You have waited months, and now the perfect weather is set to remain. It is now time to pull out your motorcycle that has been stored away during the cold months. But your excitement to get back to cruising the roads on two wheels is short lived because a motorist failed to check their blind spot and collided with you. Not only is your prized possession sitting on the side of the road all beat up and in pieces, you yourself have suffered severe injuries and trauma to the head, despite wearing a helmet.
With the warm weather here to stay for the next several months, motorcycle enthusiasts in Missouri and elsewhere have geared up their bikes for short and long trips. Whether it is an afternoon ride or a cruise across the state or nation, motorcyclists are faced with greater dangers than an average motorist or traveler in a passenger vehicle. Not only are motorcycles less equipped with protective and safety features to protect riders in a crash, they are also less visible to other drivers on the road.
Based on data from 2017, there were a total of 5,172 fatal motorcycle crashes. While this number is high, it is down 3% from the previous year that saw 5,337 deaths in motorcycle crashes. This data suggest that a motorcyclist is 27 times more likely to die in a crash when compared to passenger vehicle occupants.
Researchers found that helmets are estimated to be 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcycle riders and 41% effective for motorcycle passengers. This means that individual riding on a motorcycle are more likely than not to experience fatal or serious injures in a crash even when a helmet is worn.
Those who have suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle crash or have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident are likely to have suffered a wide range of damages and losses. A victim may require much medical treatment, even surgery. This could result in long-term health issues or pain and suffering. Losing a loved one is such a tragic manner can result in financial losses, especially if a partner or child relied on that person’s income.
A personal injury action or wrongful death suit could help those harmed by a motorcycle accident overcome the losses and damages suffered. While no monetary amount could reverse these damages or bring a person back, it could offset the significant physical, emotional and financial harm caused by the crash. It could also help one hold a liable party accountable for their wrongdoings, whether it was distracted driving, reckless driving or intoxication.
