Our personal injury lawyers in St. Charles know what to do to get you the most compensation for your accident. You or a loved one are probably facing huge medical bills if you’re reading this page. Contact our offices for a free consultation about your legal situation.
The Dangers of Bicycle Accidents
Regardless if you have a helmet or not, bicycle accidents are extremely dangerous for riders. Pads and a helmet can help with the worst injuries, but these have limits. There’s no car frame to absorb the crash forces, so riders are at the mercy of physics.
A cyclist could get caught and dragged on the ground, bounce off another vehicle, hit a utility pole, and much more. Severe injuries and fatalities can happen, especially on busy roads in St. Charles, not to mention the financial harm caused by these accidents.
You need to have someone to protect you if you’re in a bicycle accident. That someone is Morelli Law. We’ve helped victims get over $1 billion in compensation for their injuries during our decades of service. Let us help you get the money you need after you’ve been injured.
What Damages Can I Claim in a Bicycle Accident?
You can claim any compensatory damages that apply to your accident, including economic and non-economic damages. In rare cases, you may also qualify for punitive damages. These damages are awarded when the other driver does something especially negligent or tries to deliberately harm you.
Economic damages cover all the financial harm you’ve suffered after your bicycle accident, including medical bills, bike replacement, lost wages, and much more. These may be worth more than you think because you can also claim future costs.
Non-economic damages are often much higher than economic damages. These cover the pain and suffering you’ve experienced after your accident. Depending on your injuries, you may be eligible for other non-economic damages like loss of consortium or loss of enjoyment of life.
Insurance and Bicycle Accidents
If another driver’s negligence causes you to get injured and they have liability insurance, you can make a claim. All auto drivers are required to carry liability coverage. However, getting the full value of your case from them is hard on your own.
A St. Charles bicycle accident lawyer can help you through the process and protect you against the tactics of the insurers to pay you as little as possible. The insurers will not act in your best interests unless they are compelled to do so, and we can do that.
If the driver is uninsured, getting compensation will be more difficult, but not impossible. You may have some coverage through your own insurance and there’s the possibility of suing the irresponsible driver directly. Our firm can help you decide which course of action is best for you.
When do I Need to Start My Claim?
Many personal injury lawyers will urge you to contact them as soon as possible after an accident. That’s not for marketing; there are good legal reasons behind it. Once you have a personal injury claim in Missouri, you have two years to settle before you must sue or else lose your opportunity to get paid.
Starting early gives your bicycle accident lawyer time to investigate what happened, build a strong case, and negotiate with the insurers to reach a settlement. Starting later will make it harder to get good evidence, which is why the court puts deadlines to start cases.
If you haven’t made an accident report or seen a doctor for your injuries yet, do those first before speaking with a lawyer. But once you’ve done that, reach out to Morelli Law and tell us what happened. We can help you get justice and compensation.
Bicycle Helmet Laws in Missouri
As long as your bicycle does not have a motor on it, you are not required to wear a helmet according to Missouri state law. Local cities may have their own helmet ordinances, and it’s always a good idea to wear one anyway for safety reasons.
Helmets can also help you improve your chances of compensation. Insurance companies look for ways to reduce or deny claims. One way they do this with cyclists is by seeing if the rider was wearing a helmet.
If you weren’t wearing one and it was required by law, then your compensation could get reduced. Fight back against these claims and similar insurance tactics by contacting our St. Charles bicycle accident lawyers now.
Bicycle Accidents and Wrongful Death
If you have lost a loved one in a bicycle accident and you were a family member, you may file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the deceased. These lawsuits let the family collect wrongful death damages that can shield you from the financial shock of losing someone.
These cases have their rules, so we urge you to call us as soon as possible. We must establish that you are the best person to file the claim under Missouri’s wrongful death laws.
What Should I Do Next?
If you’re unsure what to do after your accident, contact our St. Charles bicycle accident lawyers for a free consultation. We can explain your legal options, your chances of winning, and estimate how much your case could be worth. With our help, you can get the money you need to pay for your medical bills and other damages.
To get started, call or email Morelli Law to schedule your consultation. There is no obligation to use our services, and you’ll receive valuable information on how to move forward with your claim. The sooner you call, the sooner you could get paid what you deserve. Call now.
