With over 300,000 residents moving out for work, travel, shopping, and more, St. Louis experiences an excess of traffic. That aside, the city is located at the intersection of three prominent interstate highways, which brings tourists and travelers to this area. Even though it might sound unpleasant, this constant influx of travelers and the movement of residents can result in fatal car crashes that lead to pain and suffering.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) and the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) have a database of car accident statistics. In 2021, the city witnessed 15,092 traffic accidents. On the surface, this might not seem like many accidents in a popular metropolitan area. However, it’s essential to realize that St. Louis has close to 300,000 residents. This means there was one accident for every 20 residents, which is an alarming number.
Recently, a fatal accident occurred in the city, resulting in the tragic death of a 39-year-old man. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on the unfortunate accident involving Michael Roberson while he was riding his motorcycle. His vehicle flipped and crashed into a tree in Franklin County. Later, after an hour, he was pronounced dead at the hospital by city police.
Accidents like this are common in St. Louis and, more often than not, avoidable if one can identify the causes and act upon them. In this article, we will discuss the probable causes of car accidents in St. Louis and the legal help to seek when you are faced with one.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in St. Louis
If you are riding a motorcycle in St. Louis, you expose yourself to the danger of getting hit by another vehicle. And if you encounter a motorcycle accident, you need to get medical aid for your injuries and find ways to reach out to a St. Louis personal injury attorney. They can provide you with legal guidance and help you get the compensation you deserve for your loss and suffering.
Accidents never occur without prior notice. Having said that, there are many instances where a driver can avoid motorcycle accidents if they are aware of the probable causes.
Motorcycle accidents in St. Louis are caused by the following factors:
Not Sharing the Road
Motorcycles have similar rights and responsibilities as any other vehicle on the road. Despite this, some drivers look at motorcycle riders with complete scorn. It’s unlikely they will let a motorcyclist into their lane. They might even cut off the motorcycle rider when they try to change lanes, which can lead to an accident.
Distracted Driving
Often, drivers become distracted by their mobile phones, snacking, managing in-car controls, playing music, and more. These distracted drivers lack the necessary focus required when navigating the accident-prone streets of St. Louis, making them unable to avoid collisions as their hands are off the wheel.
Unable to Judge Motorcycle Speed
Motorcycles can be small in size, but they are accident-prone because drivers sometimes can’t determine the motorcycle’s speed. This can lead a driver to pull out in front of a motorcycle or make a turn when there is not enough space to do so. Consequently, the chances of a collision increase.
Drivers Unable to See Motorcyclists
The small size of motorcycles often works against them, making them less visible to other drivers. This means that if other vehicle drivers don’t watch out for motorcycles, the chances of accidents increase. For example, several drivers have sideswiped motorcycles because they didn’t perform a ‘head check’ before merging or changing lanes.
Motorcycle Lane-Splitting
Simply put, lane-splitting occurs when a motorcycle maneuvers between lanes of slowed or stopped traffic. Although Missouri doesn’t actively promote it, the state’s laws don’t strictly prohibit it either. Drivers who fail to check their mirrors might inadvertently change lanes or come dangerously close to a motorcycle, potentially resulting in a sideswipe.
Alcohol Use
Drivers who consume alcohol before driving have a higher chance of encountering an accident. This is because, under the influence of alcohol, their judgment is slightly impaired and their reflexes slow down. They are more likely to make mistakes, and their sense of coordination is reduced, increasing the risk of colliding with motorcycles, which are smaller vehicles.
Seeking Legal Help for a Motorcycle Accident in St. Louis
No one ever wants to encounter a motorcycle accident because, apart from painful injuries, it can cost someone’s life as well. There have been instances where victims of motorcycle accidents in St. Louis have lost their ability to earn a living and become completely dependent on others. If you or anyone you know has faced a motorcycle accident, it is necessary to seek legal help by getting in touch with a trained lawyer.
A personal injury lawyer’s role is crucial here because they are aware of the legal procedures and can guide you well. If you intend to fight the legal battle all by yourself, there’s a chance you might make the wrong decisions that will go against you. Additionally, negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance company is essential to getting the compensation you deserve. An experienced lawyer is the best person for this job.
In most cases, insurance companies either try to deny the claim or make the victim settle for less compensation. They also attempt to make the victim feel that the accident took place because of their carelessness, which reduces the claim amount. A lawyer is aware of these tactics and approaches the insurance companies accordingly to ensure that their client gets the best compensation amount to cover their losses.
TorHoerman Law states that every personal injury lawyer in St. Louis will gather the required evidence for a motorcycle accident. At times, they can rely on the evidence presented by the victims and begin evaluating it. This process helps them secure the compensation they deserve for their losses, both economic and non-economic.
Ultimately, the lawyer’s task is to establish the liability of the at-fault party in the motorcycle accident and ensure that the verdict is in the victim’s favor.
Conclusion
It is impossible to predict a motorcycle accident in St. Louis. However, given the city’s notorious streets that are prone to accidents, one can only take the necessary precautions and be alert. Since motorcycles are small in size, it is helpful if drivers realize the causes of accidents and are mindful to avoid accidents as much as possible.
In the event of an unfortunate motorcycle accident, the victims must seek medical aid to heal their wounds and gather the necessary evidence. Once that is done, they must seek legal counsel as well.
