Car Accident Lawyer Ste. Genevieve County, MO. After you have suffered injuries in a car or truck accident, having concerns about family or work should be the last thing on your mind. Between car repairs, medical treatment, and mental trauma or anguish, the impact of an car accident in Ste. Genevieve County, MO can quickly overwhelm anyone, especially when insurance companies refuse to deal with you or you do not receive the restitution you should be getting.
Contact Our Ste. Genevieve County, MO Car Accident Lawyers Here
Combs Waterkotte is here to help Ste. Genevieve County, MO residents who have been in car accidents and are unsure about what to do next. Our Ste. Genevieve County car accident lawyer finds evidence, deals with insurance and financial agents, and compiles accident reports on behalf of their clients. We fight aggressively for all our Ste. Genevieve County, MO auto accident clients to secure them not only fair and just financial rewards, but also a measure of justice after going through a very troubling experience.
After you’ve been in a Ste. Genevieve County, MO auto accident, don’t hesitate to contact Combs Waterkotte, either online or by calling (314) 900-HELP, and put a veteran Ste. Genevieve County, MO auto accident attorney in your corner. Our firm offers free initial consultations, and vows that if they do not get a positive result in your Ste. Genevieve County auto accident lawsuit, you will not owe them a fee.
Giving You Peace Of Mind
A Full-Service Ste. Genevieve County, MO Car Accident Lawyer
On any given day, thousands of vehicles are on the road in and around Ste. Genevieve County to deliver the mail, take people to and from work, go to the store, or just out for a leisurely drive. Sadly, though, car accidents regularly occur, whether due to poorly maintained roads, the negligence of other motorists, or adverse weather conditions. Injuries and property damage can range from bumps and bruises and small scratches and dings, to life-altering ailments and a car so damaged as to be unrecognizable.
As veteran Ste. Genevieve County, MO car accident lawyers, Combs Waterkotte has handled car accident claims of all types and personally viewed how the effects of a car accident in Ste. Genevieve County can alter someone’s life, in some cases permanently. Our firm has years of experience handling car accident cases, and understands how insurance firms do not enjoy paying just restitution to Ste. Genevieve County accident victims. We provide client-centered legal strategies that are built to meet your unique needs and get clients both justice in addition to a fair reward for their injuries and losses.
What To Do After A Car Accident In Ste. Genevieve County, MO
Following a car accident, it is common for people to be in a state of shock and uncertain how to proceed. However, having dealt with many car accident clients across Ste. Genevieve County, MO, the staff at Combs Waterkotte suggests that all our clients do the following after their car accident:
- Make sure you are safe. Pull over to somewhere where you will not obstruct traffic, if possible, and check to see if you have suffered any injuries.
- Call 911. Not only will you need to file a police report after your accident, but if you or someone else is badly injured you may need to have an ambulance dispatched. When the police arrive, be honest about the accident but avoid saying anything unnecessary: statements that suggest guilt can and will be used against you by insurance companies when finding fault.
- Collect all relevant information. Exchange not only your insurance card, registration, and license, which you are required to do by law, but also phone numbers and other contact details.
- Take photos. The invention, and widespread adoption, of camera phones means that it is incredibly simple to document your Ste. Genevieve County, MO accident and compile evidence. Get shots of the site of your accident, skid marks, and the full extent of your damage. If nearby pedestrians saw your accident, it is wise to record their accounts of the accident, as it can help your case immensely.
- Get medical attention. If you were hurt as a result of your Ste. Genevieve County car accident, immediately seek out emergency medical care. For smaller injuries, a local urgent care center is a more convenient and cost-effective option than a trip to the emergency room. However, more severe or bigger will likely require a trip to the hospital, or if they are available a visit to your personal doctor.
- Contact a car accident lawyer. The quicker you speak to a reputable and understanding Ste. Genevieve County, MO car accident lawyer, the faster they can get to work on your behalf and allow you to begin the recovery process.
In addition to these steps, our firm recommends that all our clients keep the following documents. They can help immeasurably when discussing settlement terms, or to give a more complete idea of the effect a car accident in Ste. Genevieve County, MO had on your life.
- Medical documentation
- Photos of the accident scene
- The full police report of the accident
- Witness statements
- All medical-related bills (ambulance fees, rehab costs, medications, etc.)
- Doctor’s reports and observations
- Repair records
- Incidental bills such as rental car receipts
- Lost earning opportunities
- Records of pain and suffering directly caused by your accident
What Damages Can I Recover After A Car Accident?
In general, there are five kinds of damages someone can claim following a car accident in Ste. Genevieve County, MO. These are:
- Medical damages: these are not strictly restricted to hospital bills or doctor’s visits, either. An auto accident victim can claim costs for medications, psychological appointments, rehab or physical therapy due to accident injuries, and required medical equipment such as a wheelchair, too.
- Lost wages/earning potential: generally this is determined by what you were earning prior to the accident, the extent of the impact the accident had on your ability to adequately perform work, and how the lasting effects of your accident/injuries may stop you from working to your full potential in the future.
- Property damage: this includes fixing or replacing your car in addition to any/all personal items or goods that were damaged as a result of your Ste. Genevieve County auto accident.
- Pain and suffering: these damages can be tough to put into words, since by and large the amount of anguish one goes through after an accident differs from person to person. In general, though, documenting changes in personality, attitude, and mental health is a smart rule of thumb.
- Disability or disfigurement: in more severe cases, a Ste. Genevieve County, MO car accident may result in a victim sustaining life-altering injuries. While in a large number of cases those injuries are permanent and compensation cannot soothe the immense pain and difficulty these injuries cause, it can help provide an accident victim more freedom to successfully navigate their new normal.
It is also key to note that Missouri is a comparative fault state, which means that the amount of damages one or more parties receive is reduced based on how much at fault they were for causing a car accident. Missouri is a pure comparative fault state, which allows for even someone who was determined to be 99% responsible for an accident to collect a commensurate amount of damages.
Contact A Ste. Genevieve County, MO Car Accident Lawyer That Cares
At Combs Waterkotte, we provide the strength and acumen of a competitive Ste. Genevieve County, MO car accident law firm as well as the one-on-one care of an individual practice. Our firm has worked with Ste. Genevieve County residents of all backgrounds to secure the justice they merit following a car accident in Ste. Genevieve County, MO. We take all our cases on what is known as a contingency basis, meaning that unless you get a positive result in your Ste. Genevieve County, MO car accident case, you will not need to owe us a penny.
If you have been injured in a car accident in Ste. Genevieve County, MO caused by someone else’s reckless behavior, do not hesitate: contact a Ste. Genevieve County car accident lawyer at Combs Waterkotte today by calling (314) 900-HELP or online for a free, no-obligation conversation.
