Motorcycle Accident Attorney St. Louis

St. Louis Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you have been severely injured in a motorcycle accident in St. Louis due to a negligent driver, you should not be forced to pay for someone else’s mistakes. You may be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries and financial losses. The St. Louis motorcycle crash attorneys of Sumner Law Group, LLC, have extensive experience handling complex motorcycle injury claims. We have helped countless riders recover millions of dollars in compensation from negligent drivers and their insurance companies. We know the tricks and tactics insurance companies use in these types of cases, and our trial team will be ready to fight for the maximum payment you deserve.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation with a knowledgeable St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyer. There are no fees to start work on your case, and you only pay us if we win money for you.

Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle riders do not have the protection offered by passenger vehicles, such as seat belts and airbags. For that reason, riders often suffer more serious injuries in a crash.

Common injuries include:

• Road rash, or the abrasions caused by contact with and sliding upon the pavement or ground
• Crush injuries, when a rider is pinned between his or her bike and another vehicle
• Severe lacerations, which can cause life-threatening bleeding
• Broken bones
• Torn ligaments, tendons, and muscles
• Neck and back injuries, including herniated or ruptured discs
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Internal organ injuries and internal bleeding
• Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
• Amputation or loss of limbs

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in St. Louis

Common driver-related causes of motorcycle accidents include:

• Speeding
• Tailgating, or following too closely – motorcycles can stop at a much shorter distance than a larger passenger vehicle or commercial truck
• Unsafe lane changes (failing to signal or to check mirrors and blind spots)
• Unsafe turns (failing to signal or yield to oncoming traffic)
• Distracted driving, such as texting while driving
• Defective parts
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Drowsy or fatigued driving
• Inexperienced drivers who do not watch out for motorcycles

Other non-motorist-related causes of motorcycle accidents include adverse weather, adverse road conditions, and mechanical defects in the motorcycle.

What You Need to Know About Proving Fault After a Motorcycle Accident in St. Louis

All too often, motorcycle accidents are caused by another biker’s failure to safely share the road with riders. Unfortunately, many at-fault motorists and their insurance companies try to rely on biases and stereotypes against motorcycle riders to deflect or shift blame. This strategy can make investigating and pursuing a motorcycle accident claim more challenging. You will need strong evidence to push back against a negligent driver’s claim that you were speeding, recklessly operating your motorcycle, or weaving through traffic when the accident occurred.

In your motorcycle accident case, our investigative team may rely on the following types of evidence to help establish how the other motorist caused the accident:

• The police accident report
• Accident scene photos and videos
• Dashcam/helmet cam footage
• Nearby surveillance camera footage
• Eyewitness statements
• Vehicle damage and repair reports
• Your medical treatment records

In many cases, we may also work with accident reconstruction experts. These experts review the evidence and conduct their own testing. They will prepare a report setting forth their opinions, based on scientific principles, about how your accident occurred and who may have caused the crash.

How Our St. Louis Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help

If you have been hurt in a crash, our St. Louis motorcycle accident attorneys can help you by:

• Conducting a thorough investigation to recover all available evidence from your accident, including physical evidence from the scene, eyewitness statements, and reports regarding the accident
• Working with accident reconstruction and engineering experts to determine how your accident happened and who is at fault for your injuries
• Collecting extensive documentation to substantiate your losses and damages
• Filing your claim with the insurance companies, dealing with adjusters on your behalf, and aggressively negotiating for a settlement that provides you with full compensation for your losses and damages
• Advocating on your behalf at trial, if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement

A motorcycle accident can leave you and your family facing significant financial burdens due to medical expenses and missed work. That’s why we represent our clients with no upfront fees. You owe nothing unless and until we secure compensation for you in a motorcycle accident settlement or at trial.

Motorcycle Accident Compensation: How Much Is Your Case Worth?

Every motorcycle accident case is unique. Your case will require a thorough assessment of both immediate and long-term anticipated losses to determine how much you are entitled to receive.

In a motorcycle accident claim, you may be entitled to pursue these types of compensation:

• Medical expenses, including hospital bills, surgeries, doctor’s appointments, physical/occupational therapy, pain medication, medical equipment, and other related out-of-pocket expenses such as transportation to appointments
• Care costs, including home health services, maintenance services (such as lawn and housekeeping services), and home renovations to help accommodate disabilities caused by your injuries
• Future treatment costs, which may be assessed with the help of medical experts
• Lost wages or income and lost earning capacity if you miss time from work or cannot return to your job due to your injuries
• Lost quality or enjoyment of life
• Pain and suffering

Never trust an insurance adjuster to tell you what your case is worth. Their job is to pay you as little as possible. Talk to a St. Louis motorcycle accident attorney from Sumner Law Group, LLC, to discuss what you are truly entitled to under the law.

Understanding Missouri Motorcycle Laws

Legally riding a motorcycle in Missouri requires complying with various state safety laws. The most important Missouri motorcycle laws include:

• All people operating a motorcycle on a public road in Missouri must have a Class M motorcycle license or learner’s permit, or a driver’s license with a Class M endorsement.
• Motorcycle operators and passengers must wear protective headgear at all times. Headgear must meet U.S. DOT standards. Helmets meeting federal standards will have a “DOT” sticker on the inside along with a label stating the manufacturer and helmet model name and the month and year of manufacture. Helmets bearing certification from respected independent evaluators such as Snell or ANSI will also meet DOT standards. However, operators age 26 and older with a license or endorsement (not a learner’s permit) may ride without a helmet if they have health insurance coverage for a motorcycle accident.
• Operators and passengers must also wear a helmet with a shatterproof face shield or shatter-proof goggles.
• To lawfully operate on public roads in Missouri, a motorcycle must have a working headlight, operational taillights, and brake lights, working turn signals, functional horn, front and rear brakes, and side mirror.
• Although Missouri law does not expressly outlaw lane splitting, that practice can be ticketed as unsafe or reckless driving.