Lee's Summit motorcycle accident lawyers

Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Olathe, KS

Experienced legal representation for motorcycle accident victims in Kansas

Oftentimes, motorcyclists are viewed as reckless drivers. Other motorists believe that those who drive motorcycles do not follow traffic rules and regulations. The truth is, it is other drivers who often refuse to accept that motorcycle riders have a right to use the roads, and that their rights must be respected.

When an accident happens, however, these stereotypes make it harder for motorcyclists to get the justice they deserve. Insurance companies will use the negative stereotype to try and shift liability in an accident. This is why you will need an Olathe motorcycle accident attorney from Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys on your side. Founder James Roswold is an avid motorcycle rider; he understands first-hand the challenges you face when you are hurt. Call us today to get started on your case.

Are fatal motorcycle accidents common?

If you are wondering just how common motorcycle accidents are, let us run some numbers by you. In 2019, motorcycles made up about 3% of all registered vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And overall, there were about 284.5 million registered cars, which means there were approximately two million other registered vehicles, like trucks, in America at the time.

That same year, about 84,000 motorcyclists were injured, and just over 5,000 were killed, in traffic accidents. In comparison, there were 23,744 car and truck occupant deaths in traffic accidents that year.

Are fatal car and truck accidents more common? Yes. But by their own calculations, the NHTSA says that motorcyclists are far more likely to be injured or killed in a crash than passenger car occupants:

The fatality rate for motorcyclists was 29 times more than the passenger car occupant fatality rate and nearly 40 times the fatality rate for light-truck occupants. The motorcyclist injury rate was almost 4 times more than the injury rate of passenger car occupants and nearly 7 times the injury rate of light-truck occupants.

What are the causes of Olathe motorcycle accidents?

While there is no other feeling than the freedom riding a motorcycle brings, this freedom can also work against you on the road. Since motorcycles are small, they can be hard to notice for other drivers on the road. This is one of the main reasons that motorcycle accidents happen: other vehicles may not be able to see you when you are passing or even just driving next to them.

Some other common causes of motorcycle accidents are:

  • Lane switching and merging: When a vehicle switches lanes and does not see the motorcyclist in the lane they are merging into, it can easily lead to a collision.
  • Distracted driving: Drivers are distracted by their phones, their kids, their radios, and GPS units. A distracted driver is a dangerous driver. If the motorcyclist was not in a vehicle’s blind spot, the chances are good that the accident was caused because the motor vehicle driver was not paying attention. They may also be using assistive driving devices and put all their faith in these instead of checking themselves.
  • Lane-splitting: Lane splitting is illegal in Kansas, but some riders still do it. If another rider is lane splitting and causes a driver to swerve, that driver can easily hit you.
  • Wrong-way accidents: A driver who makes a wrong-turn off an entrance or exit ramp, who doesn’t see road signs indicating a one-way street, or who is intoxicated, is likely to drive the wrong way. This can lead to one of the scariest and most tragic types of accidents – a head-on collision. This happens when two vehicles (in this case, a motorcycle and a car) are traveling in opposite directions and collide with each other. As you would assume, the most damage is caused to the motorcycle and the rider, since they lack the added protection that other vehicles have. We have seen many times when the motorcyclist is thrown off the motorcycle or dies on impact.
  • “Dooring” accidents: These happen when a rider is passing a parked car, and the driver (or passenger) opens the car door into traffic.

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What kind of injuries can I sustain from an Olathe motorcycle accident?

While many motorcycle accidents result in fatalities, not all do, and the injuries can be severe. Our Olathe motorcycle accident attorneys represent victims with:

  • Traumatic brain injuries: A traumatic brain injury is when your brain suffers a blow, and it can affect the person’s entire brain function. Colliding with a car or truck can literally cause a rider to go flying through the air. This can lead to a traumatic brain injury. A rider can also be injured just falling off the bike and to the ground. If you ride a motorcycle, we beg you to wear a helmet. It is 67 percent effective in preventing head and brain injuries according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
  • Broken bones: If you are hit by another vehicle, you can be thrown off your bike and easily break multiple bones in your body. “Biker’s Arm” occurs when a rider throws their arms out to protect themselves before hitting the ground. You can also suffer a leg or hip fracture from the impact, or if the motorcycle falls on you.
  • Crush injuries: Broken bones are not the only injury that affects your limbs. If your motorcycle slides and you end up under it or another vehicle, your limbs can be crushed. This often means you may have to have a partial or full amputation.
  • Road rash: A severe and often overlooked injury associated with motorcycle accidents is road rash. This happens when a motorcyclist skids on the roadway if they have been ejected from the motorcycle. The most common area of the body where this happens is on the arms, legs, and even back. In some of the worst road rash cases, a skin graft may be necessary, and you could potentially sustain permanent nerve damage.
  • Spinal injuries: When the spine is injured this can affect various parts of your body. Most often a slipped disc happens after motor vehicle accidents. You may have chronic pain as a result, in the area where the injury occurred. If the spinal cord is severed, you can be paralyzed.
  • Internal organ damage: When you do not see an injury you may assume that it is not present. However, internal injuries can be some of the most fatal as they affect you from the inside out. You can even have a brain hemorrhage if you are not careful. Other internal injuries include damage to the heart, liver, and spleen, punctured lungs, and torn blood vessels.

Always seek medical attention after an accident.

The worst possible scenario is that a relative or loved one passes away after being in a motorcycle accident. Motorcycles offer freedom like no other, but riders are also some of the most vulnerable on the road. You will need the assistance of an Olathe motorcycle accident attorney following a motorcycle accident. Injuries can be life-altering and you will need someone in your corner fighting for your rights.

How much is my Olathe motorcycle injury claim worth?

Every motorcycle injury claim is different, so we cannot tell what yours might be worth without thoroughly reviewing the incident, your medical records, and your employment records. However, our Olathe motorcycle crash lawyers will work to secure compensation for your:

  • Lost wages
  • Permanent disfigurement
  • Medical expenses incurred and for the future
  • Pain and suffering
  • Disability
  • Wrongful death

The moment Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys take your case we will begin to investigate what happened. The faster we can preserve evidence the stronger your case will be. We will go as far as we need to in order to get you the justice you deserve, even if it means trial. In one of our motorcycle accident cases, our team was able to obtain a settlement award of $3,000,000.

Do you have a motorcycle accident lawyer near me?

Our Olathe office is located at 110 South Cherry Street, Suite 102. Call for an appointment. We also have other offices throughout Kansas and Missouri.

Speak with an Olathe motorcycle accident attorney today

We know firsthand what it is like to be on the open road with a motorcycle. Our lead attorney James Roswold takes these cases personally. Do not leave your life in the hands of the insurance companies who will work to deny your claim or give you the lowest offer. Instead, contact our Olathe motorcycle accident Attorneys at 816-417-5111 or fill out our contact form to schedule an initial consultation.

Olathe Office

110 S Cherry St Suite 103,
Olathe, KS 66061

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