ST. LOUIS CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

No two accidents are exactly alike, but most viable car crash claims are built on a few core factors.

First, you must have suffered harm. This may include medical expenses, time missed from work, physical pain, emotional distress, or lasting limitations that affect your daily life.

Next, the accident must have been caused by someone else’s negligence. This could involve distracted driving, speeding, failing to yield, running a red light, or any other behavior that violates traffic laws or basic safety expectations.

Finally, there must be a source of compensation. In most cases, claims are handled through insurance coverage rather than directly against the at-fault driver.

Many people delay seeking legal help because they’re unsure how serious their injuries are or whether the other driver was truly at fault. That hesitation is common, but early guidance can help protect your options before important evidence or deadlines are lost.

The steps you take after a crash can protect both your health and your claim.

Start by checking yourself and others for injuries. Call 911 if anyone needs medical help. Even if injuries seem minor, getting evaluated is important; many serious conditions don’t show symptoms right away.

If it’s safe, contact the police and make sure a report is created. This documentation often becomes a key piece of evidence later.

Exchange basic information with the other driver, but avoid discussing fault. Take photos or videos of vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signs, and anything else that shows how the crash occurred. If there are witnesses, get their contact information.

Afterward, notify your insurance company and stick to the facts. Before giving recorded statements or accepting any settlement offers, it’s often wise to understand your legal rights.

Missouri law places strict limits on how long injured people have to pursue compensation after a car accident. If a claim is not filed within the applicable legal window, the right to recover damages may be lost entirely.

While many deadlines are tied to the date of the crash, others can shift depending on the situation. Injuries that are discovered later, fatal crashes, accidents involving minors, or collisions with government-owned vehicles can all affect how filing deadlines are calculated. Some cases also involve additional notice requirements or procedural steps that must be handled correctly from the start.

Because these rules can vary and exceptions are often narrowly applied, waiting too long can put an otherwise valid claim at risk. Taking action early not only helps protect your legal rights but also makes it easier to preserve evidence, locate witnesses, and document injuries before critical details fade.

The financial and personal impact of a car accident often extends far beyond the initial crash. Depending on the facts of your case, compensation may be available for both economic and non-economic losses, including:

• Medical expenses, such as emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, medications, and any future treatment or rehabilitation your injuries may require.
• Lost wages, including income missed while recovering, and reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to return to the same job or work full-time.
• Pain and suffering, which accounts for the physical pain, limitations, and discomfort caused by your injuries.
• Emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, or post-traumatic stress that can follow a serious crash.
• Disability or permanent impairment, when injuries result in lasting mobility issues, scarring, or loss of bodily function.
• Property damage, such as the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and other personal property damaged in the collision

There is no true “average settlement” for car accident claims. The value of a case depends on factors like the severity of injuries, how long recovery takes, whether permanent limitations are involved, and the amount of insurance coverage available. Careful documentation and a full understanding of how the crash has affected your life are critical to pursuing fair compensation.

Yes. Missouri follows a pure comparative negligence system, which means you can recover compensation even if you were up to 99% at fault for a crash. Your total recovery is simply reduced by your percentage of responsibility.

For example, if you are awarded $100,000 in damages and found 30% at fault, your compensation would be reduced by 30%, leaving $70,000. Even if you were 80% at fault, you could still recover the remaining 20% of your damages.

Insurance companies often try to inflate a driver’s share of fault to reduce what they have to pay. That’s why accurate evidence, clear documentation, and careful fault analysis matter when protecting your recovery.

Accidents involving uninsured or underinsured drivers can become complicated quickly. Missouri requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, which may help cover losses when the other driver lacks sufficient insurance.

These claims are often disputed, even when coverage exists. Insurers may question fault, injury severity, or policy limits. Careful handling is critical to ensuring available benefits are fully applied.

Accidents involving Uber, Lyft, or delivery drivers can be more complex than typical car crashes because multiple insurance policies may apply. Coverage often depends on the driver’s status at the time of the accident; whether they were logged into the app, en route to pick up a passenger, actively transporting someone, or off duty using their personal vehicle.

Each phase can trigger different layers of coverage, including the driver’s personal auto policy, the rideshare or delivery company’s commercial insurance, or both. Disputes frequently arise over which policy is responsible, how much coverage applies, and whether an insurer is trying to shift responsibility elsewhere.

Because these cases involve corporate insurers and detailed policy rules, delays and denials are common. A thorough investigation, reviewing app data, trip status, timing, and insurance disclosures, is often necessary to identify all available coverage and protect your right to full compensation.

Once a claim is filed, the process typically involves gathering medical records, accident reports, and other evidence. Insurance companies may request statements or medical authorizations, and settlement negotiations often follow.

Some cases resolve relatively quickly, while others take longer, especially when injuries are severe or liability is disputed. If a fair settlement can’t be reached, litigation may be necessary.

Even crashes that seem minor at first can lead to unexpected medical issues or insurance disputes. Soft-tissue injuries, concussions, and delayed symptoms are common.

Insurance companies may offer quick settlements that don’t account for future treatment or time missed from work. Having legal representation can help ensure you don’t settle before understanding the full impact of your injuries.

Fault may be established through police reports, witness statements, photos or video footage, vehicle damage, and traffic law violations. In more complex cases, accident reconstruction experts may be used to explain how the crash occurred.

Clear, consistent documentation often plays a decisive role in liability disputes.

Many car accidents are preventable and happen because one or more drivers fail to use reasonable care. Some of the most common causes include:

• Distracted driving, including phone use, navigation systems, or in-car technology that takes a driver’s eyes or attention off the road
• Speeding and aggressive driving, which reduce reaction time and increase the severity of injuries when a crash occurs
• Impaired driving, whether due to alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medications that affect judgment and coordination
• Failure to yield or obey traffic signals, especially at intersections where sudden violations can lead to high-impact collisions
• Weather-related hazards, such as rain, snow, or fog, which reduce visibility and make stopping distances longer
• Driver fatigue, which can impair reaction time and decision-making, similarly to intoxication

Even the most cautious drivers can be seriously injured when others ignore traffic laws or take unnecessary risks. In many St. Louis crashes, it only takes one moment of negligence to cause lasting harm.

Hiring a car accident lawyer in St. Louis does not require any upfront payment with Morgan & Morgan. Representation is provided on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay if we win. 

At Morgan & Morgan, this approach is known as The Fee Is Free®; you don’t pay anything out of pocket to get started, and you owe nothing unless your case results in a settlement or verdict. Consultations are always free, allowing you to understand your options without financial pressure.

This structure gives injured people access to strong legal representation during recovery, regardless of their financial situation.

Car accident cases often involve powerful insurance companies and high financial stakes. Having trial-ready resources matters, especially when insurers refuse to be fair.

With 35 years of experience, national resources, and a commitment to fighting for injured people, Morgan & Morgan helps clients pursue accountability and meaningful compensation, without upfront costs.

If you were injured in a car accident in St. Louis, fill out a free case evaluation today to see if we can fight for justice on your behalf.