Bike accident Cases
Involved in a Bike Accident? Schmittgens Injury Law Firm will fight for you.
Bicycles have been a popular mode of transportation and recreation for more than a century. As cars get bigger, and the population continues to grow, we are seeing an increase in incidents involving bicycle riders and vehicles.
Bikes are much smaller than other vehicles, meaning they are much harder to see for motorists. Bike riders are also much less protected and can sustain serious injuries or even die, if they are involved in a collision with a vehicle.
If you are a cyclist who has been struck by a vehicle, give the experienced attorneys at Schmittgens Injury Law Firm a call right away for a free case evaluation.
Road condition and design often plays a part in bicycle accidents.
Many cities, including St. Louis, have taken great strides to improve safety conditions for cyclists, including protected lanes of travel, increased fines for drivers who disobey safety rules, and re-designing roads for increased visibility.
However, road design may have played a role in your bike wreck. An experienced attorney, like Rob Schmittgens, will investigate and determine whether or not any other parties bear responsibility for your bike crash. While a negligent driver is likely the most responsible party for your injury, the streets department or department of transportation may bear some fault because of outdated designs or dangerous conditions.
What can riders do to protect themselves?
Wear a Helmet: Helmets are the easiest and most cost effective way to protect yourself while riding a bike. Helmets protect your head and are proven to reduce the occurrence and severity of traumatic brain injuries.
Wear Bright Clothes: When riding your bike, be sure to wear bright clothing, including clothing with reflective materials. The easier you are to see, the safer you are, especially when riding at dusk and dawn.
Utilize Lights and Reflectors on Your Bike: Many bikes come with reflectors on the front and rear but you should not stop there. Many bike shops sell lights which can be installed on your bike to help increase the visibility of the bike.
Mind Your Surroundings: Be sure you are aware of what is happening around you. Make sure you are looking both ways when making turns, riding your bike in dedicated bike lanes, and keep a look out for the vehicles on the road.
Follow the Rules of the Road: Bicyclists have to follow the same rules of the road as motor vehicles. Be sure to obey all traffic lights and signs, yield the right of way to oncoming traffic, and ride in the correct lanes of travel.
What should I do after I am in an bike accident:
The question we get the most is “what should I do after I am in a wreck?” Here’s our advice to anyone who was involved in a wreck:
1. Get to Safety.
Car accidents often occur in traffic or on busy streets. The first and most important step is to get to safety. You will likely be in shock, disbelief, and pain, but it’s important to get yourself to safety.
2. Call the Police and Take Pictures
Call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so. Tell the dispatch operator above the crash and request an emergency response. The police will make a report about the crash and document the circumstances of the incident. While you wait for the police, take a picture of the other driver’s car, including their license plate. This can be helpful if the other driver decides to leave the scene. It is also important to get pictures of the damages to your vehicle and the parts of the defendant’s vehicle which struck you. Pictures which show the location of the crash and the scene of the incident are also extremely helpful.
Hopefully the police arrive on scene quickly - when they do, tell them in short, plain language, what happened. If you are experiencing any pain, it is important to let them know what parts of your body are hurting you.
3. Gather Witness Names and Phone Numbers
Hopefully, the police will collect the names and phone numbers of anyone who claims to witness the scene. However, sometimes witnesses do not hang around for the police to arrive. Therefore, if someone claims to have witnessed the incident, get their name and their phone number so we may contact them after opening your file.
4. Get the Other Driver’s Information and More Photographs.
Take pictures of the other driver’s vehicle at the scene of the accident. Once the other driver’s vehicle leaves the scene of the car accident it is hard to find it to get photographs of it. Now that we have cell phones in our hands all the time, it makes it easy to just take photographs of both sides of the vehicle as well as the front and back. The photos should show the whole sides and front and back of the vehicle and not just a close of the dents. In a car accident case, a picture is worth a thousand words.Next, get the other driver’s identification information and car insurance information by simply taking a picture or writing it down.
5. Collect Statements by Other Driver(s) at the Scene.
If the other driver makes a statement to you or you hear them tell the officer or another passenger in their car how the accident happened and what caused them to hit you, take note of it and remember it as it is important to your claim and case. The other driver might say to one of their passengers, “I told you not to be texting while you were driving”. Obviously, this would be important to show their fault in the accident.
6. Go to the Hospital or Doctor to Document Your Injuries ASAP and Take Photographs of Them.
Get to a doctor as soon as possible. We absolutely understand that you may have affairs to get in order; kids to pick up, work schedule to arrange, and a vehicle to fix. But it is imperative you get your injuries documented as soon as possible.
When you get to a doctor, tell your doctor everything that is causing you pain; the parts of the body, the severity of the pain, and how it is impacting you. It is very important to describe every one of your injuries to the medical personnel because we do not know which injuries will last the longest. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to come back later, and tie an injury to an accident weeks, months, or even years later.
It’s also important to take pictures of any scrapes, cuts, bruises, or swelling which may be present. These pictures help tell a complete story about your injuries and can help us demonstrate the severity of your injuries.
7. Call the Attorneys at Schmittgens Injury Law Firm
If you feel the need to call us from the scene of the crash - please do. But if you do not call us from the scene, call us as soon as possible after. We’re always here to discuss your case and how to best represent you on your claim.
We can be reached at 314-222-4223 or through this website. You can also schedule time to meet - in person - at our office.
St. Louis Bicycle Accident Lawyers Near You
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, attorney Rob Schmittgens is here to help. With nearly a decade of personal injury experience, he knows how to handle bicycle accident cases in St. Louis. His deep understanding of the local legal system and strong connections in the community give you an advantage in your case.
Rob will take the time to understand your situation and fight for your rights. When you work with Rob, you can trust that you’re getting an attorney who will advocate for you every step of the way. As a personal injury attorney with extensive courtroom experience, Rob knows how to get results. A native of St. Louis, he's deeply connected to the community and is committed to ensuring justice for his clients.
At Schmittgens Injury Law Firm, we handle bicycle accident cases on a contingency basis—so you don’t pay unless we win your case.
How do I get started with the Schmittgens Injury Law Firm?
Call us at 314-222-4223 to speak with a member of our team for a free case evaluation. After reviewing your case, we will have you sign the necessary paperwork so we can get right to work on your case. By hiring our firm, you will have access to our dedicated legal team to answer your questions, a personalized app that will give you up to date information about the happenings of your case, and the peace of mind of knowing you are not in this alone. Remember at Schmittgens Injury Law Firm, we handle bicycle accident cases on a contingency basis—so you don’t pay unless we win your case.