Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Protecting The Rights Of Injury Victims Across Mississippi
Motorcycle accidents are a fact of life. As much as motorcycle riders try to avoid them and may be the safest riders in the world, being in the wrong place at the wrong time can result in a potentially serious accident. Motorcycle accident injuries can be severe, life-altering and even fatal.
Motorcycle accidents are typically far more severe than other types of vehicle accidents, which is why you need an experienced Mississippi motorcycle accident attorney to guide you through the process of pursuing a claim when necessary. You need a tough advocate who knows how to litigate and negotiate for the most favorable outcome on your behalf.
Get a Mississippi personal injury lawyer at Kilpatrick & Philley on your side. Call our firm now at 601-707-4669.
Severity Of Motorcycle Crashes
Motorcycle accidents are on the rise. In 2006, there were 4,810 motorcycle fatalities and 88,000 injuries. Motorcycle accidents account for 11% of all traffic fatalities, and a biker is 37 times more likely to experience a fatal accident than a car or other vehicle driver.
51% of motorcycle fatalities are the result of colliding with another vehicle. 79% of those collisions are head-on accidents, and only 5% of fatal accidents happen from the rear. This paints a serious picture for motorcycle riders, and even careful motorcycle riders can only do so much to help prevent motorcycle accidents, injuries and fatalities.
Injuries Resulting From Bike Accidents
Because motorcycle riders are exposed, without the protection of a metal cage surrounding them that vehicle drivers enjoy, they can suffer serious injuries.
These can include the following and more:
- Burns
- Road rash
- Whiplash
- Broken limbs
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Paralysis
- Back injuries
- Internal injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations
- Amputation
Oftentimes, a motorcyclist will be thrown from the cycle or crushed or pinned between the motorcycle and a car. A car driver who has an accident at 20 miles per hour is probably uninjured; there may be a bruise from the seat belt or a minor case of whiplash from being thrown forward against the restraints. A motorcycle rider who has an accident at 20 miles per hour, on the other hand, can suffer injuries that are catastrophic in nature.
Liability In Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle riders have rights. Many car drivers try to make a motorcycle accident seem like the motorcycle rider’s fault, even when it was the driver’s negligence that caused the accident. One of the most common excuses quoted by drivers in a motorcycle accident is: “I didn’t see the motorcycle!”
For many reasons, motorcycles are less visible on the road than other cars. Motorcycles take up less space and have a smaller profile, and drivers who are looking for larger vehicles may not visually register that a motorcycle occupies that space. Because motorcycles have a smaller profile, drivers often have trouble judging a motorcycle’s traveling speed and think they have more room before the motorcyclist arrives. In some cases, drivers don’t see motorcycles because they’re not aggressively checking for traffic.
Unfortunately, in many cases, the other vehicle driver denies liability for a motorcycle accident. In these cases, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle against the insurance company and the driver, even if you’re in the right and the driver is at fault.
Having an experienced Mississippi motorcycle accident attorney on your side can really help when the other driver is denying liability. Kilpatrick & Philley knows how to successfully litigate motorcycle accidents, and show liability, even if the other driver is denying it. The experienced lawyers at the firm can hire experts, reconstruct the accident, and take all the necessary steps to prove liability and resolve your case.
The Cost Of A Motorcycle Accident
A motorcycle accident can add up quickly. Even if the accident is relatively minor, the damage to your bike and your gear can be extensive. If it’s a major accident, your medical bills and damages can add up quickly. Consider this example of an accident that occurred at around 30 MPH on a residential road in an average neighborhood:
Injuries and medical costs:
- Broken right knee
- Twisted left knee
- Road rash from sliding, resulting in skin grafts on both legs
- Broken right arm
- Fractured ribs
- Extensive bruising and various lacerations
Total cost (including ER visit, ambulance and ongoing medical care): $37,000
Damage to the bike and gear:
- Custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle totaled: $26,000
- Leather riding jacket ruined: $600
- Helmet ruined: $300
- Motorcycle boots ruined: $200
- Motorcycle gloves ruined: $60
Total property damage: $30,160
This accident alone, at 30 MPH on a residential side street, cost over $67,000 in medical bills and damages to the bike and gear. This isn’t counting lost wages for time off during recovery and subsequent skin graft surgeries. And this was the cost for a low-speed crash on a residential side street, a few miles from home.
Let An Experienced Jackson Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help!
Motorcycle accidents are serious incidents. They result in significant injuries, potentially high medical costs, and substantial damage to the bike and gear; all of which adds up financially and emotionally. Recovery after a motorcycle accident can take weeks or months, or in the event of a spinal cord injury, recovery may be impossible.
Kilpatrick & Philley has successfully represented injured motorcycle riders over the years and obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for injury victims. Our Mississippi motorcycle accident lawyers can negotiate your settlement from the insurance company so you can focus on your recovery.
Don’t let careless vehicle drivers get away with causing your serious motorcycle accident. Call 601-707-4669 or reach out online to set up a free consultation.