Missouri saw 127,485 car accidents in 2022 alone with 45,456 persons injured and 964 killed. [1] Unfortunately, car accidents caused by negligent drivers are far too common in Missouri, presenting a risk to you and the people you love. Their negligence can cause you incredible pain and suffering.
If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident, it’s important you move quickly to secure your rights and get fairly compensated. There are some steps you should take to create a solid foundation for your car accident claims. Working with experienced personal injury attorneys will also significantly increase your chances of winning the highest compensation possible.
Types of Cases Our Missouri Car Accident Attorneys Handle
The expert personal injury lawyers at our law firm are highly skilled at helping victims of car accidents. Individuals we represent win huge settlements from several types of auto accident cases, including:
- Rear-End Accidents – A car crashing into you from behind is a rear-end collision. They often happen because the other driver didn’t leave a safe distance between himself and the car in front of him.
- Drunk Driving – Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs often cause serious accidents and inflict incredible pain and suffering on victims, simply because they exercised poor judgment.
- Head-On Crashes – When two vehicles crash straight into each other, it’s called a head-on collision, and it’s typically one that results in fatalities. There were 107 fatal head-on accidents in Missouri in 2022. [2]
- Sideswipe Accidents – These accidents happen when the at-fault driver fails to check their blind spot or changes lanes suddenly, causing the side of their vehicle to collide with another.
The Most Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents in Missouri
While the facts of every car accident case differ, the causes are usually similar in most of the Missouri motor vehicle accident cases we deal with. They include:
- Distracted Driving – Driving while using a phone or being otherwise distracted is a very common cause of auto accidents since the driver’s judgment is elsewhere. The 2022 Missouri crash statistics show distracted driving while using handheld devices caused 1,732 crashes, including nine fatal. [3]
- Disregarding Traffic Rules – When traffic rules such as red lights, stop signs, and speed limits are not followed, drivers will often end up causing an accident.
- Defective Parts – A defective part or a manufacturing fault in the vehicle can prevent the driver from being able to safely operate the car and avoid an accident.
- Inclement Weather – Driving when the weather is poor and visibility is particularly low is dangerous as the road conditions become incredibly unsafe, causing car accidents.
Damages Our Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You Recover
As a car accident victim in Missouri, you can recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include, among other things, compensation for your medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, home care, lost wages, vehicle repair or replacement, and property damage.
Non-economic damages are broad and include compensation for things such as loss of enjoyment of life, mental trauma, loss of potential income as well as pain and suffering. Family members of victims killed in a car accident can file a wrongful death lawsuit to be compensated for the untimely death of a loved one.
The free case evaluation our experienced Missouri car accident attorneys provide will help figure out the parties you can seek compensation from and the amount you may be able to recover. Your accident lawyer will fight for you every step of the way to secure the highest compensation possible.
The Basis of Missouri Car Accident Claims
When you file a personal injury claim in a car accident case, it’s your responsibility to show the other driver is legally responsible for the injuries you suffered. That’s also going to be the basis of the claim you file with their insurance company before filing a personal injury case.
In either scenario, you’ll need to clearly establish the accident was caused by the other driver’s negligence. This is done by first highlighting how they owed you a duty of care. All drivers owe a duty of care to other road users to drive safely and obey the rules of the road.
A negligent act, such as drunk driving, is a breach of this duty of care. You’ll need to prove how that breach led to the accident that resulted in your injuries. All of this will be done by your Missouri personal injury lawyer who will also accurately value your car accident claim so you are fairly compensated.
Legal Liability in Car Accident Cases
There may have been multiple parties that played a role in your accident. You could have a claim against two or more defendants, if they’re found liable for the following:
- Injury and Wrongful Death Liability – Auto accident victims can file personal injury claims while family members of deceased victims pursue wrongful death lawsuits against defendants.
- DRAM Shop Liability – An establishment that continued to serve alcohol to a person later causing a drunk driving accident may possibly be sued for third-party liability under DRAM shop laws.
- Manufacturing Defect Liability – Defective parts suppliers or vehicle manufacturers who fail to fix known issues that later cause an accident can be held liable for their negligence.
- Government Liability – Government departments responsible for maintaining roads can face claims for improper maintenance. An official vehicle crashing into yours may also make them liable.
Proving Fault in Missouri Auto Accident Cases
Missouri is an at-fault state meaning whoever causes the crash is responsible for paying the victim for the injuries and damage they’ve suffered. The state also follows a pure comparative fault framework where the percentage of fault shared by all parties is determined before allocating damages.
For example, if the victim is found to be 25% at fault for the accident, the at-fault driver will pay 75% of the allocated damages.
It’s crucial to work with an experienced car accident lawyer who understands local laws to accurately establish fault. Your claim must be backed by solid evidence, including statements from eyewitnesses and the police report, to secure a favorable settlement.
You Have a Limited Time to File a Car Accident Claim
There is a five-year statute of limitations on personal injury cases in Missouri. This means your claim for damages must be filed within five years after the accident or it won’t be allowed. The statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits is 3 years from the date of death.
Hiring a skilled car accident lawyer soon after your accident is important so your claim isn’t disallowed on the basis of technicality. The free case evaluation by our law firm will give you peace of mind that your claim is within the time limit and the recovery process will move forward without any problems.
Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit With Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
As your car accident attorney, our mission is to help clients take back control of their lives by being fairly compensated for their pain and suffering. The Missouri car accident attorneys at our law firm have decades of experience dealing with difficult cases.
To help you recover the damages you rightfully deserve, we follow a detailed process that includes:
- Free Consultation – You’ll get a free consultation where we look at your car crash case and lay out all of your legal options. This will help you understand how much you could potentially receive in compensation and how long that might take.
- Thorough Investigation – We’ll thoroughly investigate your case to secure valuable evidence. Our lawyers will survey the car accident site, obtain statements from eyewitnesses, notify the insurance company, and gather associated evidence to create a solid legal foundation.
- Expert Testimonies – Your claim will be backed up with testimonies from leading auto accident experts and healthcare professionals to clearly establish fault and the necessary expenses needed for your medical treatment.
- Effective Negotiations – Our law firm understands the tactics insurance companies use and we utilize our expertise to aggressively negotiate with them to secure the highest possible compensation for you.
- Trial Preparation – In the event a settlement isn’t reached with the insurance company, your skilled accident lawyer will immediately start preparing for trial and forcefully argue your lawsuit to secure your rights and obtain a favorable outcome.
Financial Compensation We Can Secure for Missouri Car Accident Victims
Missouri auto accident victims don’t receive a standard amount as compensation. How much you receive in a car accident settlement will depend on the circumstances unique to your accident.
Our aim as your Missouri car accident attorneys is to always utilize all legal options to get you fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, future medical treatment, loss of potential income, and more.
We have consistently secured major payouts for our car accident clients, as high as $18.5 million, for permanent injuries resulting from a head-on collision caused by a semi-truck.
Our law firm also secured a $1 million policy limit auto accident claim for the family of a rear-seat passenger who was fatally injured in a rear-end car wreck.
Factors Affecting Car Accident Settlement Amounts
How much you can claim in damages depends on various factors unique to your Missouri auto accident case. The factors affecting settlement amounts include:
- Availability of Evidence – The claims you make must be backed by solid evidence. It will be difficult for the insurance company to deny a fair settlement when there’s plenty of evidence to back up your claim.
- Medical Expenses – All medical expenses made for the recovery of your physical injuries as well as mental wellbeing can be claimed.
- Extent of Injuries – Serious injuries will typically result in higher settlements whereas victims with minor injuries will have claims proportionate to the injuries they’ve suffered.
- Insurance Coverage – Drivers often carry the minimum insurance coverage required by law, making it difficult to be fully compensated if your damages exceed the limits. Nevertheless, we consider all legal options to get you as much compensation as possible.
The Most Common Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents often result in catastrophic injuries severely impacting your quality of life. The injuries commonly suffered in auto accidents include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – A forceful blow to the head can lead to traumatic brain injuries which could be fatal.
- Broken Bones – Bones may be fractured as a result of the collision impact. Damage to the spinal cord may also result in paralysis and lifelong disability.
- Internal Bleeding – Collision impact may also cause internal bleeding that could even lead to organ damage if you don’t get emergency medical attention.
- Whiplash – Neck injuries resulting from whiplash after an accident cause herniated discs, cervical dislocation, and other serious injuries.
- Deep cuts – Accident victims also suffer lacerations or deep cuts as loose metal or glass damage the skin to a point where surgery may also be required.
The Cost of Hiring a Skilled Car Accident Attorney
We work for you on a contingency fee basis. This means our experienced Missouri car accident lawyers will handle everything for you at no upfront cost. You don’t need to pay us anything as we navigate the entire process, from collecting evidence to negotiating with insurance companies, and even taking the case to trial.
It’s only when you get paid that we get paid. Our fee is going to be a small percentage of your final settlement. By aligning our fee with car accident settlements, we ensure you have the best possible chance of securing fair compensation in your Missouri car accident case.
The Time It Takes to Settle a Car Accident Injury Claim
It typically takes four to six months to settle a car accident claim in Missouri, but that’s the best-case scenario. It could take much longer if there are multiple responsible parties in your case, if more evidence is required to establish fault, if the insurance companies are difficult to negotiate with, or if the case goes to trial.
We understand having to wait for justice after your life has been turned upside down by an accident feels unfair. It’s imperative you hire the right car accident attorney quickly after your accident. The sooner we can start the process, the better it will be to prevent any unnecessary delays in getting you what you deserve.
Contact a Missouri Car Accident Lawyer Today!
Don’t let the possibility of financial ruin cloud your life after a car accident. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we’re committed to helping car accident victims get the maximum compensation possible, so that you can get your life back on track.
The free case evaluation our law firm offers ensures you understand all of the legal options available at no upfront cost. Our track record of recovering millions for car accident victims in Missouri speaks for itself. We’re standing by 24/7 to help you out. Give us a call at (888) 424-5757 and consult with a Missouri car accident attorney today.