Lawyer for Bicycle Accident in Union, MO

Union, MO Personal Injury Attorneys

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

Lawyer for Bicycle Accident in Union, MO. Riding a bicycle can inspire a wonderful sense of freedom. But on too many occasions, other motorists don't respect the safety of bicyclists and end up causing an accident. 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 provide expert and sound legal advocacy to the injured and vulnerable in Union, MO and throughout the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. Talking to us is free, and you do not owe us anything unless we win your claim. Speak directly to a qualified and compassionate 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 Union, 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 Union, MO to secure the ideal outcome. A personal injury lawyer in Union, MO can offer help in a variety 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 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 legally owed
• Finding supplementary insurance coverage if your damages exceed the policy limits
• Making sure the insurance company applies the law honestly and ethically

Negotiating With Insurance Companies to Protect Your Rights

Dealing with a discompassionate insurance adjuster can feel disheartening. 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 injury and accident law to pay as few money as feasible. We'll make sure they understand their legal duty to compensate you for each your damages.

Legal Expertise

Bicycle accident cases involve complex legal processes, including gathering evidence, deposing witnesses, examining medical records, and negotiating with insurance adjusters. People who are unfamiliar with injury claims can make mistakes or neglect critical details. By hiring a lawyer specializing in bicycle accidents, your legal standing becomes a asset, not a disadvantage.

You didn't ask to be injured and you shouldn't have to deal with the consequences. Let us handle ensuring 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, analyze medical records, and connect your injuries to your accident, as well as interview witnesses who can validate 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 discover 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 responsibility isn't clear, your damages are high, or other complications come up, the insurance company is going to oppose against your rights. That's why you need seasoned personal injury lawyers in your corner to bring a legal action and pursue litigation if necessary.

As experienced Union, MO trial attorneys, Halvorsen Klote can fight for you throughout your case, from our first case review through a jury verdict.

Union, MO Bicycle Accident Statistics

In 2020, there were 983 bike accident fatalities in traffic accidents in the United States, 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 at the highest risk for injuries, while adults aged 55 to 64 are the most likely to be victim to a fatal accident.

In Missouri, there were 406 total bike accidents which lead to 351 injuries and six fatalities, according to statistics in the Missouri Traffic Safety Compendium. In Illinois, in 2,180 bicycle crashes 1,995 people were injured and 28 people passed away.

Nationawide, the vast majority ofMost bicycle accidents occur in urban areas where traffic is more condensed. Almost a third of bike crashes happen between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., when bikers are harder to see.

While bicycle accidents make up only one percent of trips taken by American travelers, each year they account for over twice that in motor vehicle fatalities. The disparity points to the horrible destruction motorists can cause 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 Union, MO?

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

• Drivers failing to see a bicyclist
• Drivers failing 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 street checking for bicyclists
• Reckless driving
• Driving under the influence
• Improperly placed road signs
• Road hazards
• Inadequately zoned-off 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 stated that accidents on the side of the road do more damage because the speeds are higher than at intersections because of stop signs, traffic lights or turning vehicles. Your Union, MO bike accident lawyer at Halvorsen Klote will perform a comprehensive investigation into your accident to who and/or what caused it and who is to blame for your injuries.

What Are Common Injuries from Union, MO Bicycle Accidents?

Because of the vulnerability of bicyclists compared to their cars or trucks, injuries suffered in bicycle accidents can be severe and even sometimes result in lifelong disability. Some of the most common injuries our lawyer for bicycle accident team has helped Union, 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 and sprains

Because bicycle injuries often require extensive medical treatment and a lot of time off work, you need accomplished 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 Union, 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 Hold Accountable for My Bicycle Accident Injuries in Union, MO?

Who owes you a recovery depends on the causes of your accident. Different accidents may have different, or multiple, liable parties. In some cases there are multiple liable parties, and a seasoned bicycle accident lawyer will investigate your accident and assign a proportionate amount of fault to each of them. Some of the parties we have successfully secured compensation from in bicycle accidents include:

Another Driver

Car, truck and motorcycle drivers can often cause bicycle accidents by think they own the road and bicyclists do not. But the road is for everyone, and if a car, truck or motorcycle driver injures a bicyclists the same liability in car accidents applies. For example, 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 interact with bicyclists, such as leaving a safe distance when passing. Pursuant to the legal philosophy of negligence per se, someone is automatically liable for your injuries if they violate a law. So if you were injured by a motorist in a bike lane, your lawyer for bicycle accident will be able to file a negligence per se claim, and the insurance company will be more amenable in negotiations.

A Faulty or Motor Vehicle Component

If your accident was caused by a defective product, such as headlights, an engineer, manufacturer and/or vendor may be liable in 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 comes to light. If they fail to, they are liable for your damages.

A Trucking or Other Commercial Company

If you are injured by a commercial driver, your bike accident attorney may be able to prove negligence on the part of the employer. For example, if a trucking company hired an unqualified driver, they would be least partially liable for your injuries.

A Government Entity

Municipal entities both locally and in the state or federal government need to keep our Union, MO roadways free of unreasonable dangers. If a hazard such as inadequate lighting contributed to your injuries, you may be able to make a claim against a government entity with the help of your Union, 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 an attorney is crucial to get maximum compensation.

In Missouri, you can make a claim against the government if a driver of public transportation injures you. Pursuant to Missouri Revised Statute §537.600, government workers who cause an accident while operating a motor vehicle are not granted sovereign immunity like other public employees 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 there was "willful and wanton" misconduct.

How Much Compensation Can I Collect for My Union, MO Bicycle Accident Injuries?

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

• How serious your injuries are — More debilitating injuries lead to higher medical costs, and you should receive all of those expenses. Months of physical therapy will lead to much higher compensation than a a visit or two with your primary care doctor. Did your injuries include a joint replacement? You will need a new one in 15-20 years, and your Halvorsen Klote Union, MO bicycle accident lawyer will make sure a new one paid for too.
• The impact your injuries had on your life — Your financial recovery is meant to compensate you for the effects on your personal life, including pain and suffering and mental anguish. Is it a grind just to bring the groceries in? An experienced and talented Union, MO bicycle accident lawyer at Halvorsen Klote will fight to make sure the physical and emotional pain you felt is compensated to.
• Your lost wages from time spent recovering — You will also receive compensation 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 will be compensated for that.
• If your injuries prevent you from working the same job — If you were a construction worker who suffered an injury to a disc in your back in a bicycle accident in Union, MO and now are not able to safely lift over 50 pounds, your ability to earn a living has been seriously compromised. Your compensation will need to be high enough to make sure your future is not put in jeopardy.
• The amount of insurance coverage available — 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 trucking companies may have up to $5 million in coverage. A skilled lawyer for bicycle accidents will assist you with 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 practice the legal doctrine of comparative negligence, meaning that you can still get a recovery if you were partially at fault, but it will be proportionately less based on how how much of your fault it was. Meaning, if it is determined that your economic and noneconomic damages come to $100,000 but you were 30 percent at fault, you would receive $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 barred from recovery if you are more than 50 percent liable.

At Halvorsen Klote, our Union, 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 greedy corporations and insurance companies often resist taking accountability. We do what we do every day because we believe that everyone has has a right to the same high standard of legal advocacy as wealthy organizations.

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

Getting in a bicycle accident can be scary and confusing, but there are several things you should do to help you get better physically and maximize your compensation.

Stay Calm, Get to Safety and Seek Medical Attention

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 intensify your injuries. If your injuries are too severe for you to move safely, wait for emergency medical personnel to arrive.

If you don't need to go to the hospital in an ambulance, visit the emergency room or urgent care after law enforcement tell you you are free to leave the scene. If you didn't go on the same day, see your general practitioner as soon as you can. If you don't have medical documentation 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 determine fault in an accident. When talking to police, don't confess fault or over-explain what happened. 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 location, any damage to your bicycle and the other vehicle, and your injuries. If other people saw the accident, get their contact information so your city, state bicycle accident lawyer can contact 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 discover the full extent of your damages or hire an attorney. They may tell you no more money is available, but that's almost rarely true. Many injury attorneys give free consultations, so it's always advisable 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 Union, 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 Union, MO | Halvorsen Klote

You did not ask to be put in this situation, and you should not have to pay because someone else did not respect your safety. Our Union, MO lawyer for bicycle accident team has dedicated their abilities to fighting for people who have been hurt and taken advantage of, and ensuring that they get the full compensation they are entitled to. You do not pay unless we win your case. Call a bicycle accident lawyer in Union, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation.

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