Motorcycle Accidents in Kansas City

Missouri Motorcycle Accident Statistics

As a growing percentage of the population turns to a motorcycle as a means of transportation and even a leisurely activity, the rate at which motorcycle accident fatalities are occurring is trending on an upward slope. Between 2001 and 2008, 34,000 motorcyclists were killed in an accident and more and one million were treated for serious injuries. Statistics show that the number of deaths had increased 55% within the seven year period of time, as well. Although motorcycles only account for about 3% of all vehicles out on the road, an average of 13% of all traffic fatalities result from a motorcycle accident—as many times, a motorcyclist will collide with a much larger vehicle like a car of a truck.

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, in 2008, 1,506 motorcycle accidents happened in the state—resulting in 66 fatalities and 1,427 related injuries. Due to these climbing numbers, it is becoming all the more important for drivers to adhere to safer driving practices. In most accidents, careless drivers that share the road with motorcyclists fail to take the appropriate precautionary measures, leading to devastating consequences for the severely less protected motorcyclist. Some of the most common ways for an accident to happen include:

• A driver failing to adequately share the road with a motorcyclist
• A driver rear-ending a motorcyclist
• A driver failing to yield to a motorcyclist when turning
• A driver failing to look before switching lanes

All of these accidents can have disastrous consequences for the motorcyclist, as they usually do not have a chance to protect themselves against the crushing force of a much larger vehicle. As a result, an accident victim will likely sustain catastrophic injuries or even suffer a wrongful death. Some of the most common types of accident-related injuries include spinal cord injury, burn injuries and traumatic brain injury, which can lead to permanent disability and a severely diminished life expectancy. If you have been forced into similar circumstances, you should not hesitate to take legal action. Negligently injured victims deserve compensation, and the first step is to contact a qualified attorney.

The Sumner Law Group – Defending Motorcycle Accident Victims

At our firm, we understand how traumatic it can be to sustain any type of injury at the hands of a negligent individual, as victims are not only affected physically, but also emotionally and financially. In the wake of an accident, an injured individual may be faced with a lifelong debilitation, costly medical expenses, an inability to earn a living in the future, and emotional pain and suffering. Because of this, we fight aggressively to obtain rightful compensation for all of our clients. If you have been wrongfully injured in a motorcycle accident, contact a Kansas City personal injury attorney from our firm today.