If you are injured in a Missouri car accident caused by another driver, certain documents, including the police report, can support your claim.
Filing a car accident claim can be done with the help of a Missouri car accident attorney. You will need to provide proof of your injury and other damages and proof that you were not the cause of the accident. Certain documents can be used, such as the police car accident report, to provide a basis for your car accident claim.
"Of all the lawyers I have met, this one is a true professional. This attorney goes against the biggest law firms and wins!"
Response from the owner:The compliment is much appreciated. Like every profession, it all starts with training our lawyers to be the best at every aspect of car accident cases. But the foundation of a great case is a great client. Thanks!
I'd say this lawyer is in the top three of the best you'll ever see. Add this attorney to the interview list if you ever get in an automobile accident. This Law Firm is on another level.
Response from the owner:Much appreciated. Techniques that an attorney or any professional uses are paramount for success. This is part of our lawyers training and preparation. It leads to success. Thank you!
People say this is the best car accident lawyer in St.Louis. Yep! Seeing this attorney in action is incredible.
Response from the owner:Great compliment. We work hard to be the best. Our lawyers also work very hard to help other lawyers in our profession. Not matter what, a cases is only as good as the client is. Thanks!
Response from the owner:Thanks! Referrals and recommendations from prior car accident clients is our #1 source of cases. People who grew to trust us send family and friends.
The Hoffman law firm is truly professional. After hiring them I was truly relieved and knew I was in good hands. Highly recommend!
Response from the owner:Being in good hands is important. Many lawyers take cases with little experience and little resources. Our firm specialized decades ago. We are focused exclusively on accident cases.
The lawyers on tv just dont compare for auto accident injury cases. Mr.Hoffmann is as good as they get.
Response from the owner:Thank you. The TV attorneys are just settlement mills. People are hiring a paralegal, not a lawyer. Our law firm is different. You are represented by an attorney and we do not have settlement quotas.
I would describe this lawyer as highly educated, sharp, and top of his game. Explains the car accident process and treatment options well. The lawyer said if they don’t pay you, we will have the jury take it from the insurance company. Great lawyer. Dynamic person.
Interviewed all the TV car accident lawyers and decided to call this law firm that had great reviews. So happy I did. What a difference!
Response from the owner:TV car accident lawyers are just mass production. This is not a good fit for litigated cases. Paralegals instead of lawyers. Monthly quotas for settlements. Car accident victims end up in a cattle call with the lawyers on TV.
Love my car accident lawyer. This law firm is a step above.
Response from the owner:Our lawyers train and track the best approaches on cases. Whether litigation in cases or the practicalities of certain treatment, the growth of our lawyers over time is paramount. Always staying ahead of and setting practice trends. Thank you.
Serious family member have a car accident injury? Look no further. This litigator is for real. Always two steps ahead of the other lawyer.
Response from the owner:This is a sad reality for car accident lawyers. The #1 passenger in an auto accident is a relative. Helping a family make it through this and putting the family back together is one of the most rewarding things I do as an automobile accident attorney.
This lawyer handles really big accident cases in St Louis. He is a lawyer, accountant and has his masters in tax so he gets the injury cases for individuals that can never go back to work or individuals own a business and cannot run it due to injury. He specializes in valuations of massive loss. Thank goodness a firm like this exists.
Response from the owner:Thank you. When accident are severe and you lose the ability to work or to continue a business, having an accounting and tax background is key. Valuing large losses are second nature for us.
Asked a trauma surgeon who operates on car accident victims who are the best injury lawyers that have taken his deposition. He said “by far” it was Mr Hoffmann. Interviewed several attorneys and this was a correct assessment. In a league of his own!
Response from the owner:Our attorney have deposed nearly all the trauma surgeons at every Level 1 Trauma Center in Saint Louis. These doctors save lives after a car accident. Whether controlling bleeding or reestablishing blood flow or bone structures, they are life savers.
Few lawyers in St. Louis can handle the biggest injury cases! This is one of them!
Response from the owner:Our law firm has made great efforts in terms of training to handle life changing injury cases. Whether in depth knowledge of the medical, loss of income and earning capacity, or lifetime medical care plans, our clients feel confident and know their case is in good hands. Thank you for the compliment.
Cannot say enough about this lawyer. Call if in an accident. This attorney handles the biggest car accidents in St Louis.
Response from the owner:Thanks Ash! Our biggest source of cases is our clients. Our second biggest referral source is defense lawyers telling their relatives to call us. Few lawyers can handle the largest cases. Our law firm welcomes and has trained for this. We don’t do mass production settlement like the lawyers on TV. Our clients can never go back to work. Their cases need massive focus and effort and often long fought litigation.
So glad I called attorney Hoffmann. This time I got it right! So glad I hired the Hoffmann Law Firm - professional, reliable and available.
Response from the owner:Thanks Taylor. Our lawyers answer the phone day, night, weekends and even during lunch. Being professional means training to beat the best defense lawyers. Client rely on us to get results and we do.
Great lawyer. Cares about his clients, knows his stuff and goes the extra mile. I recommend this lawyer for car wreck injury claim. Every other lawyer on TV would not even help with my property claim. This attorney did.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind words. Every case starts with a great client. You are correct the car accident lawyers on TV are mass production settlement mills. When injury clients fire them, we get their files and the cases are not worked up at all. Appreciate your confidence in us!
Major car accident injury in St Louis area for a family member. Four different lawyers we know said the same thing - call Chris Hoffmann. On another level.
Response from the owner:This is such a great compliment. Most of our cases come from prior client or lawyers that also do car accidents cases but the particular case is too large or too difficult. Being a lawyer and an accountant, we specialize in cases with total lost of income, earning capacity and/or often the inability to continue a family business. Evaluations such as these are second nature for our lawyers. Thanks.
This attorney is very smart, very experienced, returns phone calls and knows the answers when asked. One call and I knew this was a great law firm for auto accidents.
Response from the owner:Our law firm appreciates this. This is a comment we get from so many people who call…”none of the lawyers we called told me all the things that you did.” Whether we take a car accident case or not, helping people is a good thing.
5 Star Lawyer for sure! Best you will find in Saint Louis.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the 5 Star Rating. Reviews like this are great. Injury victims quickly figure out the TV advertisers are not good. We work hard at being the best we can be and it reflects in our representation of car accident victims.
Watch this lawyer in action. Was way better than all the others. Get this lawyer for an automobile accident for sure.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the recommendation. Besides doing cases, our attorneys train for this. Hard work, case knowledge and technique is key to success in car accident litigation.
Very pleased with The Hoffmann Law Firm. Lawyers are attentive, friendly and go the distance to force the settlement you want. The TV lawyers recommend low offers. This law firm gets the maximum.
Response from the owner:We get calls from car accident victims that had to fire the TV lawyers that they hired. They give the same two reasons: 1) they never spoke to a lawyer at the Big TV law firms, only a paralegal, and 2) the paralegal recommended they accept a low offer.
At our law firm, you only talk to the lawyer and if an offer is low we tell you to sue. Thanks!
Several lawyers said to call this lawyer because he is the best. You will appreciate this law firm. Helped with the injury and property claims. Attentive and knowledgeable. Great reputation in St Louis.
Response from the owner:Thanks Lexi. Our #1 source of cases is other lawyers referring us cases that are too big for them to handle.
Would use this accident law firm. Best in Saint Louis. Highly rated and it shows. After one phone call, you just know this attorney is better. 5 Stars!!
Response from the owner:Thanks for recommending our lawyers in St Louis. There is a major difference in lawyers as you well know.
Car accident lawyers on tv are not good . Get this attorney ! He is a pro !!
Response from the owner:Thanks Nathan. TV lawyers market for car accidents, use paralegals instead of lawyers and give their employees settlement quotas hence forcing cheap settlements. At our law firm, you get a lawyer who keeps pushing forward for more.
Quality lawyer. Best law firm for a car accident. Advice was way better than other lawyers I called in St. Louis. Helped with property and injury.
Response from the owner:Thanks. The TV lawyer advertisers are just car accident settlement mills. As soon as people call a real attorney, they always tell us how much better and more helpful we were. Appreciate this.
This lawyer is big time. Smooth. The other lawyers on the other side were not nearly as good as this attorney. I recommend friends in St Louis to him for accident injuries and they all say the same thing…”that lawyer is great.”
Response from the owner:Very nice of you to say. Our lawyers work hard on auto accident cases.
Family used this car accident attorney after a crash. Located in St Louis. This lawyer answers the phone and will walk you through the process. Knows his stuff!
Response from the owner:Taking calls, going over the car accident injury and property process is important. Clients that call always say we are the only lawyers that explained everything. Much appreciated.
Tried the lawyers on TV. They were not good. Hired this car accident lawyer instead because he had great reviews. The reviews are correct. This attorney is as good as they get. He does big injury cases that need to be litigated.
Response from the owner:Car accident lawyers on TV do not litigate cases. It is mass production. They have quotas. Local attorneys are best on auto accidents.
Used this attorney for an auto accident. Highly recommend this lawyer in St. Louis. Communicates well.
Response from the owner:Communicating with clients is essential. Taking the client though the car accident claims process is important otherwise major mistakes can occur. It is an effort that we make. Thanks!
Fantastic law firm, I would recommend! Received free consultation related to an auto accident when my parked car was damaged by a baseball. Very supportive advice, these guys are good!
Response from the owner:Thanks Tana. Appreciate this!
What to Do When Involved in a Missouri Car Accident
If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident in Missouri, you are required by law to stop your car at the scene. Failure to do so is considered a crime and could hurt your chances of being reimbursed for any financial damage. Only move your car if you can and if it is in a position likely to cause another car crash. Otherwise, leave it where it is until the police instruct you to move it. Before moving any vehicle, use your cell phone to photograph exactly how the cars were positioned after the crash. This could go a long way in showing who caused the accident. The Missouri Department of Motor Vehicles also recommends that you help anyone who is hurt, call the police, set up flares around the scene if it is dark, exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver, and remain at the scene until a police officer tells you to, unless you are seriously hurt and need immediate medical attention.
The Missouri Police Accident Report
When the police are called to the scene of an accident, they will complete a report detailing what they found and any conclusions they reach. They may interview witnesses to the accident, take pictures, and discuss the accident with both drivers and any passengers involved. Their impression of the scene is important and will be contained in the report they file with their agency.
How to Obtain a Police Accident Report
Having the officer’s account of the accident is critical for your Missouri car accident claim, but how you obtain it depends on which county the accident occurred and which law enforcement agency responded. A Missouri auto accident injury attorney will know who to contact to get you the report you need for your case. If the accident was minor and the police did not respond, you must report the accident yourself. You have one year to do so, only if the damages exceed $500 or there is a personal injury.
Can a Police Report Help Your St. Louis Car Accident Case?
Although they are generally not admissible in court,police reports can be useful in car accidents.
Missouri is a comparative law state, which means that more than one party can be found at fault when you are in a car accident. Comparative law dictates that both parties in a car accident can be ascribed an amount of negligence. This differs from an at-fault state, where only one person can be found negligent and liable to pay for any resulting damages and injuries.
The percentage of guilt assigned to each party determines how much they pay in damages. For instance, if someone pulls out before you and you hit them, they would generally bear responsibility. However, if you were speeding, then you might be found partially liable for damages and injuries, too.
If you are in an accident, you must get a police report filed. First, if you don’t wait for law enforcement at the scene, you could be charged with a hit and run, especially if you don’t exchange driver information. Secondly, you will want to have a police report filed to help negotiate a settlement. Although police reports are not admissible in a court of law and will not help you if the case goes to trial, recording events through a police report is a great tool for your St. Louis car accident attorney to review to help ascribe fault or to exonerate you of any liability when negotiating.
The police report will generally have the case’s specifics, whether any tickets were issued, and the recounts given by both parties at the scene. Events are much better recorded at the time of the accident, rather than going back and trying to remember what happened.
Although they are generally not admissible in court because police reports are technically considered hearsay, they can help your St. Louis car accident attorney negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company. A police report may help you get all you are entitled to and help to establish who was negligent and who is liable for damages. When meeting with your St. Louis car accident lawyer, it is always a good idea to bring a copy of the police report so that your lawyer will have something to work with. It might be the best tool for getting you the compensation you are entitled to without taking the case to trial.
“There’s an Error on the Car Accident Police Report: What Are My Options?”
Dealing with a car accident is never easy, but things can get even more complicated if there are errors in the police report. Whether it’s a typo or a factual mistake, a police report error can seriously affect your claim or lawsuit. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to challenge the report and protect your interests.
Here are some of the most common police report errors and the steps you can take to fix them.
Common Police Report Errors
Police report errors can take many different forms. Some of the most common include:
Typos
One of the most common problems is simple typographical errors, such as misspelled names or incorrect addresses. These might seem like minor details, but they can have a major impact on the outcome of a case. Sometimes, these errors can even lead to charges being dropped or reduced. For example, if the police report mistakenly lists the wrong make and model of the other vehicle involved in an accident, it could jeopardize an insurance claim. A typo in the description of the accident can also lead to an incorrect determination of fault.
Missing Information
Another common error is missing information. This can include the name and contact information of the other driver, insurance information, and a detailed description of the accident. Filing a claim or pursuing legal action can be difficult without this vital information.
Faulty Accident Diagrams
Police officers often draw diagrams of the scene of an accident as part of their report. These diagrams can be essential evidence in determining fault. However, due to the fast-paced nature of an accident, it’s easy for them to make mistakes when drawing their diagrams. For example, they may not include all the cars involved in the accident or may not accurately show the positions of the cars at the time of impact. They may also fail to consider important details such as road conditions or markings. This can lead to confusion and ambiguity when determining who is at fault for the accident.
More errors:
Inaccurate witness statements
Incorrect information about the other driver
These are just a few of the most common police report errors. Many others can occur, and any one of them could have a serious impact on your case.
If you believe the police report contains an error, it’s important to take action as soon as possible. The sooner you catch and correct the mistake, the less likely it is to cause problems.
How to Fix Police Report Errors
First, get a copy of the police report and go through it carefully to verify if there is an error and what kind of error it is. Once you have identified the mistake, you may consider contacting the officer who filed the report and requesting a correction.
The Missouri car accident report is important to show how the accident occurred and who may be liable for it. To ensure your legal rights are protected while filing a car accident claim, we recommend having an experienced car accident attorney by your side to help you navigate the process.
What if You Can’t Obtain the Police Report Right Away?
There are a few reasons why you might not be able to get your police report right away:
The Police Department Is Backlogged
While this is the last thing you’d want to hear, it’s unfortunately not uncommon for police departments to be backlogged. This is especially true in larger cities with a high volume of accidents. If this is the case, you can best be patient and keep checking with the department until the report is available.
The Police Department Is Waiting on Information from Witnesses or the Other Driver Involved in the Accident
This is another common reason why reports might not be available right away. The police department may be waiting on information from witnesses or the other driver involved in the accident before they can release the report. If this is the case, there may not be much you can do but wait for them to gather all the necessary information.
The Investigation Is Still Ongoing
If the accident was more severe or resulted in injuries, the police department may need to conduct a more thorough investigation. Again, waiting for the investigation to be completed is generally best.
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!
