Car Accident Lawyer St. Louis, MO

Car Accident Lawyer in St. Louis, MO. They broke the rules of the road, and now your life is upended. You should not have to pay because somebody else was negligent. Call a Burger Law St. Louis, MO car accident lawyer immediately at (314) 500-HURT or complete our online form for a free case review and to start on your road to recovery.

The damage that unthinking and negligent drivers can cause is often staggering, and they need to be held accountable for their behavior. Every Burger Law car accident lawyer has devoted their career to standing up to bullies and standing up for of the injured in St. Louis, MO to deliver them the financial recovery they need to move forward and get their life back. If you were injured by a negligent driver, we know you are outraged — you should to be. You are also likely worried about the financial burden of medical bills and lost wages, to say nothing of the physical and emotional pain that goes along with your injuries. The law offers you a bridge to recompense; our St. Louis, MO car accident lawyer team is here to lead the way you through it and fight on your behalf until there is nothing left to fight and you are fully compensated for the harm someone else's carelessness caused. You do not have to wait any longer to begin on your road to recovery. We do not charge any fees until we win your case.

In more than 30 years of practice, our car accident lawyer team has gotten more than $175 million in verdicts and settlements for our Missouri clients. If you were hurt because someone else broke the rules of the road, find out the value of your case by filling out our complimentary personal injury calculator.

How Common Are Car Accidents in St. Louis and Missouri?

In Missouri, car accident deaths went up by 12% between 2019 and 2020, despite there being fewer people on the road owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2018 study found that Missouri ranked 12th in the nation in fatal auto wrecks, with over half of those fatalities transpiring on rural roads. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 36,033 auto wrecks that caused personal injury and 923 fatal auto collisions.

If you were one of the many in St. Louis or anywhere in Missouri who was injured on the road because of somebody else's careless behavior, reach out to a car accident lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT.

What a Car Accident Lawyer in St. Louis, MO Can Do For You

With some common fender-benders, you might be able to be fully reimbursed without legal representation. But when you are injured in a crash, you generally need a car accident lawyer to fight by your side and make sure that you get the best results in your claim. When you hire a Burger Law St. Louis, MO car accident lawyer, we will:

• Perform and investigation your accident and acquire evidence, such as:
  • Photographs
  • Surveillance video
  • Police reports
  • Official eyewitness depositions
  • Your medical records
• Ensure you receive the full medical treatment you need
• Offer you reliable and personalized legal advice
• Utilize our network of St. Louis, MO experts to help develop a legal strategy
• Manage all communication, documentation, litigation and negotiations
• Demand that you are given a fair settlement offer
• Take your case to court when the insurance company will not give you a fair offer

You can depend on a Burger Law car accident lawyer in St. Louis, MO to aggressively and passionately demand justice in your claim. We have committed our lives to helping the vulnerable in St. Louis, MO in their recovery and in being made whole again. Our case evaluation and initial investigation are free, so there is no reason not to talk to us. Contact a car accident lawyer today at (314) 500-HURT to discuss your case.

Have a look at some of the links below to see the great results Burger Law's St. Louis, MO car accident lawyer team has secured for our clients:

• $2 million Multi-Vehicle Collision Settlement
• $765,000 Wrongful Death Car Accident Settlement Against Fire Department
• $327,000 Settlement for Rear-End Collision
• $250,000 Settlement for Crash After A Driver Ran a Red Light
• $205,000 Settlement After Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign
• $125,000 Settlement After Rear-End Collision at a Stop Light
• $100,000 Settlement for Distracted Driving
• $100,000 Settlement for Head-On Collision
• $90,000 Settlement for an Injured Passenger

St. Louis, MO Car Accident Lawyer: Frequently Asked Questions

Most of our St. Louis, MO clients have never had to hire a car accident lawyer before, and naturally have a good deal of questions about their rights and the legal process. Below are some of the most frequent questions we get in relation to car accident claims:

Who Is Liable in My Car Accident?

That depends the specifics of your case. Some of the most common reasons our car accident lawyer team sees for claims in St. Louis, MO are:

• Drunk Driving or Drug Impaired Driving
• Distracted Driving, such as Texting and Driving Accidents
• Hit and Run Accidents
• Intersection Accidents
• Speeding Accidents
• Multi-Car Accidents
• Carpoool and Rideshare Accidents

Every car accident lawyer at Burger Law has seen every kind of collision imaginable, and we know how to demonstrate negligence and win every variety of motor vehicle case.

How Do I Prove a Car Accident Case?

In order to win your claim, your car accident lawyer must demonstrate the five elements of negligence found in tort law:

1. Duty of Care: Missouri Revised Statute §304.120 specifies that drivers are "to exercise highest degree of care." That means that whoever in control of a vehicle automatically owes you a duty of care.
2. Breach of Duty: The driver is in violation of a statute or otherwise did not operate the vehicle safely.
3. Cause in Fact: Also known as "causation," you have to prove that the driver's breach of duty directly caused you harm.
4. Proximate Cause: This is what ultimately determines negligence and refers to the underlying cause of your injuries. A drunk driver is clearly negligent, but if a vehicle's brakes do not function correctly, the proximate cause is malfunctioning components and the driver may not necessarily be at fault.
5. Damages: That your injuries resulted in some sort of loss, like property damage, medical bills and/or lost wages.

Can I Still Be Awarded Compensation If I Was Partially to Blame?

Yes. Missouri is a pure comparative fault state. Meaning, that if you are found to be partially culpable for your wreck, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of culpability you are responsible for. For instance, if a jury awards you $100,000 for a crash, but establishes that you were 30 percent to blame, the final total you recover would be $70,000.

How Much is My Car Accident Claim Worth?

That depends on the seriousness of your injuries, how they have affected your life and the skill of your car accident lawyer. With the assistance of your attorney, you will be able to collect compensation for:

• Economic damages, including:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential
  • Medical bills, for instance:
    • Urgent care
    • Follow-up doctors appointments
    • Surgeries
    • Physical rehabilitation
    • Medication costs
    • In-home medical treatment
    • Assistive devices such as wheelchairs or necessary improvements to your house
    • Future estimated medical costs, like further physical rehabilitation or medication, or replacement expenses for assistive devices
  • Transportation costs related to your medical care
  • Damage to your car
• Noneconomic damages, which the state of Missouri defines as:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Inconvenience
  • Physical impairment
  • Disfigurement
  • Loss of capacity to enjoy life
  • Loss of consortium

In infrequent cases in St. Louis, MO, such as drunk driving crashes, your car accident lawyer may be able to help you recover punitive damages.

How Are Noneconomic Damages Calculated?

It is difficult to put a number on intangible consequences of a crash such as emotional anguish. Noneconomic damages are typically quantified through one of two formulas:

1. The Per Diem Method: "Per diem" stands for "per day" in Latin. In this method, you are granted a daily amount for each day you were affected. The daily amount is typically the same as the amount you make from a day's labor, the belief being that a day of pain or emotional distress has at least the same value as a day's work. This method is not implemented for permanent injuries as there is no way to know how many days your injury will affect you.
2. The Multiplier Method: In this method, your economic damages are multiplied by a number, usually between 1.5 and 5, and the product will be your final compensation. Three is used most often, and four and five are typically reserved for cases that cause disability or permanent impairment.

Your Burger Law car accident lawyer in St. Louis, MO will make sure that an insurance company or jury understands the full extent that your injuries have impacted you and reimburse you for all of your damages.

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How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in St. Louis, MO?

Generally, under Missouri Revised Statute §516.120, you have five years from the date of your accident to make your personal injury claim in St. Louis or anywhere in Missouri. If you were under 21 at the time of the accident, you have five years from the day you turn 21. That may appear a long time, but it is crucial to reach out to a car accident lawyer as soon as possible for the best results in your case.

What Mistakes Can Hurt My Claim?

St. Louis, MO residents who have not been in touch with a car accident lawyer could mistakenly do or say things that make their claim harder to win. Some common mistakes your car accident lawyer in St. Louis, MO sees are:

• Not Calling the Police: According to Missouri Revised Statute §300.110, you have to report an accident to the police "as soon as reasonably possible" if it causes injury. Police know how to ascertain liability in wrecks and their police report will be critical in your case.
• Not Documenting the Scene: Take photographs of both vehicles and the surrounding area and acquire witness contact information. This will also be extremely valuable in your claim.
• Not Seeking Medical Attention: In order to be wholly compensated for your injuries, you need to have records of them and have them treated. Always be totally frank with your doctor about any pains you have.
• Trusting the Insurance Company: Insurance companies use a lot of tricks to reimburse you for as little as they can; that is their job. Do not trust anything they say or make any recorded statements until you have talked to an attorney.
• Accepting the Initial Settlement Offer: If you need the money quickly, it might be tempting to take what you can get now. It is a much better idea when all is said and done to wait for the complete financial recovery you are owed.
• Not Hiring a Burger Law Car Accident Lawyer: Every Burger Law car accident lawyer has pledged their life to deliver justice for the injured in St. Louis, MO. When someone refuses to admit blame or the insurance company refused to be fair, we step in and insist that you are treated fairly and get the full financial recovery you deserve.

How to Avoid Auto Accidents | St. Louis, MO Car Accident Lawyer

Over three quarters of people who perish in auto crashes are drivers. Every Burger Law car accident lawyer has seen with their own eyes the damage that a thoughtless driver can cause. While you cannot always control what other people do, there are numerous measures you can take to protect yourself as well as others on the St. Louis, MO roadways.

• Always use a seatbelt. In 2017, seatbelts saved approximately 14,955 lives. Over four-fifths of drivers and passengers who are entirely ejected from the vehicle die, and most of the rest suffered serious, life-changing injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that wearing a seatbelt lowers the risk of death by almost half and moderate to critical injury by 50 percent.
• Be aware of the laws and best driving practices. The Missouri Department of Revenue provides a Driver Guide for St. Louis, MO drivers. Fundamental tips like driving slower and increasing following distance in winter conditions not only go a long way in keeping you and other drivers and passengers safe, but they also protect you from liability or being partially blamed for a wreck if you do find yourself in one.
• If you drive a motorcycle, use a helmet. While St. Louis, MO does not have laws forcing motorcycle drivers to wear helmets, they are literal life-savers. In 2017, helmets saved 1,872 lives.
• Put down your cell phone. While you can always call someone back, you can never take back the consequences of a car crash. Pull over to the side of the road if you need to make an urgent call. If you use your phone for directions, turn the volume up and turn the music off so you can clearly hear the directions and do not have to look.
• Have the right attitude. The road is for everyone, and we all should be polite to other drivers, passengers and pedestrians. Be aware of the fact that you are controlling several tons of metal moving at high speeds. Safety should be your prime concern. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, almost a quarter of traffic deaths are people under the age of 25. Maturity is likely a contributing factor.
• Drive with both hands on the wheel. Just driving with one hand can considerably lessen your control of the car. Quickly changing the A/C settings is likely OK, but both hands should be on the wheel the majority of the time.
• Call a taxi or ridesharing service if you have been drinking. Not only does alcohol considerably impede your ability to drive safely, but it also raises your confidence and makes you feel more powerful, so you might think driving while drunk will be fine. Your brain may trick you into believing you can drive home safely, but it is never the case.

You can take every possible precaution when you get behind the wheel, but unfortunately the thoughtless behavior of irresponsible drivers can still harm you. When you get hurt because another person broke the rules of the road, you are owed full compensation for all of your damages. Every St. Louis, MO car accident lawyer at Burger Law takes on and wins the tough cases, and knows how to get great results.

You just have one shot for a full financial recovery. Do not let it slip. Our St. Louis, MO car accident lawyer team pushes back against bullies like resistant insurance companies and thoughtless drivers who do not want to be held accountable for their actions. We know the economic hardships of being injured are sudden and severe. That is why we have dedicated our lives to seeing the injured and vulnerable in St. Louis, MO restituted and made whole again. You do not have to go through these traumatic times by yourself. To protect you and your family's future, call a Burger Law car accident lawyer in St. Louis, MO straight away at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.