Handling the aftermath of any traffic accident in Independence, Missouri, is always difficult. However, accidents involving cyclists come with their own unique challenges.
Our award-winning Independence bicycle accident lawyers help victims and their families recover financial compensation.
Our skilled legal team at Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers are skilled negotiators and determined litigators with 35+ years experience. We are here to support you through this painful and challenging time.
Need help with your bike accident injury claim in Independence, Missouri? Call (816) 382-6915 for a free consult with our knowledgeable attorneys.
How Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Independence Can Help
Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers has proudly represented injured cyclists since 1990. Here’s a quick overview of how our team may be able to help you:
- We have a strong working knowledge of local bicycle and traffic laws
- We can assess your case and give you an idea of what it may be worth
- We’ll conduct an in-depth investigation and build a compelling case
- We’ll negotiate with insurance companies to attempt to recover a fair settlement
- If need be, we’ll argue your case in court
If you’ve just suffered a major accident, you might understandably be concerned about the cost of working with a lawyer. Our experienced bicycle accident attorneys in Independence, Missouri, work on contingency, so you only pay if we win your case.
Missouri Laws for Bicyclists
Most people know that Missouri has cyclist protection laws that apply to drivers. However, bicyclists are also obligated to follow a set of laws. These are some of the most important ones to know:
Cyclists Have the Same Rights and Responsibilities as Drivers
Like most states, Missouri treats bicycles as vehicles. This means that cyclists must adhere to many of the same laws that apply to drivers:
- Cyclists must stop at red lights and stop signs
- They must ride with traffic, not against it
- They must signal when changing lanes or turning
In some areas, it may be permitted to ride a bike on the sidewalk. However, Missouri law prohibits riding on the sidewalk in a business district.
Cyclists Generally Must Ride Close to the Right of the Roadway
In most cases, cyclists must ride as close to the right side of the road as they safely can. However, there are certain circumstances where cyclists may move closer to the center of the roadway:
- When avoiding gutters, gravel, and other hazards on the right side of the road
- When making a left turn
- When the lane is too narrow to safely share with a car
- When the right lane is a turn lane and the cyclist is going straight
It’s important to note that while the law requires slower-moving cyclists to stay to the right side of the road, it does not require them to ride on the shoulder.
Bikes Must Have Required Safety Equipment
If a cyclist is riding after dark, Missouri law requires them to have certain safety equipment:
- A white light on the front of the bicycle (visible at 500 feet)
- A rear-facing red reflector (at least 2”) or light (visible at 600 feet)
- Lights or reflective material on pedals or cyclists’ lower legs (visible at 200 feet from front and rear)
- Lights or reflective material on the sides of the bike and/or cyclist (visible at 300 feet)
Notably, state law does not require cyclists to wear helmets. However, doing so is generally a good idea, especially when riding on very busy roads.
Are you searching online for a “bicycle accident lawyer near me” in Independence, Missouri? Call (816) 382-6915 now to speak with our knowledgeable legal team.
Reasons for Bicycle Accidents
Whether you’re a commuter, a competitive cyclist, or just someone who enjoys going for a bike ride from time to time, understanding Missouri’s laws for cyclists can help you stay safe. However, even the most careful cyclist can end up in an accident. These are some of the most common reasons for bicycle accidents:
Failure to Yield
Missouri laws specify when cyclists or drivers have the right-of-way and state that all operators are obligated to act in a manner that avoids harm. For example, if a driver turning left at an intersection fails to yield to a cyclist traveling straight through the intersection in the opposite direction, the cyclist could incur catastrophic injuries if a collision occurs.
Speeding
Drivers who speed can dramatically shorten the amount of time they have to avoid hazards. This makes them more prone to getting into accidents with all other vehicles, not just bicycles.
Running Stop Signs or Red Lights
All road users should be careful to obey traffic laws. Unfortunately, some drivers and cyclists disregard red lights and stop signs, and doing so makes accidents much more likely.
Distracted Driving
Because bicycles are so much smaller than cars, some drivers don’t notice them until it’s too late to stop an accident. When a driver is texting, adjusting a GPS, or otherwise not paying attention, it makes it more likely that they’ll hit a cyclist.
Bad Road Conditions
Potholes, gravel, and road debris might not seriously affect a car, but they can easily cause a cyclist to crash.
Opening Doors Without Checking for Cyclists
It’s not unusual for city streets to allow cars to park on the side of the road. Sometimes, a person in a parked car may open a door directly in the path of a cyclist. If there’s not enough time to stop, the cyclist may hit the door.
Inexperienced Cyclists
It can take time and practice to fully understand Missouri’s traffic laws for cyclists. New riders who are still figuring out the rules may make accident-causing errors.
Injuries Commonly Associated With Bike Accidents
In a crash, a bicyclist has far less protection than someone in a vehicle. After an accident between a bike and a car, it’s not uncommon for the cyclist to have suffered serious harm while the driver has few to no injuries.
These are some of the most common injuries our Independence bicycle accident attorneys have seen:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Bicycle helmets can help reduce your risk of a major head injury. However, in an accident with a motor vehicle, a cyclist can still suffer a TBI.
These injuries vary in severity. Concussions are a type of mild TBI, and many eventually resolve on their own. Severe TBIs can cause permanent damage to large areas of the brain.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Like TBIs, spinal cord injuries vary in severity. The most serious are complete spinal cord injuries. These injuries completely sever the spinal cord, causing complete loss of feeling and movement below the injury.
Broken Bones and/or Crush Injuries
Broken bones are an unfortunately common injury in bike accidents. Some broken bones heal relatively quickly, but others may require surgery.
If you become trapped under a vehicle during the accident, you might suffer a crush injury. These injuries can lead to extensive damage to almost every type of tissue.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Sprains and strains are common in bicycle accidents. However, it’s also possible to suffer damage to your internal organs. This is especially likely if you are flung from the bicycle or the car directly hits your body.
Road Rash and Lacerations
These injuries might not sound serious compared to some of the other possibilities. However, they can lead to dangerous complications. Road rash and lacerations can easily become infected, and that infection can become systemic if the issue isn’t treated right away.
Liability in Bike Accident Injury Claims
Determining who is at fault for your bicycle accident isn’t always as straightforward as it sounds. Our experienced Independence bicycle accident lawyers can discuss your case with you and help you determine who may be liable.
In many bike accidents, one or more of these parties is to blame:
Drivers of Motor Vehicles
Many of the cases our Independence bicycle accident attorneys see involve careless or negligent drivers. Drivers who cause bicycle accidents are often drowsy, distracted, speeding, or impaired.
Cyclists
If you were violating traffic laws and that led to your accident, you may be partially liable for your injuries. Missouri is a pure comparative negligence state, which means that you may still try to recover damages if you were partly to blame for your injuries. Any money you receive is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Bicycle/Parts Manufacturers
If your bike accident was caused by a defect in your bike or a bike part, the manufacturer may be partially or totally at fault.
Government Entities
If poor road maintenance or unsafe road design contributed to your accident, you might be able to file a lawsuit against the responsible government organization.
Recovering Damages After a Bicycle Accident
If you file a bicycle accident claim, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses. This compensation is referred to as “damages.” While each case is different, these are some of the most commonly collected damages in bicycle accident cases:
Medical Expenses
Cyclists involved in accidents with cars often suffer severe injuries. These injuries can also be costly to treat, both now and in the future.
Lost Income
If you have to miss work while healing, you may lose thousands of dollars in income. Your settlement may compensate you for that loss.
Lost Earning Capacity
If your injuries cause a disability that permanently diminishes your ability to earn money, you could be compensated for that, too.
Property Damage
If your bike and/or other property is damaged in the accident, you could recover compensation to pay for repairs or replacement.
Pain and Suffering
It’s hard to put a dollar value on the physical and emotional suffering that comes with a bicycle accident. Your settlement will likely include compensation for the pain you’ve had to endure.
What to Do After Being in a Bicycle Accident
If you’ve just been hit by a vehicle, it can be difficult to think clearly. However, if you’re not too injured to do so, taking the following steps can help preserve your chances of filing a successful claim:
- Call 911 and stay on the scene while waiting for police
- Don’t admit fault or negotiate a payment arrangement with the driver
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the driver
- Gather witness contact information
- Document the accident scene with photos
- Make sure police hear your statement when filling out the accident report
- Seek medical attention immediately
- Don’t negotiate with the insurance company or accept the first settlement offer
It’s also important to contact an Independence bicycle accident lawyer after the accident. Your lawyer can help you decide what to do next, and they may be able to help negotiate a fair settlement.
Deadline for Filing a Bicycle Accident Claim
If you have been severely injured in a bicycle accident, you might not be able to file a claim right away. However, it’s important to be mindful of Missouri’s statute of limitations, which is a law limiting the time you have to file a lawsuit after an injury.
Fortunately, Missouri’s statute of limitations for bicycle accidents and other personal injury cases is unusually long: you have five years from the date of your injury to file a claim.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you should wait until the statute of limitations has almost passed before you contact an Independence bicycle accident lawyer. Before filing a claim on your behalf, your attorney will need time to investigate your case, gather evidence, and formulate an argument.
As the years pass, it also becomes more difficult to recover traffic camera footage and other kinds of evidence. Starting on your case earlier could help avoid potential difficulties.
Representing Bicycle Accident Victims in Independence, Missouri, Since 1990
When it comes to traffic accidents, bicyclists are uniquely vulnerable to serious injuries. Drivers are protected by seat belts, airbags, and the body of the car itself. Cyclists just have a helmet.
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, you may have felt vulnerable at the time of the crash. Our goal is to help you reclaim your power. Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers has been advocating for the rights of injured cyclists since 1990.
If you’re looking for an experienced Independence bicycle accident attorney, contact us today for your free consultation.
Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers has helped bike accident injury victims in cities across Missouri including: O’Fallon, St. Louis, Jefferson City, Florissant, Springfield, Joplin, Cape Girardeau, Kansas City, Columbia, Kirksville, and more.
