Kansas City Bicycle Accident Attorney

Cycling is a popular way to get around Kansas City, whether you are commuting downtown, riding along a trail, or biking through your neighborhood. Because cyclists do not have the protection of a vehicle around them, even a minor collision with a car can cause serious injuries.

If you were injured while cycling, Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe will fight to hold the responsible party accountable for your injuries. Our Kansas City bicycle accident attorneys represent cyclists injured by negligent drivers and help them pursue the compensation they are owed. Call (816) 876-2600 today for a free consultation about your accident.

Why Choose Our Kansas City Bicycle Accident Lawyers?

• For years, Kansas City injury attorneys at Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe has advocated for the rights of injured people across Kansas and Missouri. We are fully committed to pursuing full and fair compensation for every client we represent, no matter how complicated the case.
• Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto the cyclist after a bicycle accident, even when the driver caused the crash. Our attorneys leverage our skills, experience, and resources to counter these tactics and protect your rights.
• Bicycle injuries can be severe and long-lasting, and you shouldn’t have to worry about legal fees on top of your medical bills. You pay nothing upfront to work with us, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you.

Should You Hire an Attorney for Your Bicycle Accident Claim?

Without legal help, you are responsible for gathering evidence, tracking the deadlines that apply to your claim, and speaking directly with insurance adjusters who are looking for reasons to pay you less. Hiring an attorney gives you someone dedicated to protecting your interests while you focus on recovering, rather than leaving you to manage a legal claim on top of a serious injury.

An attorney can also identify every party who may share responsibility for your accident, whether that is the driver, a company responsible for maintaining the road, or another party entirely. This kind of investigation often uncovers evidence or liable parties that are not obvious right after the crash, which can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of your claim.

How Much Is Your Kansas City Bicycle Accident Claim Worth?

In a Kansas City bicycle accident claim, you have the right to recover compensation for the financial, physical, and emotional damages that you have endured. These may include:

• Medical expenses, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation
• Lost income, if your injuries kept you from working
• Loss of future earning capacity, for injuries that affect your ability to work long-term
• Pain and suffering, for the physical and emotional harm that you have suffered
• Property damage, if your vehicle or personal property was damaged in the crash

The value of your bicycle accident claim depends on the severity of your injuries, how they affect your daily life, and who caused the crash. No set formula applies to every case, since two people with similar injuries can have very different losses depending on their job, age, and recovery time. Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe will review the full scope of your damages, both current and future, to pursue the maximum compensation available in your case.

Broken Bones, Brain Trauma, and Other Serious Injuries Suffered by Cyclists

Cyclists have little protection against a collision with a vehicle. Even a low-speed impact can cause serious harm, especially in a crash involving a dooring accident or a driver making an unsafe pass. Some of these injuries require ongoing treatment or rehabilitation long after the initial crash, potentially affecting the cyclist for the rest of their life. 

Injuries commonly associated with bicycle accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Road rash and deep lacerations
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal injuries
• Shoulder and collarbone injuries

How Do Bicycle Accidents Happen in Kansas City?

In Kansas City, cyclists frequently share the road with vehicles that are much larger and heavier than they are. Even a minor mistake by a driver can result in a serious accident and injuries, which is why drivers have a responsibility to operate their vehicles safely and keep an eye out for cyclists. Unfortunately, many motorists fail to exercise the level of care necessary to protect vulnerable road users.

Common causes of bicycle accidents in Kansas City include:

• Distracted driving, including drivers who are texting or looking at a phone
• Failing to yield the right-of-way to a cyclist at an intersection
• Opening a car door into a cyclist’s path 
• Passing a cyclist too closely 
• Speeding or driving aggressively near cyclists
• Poor road conditions, such as potholes or debris in a bike lane

How Comparative Negligence Affects Bicycle Accident Claims

In some situations, a cyclist may share some responsibility for their accident. Both Missouri and Kansas have comparative fault statutes that address how compensation is affected when more than one party, including the injured cyclist, contributed to the accident.

Missouri follows a pure comparative fault statute. Under this rule, you can still recover compensation even if you share some responsibility for the accident, and your compensation is simply reduced by your percentage of fault, no matter how large that percentage is.

Kansas takes a stricter approach. If you are found to be 50 percent or more at fault for your accident, you cannot recover any compensation at all. If your fault is under 50 percent, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, similar to Missouri’s rule.

For example, if a cyclist suffers $100,000 in damages and is found 60 percent at fault for the accident, Missouri’s rule would still allow them to recover $40,000, reduced by their percentage of fault. Under Kansas law, that same cyclist would recover nothing, since their fault exceeds the 50 percent threshold.

Discuss Your Next Steps with Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe

A bicycle accident can leave you with serious injuries and an insurance company looking for reasons to pay you less. Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe will build the strongest possible case on your behalf, aggressively pursuing the highest settlement every step of the way. Contact our attorneys today for a free consultation and begin your journey to full recovery.