Kansas Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Motorcycle accidents are a very unique type of traffic collision. There are many specific laws and insurance procedures that surround motorcycle accidents. A majority of motorcycle accidents involve a motorcyclist and an automobile. One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents is a vehicle driver not seeing or noticing a motorcyclist. Motorcycle accidents can be caused by any number of factors including debris in the road, negligent drivers or a defective motorcycle.

Motorcycle rider fatalities have been on the rise since 1997. Some other statistics regarding motorcycle accidents:

• A 2004 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study found that there were 4,008 motorcyclist deaths and 76,000 motorcyclist injuries during that year. As the number of motorcycles on the road increases every year, so do these numbers.
• Approximately half of all motorcycles involved in a fatal crash collided with an automobile.
• Helmets saved approximately 1,158 lives in 2003; another 640 lives could have been saved if helmets were worn. Unfortunately, not all states have a helmet law and motorcycle riders see this as a free pass.

Motorcyclists are at such a great risk for injury and death due to negligent drivers. They are not protected by the steel frame of a vehicle, so if something happens and they take a fall, they are in instant contact with the street and vulnerable to being hit by other drivers. Also, motorcyclists are allowed, by law, to "split lanes", which means they can drive between cars and lanes on the roads and highways. This puts them at a great advantage when it comes to traffic, but also to a greater risk for negligent drivers who are not paying attention and watching the road.

As with automobile defects, motorcycle defects can be fatal. If you have suffered an injury caused by a defective motorcycle or motorcycle part, it is your right to hold the manufacturer responsible for your injuries. If you have been injured by a negligent driver, it is their responsibility to pay for your losses and injuries. Please contact one of our experienced Kansas motorcycle accident lawyers at Prochaska, Giroux & Howell for your free consultation.