CAR ACCIDENT in ST. LOUIS?
CALL THE HOFFMANN LAW FIRM, L.L.C.
- 25 Years of Exclusively Auto Accident Law
- Thousands of Cases
- Contest Settlement Offers for Higher Payouts
Car Accident Attorney St. Louis, MO
Free Consultation (314) 361-4242 – We have over 25 years of experience helping St. Louis car accident victims exclusively. We fight to win you the compensation you deserve. The consultation is free; you only pay if we get you money.
Our St. Louis Car Accident Attorneys have earned our credentials through successful negotiations and vigorous courtroom trial representation. With 25 years of experience and thousands of successful cases, auto accident & injury attorney Christopher Hoffmann focuses his practice exclusively on handling injury claims arising out of car accidents in St. Louis, MO. When you hire our firm, you can be confident that everything will be done to protect your rights and recover the compensation you deserve.
What to do After a Car Accident?
- Get immediate medical treatment for the injuries sustained in the car accident.
- Report the accident to the police and fully cooperate with the authorities.
- Do not discuss the fault with other parties, including the driver and the insurance company.
- Maintain records of all medical bills and other expenses related to the car accident.
Documenting Property Damage Claims
If you have a property damage claim, you need the following three things for your St. Louis car accident lawyer to make a claim:
- Estimate – Written estimate from a dealership or collision center (insurance estimates are not admissible in court)
- Fair Market Value – Printout of the Kelly Blue Book Value and NADA Value – Do this today! Print this immediately. If you wait six months, the car will be worth less.
- Photos – Get photos of the damage, the rest of the outside of the car, and the interior. Clean out the inside of the vehicle before taking pictures. Remove floor mats if they look bad. When photographing the damage, make sure to get tough to photograph areas, including damage extending into the engine, trunk, frame rails, and suspension. Here are some examples:
- Rear-End Collisions: Take photos from behind the vehicle looking at the damage for rear-end collisions. Make sure to take pictures from angles looking across the bumper, not just at it, to show how far it is smashed in. Open the trunk and pull back the rug to photograph any crumping of the trunk floor and damage in the spare tire area. Take photos of this and the broken suspension if the car sits low or dips to one side.
- Head on Collisions: For head-on collisions, take photos looking at the front bumper and across the bumper to show the depth of damage. Open the hood and photograph any damage extending into the engine compartment, including the radiator, air-conditioning, or engine. Take photos of the broken suspension if the car sits low or dips to one side.
- Side-Impact Collisions: With sideswipe accidents, take photos looking down the side of the car. Open the doors and take pictures of the door frame or foot-well damage.
WARNING: Do not sign a “Release of Claims” for property damage. Have any release reviewed by your lawyer. Most releases include language that releases “any and all claims whatsoever,” hence you would mistakenly be releasing your injury claim and any other claim as well as property.
Documenting Your Injuries in Medical Records
Documenting your injury in your medical records is a must! When going to the ER, Primary Care Doctor, MRI, Specialists, Physical Therapy, or any other provider, make sure to write the following on the medical records whether there is a spot for it or not:
- State that you were in a Motor Vehicle Accident and write when it occurred.
- Write the Cause of the accident: ex. Rear-ended at a stop sign; the car ran a red light and hit me; the car ran a stop sign, pulled across traffic, came into oncoming traffic, etc.
- List all body parts injured and any pain radiating from one body part to another.
- Mark all body parts on the pain diagram and draw arrows or lines regarding radiating pain – for example, neck pain radiating into the shoulder and down arms or low back pain radiating into the buttocks and legs.
REMEMBER: If records are completed electronically, ask the provider to see the documents to ensure everything is listed correctly.
Why Hire the Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C.?
We focus exclusively on helping people who have been injured in car accidents in the St. Louis area. Our firm’s principal, Christopher Hoffmann, has 25 years of legal experience in handling car accident cases. Our firm, built on that experience, understands how to approach difficult cases. We have a strong record of success, having recovered millions of dollars for our injured clients.
Our sole focus is helping motor vehicle accident victims receive total and fair compensation, even in injury accident cases involving uninsured or under-insured drivers. To increase chances for a positive outcome, our St. Louis car accident attorney prepares every case as if it will go to trial:
- Investigating the car accident.
- Interviewing witnesses.
- Gathering evidence to prove the other driver was at fault.
We are fully prepared to handle the most complicated cases. At The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C., we never rush to settle your case for less than its total value. We do not hesitate to take matters to court when insurers refuse to treat you fairly.
In-Depth Knowledge of St. Louis for Your Car Accident Needs
Our firm is deeply rooted in St. Louis, giving us a comprehensive understanding of the unique aspects of car accidents in this area. Whether your incident occurred in the bustling streets near Busch Stadium or in the quieter residential areas of Kirkwood, we’re familiar with the specifics of navigating car accident cases in these different locales.
Understanding St. Louis Roads and Traffic Patterns
St. Louis’s diverse roadways, from the interstates to local streets, present various challenges for drivers. We have seen a wide array of accidents on these roads and understand how different traffic patterns and road conditions can contribute to accidents. This insight is crucial in building a strong case for you.
Tailored Approach for Every St. Louis Neighborhood
Each neighborhood in St. Louis has its character and traffic quirks. Our approach is tailored to consider these nuances, ensuring that your case reflects the specific circumstances of your accident. Whether it’s dealing with accidents near the University City’s bustling university campus or the industrial areas in North St. Louis, our approach is always personalized.
St. Louis Laws and Regulations
Missouri’s laws and regulations can be complex, especially when it comes to car accidents. We are well-versed in these laws as they apply specifically in St. Louis. Our familiarity with local legal processes, from filing claims to negotiating with local insurers, ensures that your case is handled with a keen awareness of local legal nuances.
For residents of St. Louis looking for legal assistance after a car accident, our team is here to provide support and guidance. We understand the physical and emotional toll an accident can take and are committed to offering compassionate and effective legal assistance to our St. Louis community.
What Types of Compensation May I Receive?
- Cost of medical treatment, including hospitalization, prescription drugs, doctor visits, ambulance fees, and physical therapy
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of income
- Repair or replacement of the vehicle
- Diminished earning capacity
- Loss of companionship
- Funeral costs in case of wrongful death
- Rental car fees
- Punitive damages
How Do I Receive Full Compensation?
It usually takes work to determine the right compensation amount that someone in an auto accident deserves. Only an experienced St. Louis Car Accident Attorney can consider all factors and help get the maximum possible compensation for the losses suffered in the car accident. It’s crucial to schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer in St. Louis soon after an accident. Delay or failure to do so can jeopardize the chances of getting the full compensation you may be entitled.
Only give a recorded statement or sign a settlement after consulting an experienced attorney. It is essential to determine the actual value of the case before an agreement is approved, and only a competent St. Louis car accident attorney can do so.
Helping You Recover Maximum Compensation
Our legal team works hard to help you recover the maximum compensation for lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, disability, and reduced quality of life. Because of our strong focus on motor vehicle accident claims, the chances are excellent that we have handled a claim similar to yours.
From intersection collisions resulting in broken bones to high-speed highway crashes resulting in a brain or spinal cord injury, our experience, legal knowledge, and investigative resources can be immediately put to work in determining the exact cause of your car accident. We have experience with all types of car accidents, including:
- Bus and taxi accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Reckless driving accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Distracted drivers causing accidents while texting
- Rear-end collisions
We have also helped clients secure financial recovery after they were injured by drunk drivers, by uninsured or underinsured motorists or in a construction zone.
Whether you suffered a herniated disk from a rear-end accident on an exit ramp or your family is suffering from the premature death of a loved one hit by a drunk driver, you need compensation and justice.
We know how to deal with insurance companies that try to minimize claims. We understand their tactics and work diligently to overcome them. Our goal is to secure full and fair compensation for our clients so that they have the resources they need to move forward in life.
Determining Fault in a St. Louis Car Accident
Trying to determine who is at fault in a car accident is a matter of deciding who the negligent driver is. Determining this can be a complicated process. To increase the chances of a positive outcome, our firm prepares every case as if it will go to trial: investigating the car accident, interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence to prove the other driver was at fault. We are fully prepared to handle the most complicated cases.
A negligent driver is one that behaves in a thoughtless or careless manner, causing harm or injury to another person. Examples of negligent driving include:
- Speeding
- Texting while driving
- Racing
- Tailgating
- Distracted while driving
- Driving while intoxicated
- Drugged driving
Our law firm has the resources and experience to recreate the accident and show how the negligent driver led to the seriousness of your injuries.
What Other Parties May Be Held Liable in an Accident?
- Bar or restaurant in cases of car accidents caused by drunk drivers
- Trucking companies that have flouted regulations
- Mechanics who failed to repair a vehicle properly
- Government authorities who failed to maintain proper roadway conditions
- Manufacturers for creating defective vehicles or parts
When you come to the St. Louis car accident law firm, we will investigate your case thoroughly, using experts such as accident reconstructionists to help us show how the accident happened. By gathering evidence and building strong arguments, we maximize our ability to recover full compensation for our clients’ car accident injuries.
Types of St. Louis Car Accident Injuries
Each car accident is unique, resulting in a wide range of injuries. Severe injuries may require extensive and costly medical care, often taking weeks, months, or even years to recover. Some injuries are catastrophic, and the victim may never fully recover. Depending on the type of injury and severity will determine what sort of financial compensation you need.
Some of the more common types of car accident injuries include:
- Back injuries
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Catastrophic injury
- Emotional distress
- Fatal auto crash
- Herniated disc
- Neck injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injury
- Whiplash
- Wrongful death
No matter what type of car accident you were involved in, you should seek medical attention to determine the extent of the damage done to your body. We can help you get in touch with the right doctors as well as begin building your case for recovery immediately.
Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!
Free Consultation (314) 361-4242