Car Accident Lawyer in Chesterfield, MO
Car Accident Lawyer Chesterfield, MO. After you have suffered injuries in a car or truck accident, having concerns about your job or your family should be the last thing on your mind. Between car repairs, medical treatment, and mental trauma or anguish, the effects of an car accident in Chesterfield, MO can quickly take over anyone’s life, doubly so when insurance companies refuse to deal with you or you do not receive the restitution you deserve.
Contact Our Chesterfield, MO Car Accident Lawyers Here
Combs Waterkotte is here to help Chesterfield, MO residents who have been in car accidents and are unsure about what steps to take afterwards. Our Chesterfield car accident lawyer finds evidence, deals with insurance and financial agents, and compiles accident reports on behalf of their clients. We fight fiercely on behalf of all our Chesterfield, MO auto accident clients to win them not only fair and just compensation, but also closure following an incredibly traumatic experience.
After you’ve been in a Chesterfield, MO auto accident, do not delay in contacting Combs Waterkotte, either online or by calling (314) 900-HELP, and put a veteran Chesterfield, MO auto accident attorney in your corner. Our firm offers free initial consultations, and vows that you do not win or get a settlement in your Chesterfield auto accident lawsuit, you owe us nothing.
Giving You One Less Thing To Worry About
A Full-Service Chesterfield, MO Car Accident Lawyer
On any given day, thousands of vehicles are on the road in and around Chesterfield in order to go to work, deliver goods, run errands, or just to enjoy the open road. Unfortunately, though, every day many car accidents happen, whether due to poorly maintained roads, the negligence of other motorists, or adverse weather conditions. Injuries and property damage can range from bumps and bruises and small scratches and dings, to totaled cars and permanent injuries.
As experienced Chesterfield, MO car accident lawyers, Combs Waterkotte has handled car accident claims of all types and seen first-hand how the effects of a car accident in Chesterfield can change someone’s life, in some cases permanently. Our firm has years of experience in the courtroom, and knows the tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying just restitution to Chesterfield accident victims. We provide unique legal strategies that are designed to meet your particular needs and give our clients closure as well as a fair reward for their injuries and losses.
What To Do After A Car Accident In Chesterfield, MO
Following a car accident, it is likely that people will be in a state of shock and uncertain how to proceed. However, having worked with many car accident clients across Chesterfield, MO, the staff at Combs Waterkotte recommends that all our clients take these steps after their car accident:
- Make sure you are safe. Pull over to somewhere where you will not obstruct traffic, if you are able to, and check to see if you have suffered any injuries.
- Call 911. Not only will you need to file a police report after your accident, but if you or someone else is severely hurt you may need to have an ambulance come and take them to a hospital. When the police come, tell the truth about the accident but avoid saying anything unnecessary: statements that imply guilt can and will be used against you by insurance companies when finding fault.
- Collect all relevant information. Exchange not only your registration, license, and insurance provider, which you are required to do by law, but also phone numbers and other contact details.
- Take photos. Camera phones now being ubiquitious means that it is very easy to document your Chesterfield, MO accident and gather evidence. Take photos of skid marks, property damage, physical surroundings, and the point of impact of your accident. If there were pedestrians or passersby who witnessed your accident, it is a good idea to record their accounts of the accident, as it can help your case immensely.
- Get medical care. If you were injured as a result of your Chesterfield car accident, immediately seek out emergency medical care. For smaller injuries, a local urgent care center is a more affordable and convenient option than an ER visit. However, larger and more serious injuries will likely necessitate a trip to the hospital, or if they are available a visit to your personal doctor.
- Contact a car accident lawyer. The quicker you call a trustworthy and understanding Chesterfield, MO car accident lawyer, the faster they can start working on your case and allow you to begin the recovery process.
As well as these steps, our firm urges all our clients to save the following paperwork. They can help immeasurably when negotiating a settlement, or to paint a full picture of the effect a car accident in Chesterfield, MO had on your life.
- Medical documentation
- Pictures of the accident scene
- The full police report of the accident
- Witness accounts
- All medical-related bills (ambulance fees, rehab costs, medications, etc.)
- Doctor’s reports and observations
- Repair documentation
- Incidental bills such as rental car receipts
- Lost earning opportunities
- Records of pain and suffering directly caused by your accident
What Damages Can I Recover After A Car Accident?
In general, there are five kinds of damages someone can claim following a car accident in Chesterfield, MO. These are:
- Medical damages: these are not only limited to hospital bills or doctor’s visits, either. An auto accident victim can claim reimbursement for medications, psychological appointments, rehab or physical therapy due to accident injuries, and necessary medical equipment such as a wheelchair, too.
- Lost wages/earning potential: in general this is based off of what you were earning prior to the accident, how much the accident impacted your ability to fully perform work, and how the lasting effects of your accident/injuries may stop you from working to your full ability in the future.
- Property damage: this includes repair or replacement of your car as well as any/all additional items that were damaged as a result of your Chesterfield auto accident.
- Pain and suffering: these damages can be hard to quantify, since in most cases the amount of difficulty a Chesterfield, MO victim goes through after an accident differs from person to person. As a rule, though, recording changes in mental health, lingering symptoms, and attitude is a smart idea.
- Disability or disfigurement: in more severe cases, a Chesterfield, MO car accident may result in a victim suffering life-altering injuries. While in a substantial number of cases those injuries are permanent and a settlement cannot take away the immense pain and difficulty these injuries cause, it can help provide an accident victim more opportunity to adapt to their new normal.
It is also key to note that Missouri is a comparative fault state, which means that the amount of damages one or more parties receive is adjusted based on how much at fault they were for causing a car accident. Missouri is a pure comparative fault state, which allows for even someone who was determined to be 99% responsible for an accident to collect a commensurate amount of damages.
Contact A Chesterfield, MO Car Accident Lawyer Who Cares
At Combs Waterkotte, we provide the strength and legal knowledge of a top Chesterfield, MO car accident law firm as well as the one-on-one care of a small practice. Our firm has partnered with Chesterfield residents from all walks of life to get the justice they are entitled to receive following a car accident in Chesterfield, MO. We take all our cases on what is known as a contingency basis, which means that unless you win your Chesterfield, MO car accident case or obtain a favorable settlement, you will not need to owe us a fee.
If you have been injured as a result of a car accident in Chesterfield, MO caused by another party’s negligence, act quickly: contact a Chesterfield car accident lawyer at Combs Waterkotte today by dialing (314) 900-HELP or online for a free, no-strings-attched case review.
