St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney Serving Missouri & Illinois

When you have been involved in an accident, whether involving a car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, bus, or as a pedestrian, you can face a number of challenges following the accident. In particular, if your injuries are serious, your entire life can be changed. You could find yourself unable to return to work, facing mountains of medical bills and a recalcitrant insurance company. In order to ensure the outcome of your accident is as positive as possible, contact an experienced St. Louis personal injury attorney as quickly as possible after your accident.

Why Choose a St. Louis Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney from Finney Injury Law?

While you may not fully realize it at the time, choosing an attorney following your St. Louis motor vehicle accident is second in importance only to obtaining the medical treatments you need in order to heal from your injuries. Attorneys Chris Finney and Alex Ledbetter are experienced St. Louis motor vehicle accident attorneys with the knowledge and skills necessary to help you through this difficult time. Chris and Alex are well-versed in negotiating with insurance companies for an equitable settlement and are skilled litigators in the event a fair number cannot be agreed on. 

When you have a zealous St. Louis motor vehicle accident attorney in your corner who prepares every case as though it will go to court, you know you are fully protected. In many cases, the insurance company will attempt to offer you much less than your damages are worth. They may do this very soon after your accident before you have had the time to determine what your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering really amount to. You may not yet have a good idea of how long you will require medical treatments, whether you will need rehabilitative therapies, and whether you will be able to return to your job. 

Since these are all crucial determinations in reaching a settlement amount, if you accept this quick and low settlement you are likely to find out that it doesn’t begin to cover the damages related to your accident. At Finney Injury Law, not only will we make an accurate assessment of your damages, but if liability is unclear, we will use every tool in our arsenal to definitively show that the other driver caused the accident and, thus, your injuries and damages. When you are receiving medical treatments and coping with pain from your injuries, you may also be wondering how you will pay your regular monthly and medical expenses.  

We offer every benefit associated with a large law firm, along with the highly individualized attention only available at small firms. We care about our clients and the outcome of their auto accident claims and zealously advocate for them from start to finish. When necessary, we help them find the medical treatments they need to heal from their injuries. Our firm’s resources can help with every aspect of a St. Louis motor vehicle accident claim. Our compassion and dedication are second to none. Call Finney Injury Law about your case today.

Car Accidents

As determined by the car insurance industry and reported by Forbes, every “average” adult driver will statistically speaking, file a claim for a collision about once every 17.9 years. This means if you received your driver’s license at the age of 16, it is likely you will be involved in some type of crash by the time you are 34, and over the course of your lifetime, you will have at least three crashes. While this statistic seems quite alarming, remember that the chances are high these crashes will not be deadly, because the numbers include every type of car accident, from parking lot bump-ins to multi-car pileups on the freeway.

Following a car accident, it is extremely important that you seek medical attention—even if you believe you are “fine.” During a car accident, the body experiences a surge of adrenaline which can often mask symptoms of an injury. If you refuse medical attention—then later realize you were actually injured in the collision—it could be much more difficult for your attorney to secure an equitable settlement on your behalf. In the same vein, never utter the words “I’m sorry” at the scene of the accident, even if you believe you might have been at least partially responsible for the collision. In fact, say as little as possible at the scene of the accident and afterward, until you have spoken to a knowledgeable St. Louis car accident attorney.

Truck Accidents

Being involved in a truck accident is always a tremendously traumatic event. When you consider that a semi-truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, fully loaded, the odds that those in a passenger vehicle will not be seriously injured after colliding with a truck are very low. In fact, death and long-term disability due to a truck accident are common.

Truck accident claims can be especially complex, due to the fact that there can be more than one defendant. In a “typical” two-vehicle auto accident, the only defendant is the person who hit you. In a truck accident, however, a number of entities or people can be held liable. Perhaps the truck accident was the fault of the driver, or perhaps the trucking company hired an inexperienced driver or failed to perform a thorough background check.

A truck accident could be the result of poorly-loaded or secured cargo, placing the loading company in a liable position, or could be the result of inadequate maintenance on the truck. The truck accident could also be caused by a defective truck part, which would make the manufacturer of the truck liable. In many truck accidents, there is more than one liable party, requiring a highly experienced St. Louis truck accident attorney to ensure you are properly compensated.

Motorcycle Accidents

Serious head injuries and spinal cord injuries are much more common among motorcyclists than for those in passenger vehicles. Motorcycles are simply less visible to other drivers, plus there is no protection for the motorcyclist in the form of a metal and glass cage, safety belts, and airbags. Motorcycle helmets are about 37 percent effective in preventing the death of the motorcyclist following an accident, and 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries, yet only 19 states and the District of Columbia mandate helmet use for all motorcyclists.

The motorcyclist’s only protection lies in a helmet (if worn) and protective clothing such as leather chaps. The single most dangerous situation for a motorcyclist occurs when automobiles make left-hand turns—accounting for 42% of all accidents between motorcycles and cars. Such accidents occur when the motorcycle is either going straight through an intersection or passing a car. Like truck accidents, motorcycle accidents can be must more complex than passenger vehicle accidents, therefore it is absolutely imperative that a St. Louis motorcycle accident attorney be contacted following an accident.

Pedestrian Accidents

Like motorcyclists, pedestrians and bicyclists are extremely vulnerable when they are struck by a vehicle, as they have no protection whatsoever. When a pedestrian is struck by a car, the results are usually catastrophic, resulting in serious injury or death. Even though state laws do their best to protect pedestrians and keep these traumatic events from happening, the CDC reports that in the United States alone over 5,000 pedestrians are killed annually after being struck by an automobile. Further, about 129,000 will suffer some level of injury after being struck by a car, whether relatively minor or life-altering.

All in all, pedestrians are much more likely than those in a passenger vehicle to be killed in a car accident on any given trip.  A pedestrian is simply no match for a car, which can be several thousand pounds of metal and glass. Even though the passengers and driver inside the car are fairly well protected, the pedestrian is totally vulnerable to serious injury. While pedestrians generally have the right-of-way, there are certain exceptions. Generally speaking, however, it is driver inattention which results in a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle. The level of injury requires a highly experienced pedestrian accident attorney who will work hard to ensure the injured pedestrian is compensated for injuries and lost wages.

Bicycle Accidents

The risk of riding a bicycle varies widely depending on the time of day, the rider’s level of experience, the area the bicyclist is riding in, whether there is alcohol involved, however the health benefits of riding a bicycle on a regular basis do somewhat offset the risks.

While the majority of bicycle accidents occur in cities, those with colleges are more likely to have an increased number of bicycle accidents. If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, you may have extremely serious injuries. A highly experienced St. Louis bicycle accident attorney will be in your corner, protecting your rights and fighting hard for an equitable settlement.

Bus Accidents

All-in-all, travel by bus is relatively safe as far as travel modes go. Unfortunately, when a bus does crash, there will likely be many injured passengers, and the injuries can be severe. Issues which can increase the odds of a bus accident include young or inexperienced bus drivers or bus driver who are distracted, fatigued or impaired. Like the truck in a truck accident, a bus may not have been properly maintained, or there could even be flaws in the bus or bus parts, which would make the manufacturer liable. If you are involved in a bus accident getting legal help can make a big difference for you, as far as ensuring you are properly compensated for your medical bills and lost wages.

Rear-end Accidents

Rear-end accidents are among the most common types of automobile accidents. Distracted drivers drive too closely to the vehicle in front of them, then when they look away for an instant an accident can result. Rear-end accidents often result in neck and back injuries, which, in some cases, are extremely serious. 

Hit-and-Run Accidents

Hit-and-run accidents are even more difficult than accidents where you know who hit you. If you are severely injured, then your first priority must be to get medical attention. However, if you are able to write down anything you can remember about the vehicle the hit-and-run driver was driving, it could make it much easier for the police to find the driver. If the hit-and-run driver is not found, you may need to file against your own insurer if you have uninsured/underinsured coverage. 

Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving accidents are quickly moving up the list as the most common cause of automobile accidents. Drivers text, talk on their cell phones, eat entire meals, change the car controls, set the GPS, and even turn around to see what children or pets are doing in the back seat. Drivers may also simply “space out” while they drive, meaning they are thinking about anything other than the road and the other drivers on the road. All these distractions can lead to extremely serious accidents and injuries. 

Fatigued Driving Accidents

Fatigued driving accidents, like distracted driving accidents, are becoming more and more common. Americans are fatigued, with few adults getting the recommended amount of sleep. Worry, children, jobs, relationships, or simply staying awake to read or surf the web can all disrupt your sleep. A person who has been awake for 18 hours or longer is just as likely to have an auto accident as a person with a 0.08 percent BAC reading, meaning their reaction time and judgment are lacking. 

Impaired Driving Accidents

Impaired driving accidents are still very common despite decades of advertising against impaired driving and stricter penalties for those who drive while impaired. If an impaired driver hits you criminal charges may be filed against them. This is apart from your own civil claim for damages against the impaired driver’s insurance company. 

Reckless Driving Accidents

Reckless driving accidents include accidents caused by excessive speed, tailgating, failure to yield, running red lights, and changing lanes without properly looking for another vehicle or a motorcyclist. Like an impaired driving accident, the reckless driver may be ticketed or may face criminal charges, depending on how bad the accident they caused was, and how egregious their actions were. 

Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are very common, particularly in grocery stores and retail stores, but can also occur in a parking lot, a stairwell, a sidewalk, a restaurant, an apartment complex, an escalator or elevator, around a swimming pool, or even at a theme park or water park. The property owner is responsible for your damages if a known hazard caused your slip-and-fall accident and subsequent injuries. 

Wrongful Death Claims

Wrongful death claimsoccur when a person has been injured due to the negligence or carelessness of another person or entity, and those injuries result in death. Each state has specific statutes associated with wrongful death claims that state who can file a wrongful death claim. In the state of Missouri, the decedent’s surviving spouse, parents, children, or grandchildren (if the children are deceased) can bring a wrongful death claim. If none of those survive the decedent, then a sibling or the sibling’s descendants can bring a wrongful death claim.  

Childcare/Daycare Injuries

Childcare/daycare injuriescan be caused by an accident that was nobody’s fault or can result from hazards or dangers at the facility. If the accident results from a known hazard or danger, the childcare or daycare can be sued for damages, including your medical expenses, lost wages, lost future wages, and pain and suffering. 

How Do I File a Motor Vehicle Accident Claim?

Your vehicle accident claim will benefit from having an experienced St. Louis personal injury attorney from Finney Injury Law. Once your attorney has accurately calculated your damages and proven liability, the next goal will be to thoroughly investigate your accident for evidence and build a claim on your behalf. Your attorney will then negotiate with the insurance company after sending out a demand letter that details your injuries and asks for a specific monetary amount. 

If the negotiations are unsuccessful, your attorney will file a lawsuit on your behalf. The insurance company can still agree to a fair settlement until the jury issues a verdict. If the claim goes to court, your attorney will argue the facts of your case on your behalf in front of a judge and jury, calling expert witnesses to back up your claim, and questioning the other driver’s account of the accident. Claimants who are legally represented are more likely to receive a larger settlement than those who are unrepresented.

FAQ: How Long Will It Take to Settle My Personal Injury Case?

Contact a St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney from Finney Injury Law

If you have been involved in an auto, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle or bus accident, it is likely you will deal with not only the physical injuries but mental and emotional trauma as well. Dealing with an insurance company while seeking medical treatment and perhaps being unable to return to your regular job and your normal life, are all difficult things to deal with. In short, an accident of this sort can seriously disrupt your life, and having a competent, experienced St. Louis personal injury attorney from Finney Injury Law by your side can significantly impact the aftermath of your accident. It is important that you not wait to contact a Finney Injury Law attorney following your accident—the sooner we are able to protect your rights and fight for your future, the better for you. Contact an experiencedSt. Louis personal injury attorney from Finney Injury Law today.