Chesterfield Bicycle Accident Lawyer

It only takes one moment of inattention from a driver to cause a bicycle accident. Unfortunately for riders, they take most of the damage in these accidents. Cyclists have far less protection than people in vehicles.

Contact Morelli Law and our team of personal injury lawyers in Chesterfield if you’ve been in a bicycle accident. For decades, our team has helped bicycle accident victims get compensation for their injuries. We’ve helped clients recover over $1 billion in compensation. Put our expertise to work for you with one phone call.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident

There are things you can do after your accident to increase your chances of success with a settlement or lawsuit. These things can also keep your health from getting worse. After a bicycle accident, you should:

Contact the Police

If you’re able to do so, contact the Chesterfield police and give a report. This will prove that you’ve been in an accident and summon medical help. However, you may have been taken straight to the hospital after your accident. If the police haven’t contacted you by the time you can hold a conversation, call the Chesterfield police department to make a report.

At the Scene

At the scene, while you’re waiting for the police, exchange contact information with the other drivers and ask for their insurance information. Take photos of the accident scene, the damage on the vehicles, and your injuries.

If there were eyewitnesses, ask if they saw anything and take down their contact information. Don’t ask them their opinion about who was at fault or offer speculation. This could damage your witness’ testimony later.

Seek Medical Help

If you didn’t go to the hospital because of your injuries, see a doctor as soon as possible, even if you feel fine. You may have hidden injuries from the adrenaline that you could aggravate. Insurers may also claim something else caused your injuries if there’s too much time between the accident and your visit.

A doctor’s visit will create a record of your injuries and your doctor’s opinion about their cause. A Chesterfield bicycle accident lawyer can use this record to prove damages and calculate their value.

Contact a Lawyer

Finally, contact a lawyer with experience in bicycle accidents, like the team at Morelli Law. With a free consultation, you can learn your legal options, your chances of success, and how a lawyer can help you get the most from your accident claim.

How a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Help You

Can you make an insurance claim on your own? You can, but you’re at a significant disadvantage. The insurance companies will fight your claim or, if they know they must pay, try to get you to settle for as little as possible.

You’re still dealing with injuries and probably facing a lot of financial difficulty. They’ll try to take advantage of this. However, once you have a lawyer, then they must work with them by law. Your lawyer will force them to follow the rules and pay a fair amount or take them to court.

A bicycle accident lawyer will:

• Investigate what happened to see if you have a case and your chances of winning.
• Gather evidence that will help your case and construct it into a powerful narrative.
• Calculate the full value of your damages so you’ll know what a fair deal looks like.
• Use their case to get the insurance companies to pay you what you’re truly owed, not what they believe you’re owed.
• If they refuse to come to a fair settlement, take your case to court so a judge and jury can decide.
• Advise you throughout the process on what to do and not do to protect yourself.
• Keep you updated on the status of your case.
• Handle getting the final settlement or judgment and get it to you.

I Wasn’t Wearing a Helmet. Can I Make a Claim?

Bicycle riders are not required by Missouri state law to wear a helmet as long as their bicycle isn’t motorized. However, city laws may require riders to wear helmets. The laws on helmets can affect your insurance claim.

If the insurance company believes that you contributed to your accident, then they will try to lower your compensation. If you were required to wear a helmet and you didn’t, then you may not get full compensation.

To fight back against the claims, hire a bicycle accident lawyer to help you. Morelli Law encourages all riders to wear a helmet. It’s not just good for safety. It also makes good legal sense.

When Should I Contact a Chesterfield Bicycle Accident Lawyer?

You should contact one as soon as possible after your accident, but after you’ve talked to the police and received medical care. Calling the police fulfills your legal obligation to report an accident with injuries, and seeing a doctor will protect your health and document your injuries.

Then, you should reach out to Morelli Law. You have a two-year deadline to start your claim before the court will reject it under the statute of limitations. Also, there may be valuable evidence that could disappear if your lawyer doesn’t act quickly.

If you’re still in the hospital, that’s fine! As long as you can hold a conversation, you can contact us for a consultation. If you’re reading this on behalf of a loved one, or if you’ve lost a loved one, you can call us on their behalf, and we’ll explain your legal options.

Contact Morelli Law Now

Cyclists have a right to use the road, but some drivers use the road as if cyclists weren’t there. If you’ve been in a bicycle accident in Chesterfield, contact Morelli Law now to schedule a free consultation.

We will assess your case and tell you how we can help you get the most out of your situation. Our services are free unless you win compensation with our help, so there is no financial risk to you. Call or email Morelli Law now to schedule an appointment.