Oakville, MO Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Oakville, MO Motorcycle Accident Attorney

When a motorcycle accident occurs with a passenger car or other motor vehicle, the motorcyclist suffers the majority of the damages. Motorcycles do not have the same safety measures as a passenger vehicle such as the frame of the vehicle itself, thus motorcycle accident injuries are often devastating and life changing. When the motorcyclist isn’t responsible for the accident, they should not be responsible for the cost of these damages. An Oakville, MO, motorcycle accident lawyer can help injured motorcyclists obtain their just compensation after a collision.

Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Oakville

The attorneys at The Cagle Law Firm can help you if you or a loved one was injured or killed in a motorcycle crash. Our team can investigate the cause of the accident, gather evidence to determine the at-fault party, and review your options for recovering compensation. We understand that the losses due to a motorcycle accident can be immense. If the crash resulted in the death of a loved one, there is no case or lawsuit that will make up for that loss. An injury claim or wrongful death case can provide much needed compensation for the life changes caused due to the crash.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Learning the cause of the accident is the first step to determining what party is at fault and who can be held financially and legally responsible for the accident. Some of the common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

• Distraction: Both drivers and motorcycle riders can become distracted, and distracted driving is one of the most common causes of accidents. Typically, there are more chances for drivers to be distracted, as they can more easily eat, drink, text, and change music. Both drivers and riders can become distracted simply by taking their attention or focus off the road.
• Fatigue: Driving tired lowers your reaction speed and increases the chances of an accident. Both riders and drivers can present a danger on the road by driving fatigued.
• Driving Under the Influence: Driving or riding while intoxicated or under the influence can significantly impair a person’s judgment and limit their reaction speeds. When someone drives their vehicle under the influence, they face criminal charges in addition to claims from those who were injured.
• Failure to Yield: This is one of the most common causes of collisions involving a motorcycle and a motor vehicle. If drivers do not properly look out for the smaller and harder-to-spot vehicles, they may fail to yield the right-of-way and cause an accident.
• Aggressive and Erratic Driving: Some drivers do not take appropriate care when driving near motorcyclists, such as allowing riders insufficient space on the road. Tailgating, speeding, unsafe lane changes, not checking blind spots, and other reckless actions can lead to a collision.
• Poor Road Conditions: If roads are poorly maintained, this can result in an accident. There may be potholes, missing road signs, or other hazards. The governmental or private agency responsible for the road’s upkeep may be liable for those dangers. Suing governmental agencies is much more complicated than filing against private agencies, and there are unique regulations and requirements.
• Inclement Weather: Poor road conditions also occur during inclement weather. If drivers fail to adjust their speed and drive safely for the given conditions, then this can be considered negligence.
• Mechanical Failures: Accidents can occur because an essential part of a motor vehicle fails. In some cases, this is a case of product liability, and the manufacturer or distributor can be held liable for defective and unreasonably dangerous parts. In other collisions, the failure of a car or motorcycle part occurs because of faulty maintenance or the failure of the owner to get maintenance done on the vehicle.

If you are involved in a motorcycle accident with other vehicles, hiring an attorney to be sure there is a thorough investigation and follow up with law enforcement’s crash report is essential if you would like to receive fair compensation. If you rely on the insurance adjuster to conduct the investigation of the accident’s cause and evaluate your damages it is unlikely that you will receive anywhere near a full settlement.

An insurance adjuster may even claim that you were to blame for the accident or that you accepted the risk of a collision by simply riding your motorcycle. These biases can make it hard for motorcyclists to get the compensation they need and deserve. A skilled attorney is crucial to prevent this abuse.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Average Settlement for a Motorcycle Accident in Missouri?

A: There is no average settlement value for a motorcycle accident case in Oakville, Missouri. When evaluating a case’s worth, it is heavily reliant on the severity of the injuries and medical treatment required to maximize your physical recovery. Each case is unique, reliant on many factors, including:

• The severity of your injuries and medical costs
• How much time you were unable to work
• Whether your claim is settled outside or in court
• The skill of your attorney
• The significance of supportive evidence in your claim
• Whether you are partially at fault for the accident

Q: What Do You Do If There Is a Motorcycle Accident?

A: If you are in a motorcycle accident, there are several things you should do (if physically able to do so). These include:

1. Call 911 immediately, reporting the accident and any injuries that you are aware of.
2. Move to a safe and out-of-the-way location if possible.
3. Obtain medical care.
4. Provide factual event information about the collision.
5. Take pictures of the scene of the accident.
6. Secure contact information from the others involved in the accident.
7. Do not give statements to the others in the accident or to any insurance providers.
8. Contact an attorney.

Q: Who Is Responsible for Most Motorcycle Accidents?

A: Who is responsible for a motorcycle accident will rely on the unique circumstances of a collision. Both drivers and riders could be at fault. In fatal collisions that are just between a motorcycle and one other vehicle, 43% of those accidents in 2021 were caused by the other vehicle turning left while the motorcycle was continuing straight, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 24% of fatal motorcycle accidents were collisions with fixed objects, while 17% were collisions with passenger cars.

Q: What Is the Most Common Injury in a Motorcycle Accident?

A: The most common injuries in a motorcycle accident are those to the upper extremities, according to information gathered by the NHTSA and compiled in 2008. However, more severe injuries occur more commonly in the lower extremities, the head, the face, and the chest. Motorcycle accidents frequently cause head and traumatic brain injuries, facial injuries, road rash, spine and spinal cord injuries, and many other injuries. Often, injuries to motorcyclists are catastrophic and fatal.  Unwavering support from safety experts express the importance of the use of Department of Transportation approved motorcycle helmets for all motorcyclists. Appropriate motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of death by 37 percent according to the CDC. Unfortunately, Missouri joined Illinois in repealing the mandatory motorcycle helmet law in 2020.  Since the repeal of the mandatory helmet law, motorcycle fatalities in Missouri have increased by 47 percent.   Do not think for a moment that insurance adjusters care about the mandatory helmet law. If you are not wearing a helmet and injured, they will certainly attribute some of your injury to your carelessness. Thus, surviving the crash may not be your only battle, but an experienced attorney can fight your battles for compensation.

Contact The Cagle Law Firm

At The Cagle Law Firm, we can help you and your family find methods of recovery after a difficult motorcycle accident. Contact our team today.