If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident in Richmond Heights, MO, you may have serious injuries. A Richmond Heights motorcycle accident lawyer can help you recover compensation for your losses, including pain, medical bills, and lost wages.
Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers has over 30 years of experience handling motorcycle accident cases in Richmond Heights, Missouri. We know these types of crashes are very dangerous, and unfortunately, the motorcyclist often gets blamed. Our lawyers can help you build a strong legal case and hold negligent people accountable for their actions.
Call our personal injury law firm at (314) 207-4399 to set up a free consultation and learn how we can help you today.
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How Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Recover Compensation in Your Richmond Heights Motorcycle Crash Case
A Richmond Heights motorcycle accident attorney can help take the stress of a legal case off of your shoulders after a crash. We can handle tough negotiations and paperwork so you can focus on healing.
Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers has been helping motorcycle crash victims since 2002. We don’t just sympathize with our clients; we help them achieve their goals and stand up to insurance companies and negligent defendants.
We have recovered over $70 million for our clients. We have received local and national accolades, including being named members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and admitted to the Hall of Fame by the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.
When you hire us to handle your motorcycle accident case, we will:
- Analyze the facts of your case
- Explain the insurance and legal process
- Investigate the cause of the crash
- Collect evidence and consult experts
- File insurance claims and negotiate on your behalf
- Calculate your total damages
- File a personal injury lawsuit, if necessary
- Go to trial and advocate for you in court
There’s nothing we won’t do to help our injured clients. Call us to learn more about our experience with motorcycle crashes and how we can help you through this difficult time.
Why Do Motorcycle Accidents Happen in Richmond Heights, MO?
There are many different reasons that motorcycle accidents happen in Richmond Heights, MO. In general, motorcycles are less stable than cars because they only have two wheels. That means they are more prone to crashing.
In our experience, the area has some common causes of crashes, including:
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Lane splitting
- Unsafe lane changes
- Distractions
- Failure to check blind spots
- Obstructions in the road (like potholes)
- Inclement weather
- Inexperienced drivers or bikers
- Sudden stops and following too closely
We will analyze the evidence in your case to find out exactly what caused the crash. This is necessary to build a strong case and hold someone accountable. Too often, motorcyclists are blamed unfairly for causing a collision. We know that’s not always the case.
Call us to talk about the details of your crash today.
The Dangers of Motorcycle Accidents and Common Injuries
In 2021, there were 159 motorcycle fatalities in Missouri. Richmond Heights sits in St. Louis County, and in 2021, there were 12 motorcycle fatalities in this area.
Motorcycle accidents are particularly dangerous for bikers because of the lack of safety features. Motorcyclists are exposed, unlike passengers in a car. There is no frame, airbags, or advanced safety equipment to protect them. In most cases, a motorcyclist is only protected by a helmet and thick clothing to help prevent road rash.
Helmets are 37% effective at preventing fatal injuries. Motorcyclists should wear a helmet, but they must also understand that it won’t protect them from many types of injuries, including catastrophic ones.
The most common types of injuries in motorcycle accident cases include:
- Brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Burns and road rash
- Crushed limbs
- Amputation
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
Some of our clients will fully recover from their injuries, but others will not. They deserve to get paid for being hurt in an accident that wasn’t their fault.
What Is the Value of My Richmond Heights Motorcycle Accident Case?
Every motorcycle accident case has a different value. It all depends on the type of injuries and their effect on your life. Our lawyers can help you calculate your damages and the value of your case.
Of course, your motorcycle accident case is about more than just money. It’s about getting justice and the resources to move forward in your life. You may never be the same, but a lawyer can help you get some recourse when possible.
Some of the factors that impact the value of your case include:
- The nature of your injury
- The length of treatment and need for rehabilitation
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Trauma associated with the accident (physical and emotional)
- The impact of your injury on your ability to enjoy life
Many of these factors are highly personal. Our team is sensitive to each client. We know that your case is not like all the rest and can’t be generalized. We will create a strategy to maximize your case value and recover what you deserve.
Potential Damages in a Richmond Heights Motorcycle Accident Case
Damages fall into three different categories: economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are a type of compensation that is paid to a plaintiff for actual financial losses. This can be past or future losses. These financial losses happened because of an accident and the injury.
In a motorcycle crash case, economic damages may include:
- Medical bills
- Cost of surgery and follow-up treatment
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Lost wages (past and future)
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Ultimately, economic damages can include any financial expense that you incurred as a result of the crash. It doesn’t have to be directly related to your medical bills. Keep track of your receipts and bills so that you can prove economic damages later.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are what we often call pain and suffering. These are non-financial damages and are based on emotional and physical harm.
In a motorcycle accident case, we may recover non-economic damages for:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Inconvenience
- Permanent disfigurement
- Anxiety, depression, or PTSD
These damages are highly personal and vary greatly from person to person. Many clients come into our office and only focus on economic damages when they deserve compensation for non-financial losses as well.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are available if the defendant intentionally caused the accident or acted with a “flagrant disregard” for the safety of others. This is a high bar that the plaintiff must prove by clear and convincing evidence. As a result, punitive damages are not available in every motorcycle crash case.
The purpose of punitive damages is to punish the defendant for extremely bad behavior. It deters them from acting similarly in the future. Call our office to learn more about punitive damages and whether or not they may be available in your case.
How Long Do I Have To File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Missouri?
In Missouri, you generally have five years to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit. This is called the statute of limitations, or the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit before you lose your chance. The deadline is three years for a wrongful death case.
The purpose of the statute of limitations is to preserve access to evidence. If you waited to file a motorcycle crash lawsuit until ten years later, it would be harder to find witnesses, collect records, and prove your case.
If you miss the deadline, there are serious consequences. You will lose all legal rights to pursue compensation in court. It’s best to hire a lawyer to help you at the beginning of your case. They will keep track of this deadline and others so that you don’t unintentionally miss your shot at recovering money.
How Much Does a Richmond Heights Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Cost?
Richmond Heights motorcycle accident lawyers tend to charge a contingency fee. This type of fee arrangement is different from the hourly billing that other lawyers use. Instead of paying your lawyer every month, accident attorneys only get paid at the end of the case.
They calculate their payment based on the amount of your settlement or court award. The lawyer will take a set percentage of the final award that was agreed upon at the beginning of the case.
This fee model has a lot of benefits for clients. It means you don’t pay your lawyer until the case is over. You can afford to pay the lawyer because it is coming directly from the settlement. Plus, your lawyer will work hard on your case because if they lose, they won’t get paid at all for their time.
For example, if you agree to a 30% contingency fee, and your lawyer negotiates a $100,000 settlement, your lawyer is paid $30,000. If your lawyer only negotiates a $10,000 settlement in the same case, your lawyer only gets paid $3,000. It doesn’t matter if they spent 10 hours or 100 hours on your case. What matters is the final result.
Call a Richmond Heights Motorcycle Accident Lawyer To Set Up a Free Consultation
If you’re ready to speak with a Richmond Heights motorcycle accident lawyer, call Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers at (314) 207-4399 to set up a free consultation. We are ready to hear your story and help you in the wake of a traumatic motorcycle crash.
