Recovered Over $300 Million for Our 7,000+ Clients
Car accidents can be traumatic experiences even when you walk away unharmed. If you suffered a severe injury, you may face significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges. During this time, the thought of going through the insurance or legal systems to recover compensation may feel overwhelming. That’s where a St. Joseph car accident injury lawyer can help.
At Holland Injury Law, our team of experienced car accident lawyers can help you seek the compensation you need through an auto insurance claim, personal injury lawsuit, or both. Contact our firm today for a free consultation to discuss your case. We’ll review the details surrounding the accident, explain your options, and answer any questions you have.
With high-trafficked roadways like Highway 169 and I-29 running through the area, it’s perhaps not surprising that the following types of car accidents are common in St. Joseph:
Head-on collisions
Rear-end collisions
T-bone collisions
Sideswipe accidents
Tire blowouts
Victims of these accidents can suffer from a wide range of injuries that vary in severity and recovery length.
Traumatic Brain Injuries – TBIs occur when the brain strikes the inside of the skull, leading to brain swelling or bleeding. While TBIs can be mild, such as a concussion, they can also be severe and cause permanent cognitive and physical disability. TBI victims often have extensive medical bills and require long-term care.
Spinal Cord Injuries – Depending on the severity of the collision, a spinal cord injury can cause chronic back pain or even full-body paralysis. Victims who suffer these injuries often seek compensation for ongoing medical care.
Crushed Limbs – Car accidents can result in crushed limbs. In best-case scenarios, these limbs may recover to partial functionality. However, in worst-case scenarios, amputation may be necessary.
Fractured Bones – Bone fractures are among the most frequent injuries suffered in vehicle collisions. Seatbelts can crack ribs, the steering wheel can break wrists, and the force of a crash is even strong enough to break the femur, which is the strongest bone in the body.
Lacerations – Broken glass and other sharp objects flying around inside the vehicle after a wreck can cause deep lacerations, resulting in significant blood loss. These injuries often require stitches and may leave permanent scars.
Internal Organ Damage – Damage to internal organs can take hours or even days to show symptoms, making these injuries some of the most dangerous. It’s vital to always seek medical care after a car accident so paramedics can check for hidden injuries.
After suffering an injury in a car accident, you should take the following steps to protect your right to seek compensation:
Seek Continuing Treatment – Don’t stop receiving treatment until your doctor says you’re fully healed or won’t heal further with additional treatment. If you stop treatment early, insurance companies may take it as a sign that your injuries weren’t severe or that the treatment wasn’t necessary.
Keep Track of Medical Bills – Keep all of your medical bills associated with your injury. Your attorney will use them to calculate your past and future medical expenses.
Write Down What You Remember – While the accident is fresh in your mind, write down everything you remember. These notes can help prevent you from making contradicting statements later on.
Avoid Making a Statement – If an insurance adjuster reaches out to you for a statement, don’t speak to them until after speaking with your lawyer. The insurance adjuster’s job is to get you to say something they can use against you.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer – The best way to protect your rights is to contact an experienced car accident lawyer who can manage negotiations with insurers and advocate for your best interests.
In most car accident cases in Missouri, you will file an auto insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. Auto insurance can cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and some other financial losses you experienced because of the accident.
If the at-fault driver doesn’t have auto insurance or their policy limits prevent their insurance from fully covering your expenses, you have a few options to seek the remaining compensation you need:
Uninsured Motorist Coverage – If the other driver doesn’t have insurance and you have uninsured motorist coverage as part of your auto insurance policy, you can file a claim with your insurer.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage – If the other driver’s insurance isn’t covering all of your expenses and you have underinsured motorist coverage as part of your auto insurance policy, you can file a claim with your insurer.
Personal Injury Lawsuit – If the other driver doesn’t have insurance or their insurance isn’t covering all of your expenses, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver personally.
Since Missouri is a fault-based state for auto insurance claims, you must provide evidence showing the other party contributed to your injuries. Some of the evidence you can use to prove fault in St. Joseph includes:
Traffic, Security, or Dashboard Camera Footage – Video footage of the accident, the events leading up to it, or its aftermath can help determine who was at fault.
Eyewitness Statements – Eyewitnesses can corroborate your version of events and provide a neutral, third-party account of the incident.
Expert Testimony – Your attorney may hire experts to provide specialized testimony. For example, a medical professional can testify about your injuries, and a crash reconstruction specialist can testify about how the accident occurred.
Accident Scene Photographs – Photographs from the accident scene that show the vehicle damage, skid marks on the road, and relevant traffic signs can be crucial.
Vehicle Computer Data – Most newer vehicles have onboard computers that log speed, braking, and other data that can help determine fault.
If you suffered an injury in a car accident, under Missouri’s statute of limitations, you have five years to file a lawsuit against the liable party. Failure to file your lawsuit within this period could result in the Buchanan County Court barring you from seeking recovery for your injuries.
Even though five years might sound like a long time to file your lawsuit, it’s important to contact an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible so they can begin gathering critical evidence and building a strong case.
Contact Holland Injury Law for a free consultation with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer after suffering an injury in a St. Joseph crash. Our firm has recovered over $300 Million for our 7,000+ clients, and we’re ready to put our experience and resources to work for you.
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