St. Louis Car Accident Attorneys

Helping Accident Victims in Missouri Pursue Justice

Car accidents are responsible for an estimated 32,000 deaths and about 2 million injuries. But just because car accidents are common, doesn't mean they are easy to navigate. Individuals who suffer severe injuries in a motor vehicle accident may feel as though they have to deal with the fallout alone and that no one is looking out for their best interests

How Can a Car Accident Attorney in St. Louis Help After an Accidents?

Experiencing a car accident can be an incredibly traumatic and stressful experience. After the initial shock of the crash, victims of car accidents may feel overwhelmed by the financial costs of their injuries and medical bills that can quickly pile up. Fortunately, victims do not have to go through this time alone as they are able to seek help from a knowledgeable St. Louis car accident lawyer who can provide them with legal guidance and assistance in pursuing compensation for their losses. A skilled attorney will be familiar with local laws and regulations governing motor vehicle accidents. This will help injured parties get the justice they deserve after suffering a car crash due to someone else's negligence or recklessness on the road.

Other ways a car accident lawyer in St. Louis can help include:

• Investigating the cause of the accident and determining liability: A car accident lawyer in St. Louis will investigate all potential sources of compensation for an injured party, including parties or entities that may have contributed to the crash (e.g., other drivers, vehicle manufacturers, employers responsible for a commercial driver).
• Filing insurance claims: An experienced attorney can help clients understand insurance coverage options, file claims with insurers on their behalf, and make sure they are not taken advantage of by insurance companies who could limit payouts due to legal restrictions.
• Negotiating with insurance companies: Car accident attorneys can negotiate with insurers on behalf of their clients to ensure fair compensation is received for medical expenses and damages resulting from a motor vehicle crash in the St. Louis area.
• Representing individuals during hearings and trials: When necessary, car accident lawyers possess the experience needed to represent victims at trial or any related hearing. This helps victims receive justice after suffering injuries due the negligence or recklessness of another person involved in a car crash.
• Assessing damages/losses caused by an auto collision: A qualified car accident attorney will be able to accurately assess all types of damages suffered by an individual as a result of an auto collision. This helps ensure that victims are compensated for expenses related to medical bills, lost wages, and more.

Our St. Louis Auto Accident Lawyer

That's where Meyerkord & Kurth comes in. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car crash, you can count on our St. Louis car accident lawyers to help protect your rights and interests. Due to our firm's extensive resources and our more than 100 years of collective experience, we can handle a wide range of vehicle accident claims, including:

• Commercial vehicle accidents
• Distracted driving accidents
• Drunk driving accidents
• Fatal car accidents
• Hit-and-run accidents
• Multi-vehicle accidents
• SUV rollovers
• Uber/Lyft accidents

No matter the circumstances, our goal is to hold responsible parties accountable for your losses and injuries. If you or a loved one sustained an injury in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Don't wait, when you need help with a serious injury, contact our St. Louis car accident attorney.

Reach out to our team to learn what legal action you can take after a car accident in St. Louis. 

We Have a Track Record for Results

Meyerkord & Kurth has a proven track record of success in fighting for accident victims and have recovered more than $450 million for our clients. Our St. Louis car accident attorneys are prepared to stand by your side throughout the entire legal process, gathering the necessary evidence and negotiating with insurance company representatives over the value of your claim.

Some of our top case results include:

• $2,000,000 for a trucking accident
• $731,000 for an auto accident
• $447,500 for an auto accident
• $441,645 for an auto accident

Maximizing Compensation for Qualifying Injuries

Even seemingly "minor" auto accidents can result in serious injuries that will impact your life for months or years down the road. We aggressively pursue damages on your behalf, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, time missed from work and/or school, lost wages, psychological distress, a reduced quality of life, and more.

Meyerkord & Kurth's car accident lawyers have pursued damages for the following types of injuries:

• Amputation
• Severe burns
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Traumatic orthopedic injuries
• Broken or fractured bones
• Partial or long-term paralysis
• Whiplash injuries

Whatever your situation may be, you can feel confident that we will fight to protect your rights, and when insurers refuse to offer a fair settlement, we are not afraid to take them to court.

Understanding Your Rights After a Car Accident

After an automobile accident, knowing your rights and options is vital for seeking damages and compensation for your injuries. The skilled auto accident lawyers at Meyerkord & Kurth in St. Louis can help you navigate the complex court system, making sure your rights are upheld and advocating for the compensation you need.

Some key points to consider after a car accident include:

• Obtaining medical care for any injuries, no matter how small they may appear
• Collecting witness accounts and taking pictures of the accident scene in order to document it
• Not admitting fault or discussing the details of the accident with the other party's insurance company
• Getting advice from an experienced auto accident lawyer before accepting any settlement offers

By understanding your rights and having a skilled legal advocate on your side, you can maximize your chances of receiving fair compensation for your losses. Contact our St. Louis car accident attorneys at Meyerkord & Kurth for a free consultation to discuss your case.

Take Your Time Before Settling an Accident Claim

Shortly after a car accident, you may be contacted by an insurance adjuster offering you a quick settlement. This offer may be rendered before you have completed treatment of your injuries, or you have received a full diagnose. Although you may be in a precarious position and need the money urgently due to mounting medical expenses, it is generally never prudent to accept this quick offer.

Car Accident Compensation

The amount of compensation you receive hinges on a plethora of differing factors. These factors include such things as the severity of your injuries, the amount of medical expenses, and whether or not you have permanent disabilities or pain. By accepting a settlement before all these factors have been ascertained may undervalue your claim. For this reason, you should wait until your treatment is complete and you have fully healed before discussing settlement figures with the adjuster. This way you will receive full compensation for the extent of your injuries.

Proving Fault & Liability for Your Accident Claim

Building a strong car accident case requires evidence that is often only discovered through an in-depth investigation. In the state of Missouri, auto insurance runs on a traditional “at-fault system.” Under the at-fault system, the person responsible for the accident and their insurance company must pay for any harm that occurred during the collision. In addition to physical injuries, they may be on the hook for any lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering, among other damages experienced by the injured party.

There are four primary factors when it comes to proving liability in a car accident:

1. The defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff on the road;
2. The defendant performed an act considered negligent and, in turn, breached that duty of care;
3. The defendant’s negligence was the direct cause of a collision with the plaintiff; and
4. The defendant colliding with the plaintiff was the direct cause of the injuries sustained by the plaintiff.

Our skilled legal team will do all we can to hold negligent parties responsible for their actions and maximize your compensation.

What Is Considered a Serious Car Accident?

An auto accident can be considered serious if it results in significant property damage, physical injuries, or even death. In many cases, the severity of a car accident is determined by how much harm was done to people and property involved. Serious accidents may involve:

• multiple vehicles
• large-scale destruction of private or public property
• severe bodily injury or fatality

Victims of serious car accidents often require extensive medical treatment and may face long-term recovery times that can affect their ability to work and enjoy life. If you have been injured in a St. Louis accident due to another driver's negligence or recklessness, seek legal counsel from an experienced auto accident lawyer. Finding skilled and experienced legal help is essential for pursuing justice and recovering compensation for your losses.

Fatal Car Wrecks & Wrongful Death Lawsuits

In Missouri, families the right to pursue wrongful death actions in situations where victims were killed as a result of the negligent or wrongful acts of others. This means that wrongful death lawsuits can be filed in cases where victims would have otherwise been entitled to file personal injury lawsuits if they had survived.

Depending on the circumstances, various parties may be held liable for fatal car accidents. This includes a negligent driver, commercial trucking companies that violated safety regulations, auto part manufacturers that failed to ensure the safety of their products, government agencies that failed to maintain roadways, and more. Our legal team can help you evaluate the circumstances involved in your case to determine who can be held liable for the loss of your loved one.

Factors That Can Influence the Value of Your Claim

Comparative Fault

In some motor vehicle accidents liability is not clear cut. Sometimes, both parties were negligent in their actions that resulted the accident. When this situation arises, individuals often wonder if they can still file a claim for their injuries even if they were partially at fault. In Missouri, the answer is yes.

Missouri is known as a pure comparative fault state. As such, an individual can bring suit against the other individual and recover portion to which the other party was at fault. This can even occur when the party bringing suit is more at fault than the other party. For example, if a party is 75% at fault, but the the other party is 25% at fault for the motor vehicle accident, then the party who is 75% at fault can still recover against the other party for their 25% fault.

Lost Income

When you are involved in an auto accident, one of the components that you can receive compensation for is lost income. However, the burden is on you to prove to the adjuster that you lost wages due to the accident. The easiest way to prove the amount of time you missed is by obtaining a letter from your boss or supervisor that delineates the time you missed, the amount of wages you would have received, and the reason why you lost these wages was due to the traffic accident. With this letter the adjuster should take your loss of wages under consideration when determining your settlement amount.

Condition of Your Car

One factor adjusters factors adjusters use in the valuation of your compensation for an injury in a traffic accident, is the damage to your car. A car that was severely damage is more indicative that the driver was involved in a serious car accident thereby probably suffered more severe injuries. As such, if you have been involved in car accident where your vehicle has suffered a tremendous amount of damage, it is important to take pictures of the damage in order to show to the adjuster. These pictures can be used as leverage during the negotiations process.

Alternatively, if your vehicle has only suffered minor damage, the accident itself occurred in a less compelling manner (i.e. a low impact accident in a parking lot), then you are probably going to have a difficult time persuading the adjuster the extent of your injuries.

Pain and Suffering

One of the factors used to determine the amount of compensation one is entitled to after being in a car accident is the amount of pain and suffering that individual suffered. For this reason, it is crucial to document your pain and suffering so when you are negotiating with an adjuster you may exhibit those experiences with precision. This in return will enable you to receive what your claim is truly worth.

You can document your pain and suffering with different techniques, such as keeping a journal or taking pictures of the progression of your injuries. However, one of the most important things you can do is to express the pain and discomfort to your treating medical provider. Doing so will ensure that this discomfort will be documented in your medical records. Undoubtedly, adjusters will look at your medical records to contrive a settlement offer, assuring your pain and suffering will be taken note of.

How Long Do I have to File a Car Accident Claim?

Most states in the U.S. have a one or two-year window to file a car accident claim. Missouri allows claimants up to five years from the date of the accident to pursue a personal injury claim after a car crash. While the deadline may seem generous, it's critical to begin your claims process as soon as possible to ensure you have ample time to gather evidence, medical records, and other necessary components needed for a successful car accident claim.

In the case of a wrongful death claim, meaning someone died as a result of the crash, then the claim must be filed within three years of the person's death after the accident (since the date of death can be different than the date of the accident)

It's critical to note that the statute of limitations in car accidents claims does not apply to notifying your insurance company of your accident. You must let your insurance company know about your crash in a reasonable amount of time — typically within a matter of days after your accident.

How Long Does It Take To Settle A Car Accident Case?

A automobile accident case's settlement time might vary greatly depending on a number of factors. More complicated cases involving several parties, disputed liability, or severe injuries may take a year or longer to resolve, whereas simple cases with clear liability and minimal injuries may do so in a matter of months. As skilled St. Louis auto accident attorneys, we are aware that every case is different and involves careful consideration, research, and negotiation.

As your car accident lawyers at Meyerkord & Kurth, it is our responsibility to make sure you get fair recompense for your losses and injuries. This frequently entails negotiations with insurance providers, which can be time-consuming, particularly if they make relatively low settlement offers at first. If a reasonable arrangement cannot be achieved through discussion, we may have to resort to litigation, which can lengthen the timeline even further.

Despite the unpredictability, our priority is to protect your rights and achieve the best possible outcome for your case, ensuring that you are adequately compensated for your losses.

Call Our St. Louis Car Accident Attorney

If you were seriously injured in a car accident in Missouri, call Meyerkord & Kurth. Our St. Louis car accident lawyers are ready to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Work with Award-Winning Lawyers at Meyerkord & Kurth

Establishing liability can be difficult, but the process can be greatly expedited with the help of a skilled St. Louis car accident lawyer. They can assist you in uncovering evidence and compiling it into a strong claim. Thus, while it is possible to represent yourself in court, it is highly advisable to have an acclaimed legal professional in your corner.

Meyerkord & Kurth is home to auto accident attorneys renowned by Super Lawyers®, the American Association for Justice, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell®, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, the National Trial Lawyers: Top 100, and others.

Reach out to a St. Louis car accident attorney at (800) 391-4318 today.