Each year, thousands of motorcycle deaths happen in the United States. Even more motorcycle accidents result in catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, and permanent paralysis. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to receive compensation for your injuries.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
The following are some common causes by a motorist of motorcycle accidents that lead to severe injuries or death.
- Car changes lanes into you
- Car side-swipes you or hits you from behind
- A car door is opened directly into a motorcyclist
- Speeding
- Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
- Sudden stops
- Left turns by vehicle in front of motorcyclist
- Distracted driving (texting while driving, talking on a cell phone while driving, etc.)
Unfortunately, most vehicle drivers simply do not notice motorcycles on the roadways. Many of the accidents occur simply due to a lack of paying attention to surroundings. If you are a motorcyclist, you should always ride defensively, take extra precautions, and make the assumption that motorists do not see you.
While many accidents involve a direct collision between a motorcycle and another vehicle, some motorcycle accidents are labeled as no-contact motorcycle accidents. These accidents can be just as severe and cause injury and death. A no-contact motorcycle accident is one in which the motorcyclist identifies that a vehicle is driving recklessly or negligently, and due to the dangerous conditions they skid or lay down their motorcycle intentionally in order to avoid a collision with that vehicle. While there is no actual collision, skidding off of a roadway, or laying down a motorcycle while riding can result in substantial injuries or even death.
In many cases, the driver of the vehicle is completely unaware that they have caused an accident, and they simply drive away. In these cases, an experienced accident attorney can help you interview witnesses, and determine if there were any cameras near the scene of the accident from businesses or traffic lights to help identify the vehicle involved in the accident.
Steps to Take Following a Motorcycle Accident
Whether you were involved in a collision with another vehicle, or a no-contact motorcycle accident, follow these steps after your motorcycle accident.
- Call 911 or the police immediately
- Seek medical attention for any injuries
- If you are able to do so, photograph your bike, the other car and the scene of the accident
- If you were in a no-contact motorcycle accident, attempt to remember and document the license plate and make of car that drove off, or see if any witnesses caught the license plate or any identifying markers on the vehicle
- Obtain all witness contact information
- Request a copy of the police report
- Contact your insurance company
- Contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Kansas City
If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, contact a motorcycle accident lawyer in Kansas City as soon as possible to help you understand your legal rights. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Griggs Injury Law at (816) 474-0202 to help you build a strong personal injury or wrongful death claim regarding your motorcycle accident, and help you receive compensation for your injuries.
