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St. Louis Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Bicyclists face unique dangers. When a cyclist is involved in a crash, they have little to protect them from injury. As a result, many bicycle crashes result in serious harm and sometimes death. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident or if you’ve lost a loved one in a cycling crash, you may be entitled to compensation.
The St. Louis personal injury attorneys at NST Law can help.
Table Of Contents
- Where do bicycle accidents commonly occur in St. Louis?
- Common Injuries for Bicycle Riders
- Missouri Bicycle Laws
- Proving Liability in a Bicycle Accident
- Who can I sue for my bicycle accident injuries?
- Determining the Value of a Cycling Injury Lawsuit
- What if a loved one died in a bike accident?
- Missouri Statute of Limitations for Bicycle Accident Injuries or Death
- Why choose NST Law?
- Frequently Asked Questions for Bicycle Accident Victims
- Our St. Louis Office
Where do bicycle accidents commonly occur in St. Louis?
City streets can be dangerous places for bicyclists, as evidenced by the 261 daylight bicycle crashes that occur in greater St. Louis every year. In their 2021 crash report, Trailnet identified the following areas as the top crash corridors in St. Louis.
These St. Louis streets were the sites of 24% of the total bike crashes reported:
- Grand Ave.
- Chippewa St.
- Arsenal Ave.
- Oakland Ave.
- W. Florissant Ave.
- Tower Grove Ave.
When you ride a bicycle for exercise, or if you commute to and from work by bicycle, you should always be careful. If you routinely travel these more dangerous roads on a bike, use extra caution.
Common Injuries for Bicycle Riders
Bicycle riders have little to protect them except their clothes and helmet. This means that the risk of significant injury is greater than if they were traveling in a car.
Common injuries sustained by cyclists include:
- Head injuries (which occur in 22–47% of bicycle crashes)
- Face or eye injuries
- Fractured or broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Road rash
Head injuries are responsible for 60% of bicycle-related deaths and the majority of long-term disabilities. This data underscores the critical need for helmet use among cyclists.
Missouri Bicycle Laws
Bicycles can be fun, but they can also be dangerous. The State of Missouri has several laws concerning bicycle riding.
Missouri bicycle laws cover topics such as:
- Brakes
- Lights
- Reflectors
- Helmets
- Use of bicycles on roadways
St. Louis bicycle riders have the same rights and duties to follow the law as other drivers. When all people who share the road follow the laws governing their mode of transportation, it helps keep everyone safe.
Proving Liability in a Bicycle Accident
When determining liability for a personal injury incident, certain elements must be proven. Legally, liability is shown when:
- You can identify a duty of care
- There was a breach of that duty
- The breach of duty resulted in injury
- The injury resulted in a loss
For a bicycle crash, liability hinges on proving that another driver was negligent in their driving. If negligence can be clearly illustrated, you could be awarded compensation to help cover your losses.
The bicycle accident lawyers at NST Law can assess your case and help you understand your options.
Who can I sue for my bicycle accident injuries?
If you were hit by another vehicle and the other driver was at fault, you can file a claim with their insurance company. By proving the other driver was at fault, you’re in a strong position to negotiate a fair settlement for your injuries and losses.
Negotiations are difficult, and if they fail to produce a settlement, you can file a lawsuit against the insurer or the driver. A personal injury lawyer can spearhead negotiations to ensure fairness and prevent the insurance company from attempting to get you to settle for less than you’re entitled to. They can also help you decide if a lawsuit is the right choice for you to get maximum compensation.
Determining the Value of a Cycling Injury Lawsuit
A skilled accident attorney can help you determine how much a lawsuit might be worth. The amount of money you could receive in a lawsuit depends on several factors such as the level of your injury and its permanence.
Other considerations include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Amount of lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Emotional pain and suffering
By working with you and your physicians to gain an understanding of your case and the extent of your injuries, a personal injury attorney can use this information to help determine the value of your injury lawsuit.
What if a loved one died in a bike accident?
When a loved one dies because of bicycle accident injuries, the grief you feel over your loss may be compounded by financial stress. In this case, you have legal options.
If your loved one passed away from injuries sustained in a bicycle accident where the other driver was to blame, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Qualifying family members are allowed to receive compensation for losses related to the death of their loved one due to negligence on the part of another motorist.
Missouri Statute of Limitations for Bicycle Accident Injuries or Death
A personal injury lawsuit is filed as a civil lawsuit. As such, it’s governed by a statute of limitations. This statute places a limit on the length of time you have to file a personal injury claim. In Missouri, you have five years to file most personal injury lawsuits. The time begins on the date the injury occurred or the date the injury was discovered.
If you lost a loved one in a bike accident, you must file a wrongful death lawsuit within three years from the date of their death. In either case, waiting until after the time has passed will likely leave you unable to seek a legal remedy for your losses. Speak with a personal injury lawyer to understand the deadlines relevant to your specific case.
Why choose NST Law?
The personal injury attorneys at NST Law have been helping accident victims for over 30 years. Their years of experience, coupled with compassionate care for their clients, can bring you peace of mind as you deal with injuries or other losses because of a bike accident.
Whether negotiating with insurance companies or trying a case in court, we will fight for the financial compensation you deserve. As the process unfolds, you can have confidence in our record of success in personal injury cases.
Our St. Louis accident lawyers will give you the legal representation and support you need after a bicycle accident. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions for Bicycle Accident Victims
At NST Law, our team knows the days and weeks after a bicycle accident can be stressful and confusing. You probably have a lot of questions. Here are a few common questions our accident lawyers receive.
Missouri law does not require the use of bike helmets, but cities can also write laws concerning helmet use. Bicycle helmets are required throughout St. Louis, but age restrictions vary by county.
The State of Missouri doesn’t identify bicycles as vehicles. Therefore, the state’s law that prohibits driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs does not apply directly to cyclists.
Still, operating any transportation mode while intoxicated is not a good idea. Additionally, in Missouri, your recoverable compensation can be reduced proportionately to your share of responsibility for a bicycle accident resulting in injury. The opposing party or insurance company might argue that the crash resulted partly because of your impairment.
Missouri laws direct bike riders to stay as near to the right side of the roadway as is safe. There are some exceptions to this, such as making a left-hand turn or when taking action to avoid a hazard. There are some circumstances when a cyclist can ride on a sidewalk, provided it’s not a business district.
Missouri recognizes a legal doctrine called “comparative negligence.” Because of this, an injured person who is partly responsible for their own injuries can still collect damages from the other party. Those damages will be reduced by the percentage of fault the injured person is responsible for.
Our St. Louis Office
701 Market St Suite 285
St. Louis, MO 63101
Phone: 314-476-0500
Fax: 314-476-0006
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