Car Accident Attorney

Auto accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of thirty-four. Annually, car accidents are responsible for over 400,000 deaths. At an average rate of 115 fatalities per day, auto accidents cost a staggering 150 billion dollars yearly. Unfortunately, you are likely to be involved in at least one car accident in your lifetime.

When an auto accident occurs people automatically want to know whose fault was it, generally due to concerns about insurance coverage for the damage to the cars involved. Fault is similar to negligence which is what legally needs to be proven by an attorney in a personal injury case resulting from a car accident. Negligence is the careless behavior that causes or contributes to an accident. Someone could be negligent in a car accident if he/she ran a red light, didn't yield, or merged improperly and it resulted in a collision or accident between two or more vehicles.

The job of a car accident attorney in representing those injured is to prove negligence and present the case to maximize the compensation awarded. The negligent party, often the negligent party's insurance company, will have to provide compensation for damages to a vehicle and/or health care costs from injuries to other drivers or passengers. Sometimes negligence or fault can be found on both sides of a car accident. This is okay, and while it may impact the amount of compensation possible for you to obtain, it does not automatically make it so you have no rights or recourse.

WHAT TO DO AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT
Call Police and File a Report
If you are involved in a car accident, call the police immediately, even if no one was injured, and file an accident report. Auto accident reports are for insurance purposes to determine fault, so verify that the report is thorough. The auto accident report should include interviews with all involved parties and any witnesses. Photographs and/or diagrams of accident scenes are often supplied by the police as well. You should take your own pictures of the car accident if possible, and get the names and phone numbers of anyone witnessing the accident either as a driver or pedestrian, as well as anyone involved in the accident itself.

Seek Medical Attention for Your Injuries
Most importantly, regardless of fault, car accident victims should not treat their injuries casually. Often injuries may not be apparent immediately, but the thrashing and jerking from a car crash can lead to stiffening and joint pain later.  Common injuries from a car crash include whiplash, head and brain injury, paralysis, and joint, bone, and muscle injuries. Auto accident victims should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they believe they are injured. Car accident claims for damages resulting from injuries usually depend on medical records linking the accident to the injuries received. The more time elapses between the auto accident and the treatment, the more difficult it is to prove a connection.

Hire A Car Accident Lawyer
If you were injured and require medical attention, you should contact a car accident lawyer to prevent the insurance companies from taking advantage of you and not providing enough financial compensation to cover all the expenses you may have from medical bills to car repairs to lost wages. Read more about "How a Car Accident Lawyer can Help You."

If you have been in a car accident, please call us today for a free initial consultation about your case with no obligation to hire us as your attorney and no fee collected unless we win compensation for you.

More information to help you if you have been in a car accident:

• What to Do if You are Injured in an Accident
• Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
• Blog Articles about Car Accident Law in Missouri

Free Initial Consultation with a Car Accident Lawyer
Day, Evening, Weekend and Hospital Appointments Available
Call today (417) 883-5886

Personal Injury Accident Types

Auto / Car Accidents	Bicycle Accidents	Medication/Pharmaceutical Side Effects
Motorcycle Accidents	Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect	Semi-Truck Accidents
Slip and Fall Accidents	Wrongful Death