fair value. We will fight hard for you. Give us a call today if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident.
