Missouri Valley Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys

Riding a motorcycle through Missouri Valley comes with a level of risk that drivers in enclosed vehicles simply do not face. With traffic congestion increasing and drivers growing more distracted and aggressive behind the wheel, a motorcyclist has to do more than just watch the road ahead. Riders must constantly anticipate the poor decisions and careless habits of the other motorists sharing the road with them. Even the most careful and experienced rider can be seriously hurt because of someone else's mistake, and when that happens, Missouri Valley motorcycle accident victims deserve to understand both their medical situation and their legal rights.

According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, motorcycle accidents made up only a small percentage of all reported road accidents in a recent reporting year, yet they accounted for a disproportionate share of serious injury crashes and a significant share of all traffic fatalities statewide. That imbalance exists because motorcyclists have almost no protection compared to someone inside a car or truck. A rider's body absorbs the force of a collision directly, which is why crashes involving motorcycles so often result in catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord damage and permanent disfigurement. The best way for any Missouri Valley rider to reduce this risk is to follow the rules of the road and always wear a helmet, but no amount of caution can fully prevent an accident caused by another driver's negligence.

Spinal Cord Injuries Among Missouri Valley Motorcyclists

Of all the injuries a motorcyclist can suffer, spinal cord damage is among the most devastating. Research published in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery found that spinal cord injuries affect roughly 11 percent of motorcycle accident victims, and motor vehicle collisions are responsible for about 40 percent of all new spinal cord injury cases nationwide, according to the Mayo Clinic. For a Missouri Valley rider, this means that a single crash on a rural highway or an intersection near town can permanently alter the course of their life.

When a motorcycle collides with another vehicle or the pavement, the rider's vertebrae can be crushed, compressed, or knocked out of place. Ligaments and spinal discs surrounding the vertebrae may also be damaged, which can place additional pressure on the spinal cord itself. Doctors classify these injuries into two broad categories. A complete spinal cord injury means the rider has lost all sensation and movement below the site of the injury. An incomplete injury still results in a loss of feeling or function, but it is not total, and it can take weeks or months before doctors and the rider fully understand how much the injury will affect long term abilities.

A study out of St. James University Hospital examined patterns among motorcycle crash victims and found that isolated injuries to a single area of the spine occurred in over 23 percent of riders, while more than 42 percent suffered damage across multiple vertebral levels, including the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions. The thoracic spine was the most frequently injured area, accounted for in over half of all cases, followed by the lumbar spine and then the cervical spine. Nearly 20 percent of these accidents also involved some form of neurologic injury.

Complications Missouri Valley Riders May Face After a Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury rarely affects only one part of the body. Once the injury occurs, riders can experience a wide range of health complications, including blood clots, pressure sores, breathing difficulties, uncontrolled muscle movements, and a loss of bladder or bowel control. Many patients also face an increased risk of urinary and kidney infections, bladder stones, blood pressure problems, and susceptibility to pneumonia and other lung issues. Muscle atrophy, unexpected weight loss or weight gain, sexual and reproductive complications, and ongoing muscle, joint, and nerve pain are also common after care.

Left untreated, a compression fracture can lead to kyphosis, or an abnormal curvature of the spine, along with chronic pain, reduced physical function, impaired lung capacity, and a decreased ability to perform everyday work and activities. Over time, an untreated fracture can also contribute to depression, anxiety, and a diminished quality of life. Anyone in Missouri Valley who suspects a compression fracture after a crash should seek medical attention immediately and speak with an attorney about the best way to move forward with their claim.

The Emotional Toll of a Spinal Cord Injury

The physical complications of a spinal cord injury are only part of the story. Research published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry found that spinal injury victims face at least a two-fold increase in the likelihood of developing an emotional disorder. Investigators at the Monash University Center for Developmental Psychology and Psychiatry found that nearly half of all spinal cord patients eventually develop a mental health condition, with depression affecting roughly 37 percent of patients, anxiety affecting about 30 percent, clinical level stress affecting about 25 percent, and post traumatic stress disorder affecting close to 8.4 percent. For Missouri Valley families dealing with a loved one's spinal cord injury, understanding these risks early can help them seek the right combination of medical and emotional support.

If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury in a Missouri Valley motorcycle accident, the medical bills alone can climb into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and new treatments for spinal injury victims tend to be extremely expensive. When another driver is responsible for the crash, an experienced Missouri Valley motorcycle accident attorney can help explore the available options for restitution.

Disfiguring Injuries and Your Right to Compensation

Beyond spinal cord damage, motorcycle accidents frequently cause disfiguring injuries such as severe road rash, deep lacerations, burns, and amputations. These injuries can permanently change how a person looks and feels about themselves, and the road to recovery often involves both physical and emotional healing.

Missouri Valley riders should keep complete coverage on their motorcycle at all times. It is a dangerous risk to go without proper insurance, since not every accident involves another vehicle, and a rider still needs a way to cover medical bills and everyday living expenses while recovering. If a crash was caused by weather conditions or an unintentional error on the rider's own part, the right motorcycle insurance coverage can help cover those losses. When another driver caused the wreck, a Missouri Valley rider may also be able to file a third party claim against that driver's liability insurance.

Why You Should Talk to an Attorney Right Away

Anyone hurt in a serious motorcycle accident in Missouri Valley should speak with an attorney as soon as possible, and should never agree to a settlement with an insurance company before getting professional legal advice. Insurance companies keep lawyers and claims experts on staff whose job is to resolve claims quickly and for as little money as possible. Even when an early settlement offer sounds reasonable, an injured rider is rarely in the physical or emotional condition needed to judge whether it truly reflects the value of their claim. A qualified attorney can take over communication with the insurance company so the injured rider can focus entirely on healing.

Missouri Valley victims of disfiguring motorcycle injuries may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, hospitalization, long term care, in home caregiving, physical therapy, and any lost income resulting from the crash. Depending on how serious the injury is, this compensation can address both current expenses and future costs tied to ongoing treatment. Riders may also pursue compensation for pain and suffering and emotional distress connected to a disfiguring injury. In cases involving extensive scarring or the loss of a limb, both physical and emotional therapy are often necessary parts of the healing process, and any long term complications or future medical needs should be factored into a fair settlement.

What Insurance Companies Don't Want Missouri Valley Riders to Know

Insurance companies are among the largest and most profitable corporations in the country, and they spend heavily to influence laws that reduce the amount they have to pay injured people. What they cannot control, however, are the judges and juries who ultimately decide what an injured Missouri Valley rider's claim is worth. There are several things insurance adjusters would rather accident victims never learn.

The adjuster does not have to be honest with you. The insurance company representing the other driver has no legal obligation to tell you the truth or act in your best interest. Adjusters are sometimes trained to build a friendly rapport with injured riders, but their real job is to pay out as little as possible, and they may even be rewarded for keeping settlements low. It is never wise to fully trust anything an adjuster tells you about your claim or your rights.

You do not have to give a recorded statement. Adjusters often claim a recorded statement is necessary to evaluate a claim, but the real purpose is to gather answers that can later be used against you. A simple question about prior injuries can be twisted into an attack on your credibility if your medical history contains anything that seems inconsistent with an off the cuff answer.

A final offer is rarely a best offer. There is little harm in countering a low initial offer, and in some cases it takes the filing of a lawsuit before an insurer reveals what it is truly willing to pay.

Frustration is a tactic. Insurance adjusters sometimes intentionally frustrate injured riders. A very low initial offer can make a person angry enough to simply accept a bad deal just to be done with the process. Riders in Missouri Valley who have suffered a serious injury with lasting effects on their health should consider working with an experienced injury attorney who understands these tactics and will not let a rider be taken advantage of during a vulnerable time.

Your medical bills will not be paid as they come in. In a personal injury claim, the insurance company will not pay your medical bills as they come in, even if they ask you to send the bills their way. This is often a strategy meant to pressure injured people into settling cheaply once collection calls start piling up. It is generally best for Missouri Valley riders to have medical bills paid through health insurance or medical payments coverage on their own auto or motorcycle policy while a claim is being resolved. To learn more about how insurers handle these tactics, see our article on what insurers don't want you to know.

Consulting a Missouri Valley Motorcycle Accident Attorney

The toll from severe motorcycle injuries can encompass substantial medical expenses and long-term care costs for victims and their families. Lost wages may compound matters, especially if employment becomes unrealistic for an extended period. Getting help from a motorcycle accident attorney allows the pursuit of comprehensive compensation, from financial damages and emotional distress such as pain and suffering.

Victims of these accidents should seek consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney, as damages may be extensive and recovery of compensation is important.

At Walker, Billingsley & Bair, our motorcycle accident attorneys can represent you in dealings with your insurance company, or when filing a personal injury claim. Set up your consultation now by calling 641-792-3595. 

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