St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

Motor vehicle accidents cause thousands of injuries and fatalities every year and cost billions in property damage, medical treatment, and lost wages. If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious car accident in the St. Louis, Missouri area, call Goldblatt + Singer today. A St. Louis car accident lawyer from our legal team will listen to your story and help you make an informed decision about what legal solution to pursue.

Call (314) 231-4100 or contact us online for a free consultation. In the meantime, check out our client testimonials and client case results. Goldblatt + Singer has won over one billion dollars in compensation for past car accident case clients.

awards and accolades

Why Choose Goldblatt + Singer in St. Louis?

• We prioritize car accident clients and offer skilled and trusted legal guidance from start to finish.
• We will maintain open communication throughout your car accident case to ensure it is given the attention it deserves and your goals are met.
• Our St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid when you do. You pay nothing unless your case is won.

Contact a Goldblatt + Singer St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Free case consultation call us at (314) 936-3434

How Can a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?

A car accident can lead to serious injuries, expensive medical treatment, huge hospital bills, and even death. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a recent car collision, a Goldblatt + Singer attorney can help in several important ways.

How is fault determined in a car accident?

We help build your car accident case

Primarily, your legal counsel will help you build a car accident case so that you receive fair compensation for your car accident injuries. This involves conducting an investigation of the accident, taking statements from witnesses, and compiling documentation to prove the extent of the plaintiff’s damages. Your car accident attorney will also handle court filings and the other aspects of your case.

Handling a car insurance claim

Car accident attorneys in St. Louis can also help with handling insurance claims. After a car crash, dealing with insurance companies can be extremely stressful. Car insurance companies are not there to help you; they send their car accident claims adjusters to ensure every car accident injury claim merits a settlement, and they generally look for any reasons they can find to reduce or deny coverage.

Having a car accident lawyer act on your behalf in your dealings with an insurer can move the process along more quickly and with fewer frustrations.

Support & Peace of Mind

Finally, good attorneys offer peace of mind. With the right car accident attorney, you can rest assured knowing he or she has your best interests at heart. The St. Louis attorneys at Goldblatt + Singer work with your medical providers, work hard on the investigation of your case, and for a speedy resolution of your car accident claim.

Additionally, our other car accident victims and collision attorneys can help coordinate with various relief services and other programs that may prove beneficial to car accident victims. Professional legal assistance will help you focus on your recovery instead of meeting deadlines and filing paperwork.

Missouri Car Accident Laws

Missouri is an at-fault state when it comes to car insurance, so every driver must carry the state’s minimum liability coverage in their auto insurance policy. A Missouri auto insurance policy must include the following:

• $25,000 for bodily injury per person
• $50,000 for multiple bodily injuries
• $10,000 for total property damage
• Uninsured motorist coverage that also meets the above minimum requirements

Although these minimums are relatively affordable for most drivers, past driving history, including accidents, arrests, and other factors, can lead to higher premium payments for some drivers.

Option to Purchase Additional Bodily Injury Coverage

Drivers in Missouri also have the opportunity to purchase additional bodily injury coverage, medical expense coverage, collision coverage, and comprehensive accident coverage. Adding these options to your auto insurance policy will increase your premium payment amount, but you will have far more flexibility in the event of an accident and will be less likely to have to pay for any expenses out of pocket.

Reporting Your Car Accident to the Police

Missouri also has specific laws regarding the first steps after an accident. You must call the police to report any accident that causes more than $500 worth of property damage, injuries, deaths, or a driver without insurance coverage.

For more information on Missouri’s car and other motor vehicle accident laws, speak to a St. Louis car accident lawyer at Goldblatt + Singer today.

People come to us in their hardest moments, often feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. Every case is personal—because behind every file is a family counting on justice. My job is to guide them through the process, fight for what’s fair, and help make a difficult time a little easier.

Jeffrey Singer

Free case consultation call us at (314) 936-3434

Leading Causes of Car Accidents in St. Louis

Car accidents happen for a variety of reasons, many of which involve driver error. Some of the leading causes of collisions in St. Louis include:

Distracted Driving

Cell phones, eating, daydreaming, children in the backseat, or following directions can easily take a driver’s focus away from the road. Even if it’s only for a split second, a distracted driver can cause a catastrophic accident.

Impaired Driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, even prescription medications, dramatically impairs a driver’s ability to make decisions, react quickly, and operate a vehicle safely.

Drowsy Driving

According to the National Safety Council, fatigued drivers are three times more likely to be involved in an accident.

Speeding

Speed limits are in place to promote safety. The faster a vehicle travels, the longer it takes to stop to avoid an accident.

Reckless Driving

Driving behaviors such as speeding, erratic lane changes, failure to yield the right-of-way, and failure to obey traffic signs and signals can easily contribute to an accident.

Road Conditions

Inclement weather, such as rain, snow, or thunderstorms, construction zones, gravel, and dirt roads can all pose a serious threat to drivers, for example, by causing low visibility or making it challenging to maintain control.

Damaged or Defective Auto Parts

If just one part of a car is defective or poorly installed and fails, the entire vehicle can be affected, which can lead to a serious crash.

Most Common Car Accident Injuries

Here are some of the common types of injuries involved in car accident claims:

• Whiplash: A common soft tissue injury caused by a person’s neck being ‘whipped’ violently back and forth. Whiplash can be excruciating and may take a considerable amount of time to heal.
• Broken Bones: The impact of a car accident can cause severe bone fractures. If the bone chips and the fragment move through the body, it can cause internal organ damage.
• Head Injuries (TBIs): Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can be life-changing and may cause permanent cognitive or physical impairments.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Even a tiny amount of damage can have catastrophic consequences. A spinal cord injury can result in loss of range of movement, partial or total paralysis, permanent cognitive impairment, and loss of control over basic bodily functions.
• Disfigurement: Burn injuries, lacerations, or severe road rash can leave car accident victims permanently scarred or disfigured.
• Internal Injuries: Damage to internal organs can easily go undetected but is life-threatening if not treated immediately.
• Emotional Distress: Not all car accident injuries are purely physical. In some cases, car accident victims can suffer from severe psychological symptoms, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, insomnia, terror, and others.

All injuries from car accidents require immediate medical treatment, especially since it can take up to 72 hours for symptoms of a severe injury to fully materialize.

How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?

Each case is unique in its facts, so there is no way to know exactly how much your car accident claim is worth. However, an attorney can give you an accurate estimate of the amount of compensation you are entitled to after considering the following factors:

• The severity of your injuries.
• The expected length of your recovery.
• How does your pain and suffering impact your life?
• Whether you will require ongoing medical care, adaptive equipment, or home modifications.
• How much income have you lost, and are you expected to lose in the future?
• Diminished earning capacity if the injury prevents you from making the same income level as before the accident.
• The strength of evidence against the at-fault driver.
• Whether there is evidence that you contributed to the accident.
• Whether there were any aggravating circumstances (e.g., the at-fault party was driving drunk, texting, etc.).
• The at-fault party’s policy limits.

The at-fault driver’s policy limits can play an essential role in your recovery since their insurance company is not required to pay compensation beyond them. As a result, if your damages exceed the policy limits, your damages may not be completely covered. If that were to occur, your team of St. Louis car accident lawyers will explore other options for recovering the difference. For instance, suing the at-fault driver personally or holding another party liable who also contributed to the accident.

Damages and Compensation for Car Accidents

At Goldblatt + Singer, our St. Louis car accident attorneys can help injured drivers secure compensation for their:

Economic Damages

Compensation for verifiable monetary losses, such as:

• Medical Expenses: Current and future medical bills, including any treatment you may need, beginning from the accident. For example, doctor appointments, surgeries, hospitalizations, physical therapy, prescription medications, home modifications for disability, and more.
• Lost Income: Reimbursement for the income you lost due to the accident and any wages you will lose in the future. This compensation can also include diminished earning capacity if your injuries leave you unable to do your job at the same level you did before the accident.
• Property Damage: Money for the repairs or replacement of your vehicle if it is a total loss, and any other items damaged in the crash. For example, your phone, laptop, clothing, etc.

Non-Economic Damages

Compensation for subjective, non-monetary losses.

• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the pain and suffering you have endured due to the accident and your injuries. The more severe your injuries, the higher the amount of pain and suffering damages you are likely to receive.
• Emotional Distress: If the accident caused any psychological conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression, insomnia, PTSD, etc.).
• Loss of Consortium: This type of compensation is meant to reimburse a victim’s family for the loss of:
  • Companionship
  • Sexual relationship
  • Performing household chores
  • Caring for children
  • Affection and love
  • Support and guidance

• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If you can no longer engage in previously enjoyable activities.
• Punitive Damages: When a defendant’s behavior is extremely reckless, you may be entitled to punitive damages that are meant to punish the defendant and deter others from similar actions. While punitive damages can be difficult to prove, a St. Louis car accident attorney from Goldblatt + Singer can help you build your case.

Contact a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer Today

Goldblatt + Singer has helped clients in Missouri since 1949, and our legal team would like to put our experience to work in your car accident case. Contact us online today or call (314) 231-4100 to schedule a free consultation about your car accident claim, and we will let you know how we can help.

Other Related Practice Areas:

Motorcycle accidents
Truck Accidents
Uber Accidents
Lyft Accidents

Jeffrey Singer

Jeff Singer, Managing Partner at Goldblatt + Singer for over a decade, is a seasoned personal injury attorney known for his compassionate yet tough advocacy. He has resolved hundreds of cases and recovered millions for clients. Recognized as a Missouri Super Lawyer and Top 100 National Trial Lawyer, Jeff also serves on the Missouri Bar’s Chief Disciplinary Committee and the Board of Governors for the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.

Free case consultation call us at (314) 936-3434