Motorcycles are an efficient mode of transportation that many people use for their daily commutes. However, unlike standard cars, motorcycles do not have any metal or other reinforcements to protect you during an accident on the road.

This means that you are at a much greater risk of a serious injury from a motorcycle accident. Your body takes the full force of the impact, which can be dangerous and even deadly when moving at high speeds.

Even when you take all the proper safety precautions while riding, other vehicles are not always aware of motorcycles. Motorcycle accidents occur for several different reasons. However, regardless of whether the accident was due to negligence or recklessness, the fact remains that another individual caused you serious harm.

OnderLaw understands that you are focused on recovery and healing after a motorcycle accident. Our knowledgeable personal injury attorneys can handle every legal aspect of your injury claim, making it one less issue you have to worry about. Contact a St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyer today to get the dedicated legal help you deserve.

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You deserve justice after a serious motorcycle accident, and the other driver involved must take responsibility for their actions. To ensure that you receive appropriate compensation after your motorcycle injury, you need legal counsel from the attorneys at OnderLaw. Contact us today at (314) 408-6433 to begin work on your case.
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Why Choose OnderLaw?

We are committed to transparent communication in your case and ensuring that our work is aligned with what’s best for you and your family. We are dedicated to helping our clients, no matter how difficult or complex the case, get fair compensation for their injuries.

While our track record of success demonstrates our skill in personal injury litigation in St. Louis and across the country, OnderLaw stands out among the crowd of other law firms because of the high-quality treatment each of our clients receives.

We know that you will have numerous questions and concerns throughout your lawsuit, and our capable motorcycle accident attorneys in St. Louis are prepared to answer your phone calls and emails as quickly as possible. We will also work with you to ensure that you understand each step we are taking and that you are comfortable with our approach.

We are ready to work with you as a team to make sure you have the guidance and support you need at all times. OnderLaw knows the importance of your case, and we recognize the trust you are placing in us to protect your rights. We will not let you down, so call us today to discuss the details of your case.

 

While our track record of success demonstrates our skill in personal injury litigation, OnderLaw stands out among the crowd of other law firms because of the high-quality treatment each of our clients receives.

Follow These Steps if You Get Hurt in a Motorcycle Accident in St. Louis

The steps you take following a motorcycle accident could affect whether you receive the maximum financial compensation you need to cover your medical bills and other expenses.

Immediately following the accident, exchange contact and insurance information with the at-fault driver and, if you’re able to, gather evidence from the scene, such as photos of the damaged vehicles, skid marks, any stoplights or stop signs, and your injuries. The police will write an accident report that may include the contact and insurance information of the involved parties, as well as an opinion about the cause of the accident, so be sure to request a copy of this report as soon as you can.

Following the accident, the most important thing to focus on is your health. If an ambulance doesn’t take you to the hospital right away, be sure to see a doctor after leaving the accident scene.

The initial doctor you see will evaluate your injuries and recommend treatment. They might advise you to undergo imaging tests, surgery, physical therapy, or other forms of treatment. It’s important that you follow their instructions. Even if you’re feeling better after a few weeks or months, don’t stop attending your doctor’s appointments unless they release you from their care.

Insurance companies don’t approve claims without a fight. They will look for reasons to deny it or offer a lowball settlement offer to close out the claim and move onto the next week. Their goal is to save money. If they see that you waited a significant amount of time before your first appointment or made a habit of skipping appointments, they could use that as evidence that your injury wasn’t serious and doesn’t require a high settlement amount.

In addition to treating your injuries, be sure to gather any documents that might support your case, such as medical records, medical bills, receipts of any expenses related to your accident, your pay stubs, and so on. It’s also useful to keep a daily pain journal to track your physical pain and emotional distress. This will help prove the extent of the pain and suffering you experience as a result of the accident.

Finally, you should hire a St. Louis motorcycle crash lawyer immediately after the accident. OnderLaw has decades of experience handling cases like yours and can take on any obstacles that come our way. We can investigate the cause of the crash, obtain evidence proving someone else was at fault for your injuries, and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.

What’s Involved in an Accident Investigation?

After a motorcycle accident, our proactive St. Louis attorneys will conduct a thorough and complete investigation. Recovering compensation from the insurance company or at-fault driver isn’t that easy, even though the driver caused your injuries.

We will need sufficient evidence to prove our claim that the driver’s negligent actions caused the collision and your injuries and should be held liable for your resulting expenses. Some of the evidence we’ll need includes:

  • Crash report
  • Eyewitness statements
  • Video surveillance of the accident
  • Your medical records and medical bills
  • Evidence of missed hours and lost wages from your inability to work
  • Repair estimates for the damage to your bike and other vehicles in the accident
  • Photos from the crash scene
  • Copy of the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy and your insurance policy

After compiling all the necessary documentation and other evidence, we can submit them to the insurance company for review. The insurance adjuster will perform their own investigation into what happened and determine if they agree with our findings. If they approve your claim, we can begin settlement negotiations. If they deny your claim, we can file a lawsuit.

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Compensation Available for Motorcycle Accident Victims

Each motorcycle accident case we take is unique. Many variables can affect how much compensation you’re entitled to receive. The seasoned team of St. Louis motorcycle accident attorneys of OnderLaw are your best chance of recovering the maximum monetary award you need to compensate you for your financial, emotional, and physical losses.

These types of compensation you might be entitled to include:

 

  • Medical bills
  • Emotional distress
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Property damage
  • Out of pocket expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity

It’s important that you don’t admit fault following your accident. Just stick to the basic facts when explaining the accident to anyone, and let the investigators determine what caused the crash.

Missouri uses the modified comparative fault rule to divide blame among everyone involved in an accident. That means your compensation could be diminished proportionately to the percentage of fault you share. For example, if your compensation is worth $25,000, but a jury finds that you were 20% to blame for the accident, you could only seek up to $20,000 in compensation.

Because of this, it’s important to have an experienced motorcycle wreck lawyer on your side who can effectively gather evidence that proves you were not in any way responsible for the accident.

Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Despite ongoing campaigns to increase awareness of motorcycles on the road, many drivers still do not pay attention to motorcyclists. They also do not know the changes they need to make when driving near a motorcycle.

Driver’s on the road may cause a serious motorcycle accident when they engage in:

Speeding

Exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for road or weather conditions is dangerous. A driver has little control over their vehicle when they’re speeding, preventing them from stopping when they need to or maneuvering to avoid an accident.

Running red lights or breaking other traffic laws

Traffic signs and signals are necessary to facilitate the safe flow of vehicles. Any driver who disobeys the law by blowing through a red light or failing to yield the right of way to someone else can cause a devastating accident.

Tailgating

Tailgating happens when one driver follows another person’s vehicle too closely. Adequate stopping distance is necessary if traffic comes to a standstill, there’s an obstacle in the road or an emergency. Without enough space between the vehicles, the rear driver likely won’t be able to stop in time to avoid colliding with the back of the other vehicle.

Talking or texting while driving

It’s entirely reckless to use a handheld mobile device while operating a car. When a driver is looking down at their cell phone, they’re not focusing on the road ahead.

Road rage

Acts of road rage take a driver’s focus and attention off the task of driving. Yelling, honking the horn, or gesturing to other motorists means the driver cannot process what’s happening around them because they’re focused on another person.

Driving while tired

Drowsy driving has similar effects as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It impairs a person’s ability to make good decisions, react appropriately to hazardous conditions, and remain conscious.

Drunk Driver

Drunk driving is not only reckless but also illegal. It can lead to severe injuries and fatalities. If you were in a motorcycle accident with a drunk driver, they could face civil and criminal penalties.

Drugged Driver

Drugs, even over-the-counter medication, are just as dangerous as alcohol. They lead to reduced reaction time, altered sensory perception, and decreased motor skills.

In any of these cases, the driver in the other vehicle demonstrated poor judgment and created hazardous driving conditions. Whether intentional or negligent, these actions caused you physical harm, and they may have permanently changed your life.

You should not have to pay for another driver’s carelessness while on the road. You have a right to fight back against this injustice and seek compensation for the devastating injuries you have experienced.

Most Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents

A motorcyclist may be injured in different types of accidents, such as:

Head-on collisions

When the front of two vehicles collides, it can be deadly. These types of accidents usually happen when one driver drifts into oncoming traffic.

Left-turn accidents

Drivers preparing to turn left should always look for oncoming vehicles. A crash can result from the driver failing to notice a motorcyclist traveling through an intersection.

Lane splitting

Although laws don’t prohibit motorcyclists from lane splitting, or riding between two lanes of vehicles, it’s dangerous. There isn’t much space, and a distracted driver could swerve and crash into the bike.

T-bone collisions

This type of accident results from one vehicle crashing into the side of another. They commonly occur in intersections when one driver ignores traffic signs and signals or fails to watch for oncoming traffic.

Rear-end accidents

Tailgating is a common reason for a driver to crash into the back of someone else’s vehicle. It’s especially dangerous when it involves a motorcycle because nothing is restraining the rider on their bike.

Regardless of the cause of the motorcycle accident you were involved in, you should have the opportunity to hold the at-fault driver accountable for their actions and seek financial compensation for your injuries. At OnderLaw, our committed motorcycle wreck attorneys in St. Louis have the experience and resources to seek the justice you deserve.

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Common Injuries Suffered from Motorcycle Accidents

When you are involved in a motorcycle accident, your entire body is at risk of injury. Even when you wear a helmet and other protective gear, you cannot completely prevent an injury. This is especially true if the accident occurred while driving at high speeds or if a very large vehicle hits your motorcycle.

In both cases, your body experiences a strong force from the impact and a sudden stop, which leads to more critical injuries. Many motorcycle accidents result in injuries that require emergency medical attention and possibly even surgery.

The exact circumstances of each motorcycle accident are different, and these details will determine the severity of your injuries and the type of medical intervention you need. Nevertheless, some of the most common injuries after a motorcycle accident include:

  • Lacerations and bruises
  • Sprained or strained muscles
  • Dislocated joints
  • Tears in muscle or ligaments
  • Broken bones
  • Internal bleeding
  • Damage to internal organs
  • Neck and spine injuries
  • Brain trauma

Unfortunately, many motorcycle accidents are fatal, either because of the extreme forces during the crash or the severity of the resulting injuries. Fatal motorcycle accidents cause emotional pain and suffering for the victim’s family and loved ones rather than physical pain and suffering.

However, no matter whether your pain is physical or emotional, you are experiencing serious consequences from this accident, and you need compensation to help you cope with this devastating event.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer?

Our St. Louis motorcyclist injury lawyers know the financial strain many clients face after a wreck. We don’t want to add more financial responsibilities to your overloaded plate. That’s why we take cases on contingency.

That means we don’t charge upfront attorney fees to represent accident victims in their cases. We don’t collect any legal fees unless we successfully secure compensation from an insurance claim or lawsuit. If we lose, you won’t owe us any money.

Missouri Laws and Statutes

The fault system in Missouri determines liability after any motor vehicle accident. That means whoever causes an accident becomes financially responsible for the injured victim’s various losses.

State laws require vehicle owners and operators to purchase auto insurance with minimum liability coverage limits. Those limits should compensate an injured party for their medical bills, pain and suffering, and associated costs.

You could also seek compensation from your insurance company. Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) is another type of required coverage. If the at-fault driver doesn’t have liability insurance or has limits high enough to satisfy your losses, you could turn to your UM insurer to cover your medical bills and other expenses.

If you choose to file a lawsuit, you must follow the statute of limitations. It is a deadline that you can’t miss. The statute of limitations is five years in Missouri. That means you have five years from the crash date to sue the other driver. If the statute of limitations passes before you’re able to file suit, you could lose the opportunity to hold the at-fault driver liable and collect compensation.

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Handling the Insurance Claims Process

It’s crucial to have a skilled motorcycle accident attorney on your side during the injury claims process to ensure your rights are protected and that you receive fair compensation for all of your injuries and losses. The insurance company will do everything they can to minimize their payout or even deny your claim if they can find a reason to do so.

With the team at OnderLaw by your side, you can feel confident knowing we’ll leverage our experience and resources to secure a favorable outcome for you.

When you hire us, we will:

  • Request a copy of the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy.
  • File the injury claim on your behalf, ensuring we meet every deadline.
  • Thoroughly investigate your accident.
  • Work to obtain evidence proving the other driver was at fault for the accident and caused your injuries.
  • Negotiate a settlement with the insurance adjuster.
  • Prepare your case to go to trial if the insurance company fails to offer you a fair settlement.
With OnderLaw by your side, you can feel confident knowing we’ll leverage our experience and resources to secure a favorable outcome for you.

Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits in St. Louis

Most cases settle before ever going to trial. However, if it becomes necessary to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, it’s helpful to be aware of the steps involved in the legal process. OnderLaw will guide you through each step below:

  1. Draft complaint. We’ll draft the initial legal documents to file with the court. A complaint includes all the facts of the case and the allegations made against the defendant.
  2. Serve papers. We’ll serve the at-fault driver by hiring a process server or another eligible party to deliver those legal documents.
  3. Discovery. After we receive the defendant’s answer to our complaint, we can begin the discovery process. This includes both sides requesting copies of documents and other evidence found by the other side.
  4. Mediation. We might schedule mediation at some point during discovery to settle the case with the defendant and their attorney. During mediation, we all meet with a mediator to try to agree to a settlement amount to avoid going to trial.
  5. Trial proceedings. If we’re unable to reach a fair settlement arrangement, we’ll begin preparing for trial.

Contact a St. Louis Motorcycle Accident Attorney at OnderLaw Now

If a motorcycle accident seriously injured you or a loved one, you need OnderLaw fighting on your behalf. The financial compensation you receive cannot take away the pain you are experiencing. However, it can help protect your financial interests and provide some form of justice after a disastrous event.

A St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyer will work tirelessly to help you receive the highest compensation possible for your injuries. Let us get to work on your lawsuit today by calling us for a free consultation.