Car Accident Attorney in St. Louis, Missouri

When you are involved in a car accident, the hours and days after the event can be stressful and overwhelming. You might be dealing with pain and other effects of your injuries, receiving medical treatment, and communicating with the insurance company while trying to figure out your compensation options.    

The best thing you can do in this situation is to seek guidance from a skilled attorney at The Morris Firm. The personal injury attorney in St. Louis, Missouri, can assist you in obtaining the monetary compensation you deserve while also protecting your rights in the process. With more than three decades of legal experience, attorney Raphael Morris is prepared to advise you on your legal options and fight for you in and out of court. The law firm also serves clients throughout St. Charles, St. Charles County, and Jefferson County.   

Liability for Car Accidents in Missouri

The first step after being involved in a car accident is to seek medical attention. That is non-negotiable. The second step is figuring out who is at fault with the help of an experienced attorney.   

Determining fault after a car accident is crucial because Missouri is an at-fault insurance state. In Missouri, motorists are legally required to purchase liability coverage for their auto insurance policies. When a car crash occurs, liability coverage pays for medical bills and other related damages caused to other people. The minimum insurance requirements for liability coverage in Missouri are $25,000 per person ($50,000 per accident) and at least $25,000 for property damage.   

Example. You and your passenger suffer injuries in a car accident caused by a driver who was speeding and failed to keep a safe following distance. The driver is deemed at fault for the accident. In that case, the at-fault driver’s liability insurance pays for the medical expenses and other losses sustained by you and your passenger.   

It often happens that the liability insurance is not sufficient to cover all of your expenses and losses. If that is the case, you can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver to obtain maximum compensation. Unlike other states, Missouri does not restrict a victim’s ability to sue the at-fault driver for compensation. However, you will want to consult with a car accident attorney in St. Louis, Missouri, before filing a lawsuit to ensure that suing the driver is your best course of action.   

Filing a Claim for Compensation After a Car Accident 

When filing a claim for compensation after your car accident, you need to understand two factors that may limit your ability to obtain compensation:  

• Statute of limitations. You have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit against the driver who caused the car accident. This is known as the statute of limitations. In Missouri, a negligence-based personal injury lawsuit must be filed within five years from the date of the car crash. However, building a strong legal case takes time, which is why it is essential to start working on your claim with an attorney as soon as you can.   

• Comparative fault. Missouri is a pure comparative fault state. Comparative fault means that your recoverable damages will be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you. Because Missouri is a “pure” comparative fault state, you are entitled to compensation if you are mostly (or even 99%) at fault for the accident. For example, if the other driver is 40% at fault while your percentage of fault equals 60%, your compensation total will be reduced by 60%.   

The experienced and results-driven attorney at The Morris Firm can help you navigate the legal process from start to finish and work tirelessly towards the most favorable outcome in your case.   

Filing a Wrongful Death Claim After a Car Accident

If someone’s negligence on the road caused your loved one’s death, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to pursue compensation for your suffering and losses. Under Missouri law, surviving family members can pursue a wrongful death claim in situations where the deceased could have filed a lawsuit for compensation had they lived.  

Not every surviving family member has a right to file a wrongful death lawsuit under Missouri law. The decedent’s surviving spouse, parents, children, and the children’s descendants (when the deceased person’s children are not alive) are first in line to file a wrongful death lawsuit. If no one from the aforementioned family members is alive, the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit goes to the surviving siblings, their descendants, or the court-appointed plaintiff ad litem (in this particular order).