Legal•Info

Missouri Car Accident Lawyer

On average, there are about six million car accidents that occur in the United States each year. Car accidents are one of the most feared events by drivers and passengers alike. When you are involved in one, it can be stressful both physically, emotionally and financially. When an accident occurs and it is not your fault, there may be even more steps to take regarding insurance and payment, and it can be overwhelming. The best thing to do to make the process easier and to guarantee a good outcome is to hire a car accident or personal injury lawyer/attorney as soon as possible.

A personal injury lawsuit requires many steps, processes and paperwork before it even goes to court. Evidence must be collected, witness testimony taken, and insurance companies must be dealt with. Someone without proper law training could not do it on their own, so an attorney or lawyer is necessary. Not only will he or she be able to walk you through the process and prepare you for what is to come, they will be able to do everything required to get you the best results possible. During this difficult time, you should not have to worry about anything beyond recovering from your injuries. Letting a lawyer take the reins is one of the smartest moves you can make.

More than three million people are injured due to car accidents annually, and more than two million of these injuries are permanent. Car accidents account for billions of dollars spent in damages, compensation, repairs and medical bills by both parties. Many times, a car accident is caused by a negligent driver. If you have been the victim of such an accident, an investigation will most likely be launched to determine exactly what happened to cause it.

Sometimes it can be obvious, such as if the person was driving while intoxicated, or if they were speeding and there were many witnesses who can testify to that. Other times, negligence such as failure to yield, failure to signal or following too closely are harder to prove and may require expert opinion. A lawyer will be able to call upon these expert witnesses to take the necessary steps in determining fault and negligence.

It is important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible following a car accident. Each state has a statute of limitations that dictates how long a victim has to file a claim against a responsible party, in a variety of circumstances. In Missouri, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is five (5) years. This means that a victim has five years from the date of the accident to file a suit against the other driver, for personal injury or even wrongful death if a family member was killed in the accident.

When seeking out a lawyer, be sure to go with someone with extensive experience in the personal injury or car accident field. He or she should know the system in and out, and with experience comes better relationships with a judge, district attorney, and expert witnesses who are willing to work with him or her. Be sure to speak with your lawyer/attorney regarding payment; many are willing to work for free until your case is won, and will not charge you anything if you lose the case. Ask about payment plans, retainers and fees, and anything else you are worried about. This is the person who will be representing you and who can make or break your case.