A car accident can cause you to suffer a lot of emotional distress, and you may not even realize it until long after the accident is over and your physical injuries have healed.
In Missouri, when you are in a car accident, you can generally collect for two different types of damages. Economic damages are financial items that are concrete. Things that fall under the economic damages category are medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages are different. They aren’t concrete; they’re often highly subjective. Things that fall into the non-economic damage category are pain and suffering and emotional distress.
This legal professional has shown exceptional competence and dedication in their field. I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking legal representation that is committed to unwavering advocacy and support throughout the entirety of their case.
I would describe this lawyer as highly educated, sharp, and top of his game. Explains the car accident process and treatment options well. The lawyer said if they don’t pay you, we will have the jury take it from the insurance company. Great lawyer. Dynamic person.
Interviewed all the TV car accident lawyers and decided to call this law firm that had great reviews. So happy I did. What a difference!
Response from the owner: TV car accident lawyers are just mass production. This is not a good fit for litigated cases. Paralegals instead of lawyers. Monthly quotas for settlements. Car accident victims end up in a cattle call with the lawyers on TV.
Love my car accident lawyer. This law firm is a step above.
Response from the owner: Our lawyers train and track the best approaches on cases. Whether litigation in cases or the practicalities of certain treatment, the growth of our lawyers over time is paramount. Always staying ahead of and setting practice trends. Thank you.
Serious family member have a car accident injury? Look no further. This litigator is for real. Always two steps ahead of the other lawyer.
Response from the owner: This is a sad reality for car accident lawyers. The #1 passenger in an auto accident is a relative. Helping a family make it through this and putting the family back together is one of the most rewarding things I do as an automobile accident attorney.
This lawyer handles really big accident cases in St Louis. He is a lawyer, accountant and has his masters in tax so he gets the injury cases for individuals that can never go back to work or individuals own a business and cannot run it due to injury. He specializes in valuations of massive loss. Thank goodness a firm like this exists.
Response from the owner: Thank you. When accident are severe and you lose the ability to work or to continue a business, having an accounting and tax background is key. Valuing large losses are second nature for us.
Asked a trauma surgeon who operates on car accident victims who are the best injury lawyers that have taken his deposition. He said “by far” it was Mr Hoffmann. Interviewed several attorneys and this was a correct assessment. In a league of his own!
Response from the owner: Our attorney have deposed nearly all the trauma surgeons at every Level 1 Trauma Center in Saint Louis. These doctors save lives after a car accident. Whether controlling bleeding or reestablishing blood flow or bone structures, they are life savers.
Few lawyers in St. Louis can handle the biggest injury cases! This is one of them!
Response from the owner: Our law firm has made great efforts in terms of training to handle life changing injury cases. Whether in depth knowledge of the medical, loss of income and earning capacity, or lifetime medical care plans, our clients feel confident and know their case is in good hands. Thank you for the compliment.
Cannot say enough about this lawyer. Call if in an accident. This attorney handles the biggest car accidents in St Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks Ash! Our biggest source of cases is our clients. Our second biggest referral source is defense lawyers telling their relatives to call us. Few lawyers can handle the largest cases. Our law firm welcomes and has trained for this. We don’t do mass production settlement like the lawyers on TV. Our clients can never go back to work. Their cases need massive focus and effort and often long fought litigation.
So glad I called attorney Hoffmann. This time I got it right! So glad I hired the Hoffmann Law Firm - professional, reliable and available.
Response from the owner: Thanks Taylor. Our lawyers answer the phone day, night, weekends and even during lunch. Being professional means training to beat the best defense lawyers. Client rely on us to get results and we do.
Great lawyer. Cares about his clients, knows his stuff and goes the extra mile. I recommend this lawyer for car wreck injury claim. Every other lawyer on TV would not even help with my property claim. This attorney did.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words. Every case starts with a great client. You are correct the car accident lawyers on TV are mass production settlement mills. When injury clients fire them, we get their files and the cases are not worked up at all. Appreciate your confidence in us!
Major car accident injury in St Louis area for a family member. Four different lawyers we know said the same thing - call Chris Hoffmann. On another level.
Response from the owner: This is such a great compliment. Most of our cases come from prior client or lawyers that also do car accidents cases but the particular case is too large or too difficult. Being a lawyer and an accountant, we specialize in cases with total lost of income, earning capacity and/or often the inability to continue a family business. Evaluations such as these are second nature for our lawyers. Thanks.
Best in St Louis for auto accident cases. Nobody else is even close.
Response from the owner: So kind of you to leave this review. Whether our lawyers are going after big insurance or their lawyers, skill and experience are essential and win the day for our auto accident clients. Thanks!
This attorney is very smart, very experienced, returns phone calls and knows the answers when asked. One call and I knew this was a great law firm for auto accidents.
Response from the owner: Our law firm appreciates this. This is a comment we get from so many people who call…”none of the lawyers we called told me all the things that you did.” Whether we take a car accident case or not, helping people is a good thing.
5 Star Lawyer for sure! Best you will find in Saint Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks for the 5 Star Rating. Reviews like this are great. Injury victims quickly figure out the TV advertisers are not good. We work hard at being the best we can be and it reflects in our representation of car accident victims.
Watch this lawyer in action. Was way better than all the others. Get this lawyer for an automobile accident for sure.
Response from the owner: Thanks for the recommendation. Besides doing cases, our attorneys train for this. Hard work, case knowledge and technique is key to success in car accident litigation.
Very pleased with The Hoffmann Law Firm. Lawyers are attentive, friendly and go the distance to force the settlement you want. The TV lawyers recommend low offers. This law firm gets the maximum.
Response from the owner: We get calls from car accident victims that had to fire the TV lawyers that they hired. They give the same two reasons: 1) they never spoke to a lawyer at the Big TV law firms, only a paralegal, and 2) the paralegal recommended they accept a low offer. At our law firm, you only talk to the lawyer and if an offer is low we tell you to sue. Thanks!
Several lawyers said to call this lawyer because he is the best. You will appreciate this law firm. Helped with the injury and property claims. Attentive and knowledgeable. Great reputation in St Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks Lexi. Our #1 source of cases is other lawyers referring us cases that are too big for them to handle.
Would use this accident law firm. Best in Saint Louis. Highly rated and it shows. After one phone call, you just know this attorney is better. 5 Stars!!
Response from the owner: Thanks for recommending our lawyers in St Louis. There is a major difference in lawyers as you well know.
Car accident lawyers on tv are not good . Get this attorney ! He is a pro !!
Response from the owner: Thanks Nathan. TV lawyers market for car accidents, use paralegals instead of lawyers and give their employees settlement quotas hence forcing cheap settlements. At our law firm, you get a lawyer who keeps pushing forward for more.
Quality lawyer. Best law firm for a car accident. Advice was way better than other lawyers I called in St. Louis. Helped with property and injury.
Response from the owner: Thanks. The TV lawyer advertisers are just car accident settlement mills. As soon as people call a real attorney, they always tell us how much better and more helpful we were. Appreciate this.
This lawyer is big time. Smooth. The other lawyers on the other side were not nearly as good as this attorney. I recommend friends in St Louis to him for accident injuries and they all say the same thing…”that lawyer is great.”
Response from the owner: Very nice of you to say. Our lawyers work hard on auto accident cases.
Family used this car accident attorney after a crash. Located in St Louis. This lawyer answers the phone and will walk you through the process. Knows his stuff!
Response from the owner: Taking calls, going over the car accident injury and property process is important. Clients that call always say we are the only lawyers that explained everything. Much appreciated.
Tried the lawyers on TV. They were not good. Hired this car accident lawyer instead because he had great reviews. The reviews are correct. This attorney is as good as they get. He does big injury cases that need to be litigated.
Response from the owner: Car accident lawyers on TV do not litigate cases. It is mass production. They have quotas. Local attorneys are best on auto accidents.
Used this attorney for an auto accident. Highly recommend this lawyer in St. Louis. Communicates well.
Response from the owner: Communicating with clients is essential. Taking the client though the car accident claims process is important otherwise major mistakes can occur. It is an effort that we make. Thanks!
Fantastic law firm, I would recommend! Received free consultation related to an auto accident when my parked car was damaged by a baseball. Very supportive advice, these guys are good!
I was in a car accident in St.Louis and hired Chris as my lawyer. He was amazing!!! He helped me every step of the way and was able to get me a great settlement!!!Highly, highly, highly recommend him!
Response from the owner: Each step is important in a car accident. Thanks for recommending us for car accidents injury claims.
Whether the emotional distress was caused by intentional or negligent infliction affects your legal claim. Working with an attorney who understands both types is crucial for building a strong legal claim.
Emotional distress can cause the type of lasting scars that are much harder to prove or to put a price on.
After a car accident, it’s normal to feel a range of intense emotions. Shock, denial, fear, and guilt are all common reactions. Unfortunately, for some people, these feelings can be so overwhelming that they experience emotional distress.
What Is Emotional Distress?
Emotional distress is a type of psychological injury that can occur after a traumatic event. It’s often characterized by anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Emotional distress can manifest as various forms of psychological consequences, including mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life. These non-economic damages can significantly impact both the victim and their family relationships (known legally as loss of consortium).
Most commonly, emotional distress damages are the things that have an impact on someone’s mental psyche or stability. They may have an impact on someone well after the accident is over, and they can severely affect that person’s ability to cope from day to day. The amount of emotional stress that someone can experience after an accident varies from one accident to the next and from one person to another, which makes it very difficult to determine a price to put on them.
People who experience emotional distress may feel like they’re in a state of constant fear or panic. They may experience flashbacks, irritability, have trouble sleeping, concentrating, or eating, and may feel disconnected from the people around them.
Things like fear, anxiety and sleep loss can all result from the emotional distress of a car accident and lead to long-term chronic mental disabilities. Emotions like fright, humiliation, extreme sadness, and even depression can all result from being in a car accident. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is very common, and it can range from them not being able to get behind the wheel again to having chronic and permanent depression and anxiety issues.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek help from a mental health professional. They can provide you with the support and resources you need to recover from your experience.
What Causes Emotional Distress After a Car Accident?
Several factors can contribute to emotional distress after a car accident, including:
The severity of the accident
Whether or not you were injured
If you witnessed the accident
Your relationship with the people involved in the accident
Types of Compensation Available
When seeking compensation for emotional distress after a car accident, various types of damages may be available:
Emotional trauma treatment costs
Mental health counseling expenses
Pain and suffering
Loss of consortium (impact on family relationships)
Loss of enjoyment of life
Mental anguish
Why You Shouldn’t Neglect Your Mental or Emotional Health After a Car Accident
When it comes to car accidents, a lot of people tend to focus on the aftermath one can see, like physical injuries or damage to the car.
The same goes for insurance claims – most of them only reflect these visible side effects. However, car accidents can also mentally and emotionally impact the victims. If that happens, the insurance claim should account for the treatment necessary for healing the mind too.
It’s difficult to assess the exact number of people who experience emotional distress or mental issues following a car accident. However, many studies show that there is a strong link between the two.
Common Mental Health Issues
It is, as such, fairly common for victims of car accidents to develop these conditions, and, interestingly enough, they may do so even if the collision didn’t have a significant impact. One of the most common problems car accident victims face after a crash is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can develop even months after the accident.
Other types of emotional or mental issues that can affect car accident victims:
Of course, there is no telling what kind of mental or emotional condition a car accident victim will suffer from. The important thing in these cases is to pay attention to the signs and seek help immediately. Unfortunately, because these issues can appear long after the accident, many victims don’t connect their disorder to their accident and, as a result, don’t include its treatment in the insurance claim.
Documentation of psychological consequences and ongoing mental health provider confirmation is crucial for your claim. Insurance companies’ calculation methods rely heavily on professional documentation of your emotional distress treatment and its impact on your life.
Critical Steps in the Legal Process
When pursuing compensation for emotional distress after a car accident, there are several important steps to follow:
Seek immediate treatment and get a professional diagnosis – this creates documentation from the beginning
Avoid speaking with insurance adjusters before consulting an attorney
Be aware of critical deadlines for filing your claim
Gather evidence of mental and emotional harm through medical records and documentation
Work with an attorney who has experience with emotional distress claims
Most car accident attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning you don’t pay unless they secure compensation for you. This allows you to get the legal help you need without upfront costs.
Talking to someone who will understand and offer support, such as a friend, family member, therapist, or counselor.
Writing about your experience in a journal. This can help you process your thoughts and feelings.
If possible, exercising regularly can release endorphins, which can help improve your mood.
Avoid using drugs or alcohol to cope with your emotions. This will only make things worse in the long run.
Proving Emotional Distress
To prove your emotional distress, you’ll generally need to provide evidence from a mental health professional who can attest to your condition. This may be in the form of a diagnosis, medical records, or testimony. You may also use written accounts from family or friends to show how the accident has impacted you and support your case.
Insurance companies use specific calculation methods to determine compensation, including the multiplier method, which takes into account the severity of emotional distress. They’ll typically require mental health provider confirmation through documented treatment and mental health counseling expenses.
Getting Legal Help
Since there is no simple calculation for how much someone has suffered either emotionally or physically, it is a good idea to have a St. Louis car accident attorney involved in your accident case. They will be able to calculate what you are entitled to in both economic and non-economic damages to ensure that, if you should have any mental illness arise resulting from the accident, later on, you are fairly compensated and you will have the means to get the help you need.
An experienced car accident attorney can help you document and calculate all aspects of your claim, including emotional trauma treatment costs and the overall severity of emotional distress. They understand how insurance companies’ calculation methods work and can help ensure you receive fair compensation for both economic damages and non-economic damages like mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life.
The most important thing to do when you are in an accident and suffer emotional distress is to seek the help of a medical professional who can diagnose and help to get you back on track. Since emotional distress is very difficult to prove, you will want to have the proper documentation to allow your car accident attorney to plead your case and either get a fair settlement or escalate the case to court. Remember that insurance companies often try to minimize claims of emotional distress. Having legal representation helps ensure your mental and emotional harms are properly valued. Your attorney will handle all communication with insurance adjusters, protecting your rights and strengthening your position for a fair settlement.
Building a strong legal claim for emotional distress requires careful attention to documentation, deadlines, and legal requirements. Our experienced attorneys can guide you through each step of the process while you focus on your recovery.
Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!
