What to Do Following a Motorcycle Accident
After you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, your top priority should be your own health and wellbeing. Even if you have not suffered any apparent injuries, you still should be examined by a medical professional to rule out the possibility of any hidden trauma. By keeping any lab results, imaging scans, and other diagnosis-related information, you can help your Saint Louis motorcycle accident lawyer establish a link between your condition and the accident.
In Missouri, per Chapter 303.040, you are required to file a police report after a collision if:
- Anybody was injured or killed
- Property damage exceeded $500
- The accident involved an uninsured driver
A police report can be a valuable piece of evidence for your legal team, as law enforcement officials may include information that otherwise would not have come to light. Evidence such as photos, insurance information, eyewitness statements, license plate numbers, and even a police officer’s badge number may, later on, prove useful in assigning negligence.
From here, consider speaking with a motorcycle accident attorney in Saint Louis regarding your potential for financial recovery.
Motorcycle Accident Causes and Injuries
Sometimes, accidents can happen through no fault of your own due to another driver’s actions.
Examples include:
- Driving while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or fatigue
- Running a red light
- Ignoring yield and stop signs
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Not being vigilant for motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians
These are just a handful of ways drivers can cause accidents. Your case may have been influenced by other elements than those we have listed here. Speaking with a legal professional will be able to identify what actions and behaviors resulted in your injuries.
Motorcyclists Face Increased Risk of Injury
Motorcyclists are not afforded the same protections typical of a truck or passenger vehicle. Without a protective barrier, seat belts, and airbags, when a motorcyclist is struck, they are ejected from the bike and could face life-threatening complications. Accident Analysis & Prevention reports that motorcyclists face “a 34-fold higher risk of death in a crash than people driving other types of motor vehicles.”
After a collision, you may be experiencing a variety of debilitating injuries, including:
- Neck or head trauma, such as a TBI
- Loss of limbs
- Brain damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Road rash
When you work with a legal professional, they can calculate the total cost of your medical expenses and factor them into the value of your claim. This is why we recommend keeping all items relating to your doctor’s appointments and treatments.
Legal Recourse After a Collision
You may be faced with injuries and financial problems following a motorcycle accident. That’s where our team can help you. At Schultz & Myers, LLC, our motorcycle accident lawyers in Saint Louis can help you build a case against the negligent party to get you the compensation you need.
Should your case be successful, you may be able to recover the following items:
- Medical bills
- The cost of rehabilitative therapy
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Childcare costs
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
When you work with Schultz & Myers, LLC, we are determined to help you get the recovery you need to cover these burdens.
If you need legal support following a motorcycle accident in St. Louis or throughout Missouri, contact Schultz & Myers, LLC today by calling us at 314-444-4444. Members of our dedicated team are standing by to hear from you.
We Must Prove Negligence
Your attorney will have to prove that negligence on the part of the responsible party caused your injuries. This element is crucial to establishing any type of losses in a personal injury claim.
The following factors must be established in your collision:
- The other party had a duty of care to not reasonably harm others
- This duty of care was violated through a careless or reckless action
- As a result of this breach, an otherwise avoidable accident occurred
- You have suffered injuries and other losses resulting the actions of another party
In a motorcycle accident, we may be able to assign liability to multiple parties. For example, if you were struck by a passenger vehicle, then responsibility usually rests on that particular motorist. If your motorcycle malfunctioned in such a way that prevented you from riding defensively, then we can pursue losses from the bike’s manufacturer.
Build Your Case with Schultz & Myers, LLC
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, the personal injury lawyers of Schultz & Myers, LLC can work to prove negligence and fight for financial compensation. We believe that you should not be left with any out of pocket expenses for an accident you reasonably could not have prevented.
Our team operates on contingency. At the conclusion of your case, should it be successful, we will take a portion out of your settlement to pay for our rendered services. This percentage will be mutually agreed upon at the onset of our partnership, so you know exactly what to expect. Again, our goal is to help put this challenging time behind you so that you can move forward with your future endeavors.
To begin your free case evaluation, call Schultz & Myers, LLC today at 314-444-4444.
