Over the past few decades, there has been a growing move of health consciousness and environmental awareness in Missouri, Illinois, and the country as a whole. More Americans are choosing to ride bicycles as an alternative form of transportation. Some wish to get in better shape, some hope to have a lower environmental impact on the world, and others may wish to save money on gas and automobile insurance premiums. Whatever a bicyclist’s reasons, the fact of the matter is that motorists have a duty to share the road with these cyclists in a safe and lawful manner. Failure to do so can result in bicycle crashes that may be catastrophic for the cyclists who are not protected by a steel enclosure surrounding them.
St. Louis personal injury attorneys see clients who have been significantly injured in these bicycle accidents all too often. The numbers appear to be growing steadily as more bicyclists take to the American roadways. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that in 2011 alone, at least 677 traffic fatalities that year were dealt to bicyclists. Additionally, a total of 48,000 cyclists suffered injuries due to motor vehicle accidents of various types during that same year. For some bicyclists, pragmatism has them pretty much expecting to get into at least one bicycle accident over the course of their lives. Tragically, this could end up seriously injuring or even killing many of them.
Victims of bicycle crashes can often seek compensation
Understanding what rights an injured victim has after being injured in this type of bicycle collision can be critical. Laws revolving around bicyclists traveling upon streets varies from state to state. This can make consulting with an experienced bicycle accident personal injury attorney key when it comes to obtaining pain and suffering compensation for medical and other expenses after this type of crash. Lawyers who practice this type of law are experienced in gathering evidence that can be instrumental in successfully pursuing personal injury compensation and they can advise victims as to what laws are applicable in their specific cases.
Whatever the applicable helmet or bicyclist laws in a particular state like Missouri or Illinois, that doesn’t necessarily absolve a motorist who acted negligently in causing a bicycle crash from any sort of responsibility. In some cases, personal injury attorneys may be able to exclude evidence that a bicyclist wasn’t wearing a helmet at the time of an accident. In other cases, the question of whether a cyclist had a helmet on doesn’t play in to the determination of whether a driver was negligent in causing or contributing to an accident in the first place. Again, having an experienced bicycle crash attorney could significantly help a victim who hopes to obtain pain and suffering compensation in order to cover their medical bills after this type of crash.
Wrongful death cases possible after certain bicycle crashes
Similarly, the surviving family members of someone who was killed in a bicycle crash may wish to research their options for filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Losing a loved one is never easy. In some cases, this type of loss can leave surviving relatives struggling to pay final medical bills, funeral expenses, or trying to figure out how to support dependent family members like children who may have just lost their sole or main breadwinner. This is one reason why wrongful death laws were created: to help people like this obtain the compensation they deserve when another person’s negligence has claimed the life of an innocent victim.
If you have either been injured by the negligence of a driver in one of these devastating bicycle crashes – or have lost a loved one in such a collision – you may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim in a Missouri or Illinois civil court. Contacting a St. Louis personal injury law firm like my own may be a good step to take. The sooner you look into your rights, the better chance you have to preserve crucial evidence which could help you win your case. Please contact my law firm at no cost to you by dialing 888-586-7041 today. I will let you know what steps could help you proceed with your case, and whether I think I can help you. In any event, this consultation will cost you nothing until and only if my law firm obtains a financial settlement for you resulting from your bicycle accident case.
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