ST. LOUIS MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Each case is unique. However, most motorcycle accident cases settle within 6 to 12 months once medical treatment has been completed.

Motorcycle accidents can have various causes, often resulting from several factors. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

• Lack of Visibility: Motorcycles are smaller and less visible than cars, making them more prone to not being seen by other drivers. A common accident involves a car turning left in front of a motorcycle at an intersection.
• Impaired Riding/Driving: Riding a motorcycle or driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs impairs judgment, coordination, and reaction time. This can make both motorcyclists and drivers more likely to cause accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 43 percent of motorcycle riders killed in single-vehicle crashes in 2021 were under the influence of alcohol.  
• Distracted Riding/Driving: Using a smartphone, adjusting the radio, or other distractions can lead to accidents.
• Rider or Driver Fatigue: Riding while tired can impair a rider’s judgment and reaction time. The same applies to motor vehicle drivers, who may be less reactive to a motorcyclist’s presence when fatigued.
• Inexperienced/Unlicensed Riders: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 36 percent of motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes in 2021 had no valid motorcycle license. 
• Poor Road Conditions: Poor road conditions like potholes, debris, wet or icy roads, and uneven surfaces can cause motorcycles to lose traction and crash. Rain, snow, or fog can also reduce visibility and road traction, increasing the risk of motorcycle accidents.
• Speeding: Riding at excessive speeds reduces a rider’s reaction time and increases the severity of accidents. Drivers of other vehicles who speed are also less able to react to seeing a motorcyclist in time. 
• Car Doors Opening: Riders may collide with car doors that drivers suddenly open without warning when parked parallel to the road, especially in congested urban areas.
• Unsafe Overtaking: Overtaking other vehicles, especially on narrow or winding roads, can lead to accidents when done without caution.
• Mechanical Failures: Mechanical issues with motorcycles, such as brake failures or tire blowouts, can lead to accidents. Improper maintenance or manufacturer error can further exacerbate this risk. 
• Sudden Stops: Rapid deceleration can lead to rear-end collisions between vehicles and motorcycles, particularly when the rider behind is following too closely.

Certain factors can heighten the risk of severe injury or death in a motorcycle accident. Most prominent is the failure to wear a helmet. This risk has grown in recent years due to Missouri’s 2020 passing of House Bill 1963. This law made it legal for most licensed motorcyclists ages 26 or older to ride without a helmet. 

Of the 620 motorcyclist fatalities in Missouri between 2017 and 2021, 134 were not wearing a helmet. Overall, not wearing a helmet increases a rider’s likelihood of death by 38 percent.