Were you involved in a bicycle accident? Did you sustain injuries due to the negligent actions of another person? If so, contact the reliable personal injury attorneys at OnderLaw. Our legal team will review your legal options and how we can hold the driver accountable for their actions.

The capital of Missouri offers numerous options for local bike riders, whether they’re commuting through town or joining a community bike ride event. When a driver fails to notice a bicycle, however, or takes proper precautions when driving near them, the result can be a dangerous bike accident. With nothing but a helmet to protect them from harm, bicyclists often suffer severe road rash, broken bones, head trauma, or worse.

If you’re in pain, facing expensive medical bills, and out of work due to your injuries, you may feel like the financial strain and stress resulting from the accident will never end. You don’t have to face these challenges alone. OnderLaw will work vigorously to pursue the financial compensation you need to help you recover and get your life back.

We are unparalleled in our dedication to our clients, and our successful settlements and verdicts have earned us recognition from several different legal organizations, such as the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and The National Trial Lawyers, which named us Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

For more information about our legal services, call us, and a Jefferson City bicycle accident lawyer will meet with you for a free consultation.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Jefferson City is a beautiful part of Missouri, with plenty of places to ride your bike. Bicycling is a great way to get around and also get exercise. However, sharing the roads with motor vehicles can be dangerous. If you suffer an accident, you could end up with debilitating injuries. You don’t have an airbag, seatbelt, or other safety equipment to protect you from the full force of a vehicle crashing into you.

Drivers are supposed to pay attention to bicyclists and yield the right of way whenever necessary. They should additionally always check their blind spots before changing lanes, merging, or making a turn. If the driver becomes distracted or makes an error in judgment, it can be devastating to the bicyclist.

The most common causes of bicycle accidents include:

  • Passing a bike too closely
  • Speeding
  • Sudden braking
  • Distracted driving
  • Failure to yield the right of way
  • Turning left without looking for a bicycle
  • Failure to stop at a crosswalk

At OnderLaw, our Jefferson City bicycle accident attorneys are familiar with all the reasons vehicle drivers end up in collisions with bicyclists. Some people don’t know what the laws are when it comes to sharing the road with bikes. Others ignore important traffic laws while rushing to get to work in the morning. Unfortunately, when a vehicle collides with a bicycle, the bicyclist typically ends up suffering the most.

Why Choose Our Firm?

Our Jefferson City bike crash lawyers understand the steps we need to take to protect your rights and build a solid case following your accident. It’s important that you hire OnderLaw immediately after the accident so we can begin working on your case.

While you’re attending your doctors’ appointments to treat your injuries, we will focus on the legal aspects of your case. We’ll begin by investigating the crash to determine what happened and who was at fault. We’ll need to gather relevant evidence to prove our claim, such as:

  • The police report
  • Statements from eyewitnesses
  • At-fault driver’s insurance policy
  • Repair estimate for the damage to any cars involved in the accident
  • Video surveillance
  • Accident scene photos
  • Your medical records, medical bills, and other documentation associated with the case

We can file an insurance claim or lawsuit on your behalf and use the evidence we found to prove that the at-fault party should be held liable for the injuries you sustained. We will aggressively pursue the maximum compensation you deserve so that you can afford your medical care and other expenses. You shouldn’t be financially responsible for the accident-related costs you incurred. That should fall on the shoulders of the negligent driver who caused your physical, emotional, and financial losses.

Available Compensation After a Bicycle Accident in Jefferson City

When you hire an experienced bicycle accident attorney in Jefferson City, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing they will leverage their skillset and resources to fight for the full compensation you need to cover the losses you suffered as a result of your accident. You may be eligible for different types of compensation, such as:

  • Medical expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Property damage
  • Lost wages and earning capacity
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of consortium
  • Wrongful death

Whether we file an insurance claim or lawsuit will depend on the circumstances of your case. In most cases, it’s best to pursue a claim first to see if the insurance company will provide a settlement that adequately covers your past and future losses. If they deny your claim or provide a low settlement amount, we can file a lawsuit.

We will review the facts of your case and determine which options may be best for you. We will explain the legal process at every step and provide guidance and support during this difficult time in your life. We’ll make sure we’re available to answer your questions so you’re always well-informed and know what to expect.

What’s the Difference Between an Insurance Claim and a Lawsuit?

Our Jefferson City bicycle collision attorneys have extensive experience handling insurance claims and lawsuits. The goal of both options is to recover as much compensation as possible that pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and other costs. But each option has its own procedures and deadlines that must be followed if you want to hold the driver accountable for their actions.

Insurance Claims

When someone else is responsible for your bike accident, you can pursue financial compensation through their auto insurance company. Missouri follows a fault system, holding the at-fault driver liable for the injured party’s losses. Even though you were on a bike, you can file a claim with the driver’s liability insurance.

All drivers must carry liability insurance with minimum limits of:

  • $25,000 for bodily injury per person
  • $50,000 for bodily injury per accident
  • $10,000 for property damage

You can seek compensation for your losses up to the limits listed on their policy.

Your Jefferson City bicycle wreck lawyer from OnderLaw will request a copy of the driver’s insurance policy to determine how much coverage is available and file a claim on your behalf. We’ll perform an investigation, gather evidence, and submit it to the insurance company for review.

Once the insurance adjuster completes their own investigation into the cause of the accident, we can begin settlement negotiations. We’ll leverage the strength of the case we’ve developed and the evidence we’ve gathered to negotiate assertively and strategically for the full compensation you need.

Lawsuits

Most cases end with a settlement. However, if the insurance company denies your claim or won’t offer the settlement amount you deserve, we’ll be fully prepared to file a lawsuit on your behalf and fight for full compensation in court.

Oftentimes, these cases will still settle before we actually proceed to trial. However, sometimes settlement is not possible or even advisable in certain situations, so we’ll always be prepared to present your case to a judge or jury in court.

To successfully file a lawsuit in Missouri, it’s important to know about the state’s statute of limitations deadline. Missouri’s statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in a civil court is five years. This means you usually have only five years from the date of the injury to file your lawsuit in court. If you fail to file your lawsuit in five years, you will most likely lose your right to pursue compensation in court.

Five years may sound like a long period of time, but the insurance claim process that generally precedes the lawsuit takes time. Also, you want to begin the process of gathering evidence as soon as you can, so it’s always best to contact an attorney immediately following your accident to ensure they can build a strong case and meet every deadline.

Contact Our Jefferson City Bicycle Accident Attorneys Today

Our bicycle accident attorneys will stand by your side and fight for the justice you’re owed. You have the right to hold the at-fault driver liable and pursue the financial compensation you need to help you recover from your injuries and get back on your feet.

When you hire us, we’ll discuss your legal options and advise you on how we believe you should proceed. We never pressure our clients into making decisions they’re not comfortable with. We’ll always keep your best interests in mind while we’re working on your case.

At OnderLaw, we have recovered over $3 billion in compensation for our clients. We’re ready to take on your case and work hard to reach a favorable outcome. We know that money can’t change what happened to you, but we hope it will provide some financial relief and help you heal physically and emotionally.

If you were in a bicycle accident that another person caused, call us today for a free consultation, and a Jefferson City bicycle accident lawyer will help you get on the road to recovery.