There are many costs associated with car accidents.
The costs involved after a car accident often include the cost of medical care, the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle, and lost wages. But there are many additional costs that can add up very quickly and many people are not aware of some of these expenses until they have been involved in an accident.
Some of these costs include personal property you had stored in your vehicle, fees for towing and storing your vehicle, emotional distress, lost earning capacity, costs to hire help to do things you are unable to do due to your injury, permanent disability caused by the accident, and any permanent disfigurement. It is important to have a St. Louis auto accident attorney who has experience with car accident cases.
Missouri Statute of Limitations
In the state of Missouri, a car accident victim has a period of five years during which to file a claim. While you may have longer to make a claim against an at-fault party, it is still important to act quickly. It is important for an attorney to be able to protect your claim by gathering evidence and making sure that your injuries and expenses are carefully documented. The more time that passes the harder it can be to get you the full compensation to which you are entitled.
There are exceptions to the 5-year statute of limitation. Discuss your case with an attorney to find out whether these exceptions apply to your case.
Settle or File a Civil Lawsuit?
The first course of action is to have a lawyer evaluate your case and determine what monetary compensation you should ask for. If you are able to negotiate a settlement with the other party and the insurance company, this would be ideal. But if you are unable to reach a settlement, the next step would be to file a civil lawsuit.
In a car accident lawsuit where you are seeking monetary damages, you must be able to prove that the other party was negligent. Negligence means that the actions of the other driver did not fulfill their legal responsibility to act in a way that would not cause injury. Then you must show that their actions lead to or caused your injuries and that the accident resulted in financial losses for you.
Liability
Some states have comparative liability laws which allows for all parties to share some of the fault depending on their contributing actions. But Missouri has a tort liability system, which means that when one party is deemed to be at fault, that party or their insurance becomes responsible for all of the damages resulting from the accident.
St. Louis Auto Accident Attorney
If you have been involved in a car accident and have questions, contact the trusted St. Louis auto accident attorneys at The Hoffmann Law Firm. We can evaluate your case and help you to get the compensation you deserve.
