St. Joseph Car Accident Lawyer

We rarely think twice about getting into a car. Still, even the most experienced driver can suffer serious injuries in an accident when another driver fails to follow traffic laws or doesn’t take reasonable precautions. If you suffered injury due to another driver’s carelessness or reckless actions, you have the right to recover compensation for your losses through a car accident claim against the at-fault driver. A St. Joseph car accident attorney from Miller & Hine Attorneys at Law can help you maximize your financial recovery, leaving you free to focus on your physical one.

Why Choose Miller & Hine as Your Car Accident Law Firm In St. Joseph?

The St. Joseph personal injury attorneys at Miller & Hine have over 50 years of combined legal experience to put behind your case with a dedication to the following:

• Injury victim advocacy against powerful insurance companies
• Forming a personalized strategy based on the unique circumstances of your case, with maximizing your compensation as our highest priority
• A reputation for success with exceptional results for car accident victims, including a recent car accident settlement of $1 million for an injured client

Come in for a free consultation about your car accident case. Then, we work for you at no upfront cost. Our contingency-based payment system means you only pay our legal fees after we recover compensation for you through a settlement or court award.

What Causes Car Accidents In St. Joseph, Missouri?

Drivers owe a legal duty of care to others on the road. When a driver breaches that responsibility and the result is an accident that injures another motorist, the responsible party is liable for the other motorist’s damages. The most common causes of car accidents in St. Joseph accident claims include the following:

• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Distracted driving
• Aggressive driving
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Unsafe lane changes
• Improper merging
• Unsafe passing
• Impaired driving
• Drowsy driving

Less commonly, other entities may be at fault or contribute to the cause of an accident, such as a negligent road maintenance agency or the manufacturer of a defective auto part. An experienced car accident lawyer pursues compensation from all liable parties under the state’s pure comparative negligence system (Missouri 537.765 ) and contributory fault, to maximize the amount recovered for you in your case.

What Types of Injuries Happen In St. Joseph Car Crashes?

The crash force of an accident propels the motorist forward at the speed the car was traveling before the crash. Studies on the effects of a collision describe a car accident as three collisions: the initial collision between vehicles or a vehicle and an obstacle, the collision of the motorist with the seatbelt or structures of the car, and the internal collisions of organs against each other inside the body. At the same time, the impact causes the car to collapse forcefully inward, causing blunt force trauma and sharp metal and glass. Common injuries described in St. Joseph car accident claims include:

• Lacerations, abrasions, and contusions
• Soft-tissue injuries such as sprains, tendon damage, and torn ligaments to the knees, shoulders, wrists, and ankles
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Single and multiple fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Internal organ damage
• External head, facial, and dental trauma
• Burns
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic amputations

Injuries are painful and traumatic, leaving injury victims with lasting impacts, including financial costs, physical trauma, potential disability, and emotional distress. These are the damages in a car accident claim. Typically, claims are resolved through a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurer, but about 4% of cases require court action due to an insurer’s wrongful denials, devaluation, or unnecessary delays.

What Can I Get From a Car Accident Claim In St. Joseph?

Car accident injuries can quickly become expensive, which adds to the distress of a painful recovery. Often, medical bills begin coming in before an injury victim recovers enough to return to work. If the accident caused disability, it could mean an uncertain future earning ability ahead, and difficulties accomplishing the routine daily tasks of living. A successful claim is a St. Joseph car accident victim’s legal recourse to recover common damages, such as the following:

• Reimbursement for medical expenses related to the injury
• Anticipated future medical costs
• Out-of-pocket costs
• Lost earnings
• Future income loss
• Reduced future earning ability (in disability cases)
• Compensation for pain and suffering
• Catastrophic injury compensation for any permanent harm you’ve suffered, such as disfigurement, organ loss, loss of limb, vision damage, hearing loss, or diminished quality of life

If a loved one suffered a fatal car accident injury, a wrongful death claim by a spouse, parent, or adult child could recover compensation for the family’s economic losses and emotional anguish.

How Does a St. Joseph Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?

Insurers are private companies that prioritize profits at the expense of car accident victims, especially when they lack legal representation. Instead of leaving your crucial car accident claim in the hands of an insurance adjuster who works for the company, hire a car accident lawyer and then refer them to your lawyer. A car accident attorney on your side does the following:

• Handles all communication with the insurance company to protect you against common pitfalls and insurance company tactics used against you
• Conducts an independent investigation to compile evidence of the at-fault party’s liability
• Calculates your damages by examining your medical report and medical bills and consulting with medical experts and occupational therapists to determine the injury’s impact on your ability to return to work and the level of pain you can expect to experience until you reach the maximum medical improvement
• Sends their findings to the insurance company in a demand package
• Enters negotiations with the insurer to achieve a settlement agreement, or
• Takes your case before a judge and jury if the insurance company wrongfully denies your claim

Court cases take longer, but juries tend to side with injury victims over powerful insurance companies, resulting in favorable verdicts and large jury awards.

Contact Dan Davis Law About Your Car Accident In St. Joseph

A car accident doesn’t always have to cause financial hardship, as well as painful injuries, and the emotional trauma of the crash. Call or contact Miller & Hine Attorneys at Law online for an experienced investigation, assertive negotiations, and a compelling claim for the full compensation available to you.