Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
in Liberty, Missouri
Motorcycle accident injuries are frequently among the most serious auto accident injuries in Missouri—often catastrophic and life-threatening. Yet claiming fair and adequate compensation for such injuries can be challenging when you are up against powerful insurance companies.
To even up the playing field, we help motorcycle accident injury victims in the Greater Kansas City area of Missouri claim the compensation they are entitled to.
Our experienced motorcycle accident injury lawyers understand the strategies used by insurance companies and will not rest until you receive a fair deal in your best interests.
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Serving motorcycle accident injury victims in the Greater Kansas City Area
The Noland Law Firm, LLC, helps accident injury victims and their families in the Greater Kansas area.
The effects of motorcycle accident injuries—even at relatively low speeds— can be devastating. Severe medical issues are often compounded by astronomical medical bills, lost income, damaged property, severe pain, emotional suffering, and the loss of quality of life.
We are committed to exploring every avenue to claim fair compensation, as is a victim’s right. A lawsuit may need to be filed against the at-fault party to hold them legally liable for damages. We can handle all aspects of your case, including a thorough investigation and gathering evidence to support and strengthen your case.
We will also handle all communication with the insurance company and never settle for anything less than the compensation our clients are entitled to.
With the Noland Law Firm, LLC, motorcycle accident victims can expect seasoned, professional, and skilled legal guidance from lawyers familiar with the Missouri personal injury claims processes and the local court system.
Noland Law Firm routinely represents motorcycle accident injury victims in:
- Liberty,
- Gladstone,
- Independence,
- Blue Springs,
- Excelsior Springs,
- Kearney,
- Smithville,
- Saint Joseph,
- North Kansas City, and
- throughout the greater Kansas City area.
If a reckless or negligent motorcyclist caused your injuries, you need an accident injury lawyer who will fight for you right to just compensation.
Types of motorcycle accident injuries in Missouri
Even motorcyclists who use the best safety gear stand little chance when involved in a collision with a larger vehicle on the Missouri roads.
Serious injuries sustained from motorcycle accidents
Injuries in motorcycle accidents tend to be serious and traumatic. The following three types of injuries are all too common for motorcyclists…
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Among the most serious motorcycle accident injuries are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). These can be life-threatening, often leading to extensive time in hospital and a lengthy rehabilitation period.
TBIs typically result from the severe impact forces when the head strikes the ground or another hard object and the brain collides with the skull or is pierced. Even when the motorcyclist is wearing a helmet, the following types of TBIs can result:
- Temporary concussions
- Intracranial hemorrhaging (bleeding inside the skull)
- Contusions (brain tissue bruising)
- Diffuse axonal Injuries (damage to neural connections)
Spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord injuries can cause temporary or permanent paralysis for motorcycle accident victims, leading to difficulties with walking and mobility and necessitating wheelchair usage.
Typically, injuries include fractured vertebrae, crushed discs, and severing of the spinal cord. As well as paralysis, other side effects can be the loss of bowel/bladder control, chronic pain, pressure sores, and a shortened life expectancy. Modifications to the home, vehicle, and workplace may be necessary for those with long-term or permanent disability.
Amputations
Motorcyclists are more susceptible to limb injuries than most other vehicle drivers because of the lack of protection in collisions. Legs and arms can become trapped or severed in accidents even at moderate speeds.
If a limb requires amputation, permanent prosthetic fittings, surgery, physiotherapy, home/workplace modifications, and more may be necessary.
Possible compensation for a motorcycle injury in Missouri
No amount of money will compensate for the types of motorcycle injuries described. However, victims may be entitled to significant compensation in Missouri if accident injuries were caused by another driver’s negligence or recklessness.
The types of compensation available fall into two main categories: economic and non-economic damages.
The main economic damages include medical bills, nursing care, wheelchairs, other mobility aids, modifications to the home, property damage, and lost wages from the inability to work. Most of these are relatively simple to calculate.
Putting a value on physical disfigurement, pain and suffering, and the loss of quality of life (non-economic damages) is more challenging.
A seasoned personal injury lawyer will ensure that nothing is missed and the at-fault party is held liable for the maximum damages that you are entitled to. During your free consultation, we will assess your case and begin to evaluate what you can expect as compensation for your injuries.
How can a motorcycle injury lawyer help me?
Claiming compensation may seem straightforward enough, especially in cases that seem “open and shut”. In reality, however, insurance companies rarely pay fair compensation voluntarily and often try to put obstacles in the way to protect their interests. A lawsuit may be required to hold the negligent party fully accountable. However, the vast majority of cases are settled without the need for a trial.
Our skilled personal injury lawyers can help with many aspects of a compensation claim, including:
- Communicating with the insurance company
- Proving fault and liability
- Identifying the value of full and fair compensation
- Gathering and presenting supporting evidence to bolster your claim
- Negotiating a settlement
- Filing a lawsuit
- Representing you at trial
Allowing your personal injury lawyer to take care of the legal matters provides the time and space for motorcycle accident victims to recover from their injuries.
Proving fault in a motorcycle accident in Missouri
To win a personal injury case in Missouri, we must usually prove that negligence or recklessness occurred—and that this led to your injuries.
In fact, four elements must be proven to establish negligence in a motorcycle accident:
- The defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, i.e. there was a legal obligation to act reasonably to prevent foreseeable harm to others
- The defendant breached the duty of care
- The breach of duty caused the injuries
- The defendant suffered damages as a result of these injuries
No special provisions are made for motorcycle riders. They have a legal right to the same duty of care as any other road user, which, if breached, can lead to the right to claim compensation.
Your lawyer will use the following strategies to prove liability for motorcycle accident injuries:
- Obtaining a copy of the police report
- Noting any tickets or criminal proceedings against a driver for failing to follow laws (e.g., a DWI charge)
- Investigating the accident for road conditions, markings, and other clues for apportioning fault
- Checking vehicle conditions and maintenance records
- Contacting witnesses and preparing statements
- Gathering all medical records
Comparative fault laws in Missouri
The “pure comparative fault” laws in Missouri mean that motorcyclists can sue negligent or reckless drivers for their injuries even if they were partly at fault for the accident that caused their injuries—though the amount of compensation awarded will be reduced in proportion to the degree of fault.
For seasoned legal assistance with a personal injury claim for a motorcycle accident injury in the Greater Kansas City area, please contact Noland Law Firm, LLC for a free case evaluation. Call us at (816) 781-5055 or contact us directly online.
