Need A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer In St. Louis?
After a serious motorcycle accident, all your efforts should be focused on healing. But sometimes you can’t escape the overwhelming thoughts of who was at fault, how you will deal with insurance coverage, and what you can do to make ends meet while you recover.
Let the experienced St. Louis motorcycle accident attorneys at The Bruning Law Firm take those burdens off of you. We have years of experience representing people who were injured due to someone else’s negligence, and we have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our deserving clients. Our membership in the Top 100 Trial Lawyers organization and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum are testaments to the work we do and our dedication to outstanding service.
How much is my St. Louis motorcycle accident claim worth?
After a motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another party, you may have the right to seek compensation through a motorcycle accident claim.
How much you receive in compensation, however, may depend on:
- Who caused your accident? Missouri drivers who carry minimum auto insurance may carry just $25,000 in bodily injury protection coverage. Other drivers, on the other hand, may carry more substantial coverage, which can offer better overall compensation for the injuries you sustained in your accident. You may also find that you have better odds of recovering more compensation if another entity, including a trucking company or a driver’s employer, bears liability for your injuries.
- What injuries did you suffer in your motorcycle accident? The more injuries you suffer, or the more severe your injuries, the higher your medical bills may rise after a St. Louis motorcycle accident. Since your medical bills typically form the foundation of a motorcycle accident claim in St. Louis, if you have extensive injuries and high medical bills, it can increase the compensation you recover after your accident. Try to keep track of all the medical bills you face after your motorcycle accident so that you can easily collect them to determine how much your recovery cost.
- How much work did you have to miss after your motorcycle accident? In addition to claiming compensation for your medical expenses, you can also claim compensation for the hours you missed at work because of your accident and your injuries. How much work you have to miss may depend on your specific employer and your job duties as well as the extent of your injuries. You could include lost wages from missed work as part of your St. Louis motorcycle accident claim.
- How did your motorcycle accident injuries affect other areas of your life? Motorcycle accident injuries can impact every area of your life: your ability to take care of yourself, to spend time with friends and loved ones, or to engage in the activities you love. Often, your injuries can prevent you from enjoying your usual activities, especially if you sustained substantial injuries in the accident. You could include compensation for pain and suffering, including both physical pain and emotional anguish, as part of your St. Louis motorcycle accident claim.
Do I really need an attorney to handle a St. Louis motorcycle accident claim?
If you suffered injuries in a St. Louis motorcycle accident, you may need to have an attorney on your side. An attorney can help you navigate your claim, from letting you know what you need to do next to helping you determine how much compensation you should really pursue for your injuries and how to continue negotiations if the insurance company does not offer the compensation you really deserve. A St. Louis motorcycle accident attorney can offer advantages in managing your claim.
A St. Louis motorcycle accident attorney understands the St. Louis court system and the challenges you may face. St. Louis has many dangers that can increase the risk of motorcycle accidents, from a heavy number of big trucks on I-64 and I-270 to dangerous areas of the interstate that could result in falling off of the interstate altogether in an accident. Sometimes, that may mean that you need to file for compensation from more than just the individual that directly caused your accident and your injuries.
A qualified motorcycle injury lawyer can help you understand your rights and make it easier for you to navigate the court system, whether you need to file for compensation through the city or against a private driver that caused your accident. The Bruning Law Firm is here to help. Contact us today to discuss your case and your legal options moving forward.
Our legal team can help search for evidence related to your motorcycle accident. Some motorcycle accident claims have a relatively straightforward progression because you can clearly display who caused the accident and what factors may have contributed to it. Others, however, may cause more substantial challenges. The other driver may try to claim that you caused the accident, or you may have sustained injuries in an accident due to the negligence of multiple parties.
An attorney, like those at the Bruning Law Firm, can help investigate all of those details.
Did something break on your motorcycle, leading to your accident? An attorney can help determine whether a manufacturer’s error may have led to that breakdown. Did a commercial driver mistakenly cause your injuries due to negligence related to company policies or demands? You may have the right to claim compensation through the driver’s employer as well as filing for compensation directly through the liable driver’s insurance policy. A lawyer can help investigate all the details of the claim and, in many cases, give you a better idea of who may bear liability for your injuries.
A St. Louis motorcycle accident attorney can help deal with the insurance company that bears liability for your accident. Dealing with an insurance company can feel like a perpetual headache. Not only do you have to contend with regular calls coming in, many of which may feel aggressive or demeaning, you may find yourself arguing with the insurance company over the compensation you deserve after your accident. The right motorcycle accident attorney can help decrease many of the headaches associated with that process: negotiating on your behalf, for example, so that the insurance company has to go through the attorney’s office instead of dealing with you directly.
How do I know who bears liability for my motorcycle accident?
Most often, the driver that caused your accident may bear primary liability for the accident and, therefore, for your injuries. However, in several cases, other entities may share liability for your accident.
An attorney can go over the circumstances that led to your accident and give you a better idea of who may share liability for your injuries, including:
- The employer of a commercial driver who caused your accident. A commercial driver on the clock at the time of the accident may share liability with their employer, especially if the employer has specific policies that contributed to the accident and your injuries.
- Your motorcycle’s manufacturer. Mechanical problems with your motorcycle can quickly lead to severe injuries in an accident. The more serious the mechanical problems, especially when it comes to problems with your brakes, the greater the likelihood that you will sustain serious injuries in an accident.
- A mechanic that recently worked on a vehicle that malfunctioned, leading to your accident. The liable mechanic may have worked on your motorcycle or the other driver’s vehicle, then certified it as road-worthy. Unfortunately, if the vehicle had damage that the mechanic did not note or that the mechanic caused while repairing the vehicle, it can lead to an accident with serious injuries. The mechanic that certified that vehicle was roadworthy may share liability for the accident and any associated injuries.
What should I do about my medical bills after a St. Louis motorcycle accident?
Whether you visit Kindred Hospital of St. Louis, SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital, or Barnes Jewish Hospital, you can expect one thing: medical bills that continue to add up the longer your treatment goes on. The worse your injuries, including injuries like traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injuries, the higher the medical bills you may face in the aftermath of your accident. Even a trip to an urgent care center may mean considerable medical bills, especially if you have an injury that requires ongoing treatment.
You need to find a way to pay those medical bills. As time passes after your accident, medical bills may even get sent to collections if you fail to pay them promptly, which can hit your credit and lead to further financial challenges.
As the injured party, you will need to take responsibility for those medical bills.
However, you do have some options that may make it easier for you to cover those medical costs.
- Use MedPay/medical payments insurance. Missouri insurance providers are required to offer MedPay insurance, which will help provide compensation for medical bills that result from a motor vehicle accident. It is not required; however, if you do carry that insurance, it can substantially alleviate much of the burden associated with immediate medical costs after an accident.
- Use your health insurance. Health insurance can serve as a vital financial lifeline in the immediate aftermath of a St. Louis motorcycle accident. Contact your health insurance provider to get a better idea of how much coverage you have for the types of treatments you need after your motorcycle accident, especially as you work with your doctors to put together a comprehensive care plan. Make sure you know what coverage you have for elements like in-home medical care, durable medical equipment, and physical or occupational therapy required after your accident.
- Use the funds from a motorcycle accident claim to help pay for your medical bills. It may take considerable time after your motorcycle accident to receive compensation for your expenses. However, in the meantime, an attorney can issue a letter of protection that will show your intent to pay those bills once you receive the funds from a motorcycle accident claim. A motorcycle accident claim can provide you with much-needed compensation that can make it much easier to manage your medical expenses.
Will I have to go to court to settle a motorcycle accident claim in St. Louis?
Most of the time, insurance companies do not want to have to go to court to settle a motorcycle accident claim. Going to court can significantly increase the company’s legal expenses—and the company may remain on the hook for the funds you deserve for your injuries. However, in some cases, especially accidents with disputed liability, you may have to go to court to resolve your motorcycle accident claim.
What are the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in St. Louis?
St. Louis motorcycle accidents can occur for a range of reasons, including driver distraction or drivers who ignore the rules of the road.
Other problems may include:
- Overall road quality. Missouri has some of the worst infrastructures in the nation, including dangerous roads that may significantly increase the hazards faced by drivers on them and crowded streets.
- High levels of traffic. St. Louis sees a great deal of traffic each day, especially during busy rush hours. As a result, motorcycle riders may have a harder time navigating through traffic and avoiding potential accidents.
- Blindspot accidents. Motorcycles fit right into the blind spot of the average passenger vehicle, which means that other drivers may have a very hard time seeing motorcycle riders and may inadvertently pull over on top of them.
How long do I have to contact a motorcycle accident attorney after a motorcycle accident in St. Louis?
In St. Louis, you have until the statute of limitations runs out to file a civil claim for any reason, including a motorcycle accident. However, you should carefully consider the downsides to waiting too long to file your motorcycle accident claim, including a loss of evidence over time and difficulty establishing who caused or contributed to the accident if you wait too long to start moving forward with a claim.
Ideally, you should get in touch with a motorcycle accident attorney in St. Louis as soon after your accident as possible so the attorney can begin working on your behalf, from helping you deal with negotiations with the insurance company to seeking vital evidence related to your accident. The sooner you get in touch with an attorney, in many cases, the more assistance and support the attorney can offer—and the better your odds of achieving a successful resolution to your claim.
Contact us today to discuss how our St. Louis personal injury lawyers can help pursue the motorcycle accident compensation you and your family need.
St Louis Motorcycle Accident Attorney: We Fight for Maximum Compensation
Compared to other types of vehicle crashes, motorcycle accidents can result in some of the most serious injuries. Insurance companies know this, so they often try to offer a quick settlement before you understand the extent of your injuries.
At The Bruning Law Firm, our knowledgeable motorcycle accident attorneys are extremely familiar with these types of cases, and we will thoroughly investigate your case to determine exactly how much compensation you will need. This may include:
- Past and future medical bills related to your motorcycle accident injury.
- Lost wages, including projections for future lost earnings.
- Damage to your motorcycle.
- Compensation for the pain and suffering you are going through.
- Punitive damages, meant to punish the at-fault party in extreme cases.
Our skilled motorcycle accident injury attorneys will negotiate aggressively with the insurance companies. But if you are not offered a full and fair settlement, we will not hesitate to take your motorcycle accident lawsuit to court.
Let the strong legal team at The Bruning Law Firm put our skills to work for you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
St. Louis Injury Attorneys: Our Practice Areas
With more than 35 years of experience successfully representing St. Louis residents in personal injury cases, our St. Louis personal injury lawyers at The Bruning law firm have handled a variety of claims, including:
- Car Accidents
- Tractor-Trailer Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle or Pedestrian Accidents
- School Bus Accidents
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Most motorcyclists know how important it is to drive defensively and minimize the risk to themselves and others on the road.Unfortunately, the negligence of another driver is often to blame when a motorcyclist is seriously injured in a roadway collision.
5 Common motorcycle accident injuries suffered in St. Louis include:
1. Head and neck injuries
Although a helmet can reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI) or death, it cannot eliminate the risk. Likewise, “whiplash,” spinal cord damage, and other injuries to the neck and head can occur in a serious crash.
2. Back and spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) are among the most expensive and difficult to treat. Any part of the spinal cord, from the neck to the low back, might be injured in a motorcycle accident, with life-altering results. Even if the spinal cord is undamaged, broken vertebrae, damaged discs, or nerve injuries can cause ongoing problems with pain, mobility, and feeling.
3. Broken bones
Many motorcycle accidents result in one or more fractured bones, especially if the driver “wipes out” during the crash. Broken bones may require surgery to repair. They nearly always involve pain, swelling, a long period of recovery, and physical therapy and rehabilitation to restore muscle strength and mobility after the bone has healed.
4. “Road burn”
This occurs when the skin is flayed or scraped away by rubbing against a rough surface, such as the surface of the road. Like a burn caused by heat, road burn damages or destroys one or more layers of skin, causing extreme pain and greatly increasing the risk of infection. The risks are increased further when debris from the road becomes embedded in the skin, causing infection or pain.
5. Mental and psychological injuries.
Trauma is a normal response to an abnormal event – and a motorcycle crash can cause severe trauma. Many people who suffer motorcycle accidents experience anxiety, depression, insomnia, mood swings, or “flashbacks” to the event. These symptoms are just as real as the symptoms of physical injury – and they can be just as disabling if they are not treated by a qualified professional.
Even if you feel OK right after a motorcycle accident, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible. There are many motorcycle accident injuries that may go unnoticed initially but cause serious harm if left untreated.
4 Steps to Take After A Motorcycle Accident
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle crash, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your claim for compensation. Here’s where to start:
1. Keep all your doctor’s appointments.
See a doctor as soon as possible after the crash. Keep all your appointments, including any visits to specialists or for testing such as X-rays. If you were prescribed medication or medical devices, read the instructions and follow them. Call your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about the instructions. Most importantly, if your symptoms change or get worse, contact your doctor’s office immediately.
2. Store your paperwork in a safe place.
Choose a single safe place to keep copies of all the paperwork related to your accident.Paperwork such as medical bills and reports, accident reports, information from insurance companies, and repair or replacement bills for your motorcycle and other property should go in this location. This paperwork will help support your case for compensation.
3. Notify your insurance company about the MO accident.
Contact your insurance company about your motorcycle crash as soon as possible. If you miss your insurance policy’s deadline for filing your claim, insurance will not cover it. Whenever you talk to your insurance company, stick to the facts: what happened, where and when it happened, and who was involved. Don’t say the accident was your fault.Instead, say that you’re waiting to see what the investigation reveals.
4. Talk to a St. Louis Motorcycle attorney.
A lawyer with experience handling motorcycle accident claims can help you negotiate with insurance companies, build a case for the compensation you need, and go to court to demand that the at-fault party be held accountable for the damage you have suffered.
Contact Our St. Louis Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today
At The Bruning Law Firm, our St. Louis accident injury attorneys are committed to providing a superior level of client service to crash victims throughout Missouri and Southern Illinois. Our legal team will investigate your accident thoroughly, plan for possible obstacles in your case, and think “outside the box” to pursue the compensation you need.
Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation, and let our team take the stress off you so you can focus on healing.
Client Testimonial
"Ryan and Alice were awesome and VERY patient with my questions and keeping me informed with the details of the case. My case was very patience-tested and they remained professional, going out of their way for the best interests of their client (me!). Very grateful for their help! HIGHLY recommend this law firm!" - Chris O.Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐February 2020
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