St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
Representing Victims Injured in Rear-End Collisions in St. Louis
Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident in Missouri. Many drivers follow too closely, talk on mobile phones, or may be intoxicated or speeding. Sometimes the crash is at low speed and very little damage to the vehicles has been done. However, even in low-speed rear-end crashes, serious injuries to the neck and spine can result. In many cases, the pain does not immediately show up and only after a short period of time does the victim notice that they are suffering from headache, neck ache or backache. In higher speed rear-end collisions the injuries can be extremely serious. If you or a loved one has been rear-ended by another vehicle, it is vital that you contact a St. Louis car accident attorney. Some of the types of injuries that are sustained in a rear-end crash may include:
- Whiplash
- Neck injuries
- Head trauma
- Concussion
- Ligament damage
- Paralysis
- Facial injuries
- Spinal injuries
Missouri motorists are required to exercise the care that a prudent person would under the same circumstances. This law is found in Missouri's "Rules of the Road", located throughout Section 304 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. It is a presumption in Missouri that when a motorist is rear-ended, that the person who initiated contact is the at-fault party. A finding that a driver failed to observe Missouri's Rules of the Road in the operation and care of their vehicle may result in a claim for negligence per se by the injury victim.
Missouri Personal Injury Attorney – Rear-end Car Crash Claim
Some of these injuries are very serious and may require years of rehabilitation or surgeries to alleviate pain and/or correct. Some injuries cannot be corrected and will require a lifetime of medical care. If you or a loved one has suffered such an injury, it is crucial that you get the assistance of a personal injury lawyer immediately to discuss your case. At Schultz & Myers, an attorney will review the details of your accident and will determine what sorts of claims may be possible. It is critical that you contact a personal injury lawyer as soon after the accident as possible so that evidence can be discovered and protected. The documentation in injury cases is extremely important. Keep close track of all costs and expenses incurred as a result of the accident itself and subsequent medical treatment.
When dealing with insurance claims, you may be presented with a “settlement” by the insurance company of the at-fault driver. It is crucial that you do not accept any offer from the insurance company without consulting a qualified personal injury lawyer from Schultz & Myers. DO NOT have an interview (a.k.a "recorded statement") with the insurance company adjuster. These actions can seriously limit what sorts of claims you can make in the future. The first steps in any injury accident are to seek medical attention, inform your own insurance company, document the accident with pictures if possible, and write down the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses. Ensure that you get the insurance information from the person who caused the accident. Get the name and badge numbers of any law enforcement personnel that are on the scene. Then contact a Missouri personal injury attorney to assist you in making your injury claim. Don’t try to handle claims for rear-end crash injuries on your own. Turn that problem over to an experienced personal injury from Schultz & Myers.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney in St. Louis
from Schultz & Myers if you have been injured in a rear-end crash and seek legal representation to aggressively fight in your claim for compensation.
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