Who’s Liable In A Missouri Motorcycle Accident — And How Do You Prove It?

Sansone & Lauber | | Car Accidents
Who’s Liable In A Missouri Motorcycle Accident

Injured in a motorcycle crash in Missouri? Don’t get blamed for someone else’s negligence. Learn how to prove liability—and why choosing the right lawyer makes or breaks your case. In this article, we explain who’s liable in a Missouri motorcycle accident.

At Sansone & Lauber, we don’t just handle motorcycle accident cases—we dominate them. In fact, we won $14.2 million for a client who suffered life-changing injuries in a Missouri motorcycle crash. And we’re just getting started.

🏍 Why Motorcycle Accident Claims Are Tougher Than You Think

When it comes to motorcycle accidents, the bias is real. Drivers, juries, and insurance companies often assume the biker is at fault. The excuses are endless:

  • “He must’ve been speeding.”

  • “I didn’t see her.”

  • “Motorcycles are dangerous anyway.”

But here’s the truth: Most motorcycle crashes happen because a driver wasn’t paying attention. And when that driver breaks the law, runs a red light, or cuts off a biker—they’re liable.

Our job is to prove it. And we do it with relentless precision.

⚖️ Who Can Be Held Liable in a Missouri Motorcycle Accident?

Liability in motorcycle crash cases isn’t always cut and dry. In Missouri, multiple parties can be held responsible, including:

1. Negligent Drivers

Most commonly, a car or truck driver causes the crash by:

  • Failing to yield to a motorcycle

  • Turning left in front of a motorcyclist

  • Tailgating or lane-splitting

  • Distracted driving (phone use, GPS, etc.)

  • Driving under the influence

If another driver’s actions led to your crash, they can be held liable—and their insurance must pay.

2. Government Entities (Road Hazards)

Did a pothole, uneven pavement, poor lighting, or faulty traffic signal cause or contribute to your crash? You may have a claim against:

  • The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)

  • The City of St. Louis

  • A local municipality or county government

Claims against government entities require special procedures, shorter deadlines, and aggressive evidence gathering. Our team knows exactly how to handle them.

3. Motorcycle or Vehicle Manufacturers

Sometimes the motorcycle or car involved has a defective part, like:

  • Brake failure

  • Tire blowout

  • Steering defects

  • Faulty lighting or indicators

In these cases, we pursue claims against manufacturers and distributors under Missouri product liability laws.

4. Bars and Restaurants (Dram Shop Liability)

If a driver who caused your crash was overserved alcohol at a bar or restaurant, that establishment may also be held liable under Missouri’s Dram Shop Law.

🧠 How Do You PROVE Liability After a Missouri Motorcycle Crash?

Proving liability requires more than just pointing fingers—it requires solid, undeniable evidence. Here’s how we build a winning case at Sansone & Lauber:

1. Crash Scene Investigation

We immediately send our investigators to:

  • Photograph skid marks, debris, vehicle positions

  • Measure distances, sightlines, and road conditions

  • Interview witnesses

  • Pull traffic and surveillance camera footage

🧪 We treat the crash scene like a crime scene—because proving fault is everything.

2. Police Reports & Witness Statements

We obtain all police reports, 911 recordings, and statements from:

  • Drivers

  • Passengers

  • Independent eyewitnesses

  • First responders

Even if the initial report blames you, we dig deeper to find the truth.

3. Vehicle & Motorcycle Inspections

We inspect both your motorcycle and the other vehicle(s) for:

  • Crash damage patterns

  • Mechanical failures

  • Data from “black boxes” or onboard devices

  • Tire and brake conditions

🔎 This data can prove speed, braking, and evasive maneuvers—or lack thereof.

4. Expert Reconstruction

We bring in professional accident reconstructionists to analyze:

  • Physics of the crash

  • Trajectories

  • Points of impact

  • Driver visibility and reaction time

Their findings are court-admissible and often unshakable.

5. Cell Phone & GPS Records

Was the driver texting? Navigating? Streaming? We subpoena their records to find out.

  • GPS app logs

  • Cell phone usage data

  • Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) driver logs

  • Vehicle tracking data

💥 Distraction is one of the top causes of motorcycle accidents—and we expose it every time.

📈 Our $14.2 Million Motorcycle Crash Victory

At Sansone & Lauber, we don’t just talk tough—we deliver results.

In one of our biggest victories, we secured a $14.2 million settlement for a motorcyclist who suffered catastrophic injuries when a commercial truck turned left directly in his path. Despite the trucking company’s attempts to blame the rider, we:

  • Obtained surveillance footage from a nearby gas station

  • Hired crash reconstruction experts

  • Subpoenaed the truck driver’s cell phone records showing he was texting

  • Deposed witnesses the defense had ignored

The result? Justice. Full accountability. And life-changing compensation.

🏍 Common Motorcycle Crash Scenarios Where Liability Can Be Proven

  • Left-turn collisions: Car turns left in front of oncoming motorcycle

  • Failure to yield: Driver enters intersection or highway without yielding

  • Rear-end crashes: Driver follows too closely and slams into stopped motorcycle

  • Unsafe lane changes: Driver merges into a lane without checking blind spot

  • Dooring: Parked car opens door into oncoming motorcycle

  • Sudden stops: Vehicle brakes unexpectedly, causing a biker to crash

  • Poor road conditions: Government failed to maintain a safe road surface

In each of these, we can hold someone accountable. But you must act fast.

⏳ Missouri’s Deadline for Motorcycle Accident Claims

Under Missouri law, the statute of limitations for personal injury is:

  • 5 years from the date of the crash (most cases)

  • 3 years for wrongful death

  • 180 days to file notice if suing a government agency

🕒 Don’t wait. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Insurance companies build defenses. You need a fighter—now.

💸 What Compensation Can You Recover?

As a motorcycle accident victim in Missouri, you may be entitled to recover:

  • Hospital and medical expenses

  • Surgeries, rehab, and future treatment

  • Lost wages and future earning ability

  • Property damage to your motorcycle

  • Pain and suffering

  • Emotional distress

  • Permanent disability or disfigurement

  • Wrongful death benefits (if a loved one was lost)

We fight to ensure you are compensated for EVERY loss—not just what insurance wants to offer.

🛡 Why Motorcycle Crash Victims Trust Sansone & Lauber

  • 💥 Aggressive Trial Lawyers: We don’t settle low. We prepare every case for trial—and the insurance companies know it.

  • 🧠 Experts in Missouri Law: We know the judges, the rules, and the roads in Missouri.

  • 💼 Personal Attention: You’re not a file. You’re a person. And we treat you that way.

  • 💰 No Fee Unless We Win: You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

  • 📍 Based in St. Louis, Serving All of Missouri

If you were injured in a motorcycle crash, we’re the law firm that gets results. Period.

📞 Injured in a Motorcycle Crash in Missouri? Call Us Now.

Whether you’re in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, or anywhere in between—we’re ready to fight for you.

Call Sansone & Lauber at (314) 863-0500 or contact us online for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your rights, and start building a powerful claim from Day One.

⚖️ Don’t let them blame you.
💥 Make them pay.
🏍 Choose the firm that wins.

Choose Sansone & Lauber.