Were you hurt in a motorcycle crash in Columbia, MO? If so, a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer can help you recover compensation. This money can be used for medical bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses.
The Columbia motorcycle accident attorneys at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience. We can help enforce your legal rights and hold negligent people accountable for their actions in Columbia, Missouri.
Contact our office at (314) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation today with our Columbia Motorcycle accident lawyers.
How Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident In Columbia
If you’ve recently been in a motorcycle accident, you are probably recovering from serious injuries. You probably don’t have time to handle a legal case, too.
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers is a full-service law firm in Columbia, MO. We will handle your motorcycle accident case from beginning to end. Our team of Columbia personal injury lawyers is recognized as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by National Trial Lawyers, Members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and Best Lawyers in America.
If you trust us to take on your motorcycle accident case, we will:
- Investigate the crash
- Collect evidence
- Calculate your damages
- Explain the law and your rights
- Find out who is responsible
- File insurance claims and negotiate with insurance companies
- Consult with experts
- File a personal injury lawsuit
- Represent you in court and during the trial
Every motorcycle crash case unfolds differently. We will create a plan specific to your case and needs. This is the best way to ensure that you get justice after a motorcycle crash.
Call our office today to schedule a time to speak with a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer during a free consultation.
How Common Are Motorcycle Fatalities In Missouri?
Motorcycle fatalities are on the rise in Missouri. There were 175 motorcyclists killed in 2023, which is the highest number ever reported in the state.
Many people attribute the sharp rise in fatalities to the repeal of the motorcycle helmet law in 2020. Just because a motorcyclist isn’t wearing a helmet doesn’t mean they caused the crash. However, it is likely to increase the seriousness of the accident and their injuries.
What Is My Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
Many of our clients aren’t sure how much their motorcycle accident case is worth. One of the first things we tell our clients is that every case is different. However, there are several indicators that your case may be worth more than others.
For example:
- You have permanent injuries that will not heal
- You have undergone extensive medical treatment and will require more treatment in the future
- Your injuries have prevented or will prevent you from working or progressing in your chosen career
- The accident was physically and/or mentally traumatic
- You have developed mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD since the crash
- You have property damage
- You no longer enjoy life or can partake in the same activities as before the crash
We will discuss these factors and others during our initial consultation.
What Kind of Damages Are Available To Motorcycle Accident Victims?
Motorcycle accident victims can recover compensatory damages. Compensatory damages pay the victim for their actual and future losses. These losses include economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are financial losses that happen because of a motorcycle accident.
The most common economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitation
- Physical therapy
- Property damage
- Cost of medicine
- Out-of-pocket expenses
We can calculate your economic damages by looking at pay stubs, bills, invoices, and other documentation. Usually, they are easy to prove because there is a paper trail.
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are much harder to prove. That’s because they are emotional or intangible losses. It is often called pain and suffering.
Non-economic damages may include:
- Physical pain
- Emotional trauma
- Mental illness
- Permanent disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Inconvenience
In certain cases, your non-economic damages may be worth more than your economic damages. An attorney can help you calculate your non-economic damages so that you have an idea of what you may get at the end of the case.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
Columbia motorcycle accident lawyers charge a contingency fee. A contingency fee arrangement gives people access to legal help even if they could not traditionally afford a lawyer. That’s because the agreement is that they only pay their attorney if they win the case.
When they win damages, the lawyer will take a percentage of the damages as payment. If they don’t recover compensation, then the lawyer doesn’t get paid.
This arrangement means that the lawyer and clients always have aligned interests. The lawyer works hard on their client’s case because if they lose, their time is uncompensated. Furthermore, the client doesn’t need to worry about affording a lawyer.
That’s because they will never need to pay them out of pocket. Instead, the payment comes directly from the damages that they would not have had otherwise.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed For A Motorcycle Accident In Missouri?
Yes, in most cases, you can still recover compensation if you are being blamed for your motorcycle accident in Missouri.
Missouri follows a pure comparative negligence law. This means that you can recover proportionate damages as long as you are not 100% responsible for the accident. Instead, your damages are proportionate to the defendant’s share of responsibility.
For example, if you are 30% responsible for causing the crash, then you can recover 70% of your damages. Even if you are 99% responsible for the crash, you can still recover 1% of your damages. Although, pursuing a legal case may not be the best choice in that scenario.
Now, it’s still best to avoid getting unfairly blamed for the crash. Insurance companies and defendants will try to shift blame so that they reduce their own payment. By hiring a lawyer early on in your case, you can protect yourself from getting blamed so that you maximize your damages.
We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries. In some cases, a motorcyclist may die at the scene or later as a result of the injuries. We will fight for compensation for all types of injuries, including wrongful death cases.
Some of the most common types of motorcycle accident injuries are:
- Amputations
- Broken bones
- Brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Severe burns
- Lacerations and contusions
- Crush injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
- Loss of eyesight
- Neck and back injuries
Our lawyers are familiar with many different types of injuries. We regularly consult with doctors and experts to understand how an injury has impacted our client’s life. You deserve a lawyer who recognizes the significant and life-altering impact of the crash.
What Causes Most Motorcycle Accidents In Columbia, Missouri?
Most motorcycle accidents in Columbia, Missouri, are caused by:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Blind spots
- Failure to yield
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Inclement weather
- Improper turns
- Unsafe lane changes
- Lack of visibility
- Speeding
We can investigate what caused the crash and find out who is responsible. Our investigation can help you maximize your recovery.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Motorcycle Accident In Missouri?
There are four elements to any negligence claim. You must prove each element by a preponderance of the evidence. If you fail to prove any single element, then you will lose your case.
The elements are:
- Duty of care
- Breach
- Causation
- Damages
Everyone owes a duty of care to the people around them. This duty is to act as cautiously as a reasonable person would act in a similar situation. When someone fails to act this way, they are said to have breached their duty. If that breach causes an accident, and the plaintiff incurs damages, the defendant can be held liable for negligence.
For example, drivers must follow the speed limit. If a driver is speeding, hits a motorcyclist, and then causes a crash, they breach their duty of care. The speeding caused the accident, which hurt the plaintiff. The plaintiff had to go to the hospital and get surgery. Therefore, the driver was negligent and is responsible for the plaintiff’s damages, including the surgery costs.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Accident?
In Missouri, you typically have five years to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you fail to bring your claim before the statute of limitations expires, you will be unable to recover compensation.
A dedicated personal injury lawyer can help you keep track of crucial deadlines in your motorcycle accident case.
Contact Our Columbia Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you’re ready to speak with a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer, call Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
We can help you recover damages and hold negligent people responsible for hurting you in Columbia, MO. There’s no reason to handle your own legal case when a professional can handle it for you.
