Lawyer for Bicycle Accident in High Hill, MO

High Hill, MO Personal Injury Attorneys

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Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | High Hill, MO Lawyer for Bicycle Accident

Lawyer for Bicycle Accident in High Hill, MO. Riding a bicycle can imbue a wonderful sense of freedom. But too often, bicyclists are an afterthought on the road and become hurt when other people don't pay attention or don't respect their safety. If you sustained an injury in a bike accident through no fault of your own, the lawyer for bicycle accident team of Halvorsen Klote will fight for your rights and secure you the financial recovery you deserve. We serve the injured and vulnerable in High Hill, MO and throughout the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. Our case reviews are free, no-risk and no-obligation, and you do not owe us anything unless we win your claim. Speak directly to a knowledgeable and empathetic bicycle accident lawyer by calling 866-382-4167 or by reaching out to us online.

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Why Should You Hire a Lawyer for Bicycle Accident Cases in High Hill, 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 High Hill, MO to guarantee the best possible outcome. A personal injury lawyer in High Hill, MO can provide assistance in a range of ways:

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 increase your compensation by:

• Gathering evidence that proves the other party's liability
• Proving how all of your damages related to the accident are covered by the insurance policy
• Calculating the full extent of your damages and all the compensation you are legally entitled to
• Finding supplementary insurance coverage if your damages surpass the policy limits
• Making sure the insurance company follows the law honestly and morally

Negotiating With Insurance Companies to Protect Your Rights

Dealing with a heartless insurance representative can feel frustrating. It's their job to help me, isn't it? Yes, but they'll do everything they can to avoid assuming that responsibility.

Insurance companies often count on claimants knowing very little about laws pertaining to injuries and accidents to offer as few money as achievable. We'll ensure they understand their legal responsibility to pay you for every single one of your damages.

Legal Expertise

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

You did nothing wrong to deserve your injuries and you shouldn't have to deal with the consequences. Let us handle ensuring your compensation while you focus on recovering.

Gathering Evidence to Strengthen Your Case

Some cases are more difficult to prove than others. For your bicycle accident case, you'll need an attorney to interrogate witnesses, examine medical records, and establish a connection your injuries to your accident, as well as question witnesses who can corroborate your story. The greater complicated your case, the more proof is needed. Skilled bicycle accident attorneys like those at Halvorsen Klote will know how to find 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 fault 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 accident attorneys in your corner to initiate legal proceedings and take them to court if necessary.

As experienced High Hill, MO trial attorneys, Halvorsen Klote can be by your side for the duration of your case, from our first case review through a jury verdict.

High Hill, MO Bicycle Accident Statistics

In 2020, there were 983 bike accident deaths in traffic crashes in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than any other year since 1987. According to data from the National Safety Council, in 2020 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 passed away, according to statistics in the Missouri Traffic Safety Compendium. In Illinois, there were 2,180 bicycle accidents, which caused 28 deaths and 1,995 injuries

Nationawide, the vast majority ofMost bicycle accidents occur in urban areas where traffic is more condensed. Over three-tenths of bike crashes transpire at night, when visibility is at its lowest.

While bicycle accidents account for only one percent of trips, each year they account for more than twice that in motor vehicle fatalities. The deviation points 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 High Hill, MO?

Each accident is unique, but most bike crashes are caused by motorist error or unsafe road conditions. Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents we see are:

• Drivers failing to see a bicyclist
• Drivers neglecting to to yield the right of way
• Drivers failing to obey bike lane laws
• Drivers passing dangerously
• Opening a door after parking on the side of the road checking for bicyclists
• Reckless driving
• Drunk driving
• Poorly placed road signs
• Road hazards
• Insufficiently marked construction sites
• Pedestrians not paying attention
• 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 on the side of the road are more severe because both the motor vehicle and bicycle are traveling at higher speeds. Your High Hill, 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 at fault for your injuries.

What Are Common Injuries from High Hill, MO Bicycle Accidents?

Bicyclists are at a higher risk for severe injuries than anyone else on the road. We've helped secure maximum compensation for people with:

• Brain injuries
• Neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Whiplash injuries
• Fractures
• Organ damage
• Nerve damage
• Joint injuries such as sprains

Because bicycle injuries often require extensive medical treatment and a lot of time off work, you need talented and dedicated 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 High Hill, 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 High Hill, MO?

Who is responsible depends on the specifics of your case. Liability is determined based on whose negligence contributed to the crash. In some cases there are multiple liable parties, and a knowledgeable bicycle accident lawyer will investigate your accident and hold each party responsible for the percentage of blame they share. You may be able to seek compensation from:

A Motorist

Car, truck and motorcycle drivers are often responsible for bicycle accidents by think they own the road and bicyclists do not. But bicyclists are allowed to enjoy the road the same as the driver of any other vehicle, 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 driving drunk, they would owe you damages.

Both Illinois and Missouri have strict regulations for how drivers are supposed to treat and look out for bicyclists, such as not driving or parking in a bike lane. According to the legal theory of negligence per se, someone violates a state statute and injures someone else is liable as a matter of law. So if you are injured because a motorist did not yield at a crosswalk, your lawyer for bicycle accident will only have to prove that the accident caused your injuries, and you may be able to get a fair settlement quickly.

A Defective Bike or Car Parts

If your accident was the result of a defective product, such as steering systems, you can file a product liability claim. Both bicycle and motor vehicle manufacturers are required to design and manufacture safe products and issue recalls if a safety hazard is found. If they are negligent in that duty, you can seek compensation from them.

A Trucking or Other Commercial Company

If you are injured by a commercial driver, you may be able to make a claim against both the driver and their employer. For example, if a trucking company hired an unqualified driver, 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 High Hill, MO roadways. If a hazard such as a pothole caused your injuries, you may be able to make a claim against a government entity with the help of your High Hill, MO bicycle accident lawyer. There are special rules for filing claims against government agencies and they have different deadlines for how long you have to file, so it is important to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible in order to make your claim.

In Missouri, you are also able to make a claim against a public bus driver. Under Missouri Revised Statute §537.600, public employees who injure somebody while operating a motor vehicle are not given sovereign immunity like most other government workers are in personal injury cases. Unfortunately, in Illinois, pursuant to 745 ILCS 10/ you cannot sue a public employee unless you can prove that they deliberately harmed you.

What Are My High Hill, MO Bicycle Accident Injuries Worth?

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

• How serious your injuries are — More significant injuries lead to higher medical expenses, which you will be compensated for. Surgeries will lead to more money than a an appointment or two with your primary care physician. Did your injuries include a joint replacement? The lifespan for those is 15-20 years, and your Halvorsen Klote High Hill, MO bicycle accident lawyer will make sure you are not the one that has to pay for it when that time comes.
• How your injuries have affected your physical and mental well-being — Your financial recovery is meant to compensate you for the physical and emotional hardships caused by your injuries, including pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. After years of playing piano, is it hard to sit up straight on the bench now? An experienced and talented High Hill, 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 receive compensation for the money you were not able to earn. If you couldn't earn a living because your injuries were too severe to allow you to work for a period, that lost money will be part of your recovery.
• If your injuries prevent you from working the same job — If you were a warehouse worker who sustained a back injury in a bicycle accident in High Hill, MO and a doctor orders you not to lift over 30 pounds, you need to know your future is secure after you've healed as much as possible. Your compensation will need to include enough money to make sure your future is comfortable.
• The amount of insurance coverage available — Different insurance plans have different amounts of coverage. A standard car insurance policy may have a $50,000 limit on bodily injury, while commercial enterprises often have coverage into the millions. An experienced lawyer for bicycle accidents can help you make 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 are partially at fault for your bicycle accident — Both Missouri and Illinois are comparative fault states, meaning that you can still get a recovery if you were partially to blame, but the amount will be lowered based on how much blame you share. So if a fact finder awards you $100,000 but you are responsible for 30 percent of the accident, your recovery would be $70,000. Missouri is a "pure" comparative fault state, meaning you can file a claim even if you are 99 percent responsible. Illinois is referred to as a "modified" comparative fault state, meaning you would be unable to make a claim if more than half the accident is your fault.

At Halvorsen Klote, our High Hill, MO bicycle accident lawyers work with medical and economic experts to ensure you are truly fully and fairly compensated for your damages. We know that influential corporations and insurance companies often try their best to devalue your claim. We became personal injury attorneys because we believe that everyone has should be able to depend on the same high standard of legal advocacy as wealthy organizations.

What to Do if You're Injured in a Bicycle Accident in High Hill, MO

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

Stay Calm, Stay Safe and Seek Medical Attention

If you're able to, move out of the way of traffic. Leave your bike, as trying to move it could intensify your injuries. 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, visit the emergency room or urgent care after authorities tell you you are free to leave the scene. If you didn't go on the same day, make an appointment with your primary care physician as soon as possible. If you don't have a doctor's record of your injuries, you won't be able to obtain 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 determine fault in an accident. When speaking to police, don't confess fault or over-explain your actions. Be honest, but don't say anything beyond the facts of the accident and your injuries, and don't offer any information they don't directly 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 other people saw the accident, ask for their contact information so your city, state bicycle accident lawyer can reach out to them later.

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 damages or hire an attorney. They may tell you no more money is available, but that's almost hardly ever true. The majority of injury attorneys offer free consultations, so it's always recommended to at least speak to a lawyer about your case before accepting a settlement.

See some of the other cases we take on in High Hill, 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 High Hill, MO | Halvorsen Klote

We know that being hurt in a bicycle accident through no fault of your own is shocking, painful and creates a a ton of anxiety about how you are going to pay for the damage someone else caused and when or if you'll be able to get back to normal. Our High Hill, MO lawyer for bicycle accident team has committed their careers to standing up for people who have been treated unfairly, and ensuring that they receive the full compensation they are owed. You do not pay unless we win your case. Call a bicycle accident lawyer in High Hill, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case review.

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