How Much is a Missouri Motorcycle Injury Accident Worth?
Even a cautious and responsible motorcyclist can be injured in a motorcycle crash. Other drivers, weather conditions, and road hazards can cause a motorcycle crash. Unfortunately, being injured in a Missouri motorcycle accident can result in severe injuries, emotional distress, and financial losses.
Fortunately, motorcyclists can recover compensation for monetary losses and injuries. The party responsible for causing the accident could be held liable for damages, including:
- Medical bills and expenses
- Costs of personal care and nursing care
- Loss of income, benefits, and future earning potential
- Permanent disabilities, disfigurements, and impairments
- Mental anguish, emotional distress, and physical pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life and reduced quality of life
Insurance companies fight to lower the value of motorcycle injury claims. You need our experienced Kansas City motorcycle accident attorney, who will fight to get you the compensation you deserve after a motorcycle accident in Missouri.
If you were injured in a motorcycle crash, call the Law Office of Kevin J. McManus to discuss your case with our personal injury lawyer. We offer free consultations and case evaluations. Call 816-203-0143 now to speak with a member of our legal team.
Common Injuries Caused by Missouri Motorcycle Accidents
A motorcyclist has very little protection from injuries during a collision. Motorcycle helmets significantly reduce the risk of brain injuries and head trauma. However, even motorcycle helmets do not prevent all head injuries in a motorcycle crash.
Protective clothing, gloves, boots, and heavy clothing can help prevent some injuries, but riders can still sustain severe cases of road rash and other injuries. Potential injuries caused by Missouri motorcycle crashes include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Road rash (abrasions and lacerations)
- Broken bones and fractures
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Internal organ damage
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Severe scarring and disfigurement
- Ruptured discs, spinal fractures, and herniated discs
- Nerve damage
The settlement value of motorcycle injuries in Missouri depends on numerous factors. The best way to know how much a motorcycle accident claim is worth is to schedule a free case evaluation with our Kansas City motorcycle accident attorney.
What Factors Affect the Value of a Missouri Motorcycle Accident Claim?
As seasoned motorcycle accident lawyers, we work with accident victims to recover the maximum value for their motorcycle accident cases. We work to resolve their claims directly with insurance providers. When insurance companies refuse to negotiate fair settlements, our trial attorneys argue the case in court.
If you have questions about the value of your motorcycle accident claim, speak with one of our personal injury attorneys for a free consultation.
There is no average settlement amount for motorcycle accident injuries. Many factors can impact how much money you could receive for a motorcycle accident claim. The factors that impact an insurance settlement or jury verdict include:
Type & Severity of Missouri Motorcycle Injuries
The type and severity of your injuries significantly impact the value of your accident claim. If you sustained relatively minor injuries that heal within a few weeks or months, your case might be worth less. Minor injuries generally do not result in high medical bills or substantial lost wages. Furthermore, pain and suffering damages are not as great with minor injuries.
However, if you sustain severe injuries or permanent impairments, the value of your damages increases. Catastrophic injuries generally result in substantial medical bills and long-term care. In addition, individuals with permanent impairments may not be able to return to work.
Therefore, the more severe your injuries, the more your motorcycle claim may be worth.
Monetary Losses After a Missouri Motorcycle Crash
Monetary losses include your medical bills and lost wages. However, you may also recover compensation for out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel costs, personal care, household services, medical equipment, and over-the-counter medications and supplies.
If you sustain a permanent disability, you might receive compensation for the cost of modifications to your home and vehicle, such as lifts and ramps. Our legal team works with you to carefully document each cost to maximize the value of your motorcycle accident claim.
Determining Liability After a Missouri Motorcycle Accident
Under Missouri law, you can recover compensation for damages from the party who caused your injuries. First, however, you must prove liability. Most motorcycle accident cases are based on negligence. Negligence is failing to act with the same level of care that a reasonable person would have used in similar circumstances.
Proving negligence requires you to show:
- The other party owed you a duty of care
- The party breached the duty of care
- The breach of duty was the proximate and direct cause of your injuries
- You sustained damages because of the breach of duty
If you cannot prove each of the above legal elements, you cannot recover money for your damages. Therefore, the evidence you collect and the strength of that evidence can impact the value of our claim. If the insurance company believes you do not have evidence to prove liability, it may offer a much lower amount to settle your claim.
Comparative Fault & Missouri Motorcycle Crashes
Under Missouri’s pure comparative fault law, your compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault if you were partially to blame for the motorcycle accident. In other words, you cannot recover the total value of your damages if you contributed to the cause of the motorcycle accident.
Insurance companies often shift blame for a motorcycle crash to the rider. They use unfair stereotypes of motorcyclists to claim the rider was reckless or negligent.
Insurance Policy Limits in Missouri Motorcycle Accidents
Missouri requires drivers to carry a minimum of $25,000 in motor vehicle insurance for bodily injury per person ($50,000 per accident). Therefore, if the other driver has minimum insurance coverage, the most the insurance company must pay for your claim is $25,000. You can sue the driver for a personal judgment, but you might not be able to collect the judgment.
However, if you have underinsured motorist coverage, your insurance provider may cover the amount of your claim not paid by the other driver’s insurance provider. The value of your underinsured motorist claim is limited to your policy limits.
How Can Our Kansas City Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help?
Hiring our motorcycle accident lawyer in Kansas City, MO, can help you recover maximum compensation for your motorcycle accident injuries. Our lawyer can help you in many ways, including:
- Investigating your motorcycle accident to gather evidence proving causation, fault, and damages
- Determine liability for damages
- File insurance claims and negotiate settlements
- Identify all parties liable for damages
- Evaluate damages and calculate the value of damages
- Argue the case in court if the other party refuses to negotiate a fair settlement
Our motorcycle accident attorney monitors deadlines for filing claims and lawsuits under Missouri’s statute of limitations. He also works to maximize the factors that increase the value of your claim and minimize factors that could result in a lower settlement.
Contact our office to schedule your free consultation by calling 816-203-0143 or completing our online contact form. At the Law Office of Kevin J. McManus, our legal team can help you seek the compensation you deserve for a Missouri motorcycle accident.
