St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
Being in a car accident is a traumatic experience that can leave victims feeling shaken and scared. Car accidents often result in serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, which can have long-term impacts on the victim’s life, adding considerable cost to their medical bills.
Victims may require extensive medical care and rehabilitation, which can be expensive and stressful, resulting in expressive medical bills that the negligent party’s insurance company should cover.
Accidents caused by another driver’s negligence create severe problems and the need to file a personal injury claim seeking compensation.
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Have you or a loved one suffered injuries from a car accident? The personal injury attorneys at Injury Lawyer Team, sponsored by Rosenfeld Law Offices, represent injured victims harmed by someone else’s negligence.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a specialized car accident lawyer. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our personal injury legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
National Car Accident Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 2.5 million people are injured in auto crashes annually in the United States. Of those, more than 40,000 people die each year as a result of their injuries. The most common causes of car crashes include driver error, drunk driving, and distracted driving.
Car accident statistics nationwide include:
- In 2020, there were over 30,000 fatalities from auto accidents in the United States.
- Over 2.3 million people were injured in 2020.
- 88% of car crashes occur on dry roads.
- 55% of automobile accidents involve two or more vehicles.
- 72% of collisions involve a male driver.
- 29% of all car accidents involve a female driver.
- 11% of collisions involve a pedestrian.
- 4% of auto crashes involve a bicyclist.
St. Louis Car Accident Statistics
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, there were over 3,000 St. Louis car accidents in 2020. These accidents resulted in over 1,600 injuries and nearly 130 deaths.
Data reveals:
- Car accidents in St. Louis, Missouri involving children are common occurrences.
- In St. Louis, Missouri, there are an average of 6,000 accidents yearly. Of those 6,000, 1,500 results in injury and death.
- Victims include children, the elderly, bicyclists, pedestrians, females, and males.
- Most accidents occur during the daytime hours on weekdays.
- Drunk driving accidents accounted for 4% of all crashes in 2020.
- Most crashes happen on major roadways such as Interstates 55 and 44.
- There were more rear-end crashes in Missouri than any other type of car accident in 2020
- The most frequent age group of car accident victims in Missouri is 65 and older.
Auto accidents are devastating and often caused by negligence or faulty car parts. These accidents can often result in longer healing times for the victims and substantial medical bills.
The results of an accident can be catastrophic. Motor vehicles are often mangled beyond recognition, and the people inside can be seriously injured or killed. Even if an individual survives a car accident, they may require weeks or months of hospital rehabilitation to recover from their injuries.
In some cases, the injuries are so severe the victim never fully recovers. If you or your loved one have been the victim of an accident, contact our St. Louis car accidents lawyers for a legal assessment.
Causes of Car Accidents in St. Louis
Drivers should be aware of other drivers sharing the roadway that may be distracted due to fatigue, reckless driving, driving while impaired, road rage, and other factors. These factors can lead to accidents and injuries.
Car accidents in St. Louis are, unfortunately, a common occurrence on our roads. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, there were over 112,000 accidents in Missouri in 2017 alone. That’s an average of 309 accidents per day. And these numbers continue to rise each year.
Negligent drivers are responsible for most motor vehicle accidents ranging from common injuries to fatalities and property damages. Many car accident victims were not operating a car or truck during the collisions but were passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Therefore, you don’t need to be operating a vehicle to file a personal injury claim if you were the victim of a car accident. An experienced Saint Louis car accident lawyer will be able to advise you about your rights.
Main Types of Car Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the main types of auto accidents are:
- Distracted Driving: Driver distraction is a leading cause. It can include anything from texting to eating to conversing with passengers.
- Driver Fatigue: Driver fatigue is another major factor in auto accidents. When drivers are tired, they can lose focus and make mistakes while driving.
- Speeding: Excessive speeding is a common cause of car accidents. When drivers travel too fast, they lose control of their vehicles and are more likely to get into an accident.
- Drunk Driving: Driving while impaired on alcohol or drugs is a leading cause of fatal accidents yearly. Drivers under the influence of alcohol can often make careless decisions that lead to accidents.
- Tired Driving: Similar to driver fatigue, tired driving can lead to dangerous situations on the road. When drivers are exhausted, they can fall asleep at the wheel or make careless driving mistakes.
- Road Rage is becoming an increasing problem on our roads. When drivers get angry and lose control, it can lead to dangerous accidents.
- Road Hazards can cause accidents involving anything from potholes to debris on the road.
- Road Construction Zones are another hazard that can lead to accidents. When drivers are not paying attention or following the proper rules in construction zones, they can cause accidents.
- Adverse Weather Conditions: Bad weather can make driving conditions very dangerous. When drivers do not take extra caution in poor weather, they can get into accidents. Weather problems include icy roads, heavy rain, or even high winds.
- Product Defects: Malfunctioning brakes, exploding tires, and faulty airbags are some of the product defects that can cause accidents. A car part not working correctly can risk the driver and others.
Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
A car accident can cause serious injuries even when there’s only minor damage to the vehicles. When two cars collide, the impact force can cause each car’s occupants to be thrown forward or backward. This movement can lead to serious injuries such as spinal cord damage, head injuries, and broken bones.
An average car accident can sometimes become fatal when a larger vehicle strikes a smaller one. For example, a passenger car might be hit by a semi-tractor-trailer. The weight and force of the larger vehicle can cause catastrophic damage to the smaller car and its occupants.
You need to contact a St. Louis car accident attorney to resolve your personal injury claim resulting from a car accident.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Traumatic Brain Injuries
The severe blunt trauma to the head can cause extreme bleeding and swelling inside the skull. It can lead to several serious medical conditions, such as coma, seizures, and death. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common injuries one can suffer in a car accident.
Concussions
A concussion is a less severe traumatic brain injury that occurs when the head is hit or shaken, causing brain tissue to bounce around or twist in the skull. A concussion can involve bruising, tearing, and bleeding on the brain.
Skull Fractures
Fractured skull bones can occur when there is a break in the bone that surrounds and protects the brain. They can cause bleeding and swelling inside of the skull, as well as damage to nearby tissues and structures.
Facial Fractures
Fractured facial bones can occur from the trauma inside the vehicle during impact. They can cause extensive damage to the surrounding tissues, including muscles, nerves, and blood vessels.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Any significant damage to the spinal cord can lead to loss of sensation and movement in different body parts, depending on where the injury occurs. Spinal cord injury often results in partial or total paralysis (paraplegia, quadriplegia, or tetraplegia).
Burns
Significant burns can occur when the skin comes into contact with hot surfaces or chemicals during and after the accident. Any severe burn can cause severe pain, disfigurement, and sometimes death.
Amputations
The amputation of an extremity is usually required when the arm or leg has been severed or crushed. Amputation can lead to loss of sensation and limit movement in the affected limb above the stump.
Cuts and Lacerations
Deep cuts and lacerations can occur when the skin contacts sharp objects inside the vehicle upon impact. These injuries can range from minor to severe, depending on the depth and location of the wound.
An Injury Lawyer Team Car Accident Attorney Can File a Car Accident Lawsuit
Have you been injured in a car accident? You may be entitled to file a car accident lawsuit for financial compensation. Our car accident lawyers will guide you through every step of the process, from filing your claim to negotiating a settlement.
Without legal representation, you’ll need to handle your case by speaking directly with the insurance adjusters working for the defendant’s insurance company. Typically, the adjusters will offer minimal compensation to resolve your claim and drop your case.
You are likely entitled to far more than what they are offering. Having a car accident attorney handle your case who knows how to negotiate with the defendant’s team can ensure you receive full and fair compensation for your car crash injuries.
An experienced personal injury lawyer from our legal team will know how to build a strong case on your behalf and get you the total and fair compensation you deserve.
A Saint Louis car accident lawyer from our Injury Lawyer Team can help you submit your claim to recover compensation for your damages.
What to Do After an Accident
If you are involved in a car accident, taking specific steps to protect your rights and interests is essential. These steps include:
- Call the police: The police can document the accident scene and collect evidence that may be important to your case later.
- Receive medical attention: Even if you don’t think you were seriously injured, seeing a doctor as soon as possible is crucial after an accident. Often, in car accidents, injuries do not appear immediately.
- Collect evidence: If you can do so, collect evidence from the accident scene. It might include taking photos of the damage to your vehicle and injuries and getting any witnesses’ contact information.
- Do not admit fault: It is important not to apologize or admit fault at the accident scene. Anything you say can be used against you later.
- Contact a lawyer: An experienced car accident lawyer can protect your rights, help you gather evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
Legal Recourse for the Surviving Family Members
When a loved one is killed in a wrongful death accident, the family may file a lawsuit against the person or persons responsible. To have a valid case, the plaintiff (the person filing the lawsuit) must prove that the defendant’s (the person responsible for the wrongful death) actions caused the death.
Qualifying family members may include the surviving spouse, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, sibling, or relative. The court typically will appoint one if the decedent did not designate a legal representative for their estate. Only the legal designate has the right to decide how the estate will be handled throughout the process.
Resolving a wrongful death claim can be challenging, as there is often no direct evidence linking the defendant’s actions to the death. The plaintiff’s legal team may rely on circumstantial evidence, such as expert testimony or eyewitness accounts, to make their case.
If the plaintiff successfully proves that the defendant is responsible for the death, they may be awarded damages. It can include compensation for medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Families of wrongful death victims may also be awarded punitive damages, which are meant to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior in the future.
Damages To Recover in Wrongful Death Claim
The family members’ legal team (plaintiffs) filing wrongful death claims can seek maximum compensation through a negotiated fair settlement or jury award paid by the negligent party (defendant) or their insurance company that might include:
- Hospital costs and medical expenses
- Lost wages and future lost earnings
- Loss of benefits
- Loss of companionship
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Punitive damages (in some cases)
Resolving the Case Through Negotiation or Trial
Car accident insurance companies are not in the business of fairly compensating accident victims. Most insurance companies have entire departments dedicated to finding ways to pay victims as little as possible – or nothing at all.
If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s essential to understand your legal options and ensure you are fairly compensated for your injuries.
An experienced car accident attorney will know insurance companies’ tactics to minimize or deny claims. They can help you gather the evidence you need to build a solid case to hold the defendant financially accountable.
The Missouri Statute of Limitations on Motor Vehicle Accidents
The deadline for filing a car accident claimant in St. Louis is five years from the date of the accident. Under Missouri law, injured victims can file car accident claims or lawsuits against the negligent motorist who caused the crash.
You Could Lose Your Legal Rights to File a Car Crash Claim
If you were in a car accident, it’s essential to understand the statute of limitations and how it may impact your case.
Missouri is an at-fault state when it comes to car accidents. It means that the driver who caused the accident is liable for the damages. To file a car accident claim in Missouri, you must do so within five years of the date of the accident.
If you do not file your claim within this time frame, you will be barred from doing so and will not be able to recover damages.
The five-year statute of limitations may seem like a long time, but it’s important to remember that many car accident claims take time to settle. If you wait until the last minute to file your claim, you may not have enough time to gather all the evidence you need to prove your case.
It’s essential to speak with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible so that they can begin investigating your case and building a strong claim on your behalf.
Statute of Limitation Exceptions
There are some exceptions to the five-year statute of limitations. If the victim is a minor, they may file a claim until their 20th birthday.
If the victim dies due to the accident, the estate has two years to file a claim from the date of death.
Average Settlement Amount in Car Accident Cases
The average settlement amount in car accident cases in Missouri in the last decade involving horrific events and injuries is $1.5 million. These car accident cases often involve catastrophic injuries, including brain damage, paralysis, and wrongful death.
Victims often require extensive medical care and rehabilitation, which can be costly. As a result, insurance companies are often willing to pay large sums of money to settle these cases quickly and avoid going to trial.
Joplin, Missouri: $1.5 Million Negotiated Settlement
In April 2021, a young mother driving her child in Joplin, MO, was killed when a drunk driver crashed into her car. The victim’s family car accident lawyer won the case, receiving a $1.5 million award in damages. The police report showed that the other motorist had a history of drunk driving and had been involved in several accidents.
St. Louis, Missouri: $2 Million Negotiated Settlement
In June 2021, a truck driver crashed into a car in St. Louis, MO, severely injuring the driver and passenger. The victims’ car accident attorneys negotiated a $2 million compensation settlement to cover their medical expenses and other losses. The trucker was found at fault for the accident when he failed to yield the right of way, striking the passenger car that left the road and hit the guardrail.
Maryland Heights, Missouri: $5.5 Million Verdict
In July 2021, a St. Louis, MO, jury awarded $5.5 million to the victim of a car accident in Maryland Heights, MO. The victim was hit by a distracted driver who ran a red light, causing her to suffer severe injuries. The verdict included $3 million for pain and suffering and $2.5 million for medical expenses.
While every case is different, these examples show that victims of such accidents can recover compensation for their losses. If you have been involved in a car accident, it is vital to seek legal help to ensure that you are fairly compensated.
Experienced car accident attorneys can help you understand your options and pursue the maximum compensation.
How Saint Louis Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You
If you are involved in a car accident, it is vital to seek legal help as soon as possible. Our St. Louis car accident lawyers can help you resolve your case and get the compensation you deserve for your accident injuries. Your lawyer will work with you to build a solid case by:
- Gathering evidence: It might include talking to witnesses, obtaining a police report, and collecting photos of the accident scene and your injuries.
- Analyzing the evidence: Your lawyer will review the evidence to determine who is liable for your accident and what damages you are entitled to collect.
- Negotiating with insurance companies: Insurance companies often try to low-ball car accident victims. A lawyer can help you negotiate a fair settlement covering all your damages.
- Taking your case to trial: If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, your lawyer can take your case to court and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
No two accidents are alike, so it is essential to have an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyers on your side who can help you navigate the legal process and get the best possible outcome for your case. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Proving a St. Louis Car Accident Case
Under Missouri civil tort law, the plaintiff (injured party) must prove their auto accident claim by showing how the defendant (responsible party) negligently or intentionally led to the victim’s damages. Proving the car accident claim requires following the four elements of civil tort law, which include:
- The defendant had a legal duty to the plaintiff to ensure their safety while sharing the road.
- The defendant breached that duty by driving recklessly or under drugs or alcohol.
- The plaintiff was injured as a result of the defendant’s actions.
- The plaintiff has monetary damages as a result of their injuries.
A car accident victim can suffer a serious injury that can have a lasting impact on their lives. If you have suffered injuries from a car accident in St. Louis, MO, you must show how the other motorist breached their duty to you and caused your injuries.
Proving Breach of Duty
Depending on the facts of your car accident case, the breach might involve:
- Speeding
- Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Making an illegal turn or lane change
- Tailgating or following too closely behind another vehicle
Evidence To Use as Prove of Your St. Louis Car Accident
There are a few ways to prove that another driver’s negligence caused the car crash, which might’ve resulted in your car accident injuries or killed your loved one in a car accident in St. Louis, MO.
- First, you can review the police report from the auto accident and look for evidence of the other driver’s negligence. If the other driver was cited for a traffic violation, this could be used as evidence of their negligence.
- You can also speak with eyewitnesses to the auto accident and ask them to testify about what they saw. If the other driver was drinking or using drugs, this could be evidence of their negligence.
- Finally, you or your St. Louis car accident attorney can hire an accident reconstruction expert to help prove that the other driver was at fault.
If you were injured in a car wreck that was not your fault, you might be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other damages. Contact our St. Louis car accident attorneys for a free consultation to discuss your car accident case and legal options.
Hiring Saint Louis Car Accident Lawyers to Resolve Your Personal Injury Case
Were you involved in a motor vehicle accident caused by someone else’s negligence? Do you need to file a St. Louis car accident claim for financial compensation against the responsible party’s insurance company to pay for your damages?
Our St. Louis car accident attorneys have years of experience helping victims who have suffered injuries, property damage, and fatalities in a car or truck accident file their personal injury claims. We follow the law to hold the negligent driver financially accountable and handle cases just like yours.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss the car crash you or your loved one were involved in and compensation for your property damage, medical costs, hospital bills, funeral/burial expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering.
We accept all personal injury cases and wrongful death lawsuits through a contingency fee arrangement. This agreement ensures you will pay no upfront legal fees until your St. Louis car accident attorneys resolve your claim through a negotiated settlement or a jury award.
All confidential or sensitive information you share with your Saint Louis car accident lawyer remains private through an attorney-client relationship.