A motorcycle crash can leave you seriously hurt and unsure of where you stand, especially when questions arise about whether you followed the rules of the road. Insurance companies often point to a rider’s conduct to avoid paying a fair amount. Knowing how the law applies to your situation is an important part of protecting your recovery.
You do not have to make sense of these rules on your own. How the St. Louis motorcycle traffic laws apply to your crash can affect who is held responsible, and those details are not always obvious. A motorcycle accident lawyer at McCready Law could review the facts and help you pursue the compensation you may deserve.
Missouri has required motorcycle riders to wear protective headgear for decades, though the rule changed in 2020. Under Missouri Revised Statutes § 302.020, every operator or passenger under the age of 26 must wear a helmet, and anyone riding with an instruction permit must do so regardless of age.
An exemption exists for older riders. Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 302.026, a qualified motorcycle operator who is 26 or older may ride without a helmet if they carry proof of financial responsibility and health insurance that covers motorcycle injuries. A St. Louis accident attorney could explain how these motorcycle traffic rules regarding a rider’s helmet use, or lack of it, may affect how insurers evaluate claims.
Operating a motorcycle in St. Louis requires riders to follow the same traffic laws as other motorists. However, a few rules apply in particular to motorcyclists, such as:
A rider who splits lanes may be assigned part of the fault for a resulting crash, while at the same time, other drivers must respect a motorcycle’s place on the road. Many wrecks happen because other drivers fail to see a rider or misjudges their speed. When a motorist ignores these duties, a lawyer could help hold that driver accountable.
Under Missouri’s pure comparative fault system, a rider who is partly to blame can still pursue damages, but any award drops by the portion of fault assigned to them. Because of this rule, insurers often argue that a rider broke a traffic law, rode without a required helmet, or split lanes, all to shift blame away from their driver. These arguments do not settle the matter. To counter them, an attorney could gather evidence such as:
With this proof, a St. Louis lawyer could counter the bias riders often face and present a clear picture of the other driver’s negligence to abide by safe traffic rules.
St. Louis motorcycle traffic laws play a major role in how fault is decided. A knowledgeable advocate could use these rules to support your claim rather than allow them to be cited against you.
Our personal injury team understands how much is involved after a motorcycle wreck and treats every client with care and respect. Contact McCready Law today to schedule an initial consultation and learn how an attorney could help you move forward.
