Navigating life after a motorcycle accident is incredibly challenging. From severe injuries that affect your daily routine to the financial burdens of ongoing medical costs, adjusting to this new way of life can feel near impossible.
However, there is good news: you don’t have to go through it alone.
Partnering with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in Kansas City provides invaluable support and guidance during this difficult time. These legal professionals handle all the details of your case, ensuring that you receive fair compensation and that those responsible are held accountable. This allows you to focus on what matters most—healing and recovering.
In this blog, we share everything you should know about motorcycle accidents in Kansas City.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, it’s important to take action to ensure your safety and protect your legal rights.
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Call 911 and Check Yourself for Injuries
First, you need to call 911 to request medical attention and report the accident. If you are able, check yourself and your passengers for injuries.
It’s important to note that not all injuries are immediately visible after an accident. Internal injuries, such as head injuries or internal bleeding, can’t be seen from the outside, but can be fatal if left untreated.
2. Get Yourself to Safety
If possible, move yourself and your motorcycle away from the road to avoid further collisions. If your bike is not driveable, leave it where it is and get away from the roadway as you wait for help to arrive.
3. Document the Scene
If you can do so safely, document the scene. Photographs or videos of any damage or evidence that shows what happened can be beneficial for establishing what happened in the future. However, do not put yourself in danger to document the scene. The main priority after any kind of accident is to ensure your safety.
4. Exchange Insurance Information With Other Drivers
If possible, exchange insurance information with any other drivers involved in the accident. If there are witnesses who saw the accident happen, also exchange information with them.
5. Find a Lawyer
Contacting a lawyer with experience in these cases is essential to receive fair compensation for your damages. Your lawyer will take care of working with your insurance company and the insurance companies of the other drivers.
What Could My Motorcycle Accident Settlement Be Worth?
The value of your case will depend on several factors, including:
The Severity of Your Injuries
Motorcycle accidents often result in severe and life-changing injuries. Because of the size and weight disparity between motorcycles and other vehicles on the road, collisions tend to cause more damage.
In a car, there are a number of safety features designed to keep you restrained inside the vehicle during a crash (seatbelts, airbags, car frame, etc.). Motorcycles lack these features. When a collision occurs between a car and a motorcycle, the motorcyclist is directly exposed to the impact, often resulting in more severe injuries.
Physical Injuries
Physical injuries can range from minor scrapes and cuts to life-threatening conditions. Bikers are especially vulnerable to physical injuries from accidents, such as:
Road Rash
When a biker gets thrown off their motorcycle, their skin skids across the pavement. Depending on the speed of the bike and the clothing of the rider, the severity of their road rash will generally fall into one of three categories:
First-Degree Road Rash
First-degree road rash is minor scrapes that only affect the outermost layer of skin. These injuries are considered minor and can usually be treated at home.
Second-Degree Road Rash
Second-degree road rash is a deeper injury that affects the lower layers of skin. This is a very painful injury that requires medical attention to keep the wound clean and prevent infection.
Third Degree Road Rash
Third-degree road rash is a medical emergency where riders lose a significant portion of their skin. This injury can cause severe pain or no pain at all due to nerve damage. Third-degree road rash often requires extensive medical treatment, including surgery and skin grafts.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are a common result of motorcycle accidents. The impact from the collision or ejection from the motorcycle can lead to severe fractures.
To determine the damages you incurred from a motorcycle crash, we will consider which bones were affected and how these broken bones impact your ability to participate in life.
Some of the most common bones that break as a result of motorcycle accidents include the:
- Legs and arms
- Collarbone
- Skull
- Ribs
- Spine and back
- Wrists and ankles
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord communicates between the brain and the rest of the body. When there is an injury to the spinal cord, it can result in a severe injury that permanently damages your ability to move, feel, and control your body functions.
Spinal cord injuries vary in severity depending on the following factors:
- The location of the injury
- The extent of the damage
- How quickly you receive medical treatment
Head Injuries
Head injuries are a major risk for those involved in motorcycle accidents. Depending on the severity of your head injury, it can lead to permanent disability or, in the most tragic cases, death. There are a number of head injuries that can result from motorcycle accidents, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Skull fractures
- Brain contusions (bruises to the brain)
- Intracranial hematomas (bleeding within the skull)
Hidden Injuries
Not all injuries are immediately visible after a motorcycle accident. Collisions can cause internal injuries and bleeding that require immediate medical attention. Internal bleeding can result from:
- Organs colliding against each other or against bones
- Pieces of broken bones puncturing organs
- Torn blood vessels from the forces of the accident
Psychological Damages
Accidents cause more than physical injuries. The emotional distress and psychological trauma of being involved in a collision can result in a number of psychological damages, including:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Individuals involved in the accident can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can be a major setback to their quality of life. They may experience flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks, and other unwanted symptoms that make once-simple tasks challenging.
Fear
People who experience (or witness) a tragic crash can develop fear around riding their bike or driving their car. This fear can hold individuals back from leaving the house and keep them from enjoying the activities they once loved.
Anxiety and Depression
Feelings of anxiety and depression are common after a traumatic event. This is especially true for individuals who experience major physical changes that affect how they function and live. The emotional impacts of a motorcycle accident can cause just as many hardships as the physical ones.
Medical Expenses
A large part of your motorcycle accident settlement may come from the medical expenses you incurred from your injuries. This can include:
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Medical procedures
- Surgeries
- Diagnostic tests (such as X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, etc.)
- Medications
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Medical equipment (such as wheelchairs, braces, crutches, etc.)
- Home health care
- Mental health services
We don’t only consider the medical expenses you’ve already incurred, but we also consider ones that you may incur in the future as a result of your injuries. This includes ongoing rehabilitation, doctor’s visits, procedures, medications, and other support you will need as time goes on.
This is when working with an experienced lawyer becomes critical. Motorcycle accident lawyers work with a team of experts and medical professionals to determine the cost of your future medical needs.
Lost Income From Your Injuries
If your injuries prevent you from working in the short term or long term, this loss of income will be factored into your motorcycle accident settlement. Your settlement must cover lost income and potential future periods of lost income to ensure your financial stability as you recover.
Contact Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader for More Information on Your Motorcycle Accident Settlement
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, it’s important to know your rights. Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader is the trusted name for personal injury attorneys in Kansas City. We deliver answers, accountability, and justice for victims of motorcycle accidents.
When we represent a client or a family for a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Kansas City, we devote the time, resources, and experience for the best possible result. Our attorneys are dedicated to investigating cases the right way—by answering every question and methodically working through each case.
Navigating the aftermath of an accident can be challenging. An attorney can give you the support, tools, and resources you need to help you recover. To get in contact with an attorney today, use our virtual case tool or contact our office at (913) 266-2300 to speak with one of our team members.
The above is not intended to be legal advice. Each individual case is different and must be analyzed on its own set of facts and circumstances. If you believe you may have a case, it is critically important that you timely contact a lawyer to ensure your rights are protected.
