Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in St. Louis, Missouri

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Missouri?

Despite the fact that motorcycles make up only .06 percent of all vehicle miles traveled and only 3 percent of all registered vehicles in the country, they accounted for 4 percent of all injuries and 14 percent of all fatalities in traffic-related accidents, according to the National Safety Council. That speaks to how dangerous a negligent driver can be for motorcyclists. Nationwide, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 deaths. According to the Missouri Traffic Safety Compendium, in 2020 there were 2,177 motorcycle crashes, which resulted in 1,658 injuries and 118 deaths.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, motorcycle deaths have been steadily on the rise since the 90s, even while other motor vehicle fatalities have decreased.

Nearly half of deadly motorcycle accidents occurred in the summer between June and September, and half occur on the weekends between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Missouri

There are several steps you should take, both immediately following the accident and in the days and weeks that follow, to ensure both your health and the chances of a successful claim.

Immediately After The Accident

While any accident is surprising and scary, it is important to keep a clear head. At the accident site, you should:

• Get to Safety — If you can, get to the side of the road and away from oncoming traffic. Leave the bike. It is obviously important to you, but trying to carry it could put you at risk of further harm. If you are seriously injured, it may be best not to move; instead wait for emergency personnel.
• Keep Your Protective Gear On — Removing your helmet or other gear could also make injuries worse. Adrenaline and shock may hide how bad an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — As motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it may be best to be looked over at the scene instead of trying to go to an emergency room yourself. Police will also be able to file a report stating who they believe is liable for the accident.
• Gather Evidence — Speak to the other driver and get their insurance information. Take pictures of the accident, including damage to all vehicles involved and the surrounding areas. Take more photos than you think you need. Something that may seem unimportant at first may help a St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyer prove your case down the road. Get the contact info of any eyewitnesses to the accident.

Lastly, receive medical attention if you have not already.

What to Do in the Days, Weeks and Months Afterwards

Once you have gotten medical treatment, notify both your insurance company and the other driver's. Then, speak to a Missouri motorcycle accident lawyer about your case. If your injuries are significant, you will likely need one to get full compensation. While communicating with your attorney, it is important to:

• Continue Medical Treatment — This is not only vital for your health, but is paramount to building your case. In order to prove your damages, you need to be able to point to medical records which show the extent of your injuries. The more medical expenses you have, the higher your ultimate compensation will be as well. Go to every follow up, chiropractic or physical therapy appointment your doctor wants you to.
• Keep Detailed Records — You are also entitled to compensation for lost wages from time spent recovering, and any out-of-pocket expenses you incur, such as transportation to and from medical appointments or hiring someone to help with housework. Keep detailed receipts and notes about why you needed to pay those expenses. You can also keep a daily journal detailing how your injuries have affected you physically and emotionally for a record of your pain and suffering.
• Do Not Talk to the Insurance Company — Once you have notified the insurance company about your claim and hired a motorcycle accident lawyer, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters use a lot of tricks to avoid paying claims, and it is better to leave communication up to an attorney who knows how to deal with them. Do not make a recorded statement before speaking to your attorney.
• Stay off Social Media — It is normal to want to share what is going on with your life with others. However, posting too much on social media can hurt your case. If you say your injuries are debilitating, and the insurance finds out you have been going out on the weekends, they will use it to try and deny your claim.

From your initial consultation, we will be in contact with you every step of the way until you get the full financial recovery you are owed. Let us handle the legal aspect of your case so you can focus on healing.

Do I Need a Missouri Motorcycle Accident Lawyer For My Claim?

For some minor claims, where there is no discrepancy about who is at fault and your medical expenses only include an emergency room visit, you may be able to get compensation on your own. Supply the insurance company with your records and expenses, and ask for a little more for the inconvenience. In a smaller settlement where not much is disputed, the adjuster is not going to want to waste their time.

However, in most cases, you will need a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While it would be nice if insurance companies fulfilled their obligations when their policyholders injure someone, they usually have to be convinced to. Situations where you will need a St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyer include:

• Your injuries are severe — The more your medical expenses and lost wages, the more the insurance company will be resistant to reimbursing you for it. If your injuries require ongoing treatment or result in permanent disability, you will absolutely need an attorney to precisely value your damages.
• The insurance company's offer is far below your damages — If your damages are in the tens or hundreds of thousands, and the insurance company's offer is no where close to that, they are trying to take advantage of you and convince you that you do not know how much you are owed. By hiring an attorney, the insurance company will know that you mean business. In a recent case, Burger Law was able to turn a $3,900 offer into a $100,000 settlement.
• There are multiple liable parties — In some accidents, especially multi-vehicle accidents, there may be more than one person was negligent and caused your injuries. For example, a driver may merge into your line while not looking for you, causing you to swerve and hit a pothole that a local government should have fixed. An experienced Missouri motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the accident and assign a portion of the damages to each liable party. Finding other people who are liable is crucial if your damages exceed the at-fault driver's policy limits.
• You are being blamed for the accident — Blaming you for your injuries is a classic move insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. When this happens, an attorney can step in and prove how the other party was negligent. If it is true that you were partially to blame, you can still make a recovery under Missouri's comparative negligence rule. However, you will need an attorney to apply the rule of law and get you that compensation.

Your Missouri motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat tricks insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for over 30 years. Our consultations are free, so call us at (314) 500-HURT to see if we can add value to your claim. We start working from the moment you hire us, and do not let up until you get every bit of compensation you deserve.

Recent Burger Law Missouri Motorcycle Accident Victories

With any type of legal claim, results matter. You want to know that you are giving your case to the best possible lawyer, and that they are going to fight hard to make sure you get 100 percent of the recovery and compensation you deserve. A motorcycle accident lawyer saying they are the best is one thing, a lawyer with client testimonials and results that can prove it is another. Here are several of our most recent victories as well as client testimonials:

• $495,000 Uninsured Motorcycle Accident Verdict
• $327,000 Motorcycle Accident Settlement
• $250,000 Policy Limits Settlement
• $100,000 Motorcycle Liability Claim
• Maximum Recovery Obtained for Motorcycle Accident

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Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Which of your body parts are most likely to be injured in a motorcycle accident? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 percent of motorcycle accidents that are not fatal have injuries that affect the legs and feet. Which limb or body part is at the most risk in a motorcycle accident? The head and neck suffer the most in motorcycle accidents, comprising 22 percent of all injuries.

Riders who are 49 or older are more likely to be in a fatal accident than their younger counterparts. Why is this? Older riders succumb to injuries easier, and also are more likely to ride heavier motorcycles than their younger counterparts.

Heavier motorcycles are harder to maneuver and handle, and also increase the likelihood of serious injuries in the event of an accident. Removing weight from a motorcycle makes it easier to handle in the event of an emergency.

When a motorcycle strikes a vehicle, or is stricken by a vehicle, the cyclist is typically seriously hurt. Even relatively minor injuries, such as bruises, broken bones, and road rash, can be painful and expensive to treat, and they can put a motorcyclist out of work for an extended period of time. Motorcyclists may never be able to return to work if they sustain one or more of the following injuries:

• Brain damage
• Head, neck, or spinal cord trauma
• Internal bleeding or organ damage
• Dismemberment
• Burns
• Permanent nerve damage

Serious motorcycle accidents can permanently alter someone's way of life. During this time, medical bills can start to rack up. Our attorneys are experts in motorcycle accidents, and our motorcycle accident lawyers in Missouri can make sure that you get 100 percent of what you are owed and what you deserve for your accident. Let us advocate for you. Speak with a motorcycle accident attorney with Burger Law today about your motorcycle accident claim in Missouri.