Lawyer for Bicycle Accident in Troy, MO

Troy, MO Personal Injury Attorneys

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

Lawyer for Bicycle Accident in Troy, MO. Riding a bicycle can imbue a wonderful sense of freedom. But too frequently, 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 even after you did everything that you were supposed to, the lawyer for bicycle accident team of Halvorsen Klote is here to help see you through your time of need. We offer expert legal representation the injured and vulnerable in Troy, MO and throughout the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. Our case reviews are free, no-risk and no-obligation, and we charge no attorneys' fees until you are fairly compensated. Speak directly to a knowledgeable and friendly 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 Troy, MO?

While some simple cases for relatively minor injuries can be handled without the help of an attorney, most require an experienced bicycle accident lawyer in Troy, MO to secure the best possible result. A personal injury lawyer in Troy, MO can provide assistance 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, bicycle accident lawyers can help you optimize your compensation by:

• Gathering evidence that proves the other party's liability
• Proving how every single of your damages related to the accident are included by the insurance policy
• Calculating the complete scope of your damages and all the compensation you are legally owed
• Finding extra insurance coverage if your damages exceed the policy limits
• Making sure the insurance company follows the law honestly and ethically

Negotiating With Insurance Companies to Protect Your Rights

Dealing with a discompassionate insurance representative can feel defeating. It's their job to help me, isn't it? Yes, but they'll do anything they can to avoid accepting that responsibility.

Insurance companies often rely on claimants knowing very little about injury and accident law to provide as few money as feasible. We'll make sure they understand their lawful duty to reimburse you for each your damages.

Legal Expertise

Bicycle accident cases involve intricate legal processes, including collecting evidence, interviewing people who saw the accident, reviewing medical records, and negotiating with insurance adjusters. People who are novice with injury claims can make mistakes or overlook critical details. By hiring a lawyer specializing in bicycle accidents, your legal standing becomes a strength, not a disadvantage.

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

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 interview witnesses, review 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 proof is needed. Knowledgeable bicycle accident attorneys like those at Halvorsen Klote will know how to find the evidence needed to get maximum compensation.

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 arise, the insurance company is going to oppose against your rights. That's why you need seasoned accident attorneys in your corner to bring a legal action and bring them to trial if necessary.

As experienced Troy, MO trial attorneys, Halvorsen Klote can fight for you throughout your case, from initial case evaluation through a jury or bench trial.

Troy, MO Bicycle Accident Statistics

In 2020, there were 983 bike accident fatalities in auto wrecks nationwide, 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 passed away, according to statistics in the Missouri Traffic Safety Compendium. In Illinois, in 2,180 bicycle wrecks 1,995 people were injured and 28 people perished.

Nationawide, the vast majority ofMost bicycle accidents occur in urban areas where traffic is more congested. Over three-tenths of bike crashes occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., when bikers are harder to see.

While bicycle accidents make up only one percent of trips, each year they account for more than two percent of 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 Troy, MO?

Most bike accidents are caused either because of the biker making a mistake or because a motorist merely did not see the bicyclist in time to adjust. Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents we see are:

• Drivers neglecting to to pay attention
• Drivers failing to yield the right of way
• Drivers neglecting to to respect a bike lane
• Drivers passing dangerously
• Opening a door without seeing if a biker is coming
• Reckless driving
• Driving under the influence
• Poorly placed road signs
• Road hazards
• Insufficiently zoned-off construction sites
• Pedestrians forcing a bicyclist to swerve
• Faulty car or bike components

While intersections are the most common place to see or experience a bike accident, a National Transport Safety Board report stated that "midblock" accidents cause more serious injuries because the speeds are higher than at intersections because of stop signs, traffic lights or turning vehicles. Your Troy, MO bike accident lawyer at Halvorsen Klote will carry out a thorough investigation into your accident to determine the cause of your injuries and who we need to seek compensation from.

What Are Common Injuries from Troy, MO Bicycle Accidents?

Bicyclists are at a higher risk for severe injuries than anyone else on the road. Some of the most common injuries our lawyer for bicycle accident team has helped Troy, MO residents receive compensation for include:

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

Because of the severity of the bicycle accident injuries, you need accomplished and passionate bicycle accident lawyers like those at Halvorsen Klote to take on your case and fight to make sure the liable parties are held accountable and you are fairly compensated. In the worst accidents, if you suffer the wrongful death of a family member in the Troy, MO area, we will stand by your side and help you find some form of justice and secure your future.

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Who Can I Sue for My Bicycle Accident Injuries in Troy, MO?

Who is responsible depends on the the different aspects that led to your injuries. Different accidents may have different, or multiple, liable parties. In some cases there are multiple liable parties, and a dedicated bicycle accident lawyer will investigate your case and assign an appropriate amount of fault to each of them. The most common liable parties in bicycle accidents include:

A Car, Motorcycle or Truck Driver

Car, truck and motorcycle drivers can often cause bicycle accidents by either not paying attention or driving hostilely toward them. But the road is for everyone, and if a car, truck or motorcycle driver injures a bicyclists the laws for liability in car accidents is no different than any other crash. For example, if someone hits you because they were driving under the influence, they would owe you damages.

Both Illinois and Missouri have specific laws for how motorists are supposed to drive around bicyclists, such as respecting bike lanes. Following the legal philosophy of negligence per se, someone is automatically liable for your injuries if they break a state statute. So if you wee injured because a driver passed too closely, your lawyer for bicycle accident only has to provide proof of your damages, and the insurance company will likely be more motivated to offer a fair recovery.

A Faulty or Car or Truck Component

If your accident was caused by a defective product, such as steering systems, you can make 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 is found. If they don't, they are liable for your damages.

A Trucking or Other Commercial Company

If a truck driver, rideshare driver or other commercial driver causes your accident, 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 Entity

Municipal entities at the state, local and federal levels need to keep our Troy, MO roadways free of unreasonable dangers. If a hazard such as signage that makes it difficult for other vehicles to see you at certain intersections contributed to your accident, your Troy, MO bicycle accident lawyer can investigate if a government agency was liable. A claim against the government is different in many ways than filing a claim with an individual or company's insurance company, 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. According to Missouri Revised Statute §537.600, government workers who cause an accident while driving within the course of their employment are not granted sovereign immunity like most other government workers are in personal injury cases. Regrettably, in Illinois, 745 ILCS 10/ does not allow 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.

What Are My Troy, MO Bicycle Accident Injuries Worth?

The compensation you receive depends on the severity of the injuries, how they've affected your life, your financial damages and other factors:

• How serious your injuries are — The worse your injuries, the more you'll have to pay in medical bills, which you will be compensated for. Assistive devices such as wheelchairs 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 Troy, MO bicycle accident lawyer will make sure a new one paid for too.
• 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 loss of enjoyment of life. Are you afraid to get back on your bike? An accomplished and talented Troy, MO bicycle accident lawyer at Halvorsen Klote will secure you compensation for those damages as well.
• 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, you will be compensated for that.
• 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 Troy, MO and a doctor orders you not to lift over 35 pounds, you need to know your future is secure after you've healed as much as possible. Your compensation will need to be high enough to make sure you and your family will still have the means to live a comfortable life.
• Policy limits — Different insurance plans have different policy limits. A standard car insurance policy may have a $50,000 limit on bodily injury, while commercial enterprises often have coverage into the millions. A talented lawyer for bicycle accidents can help you make an underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance company if your damages exceed the policy limits.
• Whether you share any of the blame for your bicycle accident — Both Missouri and Illinois are comparative negligence states, meaning that you can still get a recovery if you were partially to blame, but it will be proportionately less 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, you would receive $70,000. Missouri is considered a "pure" comparative fault state, meaning you can make a recovery even if you were 99 percent to blame. 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 Troy, MO bicycle accident lawyers know how to precisely value claims and get you all of the compensation you deserve. We know that influential corporations and insurance companies often try their best to devalue your claim. Our practice is founded on the idea that everyone has has a right to the same expert legal representation as wealthy organizations.

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

Getting in a bicycle accident can be terrifying 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 Get Medical Treatment

If you can, move out of the way of traffic. Leave your bike, as trying to move it could intensify your injuries. If your injuries don't allow you to move safely, hold out for 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 the same day, make an appointment with your primary care physician in the days afterward. 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 proving how the other drive caused your injuries. Police are trained to assign fault in an accident. When speaking to police, don't acknowledge fault or over-embellish what happened. Be honest, but stick to the facts of the accident and your injuries, and don't offer 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 site, 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 contact them at a later time.

Don't Settle Too Quickly

The insurance companies' first offer will almost always be an unfairly low offer. They want you to settle before you become aware of the full extent of your injuries or hire an attorney. They may tell you no more money is available, but that's almost rarely true. Most injury attorneys provide free consultations, so it's always recommended to at least speak to a lawyer about your case before accepting a settlement.

Check out some of the other cases we take on in Troy, 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 Troy, MO | Halvorsen Klote

We know that being hurt in a bicycle accident through no fault of your own is confusing, painful and creates a large cloud of uncertainty about how you are going to pay the bills that are piling up and whether or not you will ever feel the same again. Our Troy, MO lawyer for bicycle accident team has dedicated their careers to standing up for people who have been treated unfairly, and ensuring that they get all the money they deserve. We charge no fees we reach a successful conclusion to your case. Call a bicycle accident lawyer in Troy, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a free consultation.

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