Ideally, if you have been in a car accident, your claim will be settled out of court. Unfortunately, there are times when it is necessary to file a lawsuit.
The good news is that some car accidents can be handled fairly easily and may even be settled without ever seeing the inside of a courtroom. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. If you are in a car accident, there are times when it might be necessary to file a lawsuit in court. Since initiating a lawsuit is a complex thing that can tie your accident up in court, it is necessary to weigh the pros and cons before you decide whether it is worth it.
Times When You Might Want to Sue
If the driver of the other car was not carrying the mandatory minimum insurance that is required in the state of Missouri, your injuries and damages might not be covered. If you are not at fault and the other driver didn’t have insurance, then they are considered an uninsured motorist. You can sue the other driver if they didn’t have insurance. The problem is that even if you win in court, collecting can be another issue. That is why it is important to speak with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney to decide what the best option is.
There are also cases when the other driver wasn’t carrying enough insurance to cover your economic and non-economic damages. Even if they were carrying the minimum liability insurance, if the injuries and damages to you were extensive enough then the insurance might not have been enough to cover your costs. If you have outstanding debts that the insurance company is not obligated to pay because they go over the at-fault driver’s policy limits, then you can sue the other driver to recoup the amount that is left over.
If You Do Intend to Sue
If you have no other recourse but to sue the other driver, then you will want to start by contacting an attorney who has experience successfully handling car accident lawsuits. There are many advantages to speaking with an attorney including understanding whether it is a good idea to sue the other driver or not. Your attorney can help you understand the best way to get the compensation you are entitled to.
Speak With a Lawyer 24/7
If you are in a car accident in Missouri and the at-fault driver either didn’t have insurance or their policy wasn’t enough to cover all that you lost, you are likely eligible to sue them in a court of law. Just because you can, though, doesn’t always mean that you should. The best way to know whether it is worth it is to speak with a St. Louis car accident lawyer. Call (314) 361-4242 to speak with an attorney at The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. 24/7.