St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

Many St. Louis and Missouri residents likely have a car to get themselves to work, drop kids off at school, and to run errands. While using a car as a main mode of transportation has a lot of benefits, there are also risks. When a driver acts negligently, they can cause an accident that results in severe harm and damages. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, a St. Louis car accident lawyer from Thomas Law Offices can help.

We’re dedicated to providing our legal expertise to those who were wrongfully injured. Our lawyers will help you hold the negligent party responsible for their actions and fight for you to recover the compensation you need.

How Common Are Missouri Car Accidents?

Negligent drivers can cause accidents every day. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Statistical Analysis Center, Missouri had a total of 155,940 crashes in 2018. From those crashes, the following data shows which crashes were fatal, harmed people, or destroyed property:  

• Fatal Crashes. Out of the 848 fatal crashes, there were 921 fatalities.
• Personal Injury Crashes. 55,660 people were injured in a total of 38,357 personal injury accidents.
• Property Damage Only Crashes. 116,735 crashes resulted in property damage only.
• St. Louis City. In St. Louis City, there was a total of 15,076 crashes. 52 were fatal and 4,147 caused personal injury.

Whether you were injured, had property destroyed, or lost a loved one in a car accident, a St. Louis car accident lawyer from Thomas Law Offices can help you get the justice you deserve.

What Are the Different Types of Car Accidents?

Your injuries and damages can vary depending on the type of car accident. Some can result in minor injuries while others can be potentially deadly. Common types of car accidents include:

• Broadside. These can happen at intersections when a car is making a left turn into traffic. If they don’t see an approaching vehicle, or the other driver runs a red light, the side of the car is hit. A broadside collision is also known as a T-bone crash.
• Head-On. Head-on collisions occur when the front of the vehicles collide. These are often the most damaging and can be deadly.
• Rear-End. When a car is following too closely or the driver is distracted and they don’t look up in time, they can hit the back of the vehicle in front of them. Unfortunately for the driver who was hit, they may get whiplash from the crash.
• Sideswipe. When cars are traveling on the highway, one driver could drift from their lane and hit the other driver next to them. If both drivers try to correct their steering to put space in between their vehicles, they could overcorrect and lose control. They could veer out of their lane or run off the road.
• Rollover.When a car takes a turn too quickly or something causes the tires to lift into the air, the car can rollover. There is little a driver can do once the rollover begins and can sustain serious injuries from this accident.

Now that you’re familiar with some types of car accidents, let’s look into what makes them happen.

What Causes Car Accidents in Missouri?

When our lawyers look into your case, we’ll need to determine what caused your car accident. There are many ways that a negligent driver can cause an auto collision. Here are some of the most common causes of car accidents in Missouri in 2017.  

• Speeding. Going above the speed limit puts the driver at risk of an accident because they could lose control of their vehicle more easily and are traveling faster than others around them. They’ll have less time to react to other vehicles around them if they have to quickly slow down or stop. Speeding caused 3,861 total crashes in Missouri. 134 of those crashes were fatal and 1,710 caused personal injuries.
• Drunk Driving. An intoxicated driver will have impaired judgment and reduced control of the vehicle. In Missouri, 156 people lost their lives to accidents involving a drunk driver. In total, alcohol contributed to 5,321 total crashes.
• Distracted Driving. There are many types of distractions that take a driver’s attention away from the wheel. Cell phones, eating, and changing the radio station are all forms of distracted driving. Using a cell phone is one of the biggest distractions as people use them for phone calls, texting, social media, and GPS. Distracted or inattentive drivers caused 20,896 crashes. 5,920 crashes resulted in injury and 83 crashes caused fatalities.
• Ignoring Road Conditions. When the weather is poor and results in limited visibility or makes the road slippery, drivers need to adjust their driving so they can stay in control of their vehicles. Drivers that go too fast for conditions can cause serious accidents. 15,674 crashes occurred because of drivers who were driving too fast for the road conditions.
• Improper Lane Change or Usage. These can happen when drivers fail to check their blind spots, use their signal, or act in other negligent ways when changing lanes. 3,949 personal injury crashes and 189 fatal crashes occurred because of this.
• Failure to Yield. When a driver refuses to yield, they can collide with another driver that has right of way. 129 fatal accidents happened, and 8,367 personal injury accidents happened because of a failure to yield.

You may not recognize the reason why your accident happened in the list above. You should still speak with a St. Louis car accident lawyer from Thomas Law Offices about your accident and whether or not you have grounds for a case.

After an accident, you may be approached by an insurance adjuster to settle your case. While agreeing to take the settlement may seem favorable in that moment, it’s vital to go over the accident with a lawyer first. They’re going to represent your best interests and fight for you to get maximum compensation. This may not be the case from your original settlement offer. Let’s take a look at the different ways a personal injury lawyer can help you.

How Can a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer Benefit You?

An experienced attorney will stand by your side every step of the way throughout the claims process. Handling a legal matter can be complex. You’ll need to know which laws apply to your case and making sure your claim is filed properly. When you’re trying to deal with injuries and your recovery, keeping up with your legal responsibilities is difficult to do on your own. When you have a St. Louis car accident attorney will help you manage these responsibilities so you’re able to focus on your recovery.

When we investigate your case, we’ll find out how the other party acted negligently and how their negligence affected you. The injuries and damages you suffered can be severe. As your representation, we’ll seek compensation that properly reflects those injuries and damages and will help you recover from them.

If your injuries required you to stay in the hospital, undergo surgery, use medical equipment, take medication, or other forms of treatment, then your compensation can cover these expenses. Your past and future medical expenses are the result of an accident that shouldn’t have happened in the first place. You shouldn’t have to worry about how you’re going to be able to afford the care you need to move forward.

As you recover, you’re likely not going to be able to work for a period of time. When you’re unable to work, you may worry about missing those days of pay. We’ll count the days of work you missed because of the accident and fight for you to recover those lost wages so you can maintain your livelihood as you recover. You’ll be able to keep up with your other financial responsibilities and put food on the table.

If your car was damaged in the accident, you may have significant mechanic bills. We’ll fight for your compensation to cover the costs so you’re able to get your vehicle fixed without worrying about how you’re going to afford them.

We’ll also fight for you to recover for the emotional losses of the accident. Getting injured and living with injuries can be painful and recovery can take a long time. The pain and suffering you’re going through could have been prevented if the other driver had acted negligently. You can recover pain and suffering damages when you have a skilled car accident lawyer on your side.

If your accident is causing loss of enjoyment of life because you’re unable to live your life as you would have before the accident, you can recover damages for that as well. While it is difficult to calculate damages such as this, a St. Louis car accident attorney from Thomas Law Offices will use their expertise to accurately calculate the damages that reflect this.

Sometimes, a car accident results in the death of a loved one. If this happened to you, we can help you stand up for your loved one. We can also fight for you to recover for loss of companionship, guardianship, and support. While our actions cannot undo the accident, we can provide you and your family with fair compensation so you can grieve for your loved one.

Having a car accident lawyer at your side is the best way to get the recovery you deserve. If you’re wondering about how you can help your claim, what you do at after a car accident can benefit your health and your claim.

How Can Your Actions After a Car Accident Help You?

After a car accident, it’s important to remain calm. While an accident often happens suddenly and can cause a lot of damage in a few seconds, keeping a clear head can help you focus on what you need to do next.

• Assess for Injuries. First, you need to assess yourself for injuries. If you’re able to move, assist others who were in the accident as well.
• Call for Help. Call 911 so emergency responders can get to the scene and register first aid. The police will also come to make a report and get your statement.
• See Paramedics. Allow the paramedics to assess your injuries. You may need first aid and if your injuries are severe, the paramedics can arrange for you to get to a hospital as soon as possible.
• Speak to Police. If you don’t need to be rushed to get emergency care, you can give your statement to the police. They’ll ask you about what happened. When you’re answering, include all the details you’re able to remember, but don’t fill in gaps or make guesses. It’s also important to refrain from assigning blame, as their report could indicate a different liable party.
• Gather Evidence. Get the other driver’s name, contact information, insurance policy number, and details about the make and model of their car. You can also help your case by taking photographs of the accident scene. Capturing the damages as well as the road conditions and weather can help point to what caused the accident and who was liable. If anyone saw the accident, get their name and contact information as well.
• Get a Medical Evaluation. After you’ve done what you can, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Tell them about the accident and report any symptoms you’ve noticed. They’ll be able to find the extent of your injuries and being treating you. Your medical records will also show that your accident required you to see a doctor, and you’ll have record of the injuries you sustained.
• Contact a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney. Get in touch with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. They’ll be able to help you get the compensation you deserve.

When you take measures to protect your health, collect evidence, and have an experienced lawyer on your side, you’re giving yourself the best chance of receiving compensation that will help you heal physically, emotionally, and financially.

Seek Your Legal Options with Thomas Law Offices

Our law firm understand the serious consequences of a car accident. When your life seems to be put on hold because of the injuries you sustained, we’re here to help you get back on track. A St. Louis car accident lawyer from Thomas Law Offices will fight for your rights and will help you show the negligent party that their actions were unacceptable.

To get started on your claim, contact our office today for an obligation-free consultation. You’ll meet with one of our lawyers to go over the facts of your case, answer your questions, and to look at the options available to you. We’ll help you decide on how to best move forward.