There are many costs associated with car accidents. If you have been involved in an accident, you may be wondering what your options are to recover compensation.
The costs involved after a car accident often include the cost of medical care, the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle, and lost wages. However, many additional costs can add up very quickly, and many people are not aware of some of these expenses until they have been involved in an accident.
Some costs may include lost or damaged personal property, fees for towing and storing your vehicle, emotional distress, lost earning capacity, costs to hire help to do things you are unable to do due to your injury, permanent disability caused by the accident, and any permanent disfigurement. We recommend working closely with an experienced St. Louis auto accident attorney to ensure all of these expenses, both present and future, are accounted for in your accident claim.
Missouri Statute of Limitations
In the state of Missouri, a car accident victim generally has a period of five years during which to file a claim. While you may have longer to make a claim against an at-fault party, it is still important to act quickly. The more time that passes the harder it can be to get you the full compensation you are entitled to. An experienced attorney can protect your claim by helping you gather evidence and making sure that your injuries and expenses are carefully documented.
There are exceptions to the 5-year statute of limitation. Discuss your case with an attorney to find out whether these exceptions apply to your case.
Settle or File a Civil Lawsuit?
The first course of action is to have a lawyer evaluate your case and determine what monetary compensation you should ask for. If you can negotiate a fair settlement with the other party and the insurance company, this would be ideal. However, if you cannot reach a settlement, the next step would be to file a civil lawsuit.
In a car accident lawsuit where you are seeking monetary damages, you must be able to prove that the other party was negligent. Negligence means that the other driver’s actions did not fulfill their legal responsibility to act in a way that would not cause injury. Then you must show that their actions led to or caused your injuries and that the accident resulted in financial losses for you.
Liability
Some states have comparative liability laws that allow all parties to share some of the fault depending on their contributing actions. Missouri’s “pure comparative fault” system allows for multiple parties to be at fault. Claims are generally determined by the degree of liability on the part of each party involved.
St. Louis Auto Accident Attorney
If you have been involved in a car accident and have questions, contact the trusted St. Louis auto accident attorneys at The Hoffmann Law Firm. We can evaluate your case and help you get the compensation you deserve.
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!