Have You Been In A Kansas City Motorcycle Accident?
After a motorcycle accident, you need help. No one should handle their motorcycle accident litigation on their own or with the help of an inexperienced lawyer. With the generally catastrophic nature of most motorcycle accident injuries, there is too much at stake. Failure to handle your case properly could result in the possible loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Our team can help you. At the Protzman Law Firm, we know how to get the maximum compensation award for your injuries. Our attorneys understand the challenges you are facing after an accident involving severe injuries or even the loss of someone you love. We will do everything we can to help you through this time and get you the compensation you need.
Causes Of Motorcycle Accidents
Despite the negative stigma sometimes associated with motorcycling, most accidents involving motorcycles are not the fault of motorcyclists. We handle motorcycle accidents caused by:
- Left turns and lane changes: So often, motorcyclists turning left are not seen by other drivers who are not paying attention.
- Reckless driving: In far too many cases, motorcycle accidents result from the other driver operating their vehicle while intoxicated, driving too fast for conditions or simply not paying attention.
- Defective auto parts: Some accidents result from faulty brakes, blown tires, malfunctioning mechanical systems, or other product defects in the motorcycle or other driver’s vehicle.
One of the primary reasons for our successful track record of verdicts and settlements is our ability to determine the cause of accidents and establish the liability of the other driver.
Answers To Common Questions About Motorcycle Accident Litigation
Below, we’ve provided answers to some of the client’s questions asked most often regarding motorcycle accidents and related injury claims.
How do I know if I have a valid motorcycle accident claim?
Bikers understand the risks they face relative to other drivers, and most are very careful to ride defensively to protect their own safety. If you are a careful and conscientious rider and were still seriously injured in a crash, you have reason to suspect that someone else’s carelessness was to blame.
Kansas is a no-fault state when it comes to auto accidents, so you would first need to file a personal injury protection claim with your own insurer. If the costs of your injuries exceed the coverage limits on the policy (which they often do in motorcycle crashes), you may be able to pursue a claim against the at-fault driver if you can prove that they were to blame. Generally, you must demonstrate that another party was negligent, which means they failed to act with reasonable care, and this directly caused your injuries. It’s important to gather evidence such as police reports, witness statements and medical records to support your case.
What should I do if the insurance company offers me a settlement quickly after the accident?
It is very common for insurance companies to offer a settlement quickly after an accident, but you must approach this offer with caution. Insurers are worried about their financial well-being, not yours. Therefore, they want to settle your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible. Their initial settlement offer is likely to be far lower than what you need or deserve.
Moreover, you likely won’t know how much money you need or how much your case is worth without consulting a personal injury lawyer who works for you. Accepting an early settlement is risky because it means waiving your right to take further legal action in exchange for however much money you were offered. If your costs end up being much higher than the settlement, you’d be out of options. Therefore, the safest thing to do is to speak with an attorney first.
What role do defective auto parts play in motorcycle accident cases and how do you prove it?
Defective auto parts can sometimes play a significant role in motorcycle accidents. If your motorcycle or another vehicle involved in the accident had a defect that contributed to the crash, this could be grounds for a product liability claim.
Proving that defective auto parts were a factor involves showing that the part was inherently defective, typically due to a design or manufacturing flaw. You must then show that the defect led to your accident and injuries. This often requires an investigation that may include expert analysis, recall information and the history of the defective part. Our attorneys are highly experienced in both motorcycle accident and product liability claims and are therefore ideally suited to help you seek compensation.
Contact Our Legal Team
Do not wait. It is important to get our attorneys working on your case as soon as possible to ensure you get the most favorable compensation award possible. Call us – before you talk to the insurance agent – at 844-437-8381 or email us. We offer free consultations and flexible fee arrangements.