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Expert Legal Assistance for Bicycle Accidents in Kansas City
Bicycle accidents are the least frequent accidents in Kansas City. However, it is important to understand how injury claims for bike accidents work in case your bicycle crashes into another vehicle and results in an accident that was not your fault.
Injured in a bike accident? Our bicycle accident lawyer Kansas City offers dedicated legal assistance. Get a free consultation with our expert attorneys at Royce Injury today!
Understanding Bicycle Laws in Missouri
The Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation has a comprehensive list of regulations that bicyclists and motorists have to follow. These regulations are:
- Missouri bicycle regulations
- Chapter 30 of the Missouri Model Vehicle Code:
- Code 300.347 – prohibition on bicycle riding on sidewalks
- Code 300.330 – cod related to the bicycle lane
- Code 300.411 and 304.678 regulations about overtaking the bicycles
- Code 304.285 – violation of red signal
- Code 307.183 – brake requisites
- Code 307.185 – equipment standard
- Code 307.188 – rights and obligations of the bicyclists
- Code 307.193 – penalties for violation
If you’re unsure about the implications of these regulations, simply search “bicycle accident attorney near me” to book a consultation.
Bicycle Accident Statistics in Kansas City
- The Traffic Safety Fact Sheet by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated a 1.4% rise in bicycle accidents in Kansas City in the past ten years.
- The League of American Bicyclists estimated 966 fatalities resulting from bike accidents, causing the death rate in this category of accidents to jump to an all-time high of 56% all across the US.
- The annual bike fatalities in Missouri is 166.9/100K commuters.
- The annual bike fatality per million residents in Missouri is 6.0.
- 13% of the fatalities happened where cyclists had their helmets on.
Common Injuries from Bicycle Accidents
According to the bike accident attorneys, the most prevalent types of injuries they have observed in bicycle injury claims are:
- Contusions: Bruises resulting from falling.
- Bone fracture: Shoulder dislocation, arm fracture, knee fracture or dislocation, fracture of finger bones or thumb, etc
- Minor head injuries: Bruising of skull or scalp
- Dental injuries: Broken teeth that require implants
- Delayed symptom injuries: Mild internal bleeding, internal bruising, etc.
- Psychological injuries: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mental pain and agony
Leading Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents are driver’s negligence, poor road conditions, cyclists’ errors, and poor weather conditions.
- Driver’s negligence: The motorist’s negligence plays a pivotal role in bicycle accidents. Failure to observe the proper traffic rules results in such accidents.
- Poor road conditions: Roads that are not properly maintained are close causes of accidents of bicycles and other vehicles on the road.
- Cyclist’s error: A comprehensive list of regulations is in place for cyclists they have to observe when riding a bicycle. The failure of cyclists to observe such regulations or ignorance of such laws results in bicycle accidents.
- Weather conditions: Weather conditions are also an important and contributory Factor in bicycle accidents as they impact the visibility of the road.
Majority of the bicycle accident law firms deal with bicycle injury lawsuits resulting from one of these causes on a daily basis.
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Establishing Fault in Bicycle Accidents
Contributory negligence plays a pivotal role in establishing liability in bicycle accidents. If you have been in such an accident as a cyclist, it is advisable to be as honest as possible with your bicycle attorney. It is crucial information your attorney should have when negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf. Generally, the following parties can be held liable:
- Cyclist: As a cyclist, you are required by the law to follow the bicycle regulations. If the accident happened due to your contributory negligence, you will also be held liable to the extent of your negligence in causing the accident.
- Driver: If the driver of another vehicle has also violated any traffic rules that lead to an accident, he is also a liable party.
- External factors: External factors and third parties are also considered as parties when determining liability in bicycle accident lawsuits.
Compensation for Bicycle Accident Injuries
Compensated for tangible and non-financial damages. Such damages cover:
- Medical in-treatment expenses
- Lost wages
- An additional consideration in terms of earning capacity
- Compensation for property damage
- Compensation for agony and emotional pain
- Any additional damages that the court teams appropriate
Consult bicycle injury lawyers to determine which type of damages should be covered in your lawsuit.
How to Claim Damages After a Bicycle Accident
If you’re in Kansas City, the first step is to gather medical receipts, detailed medical diagnoses, and relevant documentation regarding various aspects of the claim. This can include pictures or videos of the accident to prove liability, the extent of property damage, etc. The next step is to connect with a bicycle accident attorney in Kansas City MO area, to ascertain the total amount of compensation you would be claiming in your case.
Helpful Resources for Bicycle Accident Victims
Regulatory Framework: Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Foundation
For medical treatment and emergency: University Health Truman Medical Center, Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City
Support Groups: BikeWalkKC
Legal Support: Royce Injury
Benefits of Hiring Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Our bike lawyers specialize in injury lawsuits and are experts in handling all kinds of negotiation tactics that insurance companies use to reduce the compensation amount. They have extensive experience in court representation and legal drafting to present your case as efficiently as possible. Moreover, there isn’t much that our attorneys haven’t seen or experienced in the injury lawsuits. Therefore, your injury lawsuit is in safe and expert hands.
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