Motorcycle accidents can result in severe injuries and long-term emotional trauma. If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, a Columbia personal injury lawyer can help you file a claim.
Aaron Sachs & Associates has handled more than 10,000 cases. If you were injured in a preventable motorcycle crash, a motorcycle accident lawyer in Columbia can take on your case and help you recover compensation for your losses.
Why You Should Hire a Columbia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Insurance adjusters often assume that motorcycle riders are to blame for accidents and attempt to shift disproportionate blame onto them. A Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer can protect your right to compensation by:
- Investigating the accident: We have the resources to conduct a thorough investigation into your accident. This includes gathering evidence, speaking with witnesses, and consulting accident reconstruction experts (if necessary).
- Determining liability: Establishing liability is critical in motorcycle accident cases. We will work diligently to determine who was at fault for your accident.
- Dealing with insurance companies: Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts to accident victims. We will negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf and work to secure fair compensation. Our team knows how to counter typical defense strategies employed by insurers.
- Taking your case to court: Our goal is to secure the maximum compensation available to you. If the other party’s insurer refuses to offer a fair settlement, we will take your case to Boone County Circuit Court and fight for fair payment there.
For a free legal consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer serving Columbia, call 417-777-7777
Types of Compensation You Can Pursue
At Aaron Sachs & Associates, we know how to help you fight for the compensation you deserve after a motorcycle crash in Columbia.
Our Columbia motorcycle accident attorneys can help you recover:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Physical impairment or disability
- Punitive damages (in specific circumstances)
Columbia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 417-777-7777
Motorcycle Accident Claim Statute of Limitations in Missouri
RSMo Section 516.120 enforces the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Missouri. However, the exact filing deadline for your claim will depend on whether the accident was fatal, whether any of your injuries were delayed, and other details specific to your case.
A motorcycle accident lawyer in Columbia from Aaron Sachs & Associates can help ensure you don’t miss any deadlines.
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Who Is Liable for a Motorcycle Crash?
Who is liable for a motorcycle crash depends on the circumstances of the accident and whether anyone’s careless or wrongful conduct contributed to it. Though a driver of a passenger vehicle may be primarily responsible, multiple parties can share liability.
Potentially liable parties include:
- Negligent drivers: Motorists who speed, drive distracted, run red lights, make unsafe turns, or fail to yield to riders may be responsible for injuries they cause.
- Commercial vehicle operators: Truck drivers, delivery drivers, and other professional motorists may be liable when their negligent driving causes a collision.
- Employers: A company may share responsibility for an accident one of their employees causes while performing their job.
- Government entities: A public agency may bear responsibility in certain cases involving dangerous road conditions or inadequate traffic controls.
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Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Columbia
Motorcycle crashes can result from the actions of other motorists, motorcyclists, or hazardous road conditions. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Columbia include:
- Failure to yield right of way: Many accidents occur when other vehicles fail to yield the right of way to bikers at intersections or during lane changes.
- Distracted driving: Drivers using mobile phones, adjusting the radio, or engaging with other distractions may not notice riders.
- Unsafe lane changes: Drivers who don’t check their blind spots or signal properly may inadvertently collide with riders when changing lanes.
- Speeding: Excessive speed by either the motorcyclist or the other vehicle can reduce that person’s reaction time and increase the severity of any collisions that occur.
- Impaired driving: Alcohol- or drug-impaired driving is a significant factor in these types of accidents.
- Left-turn accidents: Many accidents occur when other vehicles make left turns in front of oncoming motorcycles.
- Dooring accidents: Riders can be seriously injured if a parked car’s door is opened into their path without warning.
- Dangerous road conditions: Potholes, debris, and uneven road surfaces can be especially hazardous for riders.
- Poor weather conditions: Rain, snow, and ice can reduce traction for both riders and cars.
- Inexperience: Inexperienced motorcyclists may lack the skills to navigate challenging traffic situations.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle riders face a high risk of catastrophic injuries in collisions because they lack the protective structure of a passenger vehicle.
Common injuries that riders suffer include:
- Traumatic brain injuries: A blow to the head can cause concussions, cognitive impairment, or even permanent disability.
- Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spinal cord or vertebrae can result in chronic pain or even paralysis.
- Broken bones: Fractures to the arms, legs, ribs, pelvis, and collarbone often require surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
- Road rash and burns: Sliding across asphalt can cause severe abrasions, deep tissue damage, infections, and permanent scarring.
- Internal injuries: Blunt-force trauma can damage internal organs or cause internal bleeding.
- Neck and back injuries: Herniated discs, muscle damage, and other spinal injuries can interfere with everyday activities and employment.
Steps to Take Immediately After a Motorcycle Accident in Columbia
The actions you take after a motorcycle accident can affect both your physical recovery and your ability to pursue compensation.
It’s important to:
- Report the accident to law enforcement: Contact the Columbia Police Department or your local law enforcement agency, depending on where the collision occurred.
- Gather evidence at the scene: If you can do so safely, photograph the vehicles, road conditions, traffic signals, skid marks, and any visible injuries.
- Exchange information: Collect the other driver’s contact and insurance information and ask witnesses for their names and contact details.
- Seek immediate medical attention: Visit University Hospital, Boone Hospital Center, or another nearby healthcare center, even if your injuries don’t appear serious.
- Notify your insurance company: Report the accident to your insurer, but don’t provide a recorded statement or agree to a settlement until you talk to a lawyer.
- Consult a lawyer: An attorney from Aaron Sachs & Associates can investigate the collision, determine who is liable, and communicate with insurance adjusters on your behalf.
Get Help from a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Columbia
A serious auto accident can upend your life. If you or one of your family members was hit by a negligent driver while riding a motorcycle, a Columbia motorcycle accident attorney from Aaron Sachs & Associates can help pursue the compensation you need to get back on your feet.
Our team has recovered more than half a billion dollars in compensation for our clients, including a $3.5 million motorcycle accident case result. Book a free consultation to take the first step toward justice.
Call or text 417-777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
