Lake St. Louis, St. Charles County Car Accident Attorneys
Car Accident Lawyer Serving Lake St. Louis, St. Charles County
Have you had a car accident in Lake St. Louis? Whether a relatively minor fender bender, a T-bone accident in an intersection, or a highway crash on I-64, a car accident can have devastating consequences. It can leave you with severe injuries and disabilities and cost you substantial sums of money due to medical bills and lost income. An experienced car accident attorney from Ryan R. Cox & Associates can help you seek compensation for your financial and personal losses. Contact us today for a free initial case review to discuss your legal options for pursuing financial relief and justice.
Why Choose a Car Accident Attorney From Ryan R. Cox & Associates?
When you have a car accident claim in St. Charles County, hiring experienced legal representation can help you achieve favorable results. Although you may have many options of legal counsel to choose from, picking the right attorney can make a difference in your car accident case. For over 20 years, car crash victims in St. Charles County have turned to Ryan R. Cox & Associates for help pursuing legal claims against negligent and reckless drivers because:
- We focus exclusively on personal injury law. Our firm has over 20 years of experience advocating for accident victims, giving us extensive insights into personal injury cases and the issues and challenges injured clients face.
- We care about you and your recovery. Our attorneys understand the pain and suffering catastrophic injuries cause, so we work hard to not only get you the legal relief you deserve but also assist with your physical and emotional recovery.
- Many of our past clients have left us outstanding reviews to recognize the work and legal representation we provide.
- Our firm works on contingency, which means you only pay us a fee if we recover compensation for you.
- We limit the number of cases we handle to ensure each client receives the personal attention and effort they deserve.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Lake St. Louis
Many car accidents in St. Charles County occur due to negligent or reckless driving by motorists. Some of the most frequent causes of car crashes include:
- Speeding or driving too fast for weather or road conditions
- Reckless driving, including excessive speeding or street racing
- Improper passing
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Tailgating or following too closely
- Not using turn signals when turning or changing lanes
- Distracted driving, including using a cell phone while driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Drowsy or fatigued driving
Common Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
A car crash can cause injuries of varying severity, with the types of injuries sustained by crash victims largely dependent on such factors as the force of the collision. Common examples of injuries that can occur in car accidents include:
- Severe lacerations and blood loss
- Dislocated joints
- Ligament sprains or tears
- Muscle and tendon strains or tears
- Broken bones
- Herniated spinal discs
- Internal organ injuries or internal bleeding
- Burns from vehicle fires
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Traumatic amputation or limb loss
What Steps Should You Take After a Car Crash?
When you’ve been involved in a car crash, such as a collision on I-70, taking prompt action can help protect your rights and options for pursuing financial compensation from an at-fault driver. Steps you should take after a car accident in Lake St. Louis include:
- Report the crash to law enforcement and obtain a copy of the police accident report.
- Seek prompt medical attention by going to a local hospital like SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital, urgent care, or your primary doctor’s office to diagnose injuries you sustained in the crash.
- Follow your doctor’s treatment plan, and do not put off procedures or rehabilitation.
- Request copies of your medical records of your treatment and rehabilitation.
- Keep any bills, invoices, or receipts for expenses you incur during your recovery.
- Gather your income statements to calculate lost wages from missed work.
Finally, contact an attorney from Ryan R. Cox & Associates as soon as possible after a car accident to seek compensation for your financial and personal losses.
Compensation Available in a Car Accident Claim
Filing a car accident claim against a negligent driver who hit you may allow you to recover compensation for losses you incurred due to the accident. A dedicated attorney from Ryan R. Cox & Associates will work tirelessly to help you secure financial relief for your:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses, including emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, medication, medical equipment, and physical and occupational therapy
- Long-term disability expenses if your injuries result in prolonged or permanent disabilities, including home health services or installation of disability accommodations
- Lost income from missed work or reduced earnings in a modified-duty role during your recovery
- Lost future earning capacity due to permanent disabilities
- Vehicle repair expenses or reimbursement for your car’s value if the accident totaled it
- Pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life due to severe disabilities or visible scarring or disfigurement that interferes with daily activities or causes emotional distress
In rare cases, car accident victims may also receive punitive damages from the jury in a car accident lawsuit. Punitive damages do not compensate car accident victims for losses. Instead, they punish an at-fault driver for egregious or reckless conduct, such as deciding to drive despite feeling the effects of heavy alcohol or drug intoxication. Punitive damages also serve as a deterrent to others to avoid engaging in behavior similar to that of the defendant.
How Can an Attorney Help You With Your Car Accident Case
When you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident, you may feel anxiety and stress over the prospect of recovering from the physical harm. Thankfully, you don’t have to go through the recovery process alone. An experienced attorney from Ryan R. Cox & Associates can help you put your life back together after a devastating car crash. Our firm can handle all the details of your car accident case so you can focus on healing. Let us fight for the financial recovery and justice you deserve by:
- Thoroughly investigating the crash to recover critical evidence such as police accident reports, accident scene photos and videos, eyewitness statements, and accident reconstruction expert reports
- Evaluating your legal options by identifying parties you might hold liable for your injuries and losses
- Explaining what to expect during the claims process and advising you about your rights and options to help you make informed decisions at each stage
- Documenting your injuries and losses to make sure you receive full compensation for your past, ongoing, and future needs
- Vigorously pursuing maximum financial recovery, whether through a negotiated settlement of your claims or by taking your case to court and trial to demand accountability and justice
Deadlines for Filing Car Accident Claims in Lake St. Louis
Under Missouri’s statute of limitations, you typically have five years to file a lawsuit against the driver who hit you. However, if any defect or unsafe condition of or on any bridge, boulevard, street, sidewalk or thoroughfare contributed to cause the accident, the law may give you as little as 90 days to provide notice of your claim to the relevant government agency. For this reason, you can best protect your rights and options by hiring a car accident lawyer from Ryan R. Cox & Associates as soon as possible after a crash to ensure you can file your claims before the relevant deadlines expire.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Today for Help
Following a car crash in Lake St. Louis or greater St. Charles County, you need experienced legal counsel to pursue maximum financial recovery for your injuries and losses. Contact Ryan R. Cox & Associates today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a personal injury lawyer to learn how our firm will fight to secure the compensation you deserve.