Representing St. Louis Motorcycle Accident Victims

If a motorcycle accident in Missouri or Illinois severely injured you or a loved one, The Dixon Injury Firm is ready to help you. The first thing to do after the accident (if you have not done so already) is seek proper medical attention. Follow all of your doctor’s orders, attend follow-up appointments, and take all prescribed medications.

Do not speak to the other person/party’s insurance provider or any adjusters from the insurance company. Instead, reach out to one of our St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyers who can help you understand your legal options and begin immediately working to protect your rights.

In our years in practice, our St. Louis personal injury attorneys have successfully recovered more than $50 million on behalf of injured individuals and the surviving family members of those wrongfully killed throughout Missouri. We understand the unique challenges you are facing, and we want to help you fight for the full compensation you are owed.

To learn more, give our St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyers a call at (314) 208-2808 or CONTACT us online to schedule a free initial consultation.

How Motorcycle Accident Claims Work

Motorcycle accident claims are similar to typical car accident cases in that an injured motorcyclist can hold a negligent motorist (or another third party) liable for their damages. Many motorcycle crashes occur when negligent drivers fail to see riders in their blind spots or misunderstand yielding requirements. Drivers often mistakenly assume that riders have fewer rights than passenger vehicle operators. They may expect motorcyclists to consistently yield the right of way, change lanes, or otherwise pull over.

Sometimes, aggressive drivers are unwilling to share the road, tailgate, or harass riders for doing nothing more than asserting their roadway rights. Missouri defines motorcycles as motor vehicles (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 300.010(15)) and grants riders the same roadway rights as cars and trucks. Illinois law does the same. Drivers cannot reduce their liability for causing serious motorcycle accident injuries by claiming ignorance of rider’s rights.

Filing Initial Claims with Auto Insurance Companies

Missouri requires passenger vehicle owners to carry at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability insurance. Commercial vehicles, including semi-trucks and buses, must carry between $750,000 and $5,000,000 in minimum injury coverage. Illinois has similar insurance rules.

Injured riders may demand damages from liable insurers following motorcycle crashes. This generally requires filing claims with your personal insurer, who might contact the liability insurer on your behalf, or connecting directly with the liable insurance company. However, bodily injury insurance adjusters have mastered the art of shifting blame from negligent drivers to riders by convincing claimants they share responsibility for their injuries.

Motorcycle accident lawyers do not recommend contacting the liable carrier directly following crashes, especially if you suffered from serious personal injuries.

Common motorcycle accident insurance traps include:

  • Tricking riders into providing sworn testimony
  • Blaming riders for not wearing helmets or proper safety gear
  • Mischaracterizing liability laws
  • Discouraging you from contacting personal injury lawyers to avoid potential fees
  • Questioning the authenticity of your injuries
  • Asking about any prior accidents and injuries
  • Offering small payments for medical bills and lost wages (actually settlements that waive your future compensation rights)
  • Convincing you to use their body shops
  • Getting you to admit to irrelevant legal violations
  • Providing legal advice about the value and viability of your claims

Motorcycle accident lawyers can file insurance claims on your behalf without any upfront or out-of-pocket costs. You have the right to have an attorney on the line when providing testimony, and lawyers can object to irrelevant questions regarding safety equipment and prior accidents. Lawyers generally file the initial claim and submit initial police reports, medical records, and witness testimony to insurers. They may follow up with formal settlement demand letters setting forth your damage calculations. Most motorcycle accident claims settle with liable insurers within applicable policy limits, but sometimes this isn’t enough to compensate riders for their losses.

Filing Secondary Claims with Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist Policies

Many riders maintain uninsured and underinsured motorcycle insurance policies. This coverage kicks in if the liable driver was unlawfully uninsured, fled the scene of the crash (hit and run), or the policy cannot sufficiently compensate you for your losses. Attorneys often settle motorcycle crash claims with liable insurers by recovering the policy, i.e., $25,000, and then demanding the overages from your personal coverage.

This may provide claimants with needed additional damages, but coverage isn’t automatic. Your insurance company may also challenge liability to protect itself from high-value payouts. If you suffered injuries in a hit and run and need to rely on uninsured motorist coverage, speak with a motorcycle accident attorney.

St. Louis Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Chris Dixon & Greg Motil, St. Louis Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Suing Negligent Parties for Damages in St. Louis and Illinois Civil Courts

Many insurers strongly contest accident liability and refuse to offer injured riders fair settlements. They may unlawfully blame the severity of your injuries on your choice to ride instead of drive. In such cases, motorcycle accident lawyers generally file personal injury litigation. This process involves suing negligent parties, including the negligent driver, vehicle owner, and/or employer if the driver was working when the crash occurred.

Attorneys may demand summary judgment to establish accident liability or pressure insurers into offering fair settlements. Some cases may require personal injury trials, but this is risky for defendants. Juries may award injured riders all requested personal injury damages, including compensation for pain and suffering, regardless of insurance policy limits. Many claims settle after attorneys file personal injury litigation.

Motorcycle crash litigation generally involves negligence or products liability claims. These causes of action, called torts, alleged that one or more individuals or entities’ carelessness caused the accident and resulted in injuries. The vast majority of motorcycle accident cases involve negligence claims, but riders may demand punitive damages in gross negligence cases if the driver acted with extreme disregard for the life and safety of others (drunk driving or drag racing claims).

To bring a negligence lawsuit following a motorcycle accident, you will need to prove all of the following elements:

  • Another party, be it the driver of another vehicle or careless roadway workers, was somehow negligent or acted wrongfully
  • The other party’s negligent or wrongful conduct injured you, and had the other party not been negligent, your injury would not have occurred
  • Due to your injuries, you sustained measurable damages, whether economic or non-economic or both

Under Missouri’s comparative negligence laws, you do not need to prove that the other party was entirely at fault for the accident. In fact, because the state follows pure comparative negligence laws, you don’t even have to show that the other party was mostly at fault for the accident—only that they played some role in causing the accident that left you injured. If a court or law enforcement officer finds you to be partially at fault for the accident, your at-fault percentage will reduce your total recovery. For example, if a jury decides that you were 40 percent to blame for the crash and your total recovery would be $10,000, you will only be able to actually receive up to 60 percent of that amount, or $6,000.

Products liability lawsuits allege that malfunctioning motorcycle equipment, such as brakes or helmets, failed to function as marketed. These claims might involve manufacturing defects, like impurities in the materials resulting in sudden failures or improper product designs. Products liability claims generally settle with the liable designer, manufacturer, or commercial seller. Some motorcycle accident claims involve driver negligence, which caused the crash, and products liability claims for safety equipment failures resulting in exacerbated injuries. Injured riders might recover financial damages from negligent corporations and drivers in such cases.

Claiming Damages from Missouri’s Tort Victims Compensation Fund

Motorcycle crashes often result in serious personal injuries exceeding the maximum value of most traditional auto insurance policies. In these cases, negligent drivers rarely have the personal funds to cover their medical bills and lost wages. Claims involving insufficient insurance—including hit and runs—insolvent estates after driver fatalities or negligent driver bankruptcy might qualify victims for damages from the Missouri Tort Victims Compensation Fund. This fund acts as a last resort for injured riders, and it generally provides additional damages for approximately 75 percent of eligible claimants. Don’t give up on your right to recover just compensation following St. Louis motorcycle crashes, as multiple avenues of coverage may exist.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data consistently over-represents motorcyclists in terms of traffic-related fatalities. In one recent year, for example, the NHTSA reports that 4,985 motorcycle riders in the United States died as a result of accident-related injuries. Although this represents a minor decrease in total motorcyclist deaths from the previous year, the number of deaths is still shockingly high.

Although motorcyclists tend to get a bad reputation, with many people mistakenly believing them to be reckless drivers, another driver’s negligence most often causes a majority of motorcycle accidents. In fact, the CDC reports that distracted driving—particularly cell phone use and eating—is the leading cause of motor vehicle crashes and deaths in the United States. Riders cannot generally eat or use their cell phones while operating motorcycles because they’re constantly required to focus on vehicle operation. As such, they’re less likely to violate driver distraction laws.

In addition to driver distraction, some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

These and other causes of motorcycle accidents can have devastating consequences, leading to severe injuries and, in the most tragic of cases, death. Experienced St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyers might help injured riders and their families recover accelerated personal injury settlements or judgments by alleging negligence per se. This legal principle allows courts to assume the driver was negligent if evidence shows he/she violated local traffic and safety laws.

Contact The Dixon Injury Firm Today

If a motorcycle accident injured or killed you or a loved one, turn to The Dixon Injury Firm for personalized, compassionate legal representation. Since 2009, our firm serves as a voice for the injured throughout Missouri; we have what it takes to effectively advocate for you every step of the way.

Our firm offers contingency fees, meaning you do not owe any attorneys’ fees unless/until we recover compensation for you. We also provide free initial consultations, so there is no risk in speaking to one of our attorneys about what happened to you and learning how we can help.

Contact us at (314) 208-2808 today for help with:

How a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help You

An experienced motorcycle accident attorney, like those at The Dixon Injury Firm, will understand the many unique challenges you face. Your attorney will protect your rights and that the insurance company does not take advantage of you.

When you trust your case to The Dixon Injury Firm, our St. Louis metro area motorcycle accident lawyers will take the time to listen to your story and learn more about your particular concerns and goals. Studies indicate that many claimants do not want to sue negligent drivers for motorcycle accidents, especially if the crash involved elderly or new drivers.

We all make mistakes, which is why our dedicated accident attorneys can recommend litigation alternatives, including focusing on strengthening settlement demands with expert witness testimony or engaging in alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Most motorcycle claims settle without the need for litigation.

After listening to your financial recovery goals, our dedicated motorcycle accident investigators begin an immediate investigation into the facts surrounding your case, including how it happened, who is to blame, and how your injuries have affected and will continue to affect your life. This allows us to put together a clear, comprehensive picture of your damages, including your future expected losses.

We commonly obtain and/or demand this evidence after St. Louis motorcycle accidents:

  • Sworn witness statements
  • Surveillance videos from local businesses
  • Black box data from commercial vehicles, SUVs, and newer model cars
  • Dashcam footage
  • Certified police reports
  • Certified ambulance and emergency room records
  • Photographs of vehicle damage from liability insurers
  • Expert reports from roadway engineers
  • Past and present medical records
  • Photographs

Importantly, our law firm may front all initial fees associated with gathering the evidence necessary to maximize the value of your motorcycle accident claims. At this point, our attorneys can inform the insurance company of your intent to file a claim and submit comprehensive demand letters. We will also work directly with the insurance company to negotiate a settlement that covers all of your damages. If the insurance company refuses to offer what we believe to be a fair settlement, we are ready to take your case to trial.

When you put an attorney on your side, you better your chances of a favorable outcome and reduce the likelihood that you will miss important deadlines or make mistakes that could end up costing you in the long run. You also free yourself to focus on healing while your attorney handles the various aspects of the legal process.

Defense attorneys, accident-related collections agencies, and liability insurers cannot contact represented claimants. They must filter all document requests and communications through your attorneys’ office, which clients agree drastically reduces the emotional and administrative stress throughout the recovery process. Dedicated St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyers can even help clients appeal health insurance denials, file wrongful death claims, or apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) following devastating crashes.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Because motorcyclists are relatively unprotected without doors, windows, seatbelts, or airbags, they often suffer severe, life-threatening injuries when they are involved in crashes. These first and second-impact injuries can completely change the victims’ lives, as well as the lives of their family members and loved ones. Many riders don’t suffer direct impact injuries because of the vehicle’s position. Instead, negligent drivers may force riders off the road and into traffic barriers, other vehicles, or unforgiving pavement.

These second-impact injuries frequently result in severe friction burns, head injuries, and rib fractures. Many devastating injuries also occur when one negligent driver rear-ends or sideswipes the rider, forcing the rider off balance and in front of another oncoming vehicle. The second driver – especially drivers in other lanes—can seldom stop in time to prevent life-altering or fatal run-over accidents. In these cases, the first driver may still have primary liability for causing your injuries.

Motorcycle crash injuries often result in short or long-term disabilities. It’s essential to seek immediate medical treatment following St. Louis or Metro East motorcycle accidents, as adrenaline frequently masks the pain of more serious trauma immediately following the crash. Brain and spinal cord swelling often worsen in the hours and days following the crash, which can cause more severe trauma.

The most common motorcycle accident injuries include:

The cost of treating these and other catastrophic injuries is typically exorbitant. Victims and their families can be left facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills and other expenses. This can lead to serious stress, particularly when the victim is unable to return to work due to his or her injuries. Spouses often find themselves responsible for additional household and caretaker tasks while struggling to maintain the family’s lifestyle on one income. At The Dixon Injury Firm, our compassionate St. Louis motorcycle accident attorneys understand that physical injuries only tell half the story.

Available Damages After St. Louis or Metro East Motorcycle Crashes

With millions of Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck, injured riders often need quick compensation to cover their immediate financial losses. However, motorcycle accident claimants should avoid hastily accepting insurance settlements before discussing the value of their case with local injury lawyers. Accepting accident settlements too quickly may leave families without needed compensation if claimants begin suffering from chronic pain or worsening conditions, which happens often following crushing fractures and spinal trauma.

Many personal injury claimants also drastically underestimate the value of their accident claims. Negligent parties must generally compensate claimants for past losses and future anticipated damages, including providing financial relief for the frustration, discomfort, and emotional suffering associated with devastating motorcycle crashes.

Recoverable Missouri accident damages include:

  • Economic (Pecuniary) Damages – The claimant’s economic losses form the basis of motorcycle accident claims. They cover the out-of-pocket expenses and direct financial losses associated with crash injuries and generally include medical expenses and lost income. However, claimants might also demand compensation for lost earning capacity, lost career benefits, household help, and medical transportation costs. Expert economists and experienced injury attorneys can calculate the value of these damages.
  • Non-Economic (Pain and Suffering) Damages – Many claimants develop depression after being disabled from work, especially when paired with the constant discomfort and pain associated with serious motorcycle accident injuries. Victims may struggle to leave the house and perform simple daily tasks. These are compensable losses in St. Louis. Injured claimants may demand monetary damages for their physical discomfort, pain, emotional anguish, frustration, inconvenience, and lost enjoyment of life and hobbies.
  • Punitive Damages – Although rare, motorcycle accident victims may demand punitive damages if the negligent driver acted with extreme disregard for the rider’s life and safety or intentionally ran the driver off the road. Examples include drunk driving, road rage, and rider harassment accidents. These claims may arise in motorcycle accident cases, as some drivers intentionally intimidate riders in response to their lifestyles.

Dependents (minor children) and spouses might also recover special damages following motorcycle accidents. Spouses may claim damages for the additional household work and caretaker responsibilities in addition to the loss of consortium awards. Dependents might also demand compensation for lost inheritance and guidance if a motorcycle accident wrongfully killed a parent. Injury attorneys break down damages calculations for insurers, but claims typically settle for one lump sum within applicable insurance policy limits.

Motorcycle Accident FAQs

Riders continue to suffer from disproportionately serious and fatal accident injuries in St. Louis. Despite accusations from negligent drivers and liable insurance adjusters, motorcyclists have the same roadway rights as traditional drivers. Do not let insurers blame your lifestyle after serious motorcycle crashes. The experienced St. Louis motorcycle accident attorneys at The Dixon Injury Firm might help injured riders demand just compensation. Our prospective clients commonly ask our lawyers the following questions after motorcycle crashes.

Q. Who pays for my medical costs (bodily injury claims) and motorcycle repairs (property damage claims) following accidents?

A. Generally, your personal motorcycle insurance carrier covers initial motorcycle repair costs and demands reimbursement from any liable insurance companies. Policyholders must pay their deductibles if using personal insurance, but they may recover this payment if the negligent driver’s insurer reimburses your insurance company for property damage. This generally takes two to four weeks if the parties do not dispute fault.

Alternatively, you may make property damage claims with the liable insurance company and wait for adjusters to determine fault. They may pay for your motorcycle repairs without deductibles because you’re not the policyholder.

Medical coverage depends on multiple factors, including the rider’s insurance. Some riders carry auto medical coverage, which pays for most emergency room, ambulance, and initial doctors bills following motorcycle crashes. Riders without this coverage must generally rely on private health insurance or demand medical payments from liable insurance companies. Motorcycle accident attorneys might help injured riders understand their coverage options and obtain needed financial payouts without any upfront costs.

Q. How can I prove I wasn’t responsible for crashing my motorcycle?

A. Liable insurer adjusters often depict riders as dangerous lane splitters and reckless drivers who caused their own injuries. As such, it’s not uncommon for insurers to deny unrepresented claimants coverage until they prove how the crash occurred. Negligent car or truck drivers may tell different stories under oath, forcing injured riders to prove their entitlement to damages.

Some riders give up after insurers request seemingly unobtainable evidence, such as witness testimony for an accident with no witnesses. However, experienced motorcycle accident attorneys know where to find the critical evidence necessary to prove your claims.

Our crash investigations frequently obtain the following:

  • Traffic camera or local security footage
  • Dashcam footage
  • Black box data
  • Expert analysis of tire treads and vehicle damage
  • Pictures of the scene and vehicle debris
  • Witness testimony from local residents, business owners, or other drivers
  • Certified police and ambulance reports
  • Emergency room records with an expert injury analysis
  • Expert analysis of equipment damage and friction burn patterns
  • Cell phone records (if riders testify the driver was texting)

Negligent drivers and riders may tell different stories about how the crash occurred. While this may delay the settlement process, the evidence uncovered by our investigators often surprises riders. Crash experts may prove your claims by analyzing tire treads, vehicle damage, and injury patterns. Black box data from large trucks, SUVs, and insurance-rate monitors might also indicate speed and impact force. Together, this evidence normally supports the most accurate version of the accident and pressures insurance companies into accepting liability.

Q. Do I have to sue to recover damages for my motorcycle crash injuries?

A. Not necessarily. Most St. Louis personal injury claims settle with liable insurers without the need to file litigation. Motorcycle accident attorneys may recommend bringing legal action if insurers refuse to negotiate in good faith or challenge liability, but viable claims often settle soon after lawyers file the initial lawsuit. Dedicated motorcycle accident lawyers work for you, not the other way around. You might retain counsel solely to negotiate insurance settlements, appeal insurance denials, or engage in alternative dispute resolution.

Q. Do I have to wear a motorcycle helmet in Missouri?

A. Nearly every authority on the subject suggests that riders wear certified motorcycle helmets, which multiple studies indicate prevent life-altering and fatal traumatic brain injuries. Missouri only requires certain riders to use protective headgear. Missouri law (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 302.020) requires all riders under the age of 26, riders with instruction permits (regardless of age), uninsured riders, and all passengers to wear certified helmets. Riders over the age of 26 with unrestricted motorcycle licenses and proper insurance policies are not required to wear helmets in Missouri.

Q. How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in St. Louis?

A. Motorcycle crashes fall under the personal injury umbrella. As such, Missouri’s five-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims applies to most motorcycle accidents. This means injured riders must file any lawsuits related to the crash within five years of the accident date. However, families of riders killed by driver negligence—whether instantly or due to severe injuries—only have three years from the date of death to file wrongful death litigation.

These deadlines apply to bringing motorcycle accident lawsuits in St. Louis civil courts. Claimants must generally file personal insurance claims within the timeframe specified by their insurance contract, generally 30 to 90 days. They may have longer to file claims with the negligent driver’s insurance provider, but lengthy delays often result in coverage denials.

It’s not uncommon for accident injuries, including concussions, herniated discs, and whiplash, to worsen in the days and weeks following the crash. Attorneys often recommend seeking immediate medical attention following St. Louis motorcycle crashes, as the adrenaline often masks the pain.

Q. What kind of damages can I recover from insurers after motorcycle accidents in Missouri?

A. Eligible claimants might recover general personal injury damages following St. Louis motorcycle crashes. These damages may include past and future economic and non-economic losses.

Economic damages refer to the claimant’s calculable accident-related expenses, including:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost income
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Lost employment benefits
  • Caretaker and nursing costs
  • Medical transportation expenses
  • Medications and medical equipment
  • Household assistance

Non-economic (pain and suffering) damages refer to the real but often incalculable losses caused by negligent drivers.

Examples of compensable pain and suffering claims include:

  • Frustration, inconvenience, and interruption
  • Physical pain and discomfort
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Mental anguish
  • Emotional trauma
  • Lost enjoyment of previous activities, including riding
  • Loss of consortium (spousal companionship)

Most insurance companies calculate pain and suffering damages by multiplying the claimant’s overall economic damages. Motorcycle accident attorneys recommend keeping journals documenting the frustration associated with the recovery process and all receipts for out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries.

Q. How much is my motorcycle crash case worth?

A. Many claimants need to know how much money they can get following St. Louis motorcycle accidents. Because driver negligence causes most motor vehicle crashes, the value of your motorcycle accident claim realistically depends on your overall financial losses and available insurance.

Missouri only requires non-commercial drivers to carry $25,000 bodily injury insurance policies. Many vehicle owners obtain higher coverage, generally $50,000 to $100,000, to protect themselves from personal liability. However, most drivers only carry minimum policy limits. These limitations put the average auto accident settlement around $30,000 before attorneys’ fees and costs. Most claims involving soft tissue damage (painful whiplash), minor concussions, back pain, friction burns, and clean fractures settle within this range.

Unfortunately, exposed riders frequently suffer from more severe first and second-impact injuries.

Claims involving the following disabling conditions may require riders to sue the negligent driver and vehicle owners directly, demand damages from their underinsured motorist policies, or recover compensation from the Missouri Tort Victims’ Compensation Fund.

  • Traumatic Brain Injuries – Even with helmets, riders often experience moderate to severe brain trauma following motorcycle accidents. This trauma may result in various disabling symptoms, including memory loss, comas, vegetative states, communication difficulties, blindness, sensory deficits, personality changes, depression, and lost critical thinking skills.
  • Paralysis – Sometimes negligent drivers force riders off their motorcycles and into oncoming traffic, causing run-over accidents and crushing injuries. This trauma frequently results in permanent spinal cord damage causing paraplegia or quadriplegia.
  • Amputations – Limb-crushing injuries and serious burns may irreparably damage the rider’s arms or legs. Sometimes doctors must amputate limbs to save the rider’s life.
  • Organ Damage – Chest crushing injuries may result in fatal heart and lung damage, but some motorcycle crashes result in direct kidney, bladder, or bowel damages. These life-altering conditions may result in multisystem organ failures necessitating constant medical care.
  • Third-Degree Burns – While riders commonly suffer from superficial road rash injuries (friction burns) and lacerations, sudden motorcycle explosions and vehicle fires often result in widespread burns. Full-thickness burns irreparably damage nerves, skin, and muscles preventing the body from regenerating. Claimants often require multiple skin graft surgeries and suffer from constant infections.
  • Death – Over 5,000 motorcyclists die in traffic accidents each year. Whether the rider died during the crash or succumbed to brain injuries months later, families may demand all available damages from negligent drivers during St. Louis wrongful death lawsuits.

Injured riders often incur hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses and lost wages, not including the value of their pain and suffering damages. It’s important to connect with dedicated motorcycle accident counsel immediately if you’re suffering from potentially disabling medical conditions following traffic crashes.

Q. Can I still recover motorcycle accident damages if I had to execute emergency falls or maneuvers due to driver neglect?

A. Many motorcycle accident injuries occur when experienced riders must intentionally execute safety falls or emergency lane changes to avoid impacting reckless drivers. This often occurs when drivers, especially tractor-trailer operators, don’t see riders in their blind spots. Most riders may recover damages from negligent drivers who forced them off the road or into the pavement. The vehicle does not need to directly impact the rider if driver negligence proximately caused the accident.

Common examples of driver traffic violations resulting in motorcycle crash liability include:

  • Following too closely
  • Failure to yield
  • Failure to obey traffic devices
  • Speeding
  • Unsafe lane changes
  • Drunk driving
  • Texting while driving

Experienced St. Louis motorcycle crash attorneys might obtain accelerated liability determinations by proving your injuries resulted from one or more of the above traffic violations.

Q. How long will it take to recover insurance settlements following St. Louis motorcycle accidents?

A. This depends on the seriousness of your injuries and insurance liability determinations. If the liable insurance company accepts fault for the crash, attorneys may prepare settlement demand letters requesting payouts within applicable policy limits. These claims generally settle within one year. However, riders suffering from disabling conditions might need additional damages requiring prolonged insurance negotiations and litigation. Motorcycle accident cases necessitating personal injury lawsuits may take two to three years to resolve.

Experienced St. Louis motorcycle crash firms understand that injured riders often need quick settlement to cover overdue bills, drained savings, and pressing expenses. However, do not fall for insurance traps by accepting lowball settlement offers. They may seem tempting, but they also force injured claimants to waive their litigation and future financial recovery rights. Our motorcycle injury lawyers can discuss the best options for reaching quick and reasonable settlements in your case.

Chris Dixon STL Personal Injury Lawyer
Chris Dixon, STL Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Q. How much does it typically cost to hire an attorney for my motorcycle accident?

A. Most prospective clients are concerned about potential consultation and attorneys’ fees, especially when they’re already struggling with lost wages. Reputable motorcycle accident firms do not charge consultation fees and offer contingency fee arrangements to eligible clients. This means they don’t receive payment unless and until their clients recover needed financial compensation following St. Louis motorcycle accidents. Injury firms may even front the investigative and expert witness costs necessary to prove your claims and maximize the value of your settlement.

After the parties agree to settlements or obtain valuable jury verdicts, the attorney takes a pre-agreed percentage of the overall award and reimburses the firm for prepaid costs.

Consider the following common motorcycle accident fee structure:

  • Initial Settlement from the Insurer Prior to Representation = $15,000
  • Accepted Motorcycle Accident Settlement = $90,000
  • Contingency Fee = $30,000 (33 percent of $90,000)
  • Remaining Balance = $60,000
  • Reimbursement for Prepaid Costs = $5,000
  • Remaining Balance = $55,000
  • Repayment of Medical/Disability Liens = $10,000
  • Total Settlement to Client = $45,000

Every case differs, and many claims involve quick settlements without investigative costs or medical liens. Even after subtracting attorneys’ fees, most represented claimants receive substantially higher settlements than victims without dedicated motorcycle accident counsel. It costs nothing to schedule an initial case consultation and review proposed fee arrangements with the dedicated St. Louis motorcycle accident injury lawyers at The Dixon Injury Firm.

Maximize the Value of Your Motorcycle Crash Claims with the St. Louis Injury Lawyers at The Dixon Injury Firm

Every day our dedicated attorneys see the devastating consequences of negligent driving in St. Louis and across the river in Illinois. We understand how much motorcycle enthusiasts frequently suffer from not only their physical injuries but also their inability to ride following devastating crashes. Eligible claimants can recover financial damages for their lost enjoyments.

Whether negligent drivers forced you to execute emergency falls, ran you off the road, or struck you on St. Louis area highways, discuss your financial recovery options with our motorcycle accident law firm. We might hold multiple drivers and safety equipment manufacturers liable for your financial losses. Connect with us today for your free and confidential St. Louis motorcycle injury consultation by calling (314) 208-2808 or contacting us online.

The Dixon Injury Firm
9666 Olive Blvd #202,
St. Louis, MO 63132
Phone:(314) 208-2808

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