Florissant Car Accident Attorney

Florissant Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents can happen in various ways, often with little to no warning. These incidents are a leading cause of personal injuries and deaths throughout the United States each year, and every state has different statutes for resolving these incidents. If you or a family member sustained injuries in an accident in Florissant, it’s vital to know your rights and the value of hiring an experienced Florissant car accident attorney to represent you in your recovery efforts.

Experienced Legal Representation for Car Accident Victims in Florissant, MO

The Cagle Law Firm offers client-focused and compassionate legal representation to victims of car accidents in Florissant and throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. We have successfully represented many car accident victims and know the challenges you are likely to face as you seek compensation for your losses from the driver’s insurance carrier. Our firm is confident in our ability to address your unique concerns in your impending recovery efforts.

We take time to listen to our client’s stories, understand the various impacts their accident has had on their life, and help them determine the optimal path toward recovering their losses. It’s natural to feel distressed and discouraged when you look at the various legal proceedings you may need to navigate in this situation, but with our team’s assistance, you can approach your case with peace of mind.

Why Do I Need to Hire a Florissant Car Accident Attorney?

It’s technically possible for you to pursue your recovery from a car accident without hiring legal counsel. You are under no legal obligation to hire an attorney for a car accident claim in Florissant. However, you are not only more likely to succeed with your recovery efforts but also more likely to maximize your total compensation when you have legal counsel you can trust to represent you.

Your Florissant car accident attorney can help gather the evidence you need to firmly establish liability for your accident. A seasoned legal team will know the optimal way to hold an at-fault driver accountable for the harm they’ve done, which is likely to entail both an auto insurance claim or may require a civil lawsuit. You also face various strict procedural deadlines in your impending case, which your attorney can address for you.

Do not make an already challenging situation worse by attempting to manage a possible injury lawsuit on your own while you recover from your injuries. By hiring a Florissant car accident attorney, you are significantly improving your chances of success with your recovery efforts and can be prepared to meet any unexpected challenges you encounter as your accident case unfolds. The sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner they can start working on your case.

Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Florissant

Car accidents happen in various ways. Most car accident cases filed in Florissant arise from acts of negligence, or failure to use reasonable care in specific situations. It is also possible for accidents to happen due to illegal misconduct behind the wheel. Some of the most commonly cited causes of car accidents in the Florissant area include:

• Distracted driving. Cell phone use, eating, smoking, and any other distractions while driving are inherently dangerous. If anything preoccupies a driver’s hands, eyes, or focus when they should be concentrating on driving, they can easily cause a serious accident. Texting while driving continues to be the most common form of distracted driving responsible for accidents throughout the Florissant area each year.
• Whenever any driver exceeds the speed limit, they reduce the time they have to slow down or stop to avoid a collision. Accidents are more likely to happen at higher speeds and more likely to result in catastrophic or fatal injuries. Excessive speeding could lead to a criminal charge for reckless driving alongside liability for any damages inflicted on others.
• Moving violations. All drivers must follow traffic signals and signs and maintain control of their vehicles to ensure the safe flow of traffic. Driving through red lights or stop signs, turning illegally or performing U-turns, failure to yield the right-of-way, and improper lane changes are just a few examples of how moving violations can potentially result in devastating accidents.
• Intoxicated driving. It is illegal for anyone to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but driving under the influence (DUI) continues to be a leading cause of accidents throughout the United States each year and one of the most commonly prosecuted crimes in the state. The at-fault driver may face criminal prosecution along with civil liability for anyone they hurt with their actions.
• Road debris. If another party left any type of debris in the road, your attorney could help prove fault for a resulting accident.
• Damaged roads/poor road maintenance. If the poor quality of the road is to blame for your recent accident, you may be able to file a civil claim against whatever government entity is responsible for the upkeep of that road. However, filing a claim against any government entity is very different from filing a claim against another private party. Filing a claim against the Missouri Department of Transportation or city government must adhere to specific notification deadlines.

Depending on how the accident happened, the first step in your recovery efforts will be to prove the exact cause and identify the driver responsible. Your Florissant car accident attorney can be invaluable for the help they can provide in this early phase of your case.

How to Prove Fault for a Car Accident

Missouri upholds the fault rule for all vehicle accidents, meaning it is vital to prove fault for an accident before you will be able to recover any compensation for your damages. This is likely to necessitate multiple types of evidence, some of which you will have trouble securing on your own. Your Florissant car accident attorney can help build the foundation of your claim by securing the evidence you need to identify the driver responsible for causing your accident.

Vital physical evidence in your car accident case could include debris and road marks from the location of the accident. Photos of the damage to your vehicle can help prove the direction and severity of the impact. You may also be able to obtain various forms of digital evidence, such as vehicle computer data that can show the exact moment an impact was detected, cell phone data, and recordings from traffic cameras in the vicinity.

Witness testimony is also often crucial in an auto accident case. Your attorney can help you identify anyone else involved in the accident, as well as gather official witnesses’ statements. Gathering witness statements on your own can be challenging as you cannot contact them directly because of the obvious conflict of interest. Their testimony can help firmly prove fault for your accident and hold the appropriate driver or drivers responsible for your damages.

Understanding the Pure Comparative Fault Statute

It’s possible for more than one party to bear liability for a car crash. In this situation, each liable party may have a fault percentage assigned, indicating each party’s respective degree of liability for the resulting damages. For example, if one defendant is 60% at fault and another is 40% at fault, they will face 60% and 40% liability, respectively, for the resulting damages. It is also possible for a plaintiff to be found partially responsible for causing the accident.

If a plaintiff is assessed to share fault for their personal injury case, their percentage of fault is deducted from the compensation award they receive. For example, in a $500,000 personal injury suit in which the plaintiff is 10% at fault, they would lose $50,000 of their case award to reflect their liability. A comparative fault may also reduce the final payout from an auto insurance claim.

Your Florissant car accident attorney can help support your allegations of fault through evidence. Ultimately, you are likely to require help from a seasoned Florissant car accident attorney to ensure that fault is properly assigned to all liable parties in your car accident case.

Dealing With Auto Insurance Companies After a Car Accident in Florissant

Missouri law requires every driver in the state to have auto insurance that meets basic coverage requirements for property damage liability and bodily injury liability. If a driver causes an accident, their auto insurance will pay for the damages they caused based upon their coverage. However, there is never a guarantee that an at-fault driver will have enough coverage to fully compensate you for your damages. In fact, they may not have any auto insurance.

You have a very limited time in which to file your claim. It is possible and likely that the other party’s insurance company will reach out to you directly once they become aware of the accident. However, it is never a good idea to speak with an insurance company representative without consulting an attorney first. You are not required to give a statement in the first few days and should not.

If you are injured, you are most likely taking medication that may affect your ability to recall. Don’t be bullied into anything you do not want to do. Consult an expert to protect your rights and your right to pursue a damage claim.

Your Florissant car accident attorney can help you secure a fair settlement offer or judgment from the insurance carrier. Some insurance companies will attempt to take advantage of injured drivers by offering lowball settlements or unfairly denying your claim. However, an attorney protects you from bad-faith actions from an insurance carrier.

Building Your Civil Claim for a Car Accident

The core of a personal injury case is proving actual harm or a tangible loss resulting from a defendant’s negligence or egregious misconduct. Your Florissant car accident attorney can help build a comprehensive personal injury claim that aims for maximum compensation. Under the state’s personal injury statutes, you have the right to claim compensation for your economic and non-economic damages resulting from the defendant’s actions. Insurance companies typically push back against claims for compensation, and a personal injury suit can enable a claimant to maximize their compensation.

You must meet the statute of limitations or time limit for filing your personal injury case; otherwise, you could miss your chance to recover compensation from the at-fault driver. The state’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is five years. This time limit starts on the date you were injured.

This may seem like plenty of time; however, it is always preferable to contact a lawyer as soon as you can. In many instances, delaying making your claim for several years can make room for an insurance carrier to simply not respond until your statute of limitations expires. Once your statute of limitations expires, the merit of your claim no longer matters. It is not that you have five (5) years to make a claim but your petition must be filed in the appropriate court within that statute of limitations.

One of the greatest advantages to hiring a Florissant car accident attorney is their ability to coordinate expert witness testimony if necessary for your case. An expert witness is a credentialed professional in a specific discipline who can provide valuable insights into specific aspects of your case. An accident reconstruction expert can explain exactly how your accident happened, or a medical expert can help substantiate your claim for compensation for severe injuries.

The Cagle Law Firm excels at representing clients in complex vehicle accident cases. Our firm knows how to gather the evidence you are likely to need to submit a compelling claim and civil complaint to the court. You can rely on our firm to help gather all the foundational evidence for your case and to help prove the full extent of your claimable damages.

Damages Available in Your Personal Injury Claim in Florissant

You may have some grasp of the economic damages you suffered in your car accident, but you are likely eligible to claim much more compensation than you initially expected from the driver’s insurance carrier responsible for causing your car accident. Economic damages include medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering emotional distress, loss of consortium, and any damages that do not include objective bills and receipts.

Under Missouri’s personal injury statutes, a plaintiff is able to seek compensation for all the losses they suffered because of the defendant’s actions, including The costs of medical treatment. An injured victim has the right to claim compensation for all immediate and future medical expenses they face because of their accident.

• Lost wages. The plaintiff in a car accident claim may not be able to work for an extended time while they recover from their injuries. If this applies to your situation, the at-fault driver is responsible for the wages you cannot earn during this recovery period.
• Lost earning power. Unfortunately, some car accident victims suffer permanently disabling injuries that can prevent them from returning to work in the future. If this applies to your situation, the defendant is liable for the income you can no longer earn in the future. Your Florissant car accident attorney can help you accurately assess the full extent of your lost future earnings.
• Compensation for pain and suffering. State law allows you to claim compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life following your accident. Your attorney can help you determine a suitable amount of pain and suffering compensation to claim.

If you were injured in a car accident that was caused by egregious misconduct, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier may be compelled to pay you punitive damages per a judge or jury’s decision. A plaintiff can make recommendations regarding punitive damages, but a judge or jury typically decides how much they will actually receive. The amount paid in punitive damages usually varies based on the egregiousness of their actions. Many car crash injury claims and lawsuits do not involve punitive damages.

Punitive damages are typically awarded in civil cases whenever a defendant’s actions have gone beyond the scope of standard negligence. However, if a defendant broke the law in the process of causing your recent accident, they may face prosecution in criminal court, and the severity of their sentence will likely depend on the extent of the harm they caused. The judge or jury on their case may include restitution to the plaintiff as part of their penalties.

Ultimately, the average person is unlikely to accurately determine and prove the true full value of their personal injury claim without an attorney’s assistance. The Cagle Law Firm approaches every case we accept with the goal of helping our client maximize their recovery in the most efficient manner possible. For most clients, this will involve settlement negotiations and or litigation.

Settlement Versus Litigation for a Car Accident Claim in Florissant

A compelling civil suit is likely to encourage the defendant in your case to seek a settlement. Private settlement negotiations can streamline a civil claim for damages significantly, and this is crucial for a defendant who will likely be paying hourly rates for their defense counsel.

The team at The Cagle Law Firm attempts all avenues to accomplish fair compensation for you. Ultimately, the attorney considers which option best meets the needs of the client when making these determinations. These decisions are made with you. Facing courtroom proceedings may be daunting for an individual but a necessary step in your recovery process, and you can count on our firm to provide guidance and support through whichever method is most effective for resolving your claim. Our attorneys work to be certain that clients are prepared and supported through depositions, mediation, and litigation.

What to Expect from Your Florissant Car Accident Attorney

You have a short amount of time in which to gather crucial evidence from a car accident in Florissant, and the sooner you connect with legal counsel, the sooner you can start taking advantage of the benefits that legal representation offers in your situation. The Cagle Law Firm has an extensive record of successful cases because of our commitment to client-focused and detail-oriented legal counsel in every case we accept.

When you choose our firm as your representative, we can gather the evidence you need to establish liability for your damages. We search for all applicable insurance policies available to you and may be able to help you recover maximum compensation. We know how to make your case proceedings as efficient as possible, shortening the timeline necessary for you to receive your compensation from the at-fault driver.

If you are worried about legal representation being prohibitively expensive, The Cagle Law Firm provides the legal counsel you need without charging upfront legal retainers. We take on personal injury cases with a contingency fee payment structure. This means you only pay our firm after we win your case, and our contingency fee will be a percentage of the final compensation amount we recover for you. If we do not win, we don’t get paid.

Find Legal Representation You Can Trust Today

Any car accident in Florissant has the potential to be life-changing for everyone involved. You may have suffered catastrophic injuries, face inability to work and provide for your family, and you could also face an uncertain medical future due to the severity of the harm you suffered. Whatever your case entails, you can trust the team at The Cagle Law Firm to provide compassionate and responsive legal counsel through all phases of your case.

Time is a crucial concern for anyone in the aftermath of a car accident. If you would like to learn how an experienced Florissant car accident attorney can assist you in your recovery, contact The Cagle Law Firm today to schedule your free consultation with our team. We’ll answer your questions, address your concerns, and let you know how we can help you recover as fully as possible from your recent accident in Florissant.

Contact us today for a free consultation by calling us toll-free at (1-800) 685-3302 to discuss your situation.