Motorcycle Accident Lawyer St. Louis and Missouri

What Are The Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in St. Louis?

Every crash is different, but below are some of the most common types of motorcycle collisions we see:

• Failure to Yield to Motorcycles When Turning — When making turns, many drivers fail to yield to motorcycles, either because they misjudge the distance and speed of the motorcycle or because they simply fail to look for another vehicle. Wrong turns and failures to yield are responsible for 42% of all motorcycle deaths, according to recent research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
• Speeding — The faster a vehicle is moving, the smaller the margin of error is for a driver. Speeding drivers in a car might not react quick enough when a motorcycle is approaching or may overreact, increasing the risk of a crash. Our Missouri motorcycle crash lawyers see far too many crashes that involve excessive speeds. Speeding accounts for 34% of motorcycle crashes, according to research from the IIHS.
• Alcohol/Drug Impairment — Drivers who drive drunk or under the influence of drugs are much more likely to be involved in a crash. In fact, according to recent research, 28% of fatal motorcycle crashes involved alcohol. Our Missouri motorcycle lawyers at Burger Law in St. Louis do not like to see these numbers. In rural areas, the proportion of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes is highest for motorcyclists at 24%.
• Failure to “Share the Road” — Motorcyclists have the same rights as any vehicle on the road, yet other drivers frequently treat riders with disdain. Other drivers often refuse to yield to a motorcyclist, cut a biker off or make risky maneuvers that cause crashes. Seventy-four percent of recent motorcycle crashes were frontal collisions.
• Failure to Check Blind Spots for Motorcycles — Drivers who do not turn their heads to fully scan might miss a motorcycle next to them. Many drivers end up sideswiping motorcycles because they fail to check before changing lanes or merging. In one recent year alone, there were 82,000 motorcycle injuries in the U.S.
• Distracted Driving — Drivers who are distracted by talking, texting, snacking, adjusting, or looking at a navigation device will fail to see a motorcycle — or likely anything — in their path. Motorcycles are smaller than cars to begin with, and failing to pay attention can be a fatal mistake. An estimated 80% of reported motorcycle crashes result in injury or death.
• Defective Motorcycles — Defects of any kind to a motorcycle’s key components, including its engine, brakes, tires, wheels, etc., can result in a crash. Our Chicago motorcycle crash lawyer can work with our product liability attorneys to hold the manufacturer accountable for defective products that caused your motorcycle to crash. Motorcycles equipped with anti-lock brakes resulted in 31% less fatal crashes than the same models without.
• Road Hazards— Motorcycles are especially vulnerable to crashes in Missouri caused by road hazards like rain, snow and ice. As is the case with any type of crash our Missouri motorcycle crash lawyers in St. Louis have seen, safety gear like wearing a motorcycle helment greatly reduces the likelihood of severe injury or death. According to the CDC, helmets reduce the risk of head injury in a motorcycle crash by 69%. Wearing armored motorcycle boots reduces the risk of an open-wound injury by 90%.

Can I Sue For My St. Louis Motorcycle Accident If It Did Not Involve Another Vehicle?

If Missouri or a municipality within Greater St. Louis fails to keep their roadways clear and safe for travelers, and your motorcycle accident happened because of an obstacle on the road or debris that caused your motorcycle to lose traction, you can pursue legal actions to recover damages. Every motorcycle accident claim is different, and some claims can be more complex and difficult than others. Our St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyers can take on your claim and guide you through the complexities of local and state laws to ensure that you get 100% of the care and recovery you deserve. We don't charge any fees unless we win your claim.

What Is The Responsibility Level of St. Louis and Missouri Motorists?

St. Louis and Missouri drivers on any road are legally and morally obligated to exercise a reasonable degree of care by adhering to traffic laws and keeping their eyes on the road at all times. Unfortunately, motorcycle crashes are relatively common throughout the country, especially in areas where drivers are not used to sharing the road with motorcyclists.

If a driver fails to exercise their duty of care, whether due to intoxication, inexperience, or inattentiveness, they may crash into a law-abiding motorcyclist. Since drivers are required by law to remain aware of motorcyclists, they can be held liable in court for any injuries and property damage they cause by an experienced St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyer.

What Is The True Cost of Reckless Driving in St. Louis?

Virtually everyone agrees on one thing: St. Louis motorcycle accident injuries can be deadly. Accidents have the capacity to permanently disable riders and prevent them from ever living a normal life. To add insult to injury, St. Louis motorcyclists are often faced with astronomical medical bills after being hit, and particularly serious injuries can lead to lifelong medical costs totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. No one should have to pay for such costs when they are not responsible for the accident in the first place.

What Damages Can I Receive for My St. Louis Motorcycle Accident?

In an injury case such as a motorcycle accident claim, there are two categories of damages: economic and non-economic. We add the value of all of your damages together to get the full sum of your damages so that we can demand a complete recovery for you. Insurance companies are notoriously resistant to paying the injured what they are owed, so your motorcycle accident lawyer will very likely need to use negotiation and litigation skills to demand the payment you are owed. The damages you can receive for a motorcycle accident include:

Economic Damages

• Medical bills
• Treatment costs
• Property damage
• Lost wages
• Lost future earnings

Non-economic Damages

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disability
• Disfigurement

What factors affect my recovery in my motorcycle accident claim?

• The circumstances of the crash
• What parties were at fault in the accident
• If you had fault in the accident
• The extent and severity of your injuries
• What medical treatments you received
• Any long-term or permanent effects of your injuries, such as disfigurement or permanent disability
• The extent by which your injuries affect your enjoyment and quality of life
• The at-fault party’s insurance coverage

To get the full recovery you deserve, your motorcycle accident lawyer must work hard to demand full compensation and prove the extent of your damages.