Webster Groves Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Webster Groves Bicycle Accident Attorney

Accidents between bicycles and motor vehicles can have serious consequences for cyclists. When the driver or another party is to blame for this collision, you can hold the at-fault party’s insurance liable for your injuries and all that the injuries cost you. The legal guidance of a Webster Groves bicycle accident lawyer can make it easier to secure the compensation you need and make you more likely to succeed against an insurance carrier.

Protecting the Rights of Injured Bicyclists in Webster Groves

At The Cagle Law Firm, we focus on protecting individuals and their families who are injured due to another party’s negligence. When you are a cyclist who has been hit by a motor vehicle, we help you get the financial recovery you need. We can investigate the cause of your accident and hold the relevant insurance carrier liable. Our team manages your case while you recover, keeping you informed and answering your questions.

Our firm has decades of experience in personal injury cases and has the expertise and resources needed to handle your case. When you need to pursue compensation through an insurance case, we can help. If fair compensation cannot be reached, we can fight for a verdict in court to recover the most compensation available to you.

What Should You Do if You Are in a Bicycle Accident?

Accidents can happen at any time, and riding near motor vehicles is an unfortunate risk for many cyclists. If you have been hit by a vehicle while on your bicycle, there are steps you can take to protect your own physical health and your own legal rights.

After a bicycle collision with a motor vehicle, the cyclist’s injuries are often so severe that the cyclist is not capable of making calls. As a grievously injured party, your hope is that other witnesses and parties will call the police immediately. If you are involved in any collision, call the police if you are physically able to do so.

The most important thing you should focus on first is receiving medical care. Bicycle accidents can result in serious injuries, including internal injuries like organ damage or traumatic brain injuries. These are injuries that may not be obvious at first. If you have suffered severe trauma, you need to see a medical professional. In addition to addressing your physical health, this is crucial documentation for a future case.

Exchange information with the driver, including contact information and their insurance information. You should give fact information to the police officer at the site of the crash. A full police report has to be requested from the law enforcement agency that responded to the crash. Your attorney can assist in requesting this crucial piece of available evidence. Don’t admit fault but be honest about the facts of the accident.

Finally, if you are physically able, you should document the scene, including taking photos and videos and noting down contact information for any eyewitnesses. Seek immediate medical treatment and contact an accident injury attorney in Webster Groves who understands serious injuries.

What Are Common Injuries in Bicycle Accidents?

Collisions are more likely to cause injury to cyclists and only property damage to a motor vehicle. Bicycle accidents can lead to minor or catastrophic injuries, such as:

• Road rash.
• Lacerations and puncture wounds.
• Sprains, strains, and other soft tissue injuries.
• Broken bones.
• Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions.
• Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis.
• Facial and head injuries.
• Internal organ damage, including loss of function.

Bicycle accidents can also result in fatalities. Wrongful death cases have unique time limits, criteria for who can bring a wrongful death case, and specific compensation for surviving families. It is important that your attorney have experience in wrongful death litigation.

The more serious your injuries are after a bicycle accident, the more likely it is that your compensation needs to be higher to cover your financial losses. It is harder to get higher compensation from an insurer, even when you deserve it.

FAQs About Webster Groves, MO Bicycle Accident Laws

Who Is Usually at Fault if a Bicycle Is Involved in an Accident?

Every accident involving a bicycle is unique, so there is no set way to know who is at fault. Instead, a thorough investigation is needed to determine the cause of the collision. The bicyclist may be liable for being distracted or being reckless.

The driver may be liable for not checking blind spots or speeding. A manufacturer could even be liable if the crash was caused by a defective car or bike component. An attorney has the resources to investigate and find supporting evidence of fault.

What Happens When You Have a Bike Accident?

If you have a bike accident, and it happened because a motor vehicle driver was negligent, you could pursue compensation. If their negligence caused the accident and your injury, you could recover losses such as the cost of your medical care. Even bike accidents that happen at low speeds can cause serious injury.

High-speed crashes can be fatal or cause disabling and catastrophic injuries. If you are unsure whether you have the grounds to pursue compensation, talk to a bicycle accident attorney.

What Is the Injury Rate of Bicyclists?

The injury rate of bicyclists as of 2022 was 1.9% of all people injured in traffic. This is an increase from the prior two years, both of which saw a bicyclist injury rate of 1.7%. This may be attributed to the fact that the definition of pedal cyclist was expanded to include motorized bicycles.

In 2022, there were 2,382,771 total traffic injuries. Forty-six thousand one hundred ninety-five of those injured individuals were pedal cyclists. The same year, the fatality rate for pedal cyclists was 2.6%.

How Long After a Bicycle Accident Can You Pursue a Case?

After a bicycle accident, you can pursue a case within five years of the accident occurring when someone else is at fault. This is the statute of limitations on personal injury cases. It is important to begin working to pursue compensation immediately after an accident, however. If you wait too long, available evidence to prove fault could be lost. If the statute of limitations expires, you are forever barred from recovering compensation, regardless of the merits of your case.

Work With Responsive Attorneys at The Cagle Law Firm

There are many reasons why a driver may have been negligent and caused your accident, such as distracted driving or failing to yield the right-of-way. Our team can determine if you have a case, investigate the cause, and hold the insurer liable. Contact The Cagle Law Firm today.