Car Accident Lawyer in Jefferson County, MO
Car Accident Lawyer Jefferson County, MO. After you have been injured in a car or truck accident, having concerns about your job or your family should be the last thing on your mind. Between medical treatment, dealing with trauma, and repairing your car, the aftermath of an car accident in Jefferson County, MO can easily overwhelm anyone, doubly so when insurance companies refuse to deal with you or you do not receive the restitution you are entitled to.
Contact Our Jefferson County, MO Car Accident Lawyers Here
Combs Waterkotte is here to help Jefferson County, MO residents who have been in car accidents and do not know about what to do next. Our Jefferson County 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 Jefferson County, MO auto accident clients to get them not only appropriate remuneration, but also a measure of justice after going through a very troubling experience.
After you’ve been in a Jefferson County, MO auto accident, don’t hesitate to contact Combs Waterkotte, either online or by calling (314) 900-HELP, and put an experienced and dedicated Jefferson County, MO auto accident attorney in your corner. Our firm offers no-obligation initial consultations, and promises that you do not win or get a settlement in your Jefferson County auto accident lawsuit, you owe us nothing.
Giving You Peace Of Mind
A Full-Service Jefferson County, MO Car Accident Lawyer
Every day, thousands of cars and trucks take to the roads in and around Jefferson County for all sorts of purposes. Sadly, though, car accidents regularly occur, whether due to bad weather, poor road conditions, or someone else’s negligence. Automotive damages and personal injuries can range from minor cosmetic blemishes or a few cuts and scrapes, to life-changing injuries and vehicles better suited as scrap metal.
As experienced Jefferson County, MO car accident lawyers, Combs Waterkotte has handled all kinds of car accident claims and seen first-hand how the results of a car accident in Jefferson County can alter someone’s life, forever in some situations. Our firm has years of experience handling car accident cases, and understands how insurance firms do not enjoy paying proper compensation to Jefferson County accident victims. We offer personalized legal strategies that are designed to satisfy your particular needs and give our clients justice as well as a just reward for their injuries and losses.
What To Do After A Car Accident In Jefferson County, MO
Following a car accident, it is likely that people will be in shock and clueless how to proceed. However, having worked with many car accident clients across Jefferson County, MO, the staff at Combs Waterkotte suggests that all our clients do the following after their car accident:
- Make sure you are safe. Pull over to somewhere where you will not obstruct traffic, if possible, and check to see if you have suffered any injuries.
- Call 911. Not only will you need to talk with police and get a full report of your car accident, but if you or someone else is severely injured you may need to call for an ambulance. When the police come, be honest about the accident but choose your words wisely: statements that imply guilt can and will be used against you by insurance companies when adjuticating fault.
- Collect all relevant information. Exchange not only your license, registration, and insurance details, which you are required to do by law, but also phone numbers and other contact details.
- Take photos. The invention, and widespread adoption, of camera phones means that it is very simple to document your Jefferson County, MO accident and compile 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 greatly benefit your case.
- Get medical attention. If you were hurt as a result of your Jefferson County car accident, immediately seek out emergency medical care. For smaller injuries, a local urgent care center is a more convenient and cost-effective option than an ER visit. However, more severe or bigger 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 faster you call a trustworthy and compassionate Jefferson County, MO car accident lawyer, the quicker they can begin work on your case and allow you to begin the recovery process.
As well as these steps, our firm recommends that all our clients hold on to the following paperwork. They can help immeasurably when discussing settlement terms, or to give a more complete idea of the effect a car accident in Jefferson County, MO had on your life.
- Medical records
- 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 including 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 types of damages an accident victim can claim after a car accident in Jefferson County, MO. These are:
- Medical damages: these are not strictly restricted to hospital bills or doctor’s visits, either. An auto accident victim can claim reimbursement for prescriptions, visits to mental health professionals, rehab or physical therapy due to accident injuries, and necessary medical equipment such as casts, as well.
- Lost wages/earning potential: for the most part this is based off of what you were earning prior to the accident, the extent of the impact the accident had on your ability to fully perform work, and how the lasting effects of your accident/injuries may prevent you from working to your full potential in the future.
- Property damage: this includes repair/replacement of your car as well as any/all personal effects that were damaged as a result of your Jefferson County auto accident.
- Pain and suffering: these damages can be difficult to quantify, since by and large the amount of discomfort one goes through after an accident varies from person to person. In general, though, recording changes in mental health, lingering symptoms, and attitude is a smart rule of thumb.
- Disability or disfigurement: in more severe cases, a Jefferson County, MO car accident may result in someone suffering permanent injuries. While in a substantial number of cases those injuries are permanent and a settlement cannot remedy the unspeakable pain and difficulty these injuries cause, it can help provide an accident victim more opportunity to successfully navigate their new normal.
It is also important to note that Missouri is a comparative fault state, which means that the amount of damages one or more parties receive is reduced 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 judged 99% responsible for an accident to collect a commensurate amount of damages.
Contact A Jefferson County, MO Car Accident Lawyer Who Cares
At Combs Waterkotte, we provide the aggression and acumen of a top Jefferson County, MO car accident law firm as well as the personal care of an individual practice. Our firm has partnered with Jefferson County residents from all walks of life to secure the justice they deserve following a car accident in Jefferson County, MO. We take all our cases on what is called a contingency basis, which means that unless you win your Jefferson County, MO car accident case or obtain a favorable settlement, you will not need to owe us a fee.
If you have been injured in a car accident in Jefferson County, MO caused by another party’s negligence, do not hesitate: contact a Jefferson County car accident lawyer at Combs Waterkotte today by calling (314) 900-HELP or online for a free, no-obligation document review.
