Lawyer for Bicycle Accident in Webster Groves, MO

Webster Groves, MO Personal Injury Attorneys

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Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Webster Groves, MO Lawyer for Bicycle Accident

Lawyer for Bicycle Accident in Webster Groves, MO. Riding a bicycle is a wonderful way to exercise and enjoy the freedom of the outdoors. But too frequently, bicyclists don't receive the same respect that motorists do and end up injured because of someone else's negligence. If you were injured in a bike accident because someone else did not respect your safety, the lawyer for bicycle accident team of Halvorsen Klote will fight for your rights and secure you the financial recovery you deserve. We offer expert legal representation clients in Webster Groves, MO and throughout the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. Our consultations and initial investigations are free, and we charge no attorneys' fees unless we win your claim. Speak directly to an accomplished and empathetic bicycle accident lawyer by calling 866-382-4167 or by getting in touch with us online.

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Why Should You Hire a Lawyer for Bicycle Accident Cases in Webster Groves, MO?

While some simple cases for relatively minor injuries can be handled without the help of an attorney, most require an experienced bike accident attorney in Webster Groves, MO to guarantee the ideal result. A personal injury lawyer in Webster Groves, MO can provide assistance in a variety of aspects:

Maximizing Compensation and Ensuring Fair Settlements

The purpose of making an injury claim is to get compensation. While insurance companies try to offer as little money as possible, bicycle accident lawyers can help you maximize your compensation by:

• Gathering evidence that proves the other party's liability
• Proving how every single of your damages related to the accident are covered by the insurance policy
• Calculating the complete scope of your damages and all the compensation you are eligible for
• Finding extra insurance coverage if your damages surpass the policy limits
• Making sure the insurance company applies the law honestly and morally

Negotiating With Insurance Companies to Protect Your Rights

Dealing with a heartless insurance adjuster can feel disheartening. It's their job to help me, isn't it? Yes, but they'll do whatever it takes they can to avoid taking on that responsibility.

Insurance companies often depend on claimants knowing very little about injury and accident law to provide as minimal money as feasible. We'll guarantee they understand their lawful duty to compensate you for all your damages.

Legal Expertise

Bicycle accident cases involve intricate legal processes, including collecting evidence, deposing witnesses, examining medical records, and negotiating with insurance adjusters. People who are inexperienced with injury claims can make mistakes or miss critical steps. By hiring a lawyer specializing in bicycle accidents, your legal standing becomes a strength, not a vulnerability.

You didn't ask to be injured and you shouldn't have to deal with the consequences. Let us handle securing your compensation while you focus on recovering.

Gathering Evidence to Strengthen Your Case

Some cases are more complex to prove than others. For your bicycle accident case, you'll need an attorney to question witnesses, examine medical records, and link your injuries to your accident, as well as question witnesses who can corroborate your story. The more complicated your case, the more supporting evidence is needed. Skilled bicycle accident attorneys like those at Halvorsen Klote will know how to locate the evidence needed to get a full financial recovery.

Representing You in Court if Filing a Lawsuit is Necessary

Most bicycle accident cases settle out of court. However, if responsibility isn't clear, your damages are high, or other complications come up, the insurance company is going to contest against your rights. That's why you need seasoned injury attorneys in your corner to initiate legal proceedings and bring them to trial if necessary.

As experienced Webster Groves, MO trial attorneys, Halvorsen Klote can be by your side for the duration of your case, from our first case evaluation through a jury or bench trial.

How Common Are Bicycle Accidents in the Webster Groves, MO Area?

In 2020, there were 938 bicyclists killed in auto crashes in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the highest total since 1987. According to research from the National Safety Council, that same year there were 325,173 nonfatal injuries in bicycle accidents. Most nonfatal injuries occurred in children between five and 14 years old, while deaths were most common in riders between 55 and 64 years old.

In Missouri, in 406 total crashes, 351 people sustained nonfatal injuries and six people perished, according to statistics in the Missouri Traffic Safety Compendium. In Illinois, there were 2,180 bicycle wrecks, which caused 28 deaths and 1,995 injuries

Across the U.S., highly populated areas with more vehicle traffic see most bike crashes. Almost a third of bike crashes occur at night, when visibility is at its lowest.

While bicycle accidents account for only one percent of trips, annually they account for more than two percent of traffic accident fatalities. The discrepancy speaks to how important bicycle safety is, and also how important it is for drivers of other vehicles to be aware of bicyclists and share the road with them.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Webster Groves, MO?

Most bike accidents are caused either because of biker error or because a motorist merely was not paying attention. Below are the most common examples of what we see typically causes bike accidents:

• Drivers failing to see a bicyclist
• Drivers failing to yield the right of way
• Drivers neglecting to to obey bike lane laws
• Drivers passing dangerously
• Opening a door without checking for bicyclists
• Reckless driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Road signs that impede a motorists vision
• Road hazards
• Insufficiently zoned-off construction sites
• Pedestrians being oblivious to bikers
• Defective car or bike components

While intersections are the most common place to see or experience a bike accident, a National Transport Safety Board report relayed that accidents between intersections cause more serious injuries because of the higher speeds involved. Your Webster Groves, MO bike accident lawyer at Halvorsen Klote will carry out an exhaustive investigation into your accident to who and/or what caused it and who is responsible for your injuries.

What Are Common Injuries from Webster Groves, MO Bicycle Accidents?

Because of the vulnerability of bicyclists compared to their cars or trucks, injuries suffered in bicycle accidents can be disastrous and even sometimes result in lifelong consequences. We've helped secure great compensation for people with:

• Brain injuries
• Neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Whiplash injuries
• Fractures
• Internal injuries
• Nerve damage
• Joint injuries such as strains and sprains

Because of the high cost of dealing with a bicycle accident injury, you need experienced and tenacious bicycle accident lawyers like those at Halvorsen Klote to make sure you receive full compensation for all of your damages, including pain and suffering. In the worst accidents, if you suffer the wrongful death of a loved one in the Webster Groves, MO area, we will stand by your side and help you find some form of peace and secure your future.

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Who Can I Hold Accountable for My Bicycle Accident Injuries in Webster Groves, MO?

Who you can seek compensation from depends on the causes of your accident. Liability is determined based on whose negligence contributed to the crash. In some cases there is more than one person or organization is to blame, and a seasoned bicycle accident lawyer will investigate your case and make each of them pay you based on how much of the accident was their fault. Some of the parties we have successfully secured compensation from in bicycle accidents include:

A Car, Motorcycle or Truck Driver

Car, truck and motorcycle drivers are the most common liable party for bicycle accidents by think they own the road and bicyclists do not. But have the same right to the road as the driver of any other vehicle, and in the event of an accident the same liability in car accidents applies. For instance, if someone injures you because they were distracted by using their phone, they would be at fault for your injuries.

Both Illinois and Missouri have strict regulations for how drivers are supposed to treat and look out for bicyclists, such as allowing at least three feet of space when passing. Under the legal practice of negligence per se, someone violates a state statute and injures someone else is liable as a matter of law. So if you wee injured because a driver passed too closely, your lawyer for bicycle accident will only have to prove that the accident caused your injuries, and the insurance company will likely be more motivated to offer a fair recovery.

A Faulty or Car Component

If your result was caused by a defective product, such as headlights, you can file a product liability claim. Anybody involved in the chain of distribution must ensure that products are not unreasonably dangerous and issue recalls if a safety issue arises. If they are negligent in that duty, you can make a claim against them.

A Trucking or Other Commercial Company

If you are injured by a commercial driver, the employer may be partially liable. For example, if a trucking company required their driver to work more hours than regulations allow, they would be considered negligent.

A Government Agency

Municipal entities both locally and in the state or federal government are responsible for safely designing and maintaining our Webster Groves, MO roadways. If a hazard such as cracked pavement played a part in your injuries, your Webster Groves, MO bicycle accident lawyer can investigate if a government agency was liable. A claim against the government is different in many ways than a standard personal injury claim, so it is important to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible in order to make your claim.

In Missouri, a public transport operator may also be liable. Under Missouri Revised Statute §537.600, government employees who cause an accident while operating a motor vehicle are not given sovereign immunity like other public employees are in personal injury cases. Unfortunately, in Illinois, 745 ILCS 10/ does not permit anyone to sue a public employee in a tort case unless the harm was deliberate or the employee showed an "utter indifference" to your safety.

How Much Compensation Can I Receive for My Webster Groves, MO Bicycle Accident Injuries?

There are a variety of factors that determine what, and how much, you can recover for your bicycle accident injuries:

• How serious your injuries are — More debilitating injuries lead to higher medical bills, and you should receive all of those expenses. Assistive devices such as wheelchairs will lead to much higher compensation than a a visit or two with your primary care doctor. Was the accident severe enough to require a knee replacement? That will have to be replaced in 15-20 years, and your Halvorsen Klote Webster Groves, MO bicycle accident lawyer will make sure a new one paid for too.
• The physical, mental and emotional impact of your injuries — The purpose of a personal injury settlement isn't just to cover your medical bills, but to compensate you for the effects on your personal life, including pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Does your wrist spasm when you try to play the guitar? An experienced and knowledgeable Webster Groves, MO bicycle accident lawyer at Halvorsen Klote will fight to make sure the physical and emotional pain you felt is compensated to.
• How much time you miss from work — Any personal injury settlement will also include the paychecks you were not able to earn, even if you had PTO. If you couldn't work because you were on bed rest for six weeks, that lost money will be part of your recovery.
• If your injuries prevent you from working the same job — If you were a construction worker who sustained a neck injury in a bicycle accident in Webster Groves, MO and now are not able to safely lift more than a certain amount, your ability to earn a living has been significantly compromised. Your compensation will need to substantial enough to make sure you and your family will still have the means to live a comfortable life.
• Policy limits — The negligent party's insurance policy may have an impact on your settlement amount. A standard car insurance policy may have a $50,000 limit on bodily injury, while commercial enterprises usually have much more. A talented lawyer for bicycle accidents will assist you with an underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance company if the negligent party's insurance doesn't cover all of your damages.
• Whether you share any of the blame for your bicycle accident — Both Missouri and Illinois are comparative fault states, meaning that you can still receive compensation if you were partially to blame, but it will be proportionately less based on how much blame you share. Meaning, if a fact finder awards you $100,000 but you are responsible for 30 percent of the accident, you would receive $70,000. Missouri is considered a "pure" comparative fault state, meaning you can receive compensation even if you are responsible for the vast majority of the accident. Illinois is a "modified" comparative fault state, meaning you cannot get compensation if you are more than 50 percent responsible.

At Halvorsen Klote, our Webster Groves, MO bicycle accident lawyers work with medical and economic experts to ensure you are truly fully and fairly compensated for your injuries. We know that powerful corporations and insurance companies often try their best to devalue your claim. We do what we do every day because we believe that everyone has has a right to the same knowledgeable and aggressive legal representation as wealthy organizations.

What to Do if You're Injured in a Bicycle Accident in Webster Groves, MO

Getting in a bicycle accident can be terrifying and it can be hard to know exactly what to do, but there are several steps you should take to get the most out of both your financial and physical recovery.

Stay Calm, Get to Safety and Get Medical Attention

If you can, move out of the way of traffic. Leave your bike, as trying to move it could make your injuries worse. If your injuries don't allow you to move safely, stay put until emergency medical personnel to get to the scene.

If you don't need to go to the hospital in an ambulance, visit the emergency room or urgent care after authorities tell you you are free to leave the scene. If you didn't go immediately, see your primary care physician as soon as you can. If you don't have records from a physician of your injuries, you won't be able to get compensation from the insurance company.

Call and Wait for the Police

You need to have the police make a report, as it will go a long way in establishing the other party's liability. Police are trained to assign fault in an accident. When talking to police, don't confess fault or over-explain what happened. Be honest, but don't say anything beyond the facts of the accident and your injuries, and don't provide any information they don't explicitly ask for.

Gather Evidence and Witness Contact Information

While waiting for the authorities to arrive, gather as much evidence as possible. Take photos of the accident site, any damage to your bicycle and the other vehicle, and your injuries. If other people saw the accident, ask for their contact information so your city, state bicycle accident lawyer can reach out to them at a later time.

Don't Settle Too Quickly

The insurance companies' first offer will almost always be a lowball offer. They want you to settle before you discover the full extent of your injuries or hire an attorney. They may tell you no more money is available, but that's almost never true. Most injury attorneys give free consultations, so it's always worth it to at least speak to a lawyer about your case before accepting a settlement.

Click on the links below to see some of the other cases we take on in Webster Groves, MO:

• Fatal Car Accident Lawyer
• Auto Accident Attorney
• Bike Wreck Lawyer
• What to Do After a Car Accident
• Premises Liability Attorneys
• Automobile Injury Attorney
• Motorcycle Accidents Attorney
• Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
• Injury Claim Lawyer

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Lawyer for Bicycle Accident in Webster Groves, MO | Halvorsen Klote

You did not ask to be put in this situation, and you do not have to go through this alone. Our Webster Groves, MO lawyer for bicycle accident team has devoted their abilities to fighting for people who have been wronged, and ensuring that they get all the money they are owed. We charge no fees we win your case. Call a bicycle accident lawyer in Webster Groves, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case review.

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