accident attorney st louis

You cannot prevent other drivers on Missouri roads and highways from acting carelessly and causing accidents. But you can take charge of the situation after the accident by making the right decisions about hiring a skilled car accident lawyer. Our St. Louis car accident lawyers have extensive experience in handling car accidents and injuries throughout St. Louis. We will listen carefully to your concerns and offer trusted guidance.

St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

The injury attorneys at Sansone & Lauber focus on helping our fellow citizens in St. Louis who have been injured in car accidents caused by negligence. Our firm has obtained millions of dollars in compensation for our clients who have sustained serious injuries as a result of the negligence of others.

If you have been harmed by another driver’s carelessness or disregard for safety, we will fight for you. You need a strong advocate who understands what you are going through and can help you recover from a car crash. We do not represent insurance companies or large corporations.

How Much Is My St. Louis Car Accident Settlement Worth?car accident attorney st louis

After a serious collision, our knowledgeable auto accident attorneys will assess your injuries and property damage in order to prepare a claim and try to negotiate a fair settlement. The settlement of an auto accident should reflect the extent of your financial losses and other damages.

Damages in a car accident include specific costs such as your medical bills, lost income, and the costs of repairing or replacing a damaged automobile. Other damages include compensation for pain and suffering associated with injuries caused by a car accident.

A car accident settlement includes an approximation of what a jury might determine for pain and suffering. More severe injuries—such as paralysis, fracturesbrain trauma, scarring, and disfigurement—are typically valued higher than less serious injuries such as whiplash and soft tissue strains and sprains.

An out-of-court settlement allows you to receive money more quickly after a car accident. A settlement may be reached at any time, even while a car accident case is being tried in court. Insurance companies will typically make a lowball offer if you try to reach a settlement without the help of a accident attorney. Obtaining a just settlement typically requires aggressive negotiation by an experienced car accident lawyer.

Speak with a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney Now

Traffic accidents can present complex problems, especially when multiple vehicles are involved. These upsetting, complicated, stressful, and expensive situations require a compassionate, honest, and experienced legal team with real strength of character and decades of experience. Our team will make this entire process as pain-free as possible and ensure you get the best result for you and your loved ones.

Sansone & Lauber and his team believe in respect, integrity, and family values. We are a “client first” law firm with decades of experience, and we will work tirelessly to recover as much as possible on your claim. And you don’t pay us anything unless and until we win your case!

THEY WILL TRY TO DENY YOUR CLAIM! Dealing with car insurance companies can cause nightmares.

Remember that the insurance company’s goal is to DENY a car accident claim, NOT TO PAY IT!

If they can’t avoid paying it, believe me, they will do EVERYTHING they can to pay as LITTLE as possible—that is how they make their profit. Do not sign anything until you speak with one of our team members, because you risk losing some or all of the compensation that is due to you.

Even if you THINK you’re ready to settle—call us first! We are proud to offer case evaluations for free. Car accident lawyers are a resource you need – and deserve – in this trying time. Don’t hesitate. Please submit your claim for our FREE evaluation by contacting us HERE!

Or, if you want to talk to one of our team members RIGHT NOW, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, pick up the phone right now and call 314-863-0500. Remember, your consultation is FREE, and you pay NOTHING unless we win your case!

Compensation for Your St. Louis Car Accident Claimcar accident lawyer st louis

What is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?

Many people contact our law firm with the same question: How much will I receive for my car accident settlement? There is never a single (or simple) answer to this question, as the answer depends directly on your individual circumstances. Many people have no idea what their claim is worth until they have an experienced attorney fully evaluate their situation.

What we DO know is that medical care in the U.S. is expensive! This is true no matter how serious your injuries may be. The following are some average costs of medical treatment you may need for your car accident injuries:

Some people suffer injuries that require additional care, including time in the intensive care unit (ICU), home health care, assisted living, medical equipment, and more.

Every client we help will have different costs and losses. Whether your losses are $1,000 or $1 million, you still deserve to receive compensation from the liable party. If someone else caused your crash, you should never have to cover your own costs. Call a St. Louis car accident lawyer today to get a personalized evaluation for free.

How Insurance Companies Dispute Liability In St. Louis Car Accident Cases

Because most drivers on Missouri roads carry auto insurance, insurance companies tend to play a huge role in car accident cases in which a victim seeks damages from another driver who was at fault. Typically, a victim who gets injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by another driver will look to that other driver’s insurance to pay for damages, and the other driver’s insurance company will often pay for that other driver’s defense lawyer.

The victim’s lawyer’s job frequently involves negotiating with the other driver’s insurance company, either directly with an insurance company employee or indirectly with a lawyer who specializes in representing insured, at-fault drivers (known as an insurance defense lawyer).

Understanding the Basics of Insurance Companies

Car Accident Insurance Generally speaking, it’s a good thing that insurance companies are there to help compensate victims of auto accidents. That’s one of the major purposes of buying insurance, after all—to protect yourself against being personally liable to someone you hurt through negligence.

However, because insurance companies are essentially huge reserves of money that may be tapped to pay for a car accident victim’s injuries, they are not easy targets.

Insurance companies, obviously, are in the business of making money. In the most basic sense, they make a profit by collecting more money in premiums from policyholders than they pay out in benefits to people covered by their policies.

No matter what they say in their television commercials, insurance companies are never excited to pay money to injured people, especially when the injured person isn’t their customer but instead is a victim of their customer’s negligence or wrongful actions.

Insurance companies’ business depends on limiting the number of people they must pay benefits to and the amount of those benefits. They do that by trying to pick apart the insurance claims that injured people make.

Insurance adjusters are the insurance company employees who investigate insurance claims and decide whether and how much to pay out on a claim. Many insurance adjusters only investigate car accidents and have lots of experience in spotting ways to minimize how much money the insurance company has to pay.

Insurance Adjuster Tacticsinsurance company tactics

Victims seeking compensation from someone else who is covered by an insurance policy need have a lawyer on their side to interact with these adjusters, so that the adjusters do not take advantage. Some typical tactics insurance adjusters use to limit the insurance company’s exposure include:

  • Offering quick, low settlements in exchange for a liability waiver, hoping the victim will not yet have a lawyer and is in financial distress. Insurance adjusters know that fast money can feel attractive to people who are strapped for cash and grieving or struggling to come to terms with a life-changing injury. If insurance adjusters see a chance to take advantage of that vulnerability to limit the insurance company’s financial exposure, then they will. If an insurance adjuster for the other driver or someone else’s insurance company calls offering quick money, that’s most likely a sign that you have a claim worth significantly more than what they’re putting on the table. Tempting as it might feel to take the money and put the whole car accident behind you, don’t. That money comes with strings that may tie up your ability to recover additional money later. Politely decline the offer and refer the insurance adjuster to your attorney. The adjuster has no obligation whatsoever to act in your best interests. Your lawyer does.
  • Questioning the extent of the victim’s injuries and/or whether the victim is trying to recover damages for an injury that the car accident didn’t actually cause (for example, a preexisting back injury). If an insurance company can show that the victim is making the injury sound worse than it actually is, or that the victim didn’t sustain the injury in the accident but instead got hurt somewhere else or for some other reason, then the insurance company may try to escape liability for paying for the costs and pain and suffering of the injury.

Do Not Give an Insurance Adjuster a Recorded Statement

Insurance adjusters are not your friends. Their mission is to limit the financial exposure of their insurance company. They’ve spoken with thousands of people just like you. They don’t want to pay you. They will use techniques they’ve honed to try to get you to admit you were at least partially at fault for the accident.

An insurance adjuster will try to get you to give a recorded statement. Do not agree to one. Recorded conversations with insurance adjusters are an ambush, and you’re the target. Politely decline to give a recorded statement and refer the insurance adjuster to your lawyer. Stick to your guns, even if the adjuster tries to bully you by telling you that you have a legal obligation to give a recorded statement or by trying to make you feel guilty for declining the conversation.

It is absolutely reasonable and responsible for you to ask for the opportunity to review their request with your lawyer first. Your attorney will advise you whether you have any obligation to speak with the adjuster. In our experience, most of the time that obligation doesn’t exist.

These are just a few of the techniques insurance adjusters may use against vulnerable accident victims. The best defense against these tactics is to have a lawyer on your side right away after you sustain injuries in a car accident, so that you have an experienced negotiator to handle discussions with the insurance adjuster or insurance defense attorney from the get-go.

When Insurance Companies Act in Bad Faith

Car Insurance After an AccidentNot only will a skilled St. Louis car accident attorney know how to avoid the tricks and pitfalls that insurance adjusters try to use to minimize damages, but the car accident lawyer will also spot when an insurance company is acting in bad faith and hold them to account, if need be.

Under Missouri law, an insurance company that acts in bad faith toward an insured party (including a victim of a policyholder’s negligence) may be liable to the victim for additional damages, including punitive damages and attorney fees.

Examples of bad faith can include purposefully ignoring evidence of a covered claim or delaying payment on a valid claim.

When Multiple Insurance Companies Are Involved

Sometimes, it’s not just the other driver’s insurance company that a car accident victim and his lawyer may have to contend with.

In cases like the ones mentioned above where a non-driver is at fault for causing an accident, an insurance company representing the non-driver (such as an insurer for an auto parts company, or the property liability insurance carrier for a restaurant) may also come into the picture.

Oftentimes, these insurance companies will fight doubly hard because their customers’ (and their own) liability exposure may be far larger than to a single car accident victim.

Insurance Companies Are Never On Your Side

In short, in car accident cases, insurance exists to help pay damages to victims of someone’s negligence. But don’t be fooled. The at-fault party’s insurance company is never on your side. Insurance adjusters will do everything in their power to deny or limit the benefits they must pay.

When it comes to proving the existence and severity of personal injuries, and in particular, catastrophic injuries and damages, the accident victim has the burden of proof, and insurance adjusters will use this burden to their advantage.

Whenever an accident victim seeks compensation for serious injuries and damages, the insurance company will likely downplay the seriousness and extent of the injuries and will look for other possible causes of the injuries or impairments.

Call Sansone & Lauber When a Car Accident Devastates Your Lifeaccident attorney st louis

From connecting with a client’s personal tragedy to identifying the at-fault parties in an accident, from gathering evidence to proving negligence or strict liability and negotiating with insurance adjusters and defense lawyers, Sansone & Lauber is a St. Louis-area law firm committed to serving the needs of motor vehicle accident victims and their families.

We have years of experience and a track record of results, having recovered millions of dollars for our car accident clients.

If a motor vehicle accident has devastated your life, either by leaving you with a serious injury or by tragically taking a loved one from you, our team of skilled, compassionate attorneys is here to help.

Call us today at (314) 863-0500 or contact or chat with us online, to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team and discuss whether we can help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Contact Our Experienced St. Louis Car Accident Attorneys Right Away!

If you were in a car collision or lost a loved one, speak to the skilled St. Louis car accident lawyer legal team at Sansone & Lauber, to discuss your case, determine if anyone is liable for your damages, and fight for maximum compensation on your behalf.

The auto collision team at Sansone & Lauber, understand how to investigate your case, work with the insurance company to get all of the compensation you deserve—and when the insurance company refuses to reach a settlement, file a lawsuit on your behalf.

Missouri auto accident laws can prove complicated and difficult to navigate. You want the team of auto collision attorneys and legal professionals at Sansone & Lauber, to protect your rights as well as the rights of your loved ones.

The legal team of Sansone & Lauber, is nationally recognized for protecting the rights of car accident victims for almost 20 years. If you were injured in an automobile accident in St. Louis, call our office right now to schedule a free consultation!

Because we take all of our personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, you will not owe us a DIME unless we win your case! 

We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so call us today at 314-863-0500 for IMMEDIATE HELP! 

St. Louis Car Accidents Cases We Have Handled

The car accident lawyers at Sansone & Lauber in Saint Louis, MO seek the maximum amount available for people who have been harmed through no fault of their own and need aggressive legal representation to get back on their feet.
$7.3 Million

St. Louis Bus
Accident

We represented a minor that was a passenger in her mother’s car when they were involved in a crash with a school bus.

$2.3 Million

Missouri Drunk
Driving Accident

Our firm represented a St. Louis area pedestrian who was dragged by a drunk driver who he was trying to assist and severely injured.

$2.2 Million

Rear-end
Car Crash

Verdict for a rear end accident on the highway causing severe injuries

Our Car Accident Attorneys in St. Louis Can Help You After an Accident

We will investigate your car accident thoroughly, interview witnesses, and identify all the potentially responsible parties. If the car accident was complex, such as a hit-and-run car wreck, we may work with a traffic reconstruction expert to pinpoint how the accident occurred. We know what questions to ask and where to find the evidence needed to build a strong legal case.

We will review your medical records to determine the extent of your car accident injuries caused by the car accident and make an assessment of any future medical costs or modifications to your home required because of your injury.

After preparing all evidence, we will submit a claim to the insurance company of the at-fault driver or drivers reflecting the full value of your losses. If the insurance company refuses to make a fair settlement offer, we will file a personal injury lawsuit and seek justice in the courtroom, where we are confident of our litigation skills

We will keep you informed of our progress on your behalf and any settlement offers that are made. We will advise you of whether a settlement offer represents fair value so that you can make an informed decision about whether to accept or proceed with the lawsuit.

We will stand beside you through the entire process and handle your case on a contingency fee basis so that you do not pay any legal fee unless we obtain a settlement or verdict for you.

Motorists are required to drive their cars safely at all times. Under Missouri law, automobile drivers are required to operate their cars on public roads with the highest degree of care—essentially what a careful or prudent driver would do under similar circumstances.

For example, if a road is a slick a prudent driver would slow down to a speed that was safe for the road conditions to avoid a car accident. A prudent driver remains vigilant at all times and avoids distractions such as reading text messages or email. A prudent driver brakes if a traffic light turns yellow at an intersection rather than trying to speed through the intersection before the light flashes red. Many car crashes are preventable if drivers act cautiously and drive defensively.

Drivers who fail to fulfill the legal duty to drive carefully are liable for injuries they cause in a car accident. A legal concept known as “proximate causation” comes into play. It essentially means an injury has to be reasonably foreseeable as a result of an accident. For example, physical and mental injuries that result from the trauma of a car collision caused by another driver are reasonably predictable. However, to prove that you will want car accident attorneys who have experience handling legal battles for motor vehicle accident victims.

man in car looking in rearview mirror

Talk to an experienced attorney

314-863-0500 No Fee Unless We Win Contact Us Now

Types of Car Accidents
Our St. Louis Attorneys Handle

Our St. Louis lawyers have extensive experience representing individuals injured in a car accident as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian. The common accident scenarios involve:

Speeding — Many serious car crashes are caused by drivers who are exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for existing road design and conditions. Drivers who speed reduce the amount of time they have to avoid an accident and put others motorists a risk. According to federal traffic data, speeding was a contributing factor in 35 percent of the fatal crashes in Missouri in a recent year.

Accidents at intersections are another common type of car accidents. Approximately 40 percent of all car accidents every year occur at intersections. Most car accidents involving intersections are caused by driver error such as failure to yield the right-of-way.

Failure to Yield — When turning left at an intersection, the driver must yield to oncoming cars unless the driver has a left turn arrow. According to Missouri law, a driver attempting to make a left turn is required to yield when another vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction and is close enough to the intersection that it is an immediate hazard. Many intersection accidents are caused by drivers misjudging the speed of approaching traffic and turning left without adequate time to clear the intersection.

T-Boned at an Intersection — Many serious collisions at intersections involve drivers running red lights. Most drivers recognize that running a traffic light is very dangerous. Drivers may try to accelerate to beat a changing traffic light and run a red light. Auto accidents caused by drivers running red lights are preventable. The police investigation and witness statements from other motorists can provide proof that a driver ran a red light and caused a crash. Often, the police will charge a motorist who runs a red light with speeding or reckless driving.

The most common type of collision that occurs when a driver runs a red light is a “T-bone accident.” These collisions in which one car slams into the side of another car can produce serious injuries, including significant head injuries and neck injuries caused by the snapping of the head sideways upon impact.

Rear-Ended by Another Car — Rear-end collisions also are common car accidents at intersections. The driver in the back is presumed to be at fault unless the car in front stopped abruptly and without signaling. Distracted drivers who do not realize the car in front has braked or the traffic signal has turned red cause many rear-end collisions. More than a fourth of car accidents are rear-end collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Talk to an experienced attorney

314-863-0500 No Fee Unless We Win Contact Us Now

St. Louis Car Accident Questions & Answers

St. Louis Car Accident

Why hire a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer?

You should consult with a lawyer if you have been seriously injured by another motorist or if you disagree with an insurance company’s assessment of fault in an accident. Hiring a lawyer shows an insurance company that you are serious about being treated fairly.

An attorney who is experienced at handling car accident cases will explain your legal options and will have an informed perspective on the fair value of your claim including medical bills, loss of income and other expenses. An experienced attorney will negotiate with the insurance company for a settlement that reflects the full value of your claim and will not let an insurance company take advantage of you.

What to do after a car accident?

It is important to keep calm, stay safe and remain focused after a car accident. The following are six important steps to take after a car accident:

  1. Report the accident to the police after checking to see if anyone needs an ambulance. After a car crash, it is important to assess the injuries of yourself and others involved in the accident. Get medical attention immediately for anyone who is injured. Rather than attempting to move an injured person, which has the potential to make their injuries worse, summon emergency medical assistance. Report the crash to the police or the Missouri State Police and inform the emergency dispatcher how many people need emergency medical aid. Turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights, and then find a safe location to wait for the police to arrive. Do not let an at-fault driver talk you out of calling the police. A police report of the accident will be essential to have if you need to file a claim to recover compensation.
  2. Get license and insurance information from other drivers. The Missouri Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law requires all drivers to carry at liability insurance in the event of a car crash. Exchange insurance and vehicle registration numbers, in addition to personal contact information with the other drivers involved in the accident.
  3. Get names and contact information of witnesses. Law enforcement will generally take statements from witnesses at the scene of a car accident. It is always a good idea to make note of anyone who may have witnessed what happened, and request their contact information.
  4. Take photos of accident scene with phone camera. Use your phone camera to document the accident. Photos at the accident scene may provide critical evidence to support your accident claim. They may show your injuries, the amount of damage to your vehicle, as well as road, traffic, and weather conditions that may have led to your accident.
  5. Get medical evaluation (even if you believe you are uninjured). A seemingly minor car accident injury can have serious consequences on your overall health. Some injuries are not immediately apparent after an accident and may take hours or days to appear. Seek a medical assessment and inform the doctor who treats you that you have been in a car accident. Medical records play a valuable role in insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits, so make sure you are examined by a physician as soon as possible.
  6. Consult with a personal injury lawyer about your legal options.

What to do with insurance after a car accident?

Missouri law requires vehicle owners and drivers to have liability insurance to cover injuries and damage that they cause to others, as well as uninsured motorists insurance to cover injuries to them and their passengers in collisions with motorists who have no insurance. Drivers are required by law to have proof of insurance in the vehicle.

You should notify your insurance company if you have been in a car accident so they can start processing a claim. Have your policy information handy when you call. Provide your insurance company with the name of the other drivers involved and their insurance information. Also provide the insurance company with the police report or report number if you have it.

How does comparative fault affect my car accident claim?

Missouri applies the doctrine of comparative fault when assessing injury claims. If you are partly to blame in an accident, any compensation that you receive may be reduced by your degree of fault. Insurance companies investigate a car accident and assign a percentage of fault to each motorist involved in the crash.

An insurance company may make a settlement offer based on its investigation of the accident and assessment of each driver’s fault. For example, if an insurance company estimates that your damages are $100,000 and that you are 25 percent at fault for the accident, then you would be eligible to receive $75,000. If you disagree with an insurance company’s assessment of your fault in an accident, you should consult with a lawyer about your legal options.

What information should I get after car accident?

You should exchange the following information with the others involved in an accident:

  • Name and address;
  • Driver’s license number;
  • Make and model and year of vehicle;
  • Vehicle identification number;
  • The insurance company and policy number.