Lawyer for Bicycle Accident in Columbia, MO
Columbia, MO Personal Injury Attorneys
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Columbia, MO Lawyer for Bicycle Accident
Lawyer for Bicycle Accident in Columbia, MO. Riding a bicycle is a wonderful way to exercise and enjoy the freedom of the outdoors. But too frequently, other motorists don't respect the safety of bicyclists and end up causing an accident. 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 provide expert and sound legal advocacy to the injured and vulnerable in Columbia, MO and throughout the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. Our consultations and initial investigations are free, and you do not owe us anything unless we secure you the recovery you are owed. Speak directly to a qualified and empathetic bicycle accident lawyer by calling 866-382-4167 or by contacting us online.
Why Should You Hire a Lawyer for Bicycle Accident Cases in Columbia, 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 Columbia, MO to secure the ideal result. A personal injury lawyer in Columbia, MO can give support in a range 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, bike accident attorneys can help you maximize your compensation by:
- Gathering evidence that proves the other party's liability
- Proving how all of your damages related to the accident are included by the insurance policy
- Calculating the full extent of your damages and all the compensation you are legally entitled to
- Finding extra insurance coverage if your damages exceed the policy limits
- Making sure the insurance company follows the law fairly and morally
Negotiating With Insurance Companies to Protect Your Rights
Dealing with a discompassionate insurance adjuster can feel frustrating. It's their job to help me, isn't it? Yes, but they'll do everything they can to avoid taking on that responsibility.
Insurance companies often rely on claimants knowing very little about injury and accident law to pay as little money as possible. We'll ensure they understand their lawful responsibility to pay you for all your damages.
Legal Expertise
Bicycle accident cases involve complex legal processes, including acquiring evidence, deposing witnesses, reviewing medical records, and negotiating with insurance adjusters. People who are novice with injury claims can make errors or overlook critical details. By hiring a lawyer specializing in bicycle accidents, your legal standing becomes a advantage, not a disadvantage.
You did nothing wrong to deserve your injuries and you shouldn't have to deal with the consequences. Let us handle obtaining your compensation while you focus on healing.
Gathering Evidence to Strengthen Your Case
Some cases are more challenging to prove than others. For your bicycle accident case, you'll need an attorney to interview witnesses, examine medical records, and connect your injuries to your accident, as well as depose witnesses who can corroborate your story. The more complicated your case, the more supporting evidence is needed. Experienced bicycle accident attorneys like those at Halvorsen Klote will know how to locate the evidence needed to win your claim.
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 fight against your rights. That's why you need seasoned injury attorneys in your corner to file a lawsuit and pursue litigation if necessary.
As experienced Columbia, MO trial attorneys, Halvorsen Klote can fight for you throughout your case, from initial case review through a jury verdict.
How Common Are Bicycle Accidents in the Columbia, MO Area?
In 2020, there were 983 bike accident deaths in motor vehicle wrecks in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the most since 1987. According to data from the National Safety Council, that same year there were 325,173 bicyclists injured in nonfatal accidents. Kids ages five to 14 are the most likely to sustain an injury, 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 died, according to data from the Missouri Traffic Safety Compendium. In Illinois, there were 2,180 bicycle wrecks, which lead to 28 deaths and 1,995 injuries
In both states, highly populated areas with more vehicle traffic see most bike crashes. Over three-tenths of bike crashes occur at night, when bikers are harder to see.
While bicycle accidents make up only one percent of trips taken by American travelers and commuters, each year they account for more than two percent of traffic accident fatalities. The disparity points to the ruinous damage motorists can do when they don't pay attention on the road, and how important safety measures like helmets and staying in bikes lanes are.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Columbia, MO?
Most bike accidents are caused either because of biker error or because a motorist just did not see the bicyclist in time to adjust. Below are the most common examples of what we see typically causes bike accidents:
- Drivers failing to pay attention
- Drivers failing to yield the right of way
- Drivers neglecting to to respect a bike lane
- Drivers passing too close
- Opening a door after parking on the side of the road checking for bicyclists
- Reckless driving
- Driving under the influence
- Road signs that impede a motorists vision
- Road hazards
- Insufficiently marked construction sites
- Pedestrians forcing a bicyclist to swerve
- Faulty car or bike components
While most bike accidents happen at intersections, a National Transport Safety Board report relayed that "midblock" accidents are more severe because the speeds are higher than at intersections because of stop signs, traffic lights or turning vehicles. Your Columbia, MO bike accident lawyer at Halvorsen Klote will perform an exhaustive investigation into your accident to determine the cause of your injuries and who we need to seek compensation from.
What Are Common Injuries from Columbia, MO Bicycle Accidents?
Bicyclists are more likely to sustain severe injuries than anyone else on the road. Some of the most common injuries our lawyer for bicycle accident team has helped Columbia, MO residents receive compensation for include:
- Brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Nerve damage
- Joint injuries such as strains
Because of the high cost of dealing with a bicycle accident injury, you need talented and passionate bicycle accident lawyers like those at Halvorsen Klote to make sure you are compensated for every way in which the injury has affected your life. In the worst accidents, if you suffer the wrongful death of a family member in the Columbia, MO area, we will stand by your side and help you find some form of justice and secure your future.
Who Can I Sue for My Bicycle Accident Injuries in Columbia, MO?
Who you can seek compensation from depends on the causes of your accident. Each case is unique, and as such the liable party varies. In some cases there is more than one person or organization is at fault, and a seasoned bicycle accident lawyer will investigate your accident and make each of them reimburse 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 Motorist
Car, truck and motorcycle drivers can often cause bicycle accidents by think they own the road and bicyclists do not. But bicyclists are allowed to enjoy the road the same as an operator of any passenger car, and if you are injured by a motorist the same liability in car accidents applies. For instance, if someone causes an accident because they were texting and driving, they would be responsible for your injuries in a civil claim.
Both Illinois and Missouri have specific laws for how drivers are supposed to interact with bicyclists, such as allowing at least three feet of space when passing. According to the legal doctrine of negligence per se, someone is automatically liable for your injuries if they break a state statute. So if you were injured by a motorist in a bike lane, your lawyer for bicycle accident will only have to prove that the accident caused your injuries, and the insurance company will be more accommodating in negotiations.
A Faulty or Car Component
If your accident was because of a defective product, such as brakes, you can make a product liability claim. Both bicycle and motor vehicle manufacturers are required to design and manufacture safe products and issue recalls whenever a component is found to be unsafe. If they fail to, they are liable for your damages.
A Trucking or Other Commercial Company
If a commercial driver causes your accident, the employer may be partially liable. For example, if a trucking company failed to carry out drug tests, they would be least partially liable for your injuries.
A Government Entity
Governmental agencies both locally and in the state or federal government need to keep our Columbia, MO roadways free of unreasonable dangers. If a hazard such as uneven pavement played a part in your accident, your Columbia, 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 an attorney is crucial for the best results in your claim.
In Missouri, you are also able to make a claim against a public bus driver. Pursuant to Missouri Revised Statute §537.600, government workers who cause an accident while operating a motor vehicle are not able to receive 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 Collect for My Columbia, MO Bicycle Accident Injuries?
How much your claim is worth depends on the severity of the injuries, how they've affected your life, your financial loss and other factors:
- How serious your injuries are — More serious injuries lead to higher medical costs, which you will be compensated for. Months of physical therapy will lead to much higher compensation than a quick trip to the emergency room. Did your injuries include a knee replacement? That will have to be replaced in 15-20 years, and your Halvorsen Klote Columbia, MO bicycle accident lawyer will make sure you are not the one that has to pay for it when a new one is necessary.
- The physical, mental and emotional impact of your injuries — Personal injury settlements and verdicts are also intended to compensate you for the less tangible ways your injuries have hurt you, including pain and suffering and mental anguish. Is it harder to play with your kids than it used to be? A seasoned and knowledgeable Columbia, 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 — You will also be reimbursed for the money you were not able to earn. If you couldn't earn a living because a physician told you to stay home and rest, you need to be reimbursed for that.
- If your injuries result in lost earning potential — If you were a warehouse worker who suffered a permanent injury in a bicycle accident in Columbia, MO and now are not able to safely lift over 25 pounds, you need to know your future is secure after you've reached maximum medical improvement. Your compensation will need to substantial enough to make sure your future is not put in jeopardy.
- The amount of insurance coverage available — The defendant's insurance policy may have an impact on your settlement amount. Illinois and Missouri both require $25,000 per person for bodily injury in car accident policies, while commercial enterprises may have up to $5 million in coverage. A knowledgeable lawyer for bicycle accidents will make sure you get all the money possible by filing an underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance company if the coverage available isn't enough to fully compensate you for your injuries.
- Whether you were partially responsible for your bicycle accident — Both Missouri and Illinois are comparative fault states, meaning that you can still be reimbursed for your damages if you bear some responsibility for the accident, but it will be proportionately less based on how much blame you share. Meaning, if a fact finder awards you $100,000 but you were 30 percent at fault, your compensation would be lowered by $30,000. Missouri is referred to as a "pure" comparative fault state, meaning you can file a claim even if you are responsible for the vast majority of the accident. Illinois is a "modified" comparative fault state, meaning you would be unable to make a claim if you are more than 50 percent responsible.
At Halvorsen Klote, our Columbia, 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 large 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 Columbia, MO
Getting in a bicycle accident can be frightening and confusing, but there are several things you should do to help you recover physically and optimize your compensation.
Stay Calm, Get to Safety and Get Medical Treatment
If you can, move to the side of the road to get away from oncoming traffic. Leave your bike, as trying to move it could make your injuries worse. If your injuries are too severe for 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, head to the emergency room or urgent care after law enforcement tell you it's safe to leave the scene. If you didn't go immediately, schedule a visit to your primary care physician as soon as possible. If you don't have medical documentation of your injuries, you won't be able to make a valid injury claim.
Call and Wait for the Police
You need to have the police make a report, as it will go a long way in demonstrating how the other drive caused the accident. Police are trained to allocate fault in an accident. When talking to police, don't acknowledge fault or over-embellish your actions. Be truthful, but stick to the facts of the accident and your injuries, and don't give any information they don't specifically 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 scene, any damage to your bicycle and the other vehicle, and your injuries. If there are witnesses present, ask for their contact information so your city, state bicycle accident lawyer can get in touch with them afterwards.
Don't Settle Too Quickly
The insurance companies' first offer will almost always be a lowball offer. They want you to settle before you realize the full extent of your injuries or hire an attorney. They may tell you no more money is available, but that's almost hardly ever true. Most injury attorneys give free consultations, so it's always advisable to at least speak to a lawyer about your case before accepting a settlement.
Take a look at some of the other cases we take on in Columbia, 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
Lawyer for Bicycle Accident in Columbia, MO | Halvorsen Klote
You did not ask to be put in this situation, and you do not have to go through this alone. Our Columbia, MO lawyer for bicycle accident team has devoted their profession to standing up for people who have been hurt and taken advantage of, and ensuring that they recover the full compensation they deserve. You do not pay unless we win your case. Call a bicycle accident lawyer in Columbia, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a free case review.
Joel Halvorsen
Attorney at Law
Joel Halvorsen and his partner Greg Klote founded the Halvorsen Klote law firm on the principle that injured people and their families should have access to the same quality legal representation as large insurance companies.
Greg Klote
Attorney at Law
Greg Klote is a partner and founder of Halvorsen Klote.
Greg has successfully fought for people who were injured through no fault of their own. He became a lawyer to help make a difference in the lives of those who have been wronged and treated unfairly.
