Car Accident Attorney In St. Louis, MO

Reach Out To A St Louis Car Accidents Lawyer

Car accidents can be frightening experiences. When collisions are serious, they can change lives. Wolff & Wolff Trial Lawyers is a Missouri law firm that features experienced car accident attorneys. Our firm is based in St. Louis, MO, but we also represent clients throughout the entire greater midwest region. When individuals are hurt in a car accident that’s caused by another’s careless, reckless, or illegal behaviors, they have the right to seek compensation for their pain and suffering, their damaged property, missed work, and medical expenses. Our attorneys are passionate about helping our clients achieve justice. If you’ve been injured in a car crash, let’s discuss your claim. Then, you can make an informed decision about whether or not to pursue it.

Car Accidents in St. Louis

In Missouri, drunk driving and speeding are the most frequent causes of accidents. In a recent two-year period, 245 people lost their lives on Missouri roads because of texting. Sometimes an accident truly cannot be avoided—a bolt of lightning leads to bridge collapse, which is an act of nature (although, we still want to know the last time that bridge was serviced). Most accidents involve a mistake or an act of blatant wrong-doing like driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. And while snowy conditions on roadways caused 4.5 percent of recent accidents in Missouri, in 75 percent of collisions, the roads were dry.

Wolff & Wolff Trial Lawyers: We Are Experienced Auto Accident Attorneys

Wolff & Wolff Trial Lawyers has represented hundreds of clients who have been hurt in car crashes. We have a proven track record for success. We know that in most collisions, fault can be assigned. Sometimes it’s very clear that one driver made a serious violation. They might have switched lanes without checking or failed to stop at a stop sign.

We understand how devastating it can be for victims who did nothing wrong but our forced to reap the consequences of another’s carelessness or recklessness. We know that the recovery journey is studded with medical bills. We know that insurers will often try to trivialize the physical and mental anguish that victims undergo. This is why we are dedicated to personal injury law. We do everything in our power to preserve clients’ rights. We will diligently strive to achieve fair compensation so clients can at least feel less stressed about their financial situation.

Car Accident Claims

With nearly a century of experience, our firm has had its fair share of car accident cases. Cases that we handle include (but are not limited to):

Hit and Run
Drunk Driving
Catastrophic Injuries
Auto Defects
Ride Sharing
Speeding
Driving while Drowsy
Failing to Obey Rules of the Road

These cases can be complex. Even accident reports can be tricky to understand with their legal speak. The best course of action for someone involved in a car accident is to seek out an experienced attorney like those at Wolff & Wolff Trial Lawyers.

Car Accident Injuries

Car accident injuries range from minor to catastrophic. In a recent two-year period, more than 2,300 people were killed in auto accidents on Missouri roads. Victims of auto accidents may suffer injuries like:

Spinal Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury
Concussion
Fractures and Broken Bones
Internal Bleeding
Organ Damage
Amputation
Depression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Many accident victims are left with scars or disfigurement. Some face lifelong disabilities as a result of their crash. Multiple surgeries, tests and scans, x-rays and office visits, medication regimens and physical therapy—medical treatment can be extensive and expensive. If you’ve been injured in a car collision, you may be eligible for compensation that covers your medical costs and lost work wages.

Compensation

At-fault drivers and their insurance companies can be held accountable damages. Under Missouri law, victims of car accidents can seek compensation for present and future lost wages, present and future medical expenses, damaged or destroyed property, and physical and mental pain and suffering.

Compensation is often a straightforward affair when the defendant is clearly at fault. In these cases, the driver or their insurer is responsible for payment if the claimant wins their court case. Sometimes compensation can be tricky. For instance, what if some of the fault of an accident lies with the claimant? This happens frequently. A judge or court might find that the claimant is responsible for 10 percent of the accident. As a result, the other party is responsible for 80 percent.

How can this happen? How is this percentage assigned? Let’s say that driver A ran a red light and hit driver B. Driver B suffered serious injuries as a result but they weren’t wearing a seatbelt when they were struck by driver A. Driver A committed the more serious offense but driver B might not have suffered as much if they were wearing their seatbelt as required by Missouri law.

Wolff & Wolff Trial Lawyers understands the care that must be taken when it comes to calculating a demand for fair compensation. For complex cases that involve substantial future medical costs and lost wages, we may consult with an actuary who specializes in these matters. We won’t sit down at the negotiating table without having a clear idea of what our client deserves.

Negotiation vs Litigation

Most personal injury cases are settled during the negotiation process. This is true with car accident claims as well. Insurance providers have a good idea when they’re likely to lose in court. Based on the strength of our client’s evidence, many insurers will opt for a negotiated settlement. If our client accepts the offer, the case can be resolved.

Sometimes the at-fault party refuses to acknowledge guilt or even meet to negotiate. This is less common where insurance companies are involved. However, there are times when claimant and defendant can simply not agree to a proposed sum of compensation. At such times, we can escalate the matter to the court room. Our attorneys are seasoned litigators who thrive in the court room setting. They have the skills and demeanor to aggressively fight for clients’ rights.

What Should I Do If I Get in a Car Accident?

The first two things you should do if you are in an auto accident are call the police and seek medical treatment—not necessarily in that order. In serious crashes, an ambulance will be called to the scene along with police. If you can get up and walk away from a crash, you should still obtain a medical evaluation because many injury symptoms don’t present themselves for some time after the crash. One might not know they are bleeding internally or have a concussion. There are cases where victims didn’t even know their neck bones were fractured.

Medical care can help safeguard health, of course, but it also establishes documented proof of injuries. This proof can serve as evidence if you decide to file a claim. The accident report is also a form of evidence that can be used to support your claim.

Call Wolff & Wolff Trial Lawyers

After getting medical care and a copy of the police report, call us. The sooner you call us the better. You might be surprised how often a police report contains an error. The sooner we correct an error, the less likely it will harm your case. We can investigate to determine if there was video of the collision and photos taken of the vehicles—their position on the road after the crash and their damages. All of this can be included as evidence. If there were witnesses present, the sooner we get their statements, the less likely they are to forget important details about what they saw.

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, turn to the skilled attorneys of Wolff & Wolff Trial Lawyers. We can offer you a free initial consultation to discuss your car accident and its aftermath. Contact us to schedule your appointment today.