Car accidents can be devastating, leaving victims with serious injuries that could make going to work or even taking care of their families immensely challenging.
One of the ways to recuperate losses after being in a collision is to file a personal injury claim against the other party. And in order to do that, most people will rely on car accident lawyers to provide them with the support and guidance they need.
The thing is, knowing whether it’s time to contact an attorney in Missouri can be tricky to pin down. With that in mind, read on to learn all about the claims process and understand why retaining legal representation can make a difference in the amount of compensation you receive.
Understanding Car Accident Laws In Kansas City
Missouri is an at-fault state, meaning that you can hold another party liable if they behaved negligently or wrongfully and that such behavior resulted in injuries for which you can receive compensation.
Like all other states, though, Missouri has statutes of limitations in place when it comes to car accidents. You have five years to file a claim, but you’ll never want to wait that long. Any evidence you could rely on may become damaged in that time, for instance, and you may lose track of any witnesses to the accident as well.
Exceptions may be made to the statute of limitations, as well, which means that you could face significantly shorter timelines. Kansas City lawyers can ensure that you don’t miss your chance to claim damages.
Many times, people assume that at-fault laws will prevent them from pursuing a claim if they are partially to blame for their accident, but that’s not the case. Missouri has pure comparative negligence rules in place that allow you to still claim damages even if you are up to 99% guilty of the collision.
Your settlement or jury award, however, will be decreased based on your fault percentage. For example, if you’re awarded $10,000 in a settlement but are found 50% responsible for the accident, you’ll receive $5,000.
When It’s Essential To Hire a Missouri Car Accident Lawyer
Though you will always want to have experienced lawyers by your side when filing a claim, some circumstances make hiring them all but an undeniable requirement:
When You’re Being Accused Of Causing The Accident
Pure modified negligence laws in Missouri make it much easier to recover some losses because they allow you to hold up to 99% of the fault. If you’re 100% to blame, however, you can’t recover anything. By pinning the entirety of the blame on you, insurance companies don’t have to pay you anything.
If you’re getting blamed for the accident, a team of lawyers can investigate the accident and gather evidence to show that other parties were involved in causing the collision.
When You Suffered Serious Injuries
Suffering serious and catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical care, such as surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing procedures, requires that you hire a lawyer to ensure that you get fair compensation. You don’t want to be coerced into accepting a low settlement offer after suffering injuries that might not allow you to work again.
When A Commercial Vehicle Is Involved
Getting into an accident with a commercial vehicle can complicate the claims process, as there are often several parties to sift through to determine liability. For example, if you were in a truck accident because the truck driver wasn’t experienced enough to operate the vehicle, you may be able to hold the company that hired them liable.
When Multiple Parties Are Involved
Similarly, if multiple parties were involved in the accident, establishing liability becomes much more complicated. Trying to go through such a complex claims process on your own could saddle you with a majority of the blame, which means not being able to recover as much as you need.
When Insurance Companies Are Uncooperative
An insurance company will never be thrilled about giving you a settlement, but they shouldn’t be uncooperative, either. If you see that they continue disputing your claim in spite of the evidence you have, or if they keep delaying the process, you need lawyers to help you get your insurer to the negotiating table.
If insurers continue to be uncooperative, having a lawyer also allows you to take the case to court. That can be vital if you feel that the insurer’s offer(s) won’t compensate you fairly.
When You Have Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
Pre-existing medical conditions don’t keep you from recovering damages, but insurers can try to claim that the injuries you suffered were the result of your condition, not the accident. That, in turn, would keep them from paying you what you deserve. Your lawyer will fight to prove that what you’ve suffered isn’t related to your pre-existing condition but is a result of the car accident.
When The Other Party Was Uninsured Or Underinsured
Not getting a lawyer to help you after an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver can put you at risk of not receiving the help you need to cover your losses. Your lawyer can assist you in exploring legal options you can pursue to get compensation.
When Medical Conditions Take Time To Appear After An Accident
Some results of car accidents aren’t immediately apparent. You may have suffered internal damage that doesn’t begin causing you harm for weeks or even months after the accident. As such, it can be easy for insurers to claim that you suffered injuries in an incident unrelated to the car crash.
Your lawyer will speak with medical professionals to get testimony that shows you did receive the injuries because of the accident. They’ll also gather all of the pertinent medical records to prove the claim.
When There’s A Fatality
If a loved one dies in an accident, you need representation. Lawyers can make the claims process a bit easier and can help you get the compensation you deserve after such a loss.
Furthermore, with their help, you can get assistance paying for funerary services and any medical bills that your loved one may have accrued before their death, along with compensation for pain and suffering.
Rely On Experienced Car Accident Lawyers
At Dickerson Oxton, LLC, we have decades of experience and aggressive representation that we’ll put to work on your behalf when you’re facing losses after a collision. Schedule a free consultation with us today at (816) 268-1960.