If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact a motorcycle accident attorney.
A Kansas City man is facing first-degree manslaughter charges for a hit and run accident that took place on April 7, 2013.
Around Midnight on April 7, police responded to an emergency call for help that described a motorcycle accident at the intersection of Bannister and Wornall. When police arrived they discovered the accident victim, a motorcyclist and a Harley Davidson, near the intersection. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead shortly after.
There were no other vehicles found at the crash site, however, and the accident appeared to be a hit-and-run. Police did find a Ford 150 that was abandoned nearby. The truck was damaged, which made police suspect that it had been involved in the accident. They continued to investigate and discovered what had really happened. The truck had been traveling west on Bannister and ran a red light at the Wornall intersection where it struck the motorcyclist.
Police discovered that the driver of the Ford truck was talking on his cell phone when he caused the accident and he was also seen leaving a bar earlier in the night, presumably shortly before the crash happened. Some witnesses even had the truck driver’s cell phone number, which helped police track him down.
The man turned himself in, however, one day later.
Many motorcycle accidents are caused by vehicle drivers who are negligent or who do not see motorcyclists and their vehicles. Decreased visibility may be an issue, but drivers still have the responsibility to make sure that their actions are not endangering anyone else and to be aware of who they are sharing the road with. When drivers act carelessly, drive distracted, or operate their vehicles under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they drastically increase the risk of an accident, which will almost certainly result in serious injury or death for the motorcyclist.
Another complication with motorcycle accidents is that many people view riding a motorcycle as inherently risky, and accidents are therefore perceived as occurrences that are expected or inevitable, as opposed to preventable accidents. Motorcycle accidents can be caused by risky behavior by either the motorcyclist or another motorist, and can have truly devastating impacts. But there is a shared responsibility to not endanger others on the road.
Riding a motorcycle can be safe when riders take safety precautions and wear the proper safety gear. Still, motorcycles offer much less protection than other vehicles, so when an accident does occur, the biker is more likely to sustain serious injuries than drivers and passengers in other vehicles.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, you should discuss your legal options with a Missouri motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible. You may be entitled to damages for wage loss, injuries, medical expenses, property damage, and other financial losses relating to the accident.
The Law Office of James M. Hoffmann can help to determine the best course of action and will help you hold the at-fault parties responsible. If a wrongful death has occurred we can guide you through the process of filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party.