Intersections are typically the most common location for car accidents in any city. In St. Louis, some of the most dangerous intersections include Jefferson Avenue and Interstate 44 (I-44), Salisbury Street and Interstate 70 (I-70), and Grand Avenue and I-70.
While some locations in St. Louis are statistically more likely to be the site of an accident, a collision can happen virtually anywhere, at any time. If you or a loved one suffer one or more injuries in a car accident, a St. Louis car collision lawyer will pursue fair compensation through insurance or a lawsuit. Recover from your injuries while your lawyer holds liable parties accountable for you.
Car Accidents Happen Throughout St. Louis
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police keep a running tally of auto accidents. This log shows that car accidents happen every day throughout the city.
Auto collisions happen for many reasons, most of which qualify as negligence. Some common causes of car accidents in St. Louis include:
- Motorist error and poor judgment: Drivers are the greatest threat to other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Every day, motorists throughout St. Louis speed, tailgate, weave through traffic, and show a blatant disregard for others’ safety (and their own). Motorists who engage in such dangerous actions dramatically increase the likelihood of a car accident.
- Motorist impairment: Navigating St. Louis’ streets is difficult enough when you are not impaired. Motorists who are under the influence of a drug or alcohol are less capable of driving safely. Drivers who are upset, tired, or diminished in other ways are also more likely to cause an accident.
- Dangerous driving conditions: The City of St. Louis has a Street Department, one of the many ways city employees can monitor road conditions. The city must take preventative measures and immediate action to address hazards such as potholes, poor lighting during nighttime driving, defective traffic signals, and unsafe work zones.
- Vehicle defects: Vehicle owners have a duty to inspect their vehicle regularly and get service when necessary. Manufacturers also have a duty to ensure their products are designed and assembled soundly. If your car accident in St. Louis involved a vehicle defect, your attorney will determine who is liable.
- Dangerous actions by pedestrians: Pedestrians who enter the roadway without the right of way, throw items into the roadway, or engage in other dangerous behaviors can be liable if their actions cause a collision.
Attorneys’ jobs are to diagnose the cause of car accidents and seek fair compensation for victims of negligence. Allow a lawyer to do this job for you.
Why Some Locations in St. Louis Are More Likely to See Car Accidents
Motorists and others must be aware of areas that pose a heightened risk of auto accidents. It may be necessary to exercise heightened caution in such areas, which include:
Intersections
About half of all injuries from traffic accidents result from collisions at intersections because:
- Intersections bring vehicles traveling in opposite directions together, which alone increases the likelihood of a collision
- Motorists at intersections often have to use sound judgment to avoid collisions, and not every motorist exercises sound judgment (not at all times, at least)
- Some motorists make risky decisions at intersections (like running a red light), often because they do not exercise patience
- Hazards at intersections, such as malfunctioning traffic lights, can pose an outsize risk of an accident happening
Intersections exist throughout St. Louis, and some are more dangerous than others. If negligence of any kind caused an intersection collision involving you or a loved one, you deserve fair compensation for your losses.
Roads with Dense Traffic
Traffic accidents can be a numbers game. The more vehicles on a given road, the more:
- Negligent motorists may be around you
- Defective vehicles may share the road with you
- Opportunities for a collision exist
Whether it is one of the interstates running through St. Louis, a road with a disproportionate number of businesses, or any other high-traffic road, a locale with more vehicles may be more likely to see an accident.
Roads Where Pedestrians Are Nearby (Especially in Large Numbers)
The presence of pedestrians near a roadway increases the possibility of a pedestrian collision. Pedestrians can also engage in risky behaviors like jaywalking, which may lead a motorist to swerve or brake and trigger a multi-vehicle collision.
Pedestrians may be more likely to be near roadways that:
- Run through residential neighborhoods
- Are near sporting and entertainment venues
- Run near areas dense with businesses, like restaurants, bars, and shops
Whenever pedestrians are near a roadway, there is a chance of a pedestrian-related car accident.
Roads with High Speed Limits
Speeding is a factor in many car accidents. While a motorist can speed on any road, they may be more likely to drive at unsafe speeds when the posted speed limit is comparatively high.
Interstates and highways are some of the roads with the highest speed limits in St. Louis, so motorists must exercise restraint and caution when on these roads.
When You’re in a Car Accident, Demand Fair Compensation (by Hiring an Attorney)
While it is always relevant how and why your car accident happened, your foremost concern should be receiving fair compensation for your damages. Once you have received the medical care you need, hire a St. Louis car accident attorney to wage the fight for your financial recovery.
You will see the benefit of hiring a car accident lawyer right away because they will:
- Take over all of the responsibilities related to your case
- Help you determine whether to file one or more insurance claims, and who to file those claims with
- Help you make any necessary statements to insurers (while preventing you from making mistakes that car accident victims tend to make during the claims process)
- Secure all evidence from the accident scene and other sources
- Advise and guide you through any actions you need to take
- Protect you from anyone who might want to undermine your case
When you hire a lawyer, you can focus on treatment, rest, and recovery. Your attorney will deal with all case-related matters and promptly inform you if they need you to take any action.
Negligence Is Almost Always the Root Cause of a Car Accident
It’s not always clear who is at fault for a car accident in St. Louis. Attorneys know the phrase “negligence” well, and they can quickly identify the types of negligence that lead to auto accidents.
If a collision has happened, it’s almost certain that negligence has happened. Your lawyer will:
- Document your accident by obtaining evidence like witness testimony, photographs of damaged vehicles, video of the collision, and experts’ testimony about who is responsible for the collision
- Get your account of how the collision happened
- Evaluate the evidence and determine who is at fault for the accident and your resulting damages
Whether it is someone’s willful actions (like speeding) or unintentional negligence, your lawyer will identify whose failures have caused you harm.
What a Car Accident Attorney Will Do for You
We’ve already discussed how a lawyer will obtain evidence of negligence and determine who is responsible for the cost of your losses. This is hardly the extent of a lawyer’s help, though.
Also, expect your St. Louis car accident attorney to:
Document the Damages You Have Suffered Because of the Collision
Your legal team will seek documentation of your accident-related damages, which may include:
- Doctors’ diagnoses of your physical injuries
- Doctors’ treatment recommendations
- Medical bills that emerge as you undergo treatment
- Mental health experts’ evaluations (which may include diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder and other specific conditions)
- Bills detailing vehicle repairs
If you miss work, your attorney can secure pre-accident income statements that show how much income you have lost.
Pinpoint Exactly How Much Money You Are Entitled To
Every car accident case has a specific and unique financial value. Your attorney will determine your case value based on:
- Economic damages: These kinds of damages have an objective financial value, with medical costs and vehicle repairs being two examples of economic damages.
- Non-economic damages: These damages have a more complicated (and less obvious) financial value, with pain and suffering being the most common example.
If you are still recovering from injuries, your attorney will explain their approach. They may wait for you to reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), the point where your symptoms are unlikely to improve even with further medical care.
Negotiate with Liable Parties (Likely Starting with Insurance Companies)
When looking for a car accident attorney, seek one with years of experience securing large settlements. Such negotiation experience (and bona fides) may:
- Assure you that your attorney is capable of securing a large settlement for you
- Prepare the attorney for difficult negotiations
- Increase the likelihood that your case will result in a fair settlement
Most attorneys and car accident victims prefer to secure a fair settlement rather than going to trial. Going to court involves certain risks and expenses, and trials take longer than settlements.
File a Car Accident Lawsuit, If You Decide to Do So
Attorneys decide (along with their clients) whether to sue on a case-by-case basis. You may decide to file a car accident lawsuit if:
- A driver responsible for your St. Louis car accident does not have insurance
- Insurance companies deny your claim(s)
- Insurance coverage limits are less than the value of your losses
- Insurance companies do not offer you a fair settlement (perhaps because they dispute the financial value of your losses)
There are many potential reasons why you may file a lawsuit. Your attorney will help you decide whether suing is the right decision for you.
Represent You in Court, Should Your Case Follow That Route (Most Don’t)
Once you file a lawsuit, your case can end by settlement or by trial. If you do not receive a fair settlement during the pre-trial stages, your attorney may move forward to court.
If trial becomes the path for your case, your attorney will present evidence, question witnesses, and try to persuade a jury to award you fair compensation.
Damages Your Car Accident Lawyer Will Include in Their Case (If You Experience Them)
Car accidents vary in their details. Many factors, from how the vehicles collided to the speed of the collision, can determine the nature and severity of your losses.
Your car accident lawyer will identify and detail all of your recoverable losses, which may include:
Vehicle Repairs and Other Property Costs
Car accident victims often stress over the financial cost of a collision, which can include:
- Repairs for your vehicle
- The replacement of a totaled vehicle
- The cost of ridesharing, a rental vehicle, or other types of temporary transportation
- Replacement of personal items damaged during the accident, like a cellphone
Your attorney will demand that liable parties pay a fair sum for all your property-related expenses.
Pain and Suffering (A Common Type of Damage Among Car Accident Victims)
Auto accidents can leave lingering scars that aren’t visible to the naked eye, including:
- Physical pain (including any chronic conditions you suffer)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Anxiety, which may include fear of being in a car
- Lost quality of life
These kinds of challenges qualify as pain and suffering and entitle you to compensation.
Lost income and Other Professional Losses
Accident victims who must miss work or modify their professional role may face:
- Lost income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Lost bonuses and overtime compensation
- Other professional harm
These are all damages that car accident lawyers often secure compensation for.
Healthcare Expenses
Your legal team will calculate the cost of all accident-related medical services (and items like medications) and demand fair compensation from liable parties.
Disability-Related Damages
If you have any disabling injuries, you may need money for long-term caregiver services, medical equipment, and other economic and non-economic losses.
Hire Your Car Accident Lawyer in St. Louis Today
An attorney will afford you valuable services that only a lawyer can provide. Their service may benefit your physical and mental health and, in time, result in the financial recovery you deserve.
Find your personal injury attorney in St. Louis as soon as possible, as they likely face a deadline for filing your case.
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