Car Accident Claims Process in Missouri

St. Louis car accident lawyer helps obtain fair injury settlements

Most auto accident cases settle without a trial, but getting to a fair settlement can be a challenge. The process is often combative, especially for claimants who are not represented by counsel. Insurance companies often try to wear down claimants until they’re willing to accept lowball settlements. The Guirl Law Firm in St. Louis knowns how to recover the maximum value available for claims. If you are in a Missouri auto accident, we will fight for the compensation you deserve.

How is fault assigned for a car accident injury?

In Missouri, the driver who bears the most responsibility for a crash must pay injured victims to compensate for their losses. However, Missouri’s pure comparative fault law reduces the amount a victim can recover in proportion to their share of the blame. For example, a victim who bears 10 percent of the responsibility for a crash can only recover 90 percent of their losses. 

The key to determining fault is to ascertain the cause of the accident. An experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation.

Determining compensation for a St. Louis car accident

Compensation for an auto or truck accident injury depends on the extent of the harm as well as on the victim’s prognosis for recovery. Economic compensation is based on the victim’s medical bills and lost income at the present time and projected into the future. There may be other economic losses, such as rehabilitation costs and the expense of modifying a home to accommodate a disability.

Non-economic damages may also be recovered. They include pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, loss of consortium and other losses that are tangible but not out-of-pocket. These losses are sometimes measured by multiplying economic losses by a factor of one to five. A court may also consider other testimony and evidence.

Getting maximum compensation for an auto accident claim

As your attorneys, it is our job to attempt to recover the maximum compensation possible under the facts of the case. We do this by assembling all evidence available, which can include:

• Expert testimony from accident reconstruction experts
• Expert medical testimony regarding the extent of injuries and likelihood of recovery
• Financial expert testimony on likely future financial losses
• Testimony from witnesses
• Admissions from defendants

The stronger the evidence of fault and harm to the victim, the greater the potential for money damages.

Negotiating settlement for injuries

Although most accident cases settle out of court, a plaintiff often cannot achieve a fair settlement without there being a genuine threat of trial. Accident victims who attempt to represent themselves cannot effectively take their case to the next level, so negotiations may be frustrated. When you retain the Guirl Law Firm, you get an accomplished trial lawyer who can negotiate from a position of strength to leverage the best possible settlement. Insurers’ lawyers know were always ready to go to trial.

Contact an experienced St. Louis attorney for your vehicle accident claim

The Guirl Law Firm represents victims of motor vehicle accidents in the greater St. Louis area. Call 314-391-2585 or contact us online to schedule your free initial consultation.