Car Accident Lawyer Bates County, MO. After you have suffered injuries in a car or truck accident, worrying about your job or your family should be the last thing on your mind. Between mental trauma, car repairs, and getting back to full fitness, the aftermath of an car accident in Bates County, MO can quickly overwhelm anyone, doubly so when insurance companies refuse to deal with you or you do not receive the monetary reward you should be getting.
Contact Our Bates County, MO Car Accident Lawyers Here
Combs Waterkotte is here to help Bates County, MO residents who have been in car accidents and are unsure about how to proceed. Our Bates County car accident lawyer works with insurance agents, looks over accident reports, and compiles all evidence for their clients. We fight fearlessly on behalf of all our Bates County, MO auto accident clients to secure them not only fair and just financial rewards, but also closure after one of the most harrowing experiences of their lives.
After you’ve been in a Bates County, MO auto accident, do not delay in contacting Combs Waterkotte, either online or by calling (314) 900-HELP, and put a dedicated Bates County, MO auto accident attorney in your corner. Our firm offers no-obligation initial consultations, and vows that if they do not get a positive result in your Bates County auto accident lawsuit, you will not owe them a fee.
Giving You Peace Of Mind
A Complete Bates County, MO Car Accident Lawyer
Every day, thousands of cars and trucks take to the roads in and around Bates County to deliver the mail, take people to and from work, go to the store, or just out for a leisurely drive. Unfortunately, however, every day many car accidents happen, whether due to poorly maintained roads, the negligence of other motorists, or adverse weather conditions. Automotive damages and personal injuries can range from bumps and bruises and small scratches and dings, to totaled cars and permanent injuries.
As veteran Bates County, MO car accident lawyers, Combs Waterkotte has handled car accident claims of all types and seen first-hand how the aftermath of a car accident in Bates County can alter someone’s life, forever in some situations. Our firm has years of experience in the courtroom, and has seen the lengths insurance companies go to avoid paying just restitution to Bates County accident victims. We provide personalized legal strategies that are tailor-made to meet your particular needs and get clients both justice in addition to a just reward for their injuries and losses.
What To Do After A Car Accident In Bates County, MO
After you have been in a car accident, it is likely that people will be in shock and clueless how to proceed. However, having worked with many car accident clients across Bates County, MO, the staff at Combs Waterkotte suggests that all our clients take these steps after their car accident:
- Make sure you are safe. Find a place to stop away from traffic, if possible, and check to see if you are hurt.
- Call 911. Not only will you need to file a police report after your accident, but if you or a passenger is badly hurt you may need to have an ambulance dispatched. When the police arrive, tell the truth about the accident but avoid saying anything unnecessary: statements that suggest guilt can and will be used against you by insurance providers when adjuticating fault.
- Collect all relevant information. Exchange not only your insurance card, registration, and license, which you are legally required to do, but also phone numbers and other contact details.
- Take pictures. Camera phones now being ubiquitious means that it is very simple to document your Bates County, MO accident and compile evidence. Get shots of all damage, skid marks, where one or more cars collided, as well as the general area around your accident. If you can find witnesses, it is wise to record their accounts of the accident, as it can greatly benefit your case.
- Get medical attention. If you were injured as a result of your Bates County car accident, immediately seek out emergency medical care. For more minor injuries, a local urgent care center is a more convenient and cost-effective option than an ER visit. However, larger and more serious injuries will likely necessitate a trip to the hospital, or if they are available a visit to your primary care physician.
- Contact a car accident lawyer. The quicker you speak to a reputable and compassionate Bates County, MO car accident lawyer, the quicker they can start working on your case and allow you to begin the recovery process.
In addition to these steps, our firm recommends that all our clients hold on to the following documents. They can help immeasurably when discussing settlement terms, or to fully illustrate the effect a car accident in Bates County, MO had on your life.
- Medical documentation
- Photos of the accident scene
- The full police report of the accident
- Witness accounts
- All medical-related bills (ambulance fees, physical therapy costs, medications, etc.)
- Doctor’s reports and observations
- Repair bills
- Incidental bills such as rental car receipts
- Lost earning opportunities
- Records of pain and suffering resulting from your accident
What Damages Can I Recover After A Car Accident?
In general, there are five kinds of damages someone can claim after a car accident in Bates County, MO. These are:
- Medical damages: these are not strictly limited to hospital bills or doctor’s visits, either. An auto accident victim can claim reimbursement for medications, psychological appointments, rehab or physical therapy due to accident injuries, and required medical equipment such as crutches, as well.
- Lost wages/earning potential: generally this is based off of what you were earning prior to the accident, the extent of the impact the accident had on your ability to fully perform work, and how the lingering effects of your accident/injuries may prevent you from working to your full ability in the future.
- Property damage: this includes repair/replacement of your car in addition to any/all additional items that were damaged as a result of your Bates County auto accident.
- Pain and suffering: these damages can be hard to put into words, since for the most part the amount of difficulty a Bates County, MO victim goes through after an accident differs from person to person. In general, though, documenting changes in mental health, lingering symptoms, and attitude is a smart idea.
- Disability or disfigurement: in more severe cases, a Bates County, MO car accident may result in a victim suffering permanent injuries. While in a large number of cases those injuries are permanent and compensation cannot soothe the unspeakable pain and difficulty these injuries cause, it can help provide an accident victim more freedom to adapt to their new normal.
It is also critical to note that Missouri is a comparative fault state, which means that the quantity of damages one or more parties can take home is adjusted based on how responsible they were for causing a car accident. Missouri is a pure comparative fault state, which allows for even someone who was adjudged to be 99% responsible for an accident to collect a proportional amount of damages.
Contact A Bates County, MO Car Accident Lawyer Who Cares
At Combs Waterkotte, we provide the aggression and intelligence of an elite Bates County, MO car accident law firm as well as the personal attention of a small practice. Our firm has worked with Bates County residents from all walks of life to obtain the justice they are entitled to receive following a car accident in Bates County, MO. We take all our cases on what is called a contingency basis, which means that unless you get a positive result in your Bates County, MO car accident case, you will not need to owe us a penny.
If you have been injured in a car accident in Bates County, MO caused by another party’s careless actions, do not hesitate: contact a Bates County car accident lawyer at Combs Waterkotte today by calling (314) 900-HELP or online for a free, no-obligation consultation.
