Injured in an Auto Accident? Contact a Missouri Auto Accident Lawyer

Following a car crash, you should be focused on getting treatment for your injuries. You should not have to be concerned with fighting your insurance company for the care you need, or worrying about whether you are going to get the financial recovery you deserve for the car accident or even deciphering court dates and legal jargon. The Burger Law auto accident attorneys in St. Louis make all of these things nonissues by handling the work of your car accident claim for you.

Our lawyers fight for your rights without compromise and ensure that you get complete compensation you need to recover and get back to a normal life. Call one of our auto accident lawyers now at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online contact form. Get a free, confidential, no-obligation case review from one of our qualified Missouri car accident lawyers today.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Auto Accidents in Missouri?

Auto accidents happen in what often feels like a blink of an eye. Though there are some potentially dangerous conditions and events outside of our control that can contribute to crashes, the majority of auto accidents are caused by driver error. Research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that human operators are responsible for 94 percent of accidents that take place.

Some of the most common causes of St. Louis and Missouri auto accidents include:

• Distracted Driving
• Texting and Driving
• Drunk Driving
• Speeding
• Hit and Run
• Construction Zones
• Failure to yield
• Rain or bad weather
• Reckless driving, including:
• Cutting another car off
• Tailgating
• Weaving in and out of traffic
• Running red lights
• Blocking a car or changing speed to prevent another car from changing lanes, passing, etc.
• Refusing to use turn signals
• Forcing a car off the road
• Using high beams to interfere with another driver’s ability to see

What Is the Average Auto Accident Settlement Amount in St. Louis?

Auto accidents are expensive. According to the Insurance Information Institute, deaths, injuries and property damage in motor vehicle accidents cost $474 billion in 2020. The NHTSA estimates that auto accidents cost society $7,300 per second in loss of productivity.

In terms of the cost of paying out the average car accident settlement, it can be difficult to pinpoint an exact figure as many settlement amounts are confidential. But, generally speaking, the majority of car accident settlements come in between $15,000 and $20,000. Injuries requiring more extensive medical care often reach $50,000 to $100,000, while injuries resulting in permanent disability or, in the worst cases, wrongful death, can result in damages of hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions.

How Long Do I Have to File an Auto Accident Claim in Missouri?

Once you are injured in an auto accident, the state of Missouri's statute of limitations dictates how long you have after the date of the accident to file your claim.

• In general, pursuant to Missouri Revised Statute §516.120, you have five years from the date of your injury to file your personal injury claim in St. Louis or elsewhere in Missouri.
• If you were under the age of 21 at the time of the injury, or were mentally incapacitated at the time, Missouri Revised Statute §516.170 states that you have 5 years after the date you turn 21 or that your "legal disability" ends.
• If you are injured by someone who was a resident of the state when the injury occurred, but later left the state before you filed a lawsuit, Missouri Revised Statute §516.200 stipulates that the time the defendant is out of the state does not apply toward the five years.

If you have been injured in a car accident in St. Louis, the clock is already ticking for when you can make your claim. Do not wait, call the auto accident law firm of Burger Law now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online to get justice and maximum compensation for your injuries. We start working on your case right away and do not rest until we win your case.

What Are the Factors That Determine an Auto Accident Settlement in St. Louis?

As the purpose of a car accident settlement is to fairly compensate you for your injuries, the severity of those injuries is the driving factor in how much your settlement might be. Other factors include how your injuries have impacted your life, the insurance policy in question, if you bear any responsibility for your accident and the abilities of your St. Louis auto accident lawyer:

• The severity of your injuries — As more severe injuries lead to higher medical expenses and more time lost from work and generally have a more pervasive impact on your life after the accident, they lead to higher settlements, especially when factoring in the pain and suffering multiplier.
• How your injuries have impacted your life — The greater the effect on your mental, emotional and physical well-being, the higher the noneconomic damages will be.
• The insurance policy — Missouri has a minimum insurance requirement of $25,000 for bodily injury, and while a skilled car accident lawyer may be able to get you more, there are times where you will be limited by the negligent driver's and/or your insurance policy limits.
• If you are partially to blame — With comparative negligence policies like Missouri law observes, you can still receive a financial recovery if you were partially to blame; however, the amount will be less. For example, if you are awarded $100,000 in damages but it is found that you are 30 percent to blame for your accident, you would receive $70,000. In Missouri, you can still receive compensation if you were 99 percent at fault.
• Your car accident lawyer — You need a skilled and aggressive attorney to combat the insurance company's tricks. Your Missouri auto accident lawyer will also need to investigate your accident, prove liability on the part of the other driver and have a network of St. Louis medical and economic experts to precisely value your claim. It is important that, in case the insurance company will not offer a fair settlement in negotiation, you have an experienced trial lawyer that will stand by your side and expertly argue your case in front of a jury.

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