Overland Park Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Serving Kansas City and Missouri

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, our Overland Park motorcycle accident lawyers serve Kansas City and Missouri and are prepared to help you. Motorcycle collisions are some of the most serious motor vehicle accidents on the road, should you suffer from one, our experienced team of Overland Park motorcycle accident lawyers have a track record of success. These cases often must be handled differently than typical auto accidents. The experience of your attorney can be crucial to a successful outcome. Rick Morefield and Andrew Speicher have years of experience handling cases of this type. And, when the weather permits, you will often find Andrew on his motorcycle.

Injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident may take months to heal. During that time, it’s important that you talk with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer sooner rather than later about your rights and any potential claim you may have. Gathering evidence early and working with an experienced lawyer can be crucial.

What to Do If You Have Been in a Motorcycle Accident

If you have been in a motorcycle accident, it is important to attend to any injuries you have sustained. However, if you are medically able, it is crucial that you call the police immediately and gather as much information as you can about the motor vehicle accident. If you are unable to gather information about the other driver or the accident details, request the police officer or a passenger on your bike to gather that information and send it to you. You will need the other driver’s contact information and registration to proceed with the necessary next steps to ensure proper coverage. If you were unable to do this at the accident scene, contact us to help you locate the necessary information.

Next, you should seek the attention of a medical professional as necessary. Even if you do not feel injured, we encourage you to get checked out by a doctor. Often pain and problems arise hours or even days later. The adrenaline and stress of an accident can cause you to not realize how badly you have been injured. Having reliable documentation regarding your injuries will be helpful when you are working with your lawyer on your claim.

After you have notified your insurance company about the incident, you will likely receive a call from an insurance adjuster for the other driver’s insurance company. The other driver’s insurer may try to persuade you to provide a written or recorded statement. This might sound harmless, but some insurance adjusters will use their experience to try to get you to make statements that are harmful to your case. The insurance adjuster may also try to settle the case quickly. It is important not to accept an offer without consulting with your lawyers first. The insurance company is not your friend. It is their job to settle the motorcycle accident insurance claim as quickly and cheaply as possible. The amount they offer you may be inadequate to properly compensate you for your injuries, medical treatment, property damage, and wage losses. If you have PIP coverage, if you are on Medicare or Medicaid, or if you have an ERISA health insurance policy, you may have an obligation to repay money from your settlement to one of these insurers. The rules governing this issue can be complicated. Your attorney can help you understand how much of any settlement you will actually get to keep. We will work hard to help you maximize the amount you recover and keep.

Contact our office as soon as possible after your accident. Our Overland Park motorcycle accident lawyers have been serving Kansas City and Missouri for decades and can help guide you to begin the process of securing the evidence and information that you will need. It is important to have a strong advocate on your side from the beginning of the process. We are here to help you.

Why Are Motorcycle Accidents Unique?

Motorcycle accidents are significantly more dangerous than car accidents. Motorcycles lack the protective shield that a car offers and the driver is more exposed to external elements. It is crucial  for motorcycle drivers to have the correct registration and training to drive their motorcycle, as well as wearing a helmet while driving. 

As motorcycles are only 2-wheel vehicles and are less stable than cars, they are more impacted by small bumps and hazards on the road. Potholes, dead animals, poor pavement conditions, or unexpected objects in the road are more hazardous to drivers. While motorcycle drivers have to focus on all of these possible hazards, they also have to worry about other vehicles hitting them. When motorcyclists are involved in an accident, they are more likely to get seriously injured. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident due to someone else’s negligence, our Overland Park motorcycle accident lawyers can help.

How Long After my Accident Should I File My Claim?

In Kansas, a lawsuit for a personal injury accident must be filed within two years from the date of the accident, while in Missouri the time limitation is five years. Our Overland Park motorcycle accident lawyers can help you file your insurance claim as soon as possible following an accident and help you gather the evidence you need to support your claim.

The sooner you begin the insurance claims process, the better and you have a greater chance of success with the advice of an attorney. Not only will the information surrounding the accident be more fresh in your memory, but the claims process may take time to complete. Insurance companies engage in a process called “setting reserves” when there is an accident that may require them to pay money. It is important that the reserves be set as high as possible early in the case. Our attorneys can help gather and process the evidence and provide the proper information to the insurance company so those reserves can be set at an appropriate level.

Should I Hire a Motorcycle Lawyer Even if the Insurance Company Says I Don’t Need One?

Definitely. Most personal injury lawyers would agree that you should work with an experienced lawyer with your case. We recommend that you discuss your case with us as soon as possible. If you don’t retain our firm, please talk with another personal injury lawyer. If you choose not to retain a lawyer, the insurance company will benefit  from your lack of expertise with motor vehicle accident claims.

The insurance company is focused on maximizing their profits. One way they do that is by minimizing the amount they pay for accident claims. They are not going to work in your best interest. There are many reasons to involve a motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. 

One of the most important reasons is that your lawyer can help you recover what your case is worth. Insurance companies set reserves for each accident. Reserves represent the amount the insurance company thinks it may have to pay to resolve the case. It is important that the reserves be set as high as possible early in the case. It can be more difficult to get an insurance company to pay a fair settlement without a trial if the insurance company initially sets its reserves for your case at a level that is below the case value. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer will provide the insurance company with the information it needs to set the reserves at an appropriate level. Insurance companies will often set the reserves higher if you have a skilled lawyer representing you.

How long can I expect my case to take?

A motorcycle accident case can take anywhere from a few months to a few years to settle. If your case goes to trial, it will take longer than if it settles. When our experienced Overland Park motorcycle accident lawyers work with you, we do our best to expedite the process while also ensuring that we maximize your recovery. It can take longer to maximize your settlement than to obtain a quick settlement. The bottom line is that we try to meet our clients needs. When cases do not settle, we have the experience and skill to take your case to trial.  

How much will a personal injury lawsuit cost me?

In almost all personal injury cases, our clients hire us on a contingency fee basis. That means that if we don’t recover money for you, you don’t owe a fee. If we are able to recover money for you, your fee will be a percentage of your recovery. You do not need to pay money out of pocket to pursue your case with our firm. We will advise you about what the likely and realistic outcome of your lawsuit will be and we will not accept your case unless we believe it is in your best interest to hire us.

What happens during My Initial Consultation?

At Morefield Speicher Bachman Law, we understand that choosing an lawyer is an important decision. We believe that you should feel comfortable with the legal team that you choose to work with. During your initial consultation, we will sit down with you to learn the facts and details of what happened during your motor vehicle accident. We will take time to understand your situation and determine the proper next steps. We will ask you about the details of the accident and request any information that you have regarding the parties involved, the police officer, and any other relevant information. From there, we will begin to create a plan with you that you are comfortable with. We will work closely with you to make sure that you get the best outcome possible. 

We Can Help You with Your Motorcycle Accident

Our Overland Park motorcycle accident lawyers have been helping residents in the Kansas City and Missouri area recover compensation for their motorcycle accident injuries for decades. We take pride in our personalized service to each and every one of our clients. Our focus is on helping our clients get back what they lost and will fight aggressively to ensure that they receive the compensation they deserve. If you have been injured in an accident, fill out a contact form or call us at 913-839-2808. The sooner we can help, the better the likely outcome of your case.