Motorcycle accidents almost always result in injury, whether rider and passenger are wearing helmets or not. At best, a rider might escape with road rash; at worst, he or she might suffer a concussion, numerous broken bones, nerve damage, disfigurement, or even death.
Our attorneys see a lot of crash reports and have found crashes and serious injury happen for a lot of reasons:
- Left turns — This common road manuever often causes accidents. Either an automobile driver doesn't spot a motorcyclist’s turn signal, or a car making a left doesn’t see the bike.
- Hazardous road conditions — Slippery surfaces, whether from oil, rain or freezing weather, gravel or sand, potholes or ruts cause an untold number of accidents; as do fog, snow, or poorly lit highways.
- Poorly maintained roads — Motorcycles, being smaller than cars or trucks and not as inherently stable, are far more prone to have accidents on poorly maintained roads than other larger vehicles.
- Speeding and reckless driving — Today’s motorcycles can easily exceed 100 miles per hour or more, and at those speeds the slightest mistake can be fatal.
Another contributing factor might be alcohol or drug use, but it certainly doesn't take carelessness to lead to injury: even hitting a small animal while riding can cause a motorcycle to crash!
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that between 2001 and 2008, more than 34,000 motorcyclists were killed and an estimated 1,222,000 persons were treated in US emergency rooms for a non-fatal motorcycle-related injury.
These are incredible numbers, but they reflect a reality that roads are not always safe for bikers. If you've been injured in a motorcycle crash, contact our attorneys to get the help you need.
Call us today at 816-842-7100 to speak with an attorney that will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Or you can click here to email us and schedule your free consultation.