Dardenne Prairie Car Accident Attorneys
Dardenne Prairie Car Accident Attorneys | St. Charles County Accident Lawyer
Every year, car accidents injure tens of thousands of people in Missouri, with a total economic loss of over $3 billion per year. Car accident injuries run the gamut from minor to severe, but all of them are serious. A car accident injury can require expensive medical treatment and impact your ability to earn a living.
If you have sustained an injury in a car accident due to another’s negligence, we would recommend that you contact Ryan R. Cox & Associates right away. Car accident injury victims are entitled to recover financial and other compensation from those who negligently or intentionally cause them harm. Our attorneys will lead the fight to secure compensation and ensure that you have the legal support you need during a difficult time.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents are known for causing catastrophic and permanent injuries due to the high forces and heavy machinery at play. A car accident can cause:
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Muscle strains
- Bruising and soft-tissue injury
- Broken bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Burns and abrasions
- Chemical exposure
- Crushing injuries
- Amputations
- PTSD
- Death
Even a minor injury from a car accident can cause significant medical complications. It is essential that you see a doctor promptly after an accident to receive necessary care and document the extent of your injuries. If you fail to see a doctor in a timely manner, it could hurt your chances of recovering compensation.
Missouri’s Fault-Based Insurance System for Car Accidents
Missouri is an at-fault state for car accidents, meaning that injured drivers file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. This is opposed to no-fault states, where drivers file a claim with their own insurance company, regardless of fault.
To support this type of at-fault system, Missouri requires all drivers to carry minimum amounts of liability insurance:
- $25,000 per bodily injury
- $50,000 per injury per accident
- $25,000 for property damage
Additionally, Missouri requires drivers to carry the same amount of uninsured motorist liability coverage. This coverage will protect you if another driver negligently causes a collision with you and does not have insurance.
Who Is Liable for a Car Accident in St. Charles County?
In order to recover compensation for injuries after a car accident, the injured party must prove the at-fault driver was negligent. A negligent driver is one who operates their vehicle without reasonable safety or concern for others. A driver who blows through a stop sign while texting would be negligent and thus liable for any injuries they may cause.
If an accident occurs due to a faulty or defective car part, vehicle and part manufacturers can be liable. Common examples of defective car parts include brakes, steering columns, tires, wheels, seatbelts, fuel tanks, and electrical wiring.
Determining liability is ultimately a matter of establishing the causal chain of events that led to the accident. A personal injury attorney from Ryan R. Cox & Associates can thoroughly investigate the accident and piece together the facts to build a robust case that demonstrates where responsibility lies.
What Can a Car Accident Attorney Do for Me?
You might think that recovering money after a car accident is a simple matter, but the truth is much more complicated. Proving fault and liability in a car accident is rarely straightforward, and insurance companies are infamous for challenging and disputing claims.
An attorney can build the strongest possible case from the ground up and ensure you provide all the necessary documentation and paperwork to submit a claim. They can also negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to try to get you a better settlement offer. If need be, they can also represent you in a formal lawsuit against the at-fault party.
More specifically, a car accident attorney can:
- Investigate the accident scene
- Investigate the accident scene
- Obtain police reports and eyewitness testimony
- Gather medical documentation
- Calculate your injury expenses and losses
- Provide general legal advice
- Send demand letters
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- File lawsuits
Compensation I Can Recover After a Car Accident in Dardenne Prairie
Car accidents often leave victims with expensive bills and injuries that prevent them from working. The point of a car accident claim is to recover money for these kinds of losses. A settlement for a car accident can include compensation for:
- Emergency medical bills and future medical expenses
- Lost income from missing work
- Loss of long-term earning capacity due to disability
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Mental anguish
- Property damage
A qualified and experienced car accident attorney from Ryan R. Cox & Associates can gather your expenses and calculate a figure for financial compensation so you can have peace of mind while you focus on rest and recovery.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim?
In Missouri, the statute of limitations for civil actions generally allows an injured person five years after a car accident to file a lawsuit against the tortfeasor that harmed them. If a lawsuit is filed after five years have passed, it is time barred. Note that for cases involving injuries to minors, this time limitation can be tolled. However, laws are fluid and can change year to year, so it is always wise to speak to a personal injury attorney to make sure you are complying with all deadlines.
Note that the deadline for wrongful death claims in Missouri is different. The statute of limitations for wrongful death actions allows three years from the date of death to file suit. The date of death may not be the same as the accident date.
Regardless of how much time you have, it’s in your best interest to start on your case as early as possible. The sooner you start working with an attorney, the lower your chances of experiencing payment delays and denials.
Ryan R. Cox & Associates: Trusted Car Accident Representation Serving St. Charles County
After a car accident, the last thing people want to think about is dealing with insurance companies and navigating a potential lawsuit. That’s where we come into the picture. The attorneys at Ryan R. Cox & Associates are here to serve and will fight tirelessly to recover the compensation you need. Our award-winning firm has been recognized for its outstanding results, and we have built a reputation as effective litigators who are unafraid to stand up to insurance companies. We have the knowledge and experience to hold responsible parties accountable so you can achieve closure and move forward with your life.
Contact our firm online or call 636-946-6886 today for a case consultation with a car accident attorney serving Dardenne Prairie in St. Charles County.
Directions to Our Offices in St. Charles
Feel free to schedule an appointment at our office located in St. Charles.
From the North:
From the South:
From the East:
Take I-70 W toward St. Charles. Exit at 5th Street (Exit 229) and turn left onto S 5th Street. Continue straight and then take a left onto Lombard Street, where you will find us at the Streets of St. Charles.
From the West:
Take I-70 E toward St. Charles. Exit at 5th Street (Exit 229) and turn right onto S 5th Street. Continue straight and then take a left onto Lombard Street, where you will find us at the Streets of St. Charles.