Car Accident Lawyer Benton, MO. After you have been hurt in a car or truck accident, worrying about family or work should be the last thing on your mind. Between car repairs, medical treatment, and mental trauma or anguish, the effects of an car accident in Benton, MO can quickly take over anyone’s life, doubly so when insurance companies refuse to deal with you or you do not receive the compensation you are entitled to.
Contact Our Benton, MO Car Accident Lawyers Here
Combs Waterkotte is here to help residents of Benton, MO who have been involved in car accidents and do not know about what to do next. Our Benton car accident lawyer finds evidence, deals with insurance and financial agents, and compiles accident reports for their clients. We fight fearlessly for all our Benton, MO auto accident clients to get them not only appropriate compensation, but also a measure of justice after going through a very troubling experience.
After you’ve been in a Benton, MO auto accident, don’t hesitate to contact Combs Waterkotte, either online or by calling (314) 900-HELP, and put an experienced and dedicated Benton, MO auto accident attorney to work for you. Our firm offers complimentary initial consultations, and promises that if they do not get a positive result in your Benton auto accident lawsuit, you will not owe them a fee.
Giving You One Less Thing To Worry About
A Full-Service Benton, MO Car Accident Lawyer
On any given day, thousands of vehicles are on the road in and around Benton for all sorts of purposes. Unfortunately, however, 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 experienced Benton, MO car accident lawyers, Combs Waterkotte has taken car accident claims of all types and seen first-hand how the results of a car accident in Benton can alter someone’s life, in some cases permanently. Our firm has years of experience in the courtroom, and understands how insurance firms do not enjoy paying proper compensation to Benton accident victims. We offer unique legal strategies that are built to satisfy your unique needs and get clients both closure as well as a fair reward for their injuries and losses.
What To Do After A Car Accident In Benton, MO
Following a car accident, it is likely that people will be stunned and unsure of how to proceed. However, having dealt with many car accident clients across Benton, MO, the staff at Combs Waterkotte recommends 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 you can, 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 someone else is severely hurt you may need to have an ambulance dispatched. When the police come, be honest about the accident but choose your words wisely: statements that suggest guilt can and will be used against you by insurance companies when determining 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 photos. Everyone now having a camera on their phone means that it is incredibly simple to document your Benton, MO accident and compile evidence. Get shots of skid marks, property damage, physical surroundings, and the point of impact of your accident. If you can find witnesses, it is a good idea to record their accounts of the accident, as it can help your case immensely.
- Get medical care. If you were injured as a result of your Benton car accident, immediately get emergency medical care. For smaller injuries, a local urgent care center is a more affordable and convenient option than an ER visit. However, larger and more serious injuries will likely require a trip to the hospital, or if possible a visit to your primary care physician.
- Contact a car accident lawyer. The quicker you talk to a trustworthy and compassionate Benton, MO car accident lawyer, the quicker they can begin work on your case and allow you to begin the recovery process.
As well as these steps, our firm urges all our clients to hold on to the following documents. They can help immensely when discussing settlement terms, or to give a more complete idea of the effect a car accident in Benton, MO had on your life.
- Medical records
- Photos of the accident scene
- The full police report of the accident
- Witness statements
- All medical-related bills (ambulance fees, physical therapy costs, medications, etc.)
- Doctor’s reports and observations
- Repair documentation
- Incidental bills including 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 following a car accident in Benton, MO. These are:
- Medical damages: these are not only limited to hospital bills or doctor’s visits, either. An auto accident victim can claim costs for medications, visits to mental health professionals, rehab or physical therapy to fully recover from accident injuries, and required medical equipment such as a wheelchair, as well.
- Lost wages/earning potential: in general 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 successfully perform labor, and how the lingering effects of your accident/injuries may prevent you from working to your full potential in the future.
- Property damage: this includes repair/replacement of your car as well as any/all personal effects that were damaged as a result of your Benton auto accident.
- Pain and suffering: these damages can be tough to quantify, since for the most part the amount of discomfort a Benton, MO victim 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 situations, a Benton, MO car accident may result in someone sustaining life-altering injuries. While in many cases those injuries are permanent and compensation cannot take away the immense pain and difficulty these injuries cause, it can help provide an accident victim more freedom to adapt to 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 are entitled to is reduced based on the level they were at fault 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 Benton, MO Car Accident Lawyer That Puts You First
At Combs Waterkotte, we offer the aggression and intelligence of a top Benton, MO car accident law firm as well as the one-on-one care of a small practice. Our firm has worked with Benton residents of all backgrounds to obtain the justice they merit following a car accident in Benton, MO. We take all our cases on what is called a contingency basis, meaning that unless you win your Benton, MO car accident case or obtain a favorable settlement, you will not need to owe us a penny.
If you have been injured in a car accident in Benton, MO caused by another party’s negligence, act quickly: contact a Benton car accident lawyer at Combs Waterkotte today by dialing (314) 900-HELP or online for a free, no-obligation case review.
