Car Accident Lawyer Kirkwood, 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 mental trauma, car repairs, and getting back to full fitness, the impact of an car accident in Kirkwood, MO can quickly overwhelm anyone, especially when insurance companies refuse to deal with you or you do not receive the restitution you are entitled to.
Contact Our Kirkwood, MO Car Accident Lawyers Here
Combs Waterkotte is here to help Kirkwood, MO residents who have been in car accidents and are hesitant about what steps to take afterwards. Our Kirkwood car accident lawyer reviews accident reports, gathers evidence, and corresponds with insurance or financial representatives for their clients. We fight fiercely on behalf of all our Kirkwood, MO auto accident clients to get them not only fair and just financial rewards, but also justice and closure after going through a very troubling experience.
After you’ve been in a Kirkwood, MO auto accident, don’t wait: contact Combs Waterkotte, either online or by calling (314) 900-HELP, and put a veteran Kirkwood, MO auto accident attorney in your corner. Our firm offers complimentary initial consultations, and promises that you do not win or get a settlement in your Kirkwood auto accident lawsuit, you owe us nothing.
Giving You Peace Of Mind
A Complete Kirkwood, MO Car Accident Lawyer
Thousands of cars and trucks take to the road every day in and around Kirkwood for all sorts of purposes. Sadly, however, car accidents are an everyday occurence, whether due to bad weather, poor road conditions, or someone else’s negligence. Injuries and property damage can range from bumps and bruises and small scratches and dings, to totaled cars and permanent injuries.
As experienced Kirkwood, MO car accident lawyers, Combs Waterkotte has taken all kinds of car accident claims and personally viewed how the aftermath of a car accident in Kirkwood can change someone’s life, forever in some situations. Our firm has years of experience handling car accident cases, and understands how insurance firms do not enjoy paying proper restitution to Kirkwood accident victims. We provide personalized legal strategies that are designed 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 Kirkwood, MO
After you have been in a car accident, it is likely that people will be in a state of shock and uncertain how to proceed. However, having dealt with many car accident clients across Kirkwood, MO, the staff at Combs Waterkotte recommends 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 you are able to, 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 a passenger is severely injured you may need to have an ambulance dispatched. When the police arrive, be honest about the accident but choose your words wisely: statements that imply guilt can and will be used against you by insurance providers when finding fault.
- Collect all relevant information. Exchange not only your license, registration, and insurance details, which you are legally required to do, but also phone numbers and other contact details.
- Take photos. The invention, and widespread adoption, of camera phones means that it is very easy to document your Kirkwood, 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 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 Kirkwood car accident, immediately seek out emergency medical care. For smaller injuries, a local urgent care center is a more affordable and convenient option than a trip to the emergency room. However, more severe or bigger 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 talk to a reputable and understanding Kirkwood, MO car accident lawyer, the sooner they can start working on your case and allow you to get on with recovering from your accident.
As well as these steps, our firm recommends that all our clients hold on to the following documents. They can help immensely when discussing settlement terms, or to fully illustrate the effect a car accident in Kirkwood, MO had on your life.
- Medical records
- 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 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 an accident victim can claim following a car accident in Kirkwood, MO. These are:
- Medical damages: these are not strictly restricted to hospital bills or doctor’s visits, either. An auto accident victim can claim reimbursement for medications, visits to mental health professionals, rehab or physical therapy due to accident injuries, and necessary medical equipment such as casts, as well.
- Lost wages/earning potential: for the most part this is determined by what you were earning prior to the accident, the extent of the impact the accident had on your ability to fully perform labor, and how the lasting effects of your accident/injuries may prevent 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 Kirkwood auto accident.
- Pain and suffering: these damages can be difficult to put into words, since for the most part the amount of discomfort a Kirkwood, MO victim goes through after an accident differs from person to person. As a rule, though, documenting changes in mental health, lingering symptoms, and attitude is a smart idea.
- Disability or disfigurement: in more severe cases, a Kirkwood, MO car accident may result in someone sustaining life-changing 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 important to note that Missouri is a comparative fault state, which means that the amount of damages one or more parties can take home is adjusted 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 judged 99% responsible for an accident to collect a proportional amount of damages.
Contact A Kirkwood, MO Car Accident Lawyer That Puts You First
At Combs Waterkotte, we offer the aggression and intelligence of a competitive Kirkwood, MO car accident law firm as well as the personal attention of a small practice. Our firm has worked with Kirkwood residents from all walks of life to obtain the justice they are entitled to receive following a car accident in Kirkwood, MO. We take all our cases on what is known as a contingency basis, which means that unless you win your Kirkwood, MO car accident case or obtain a favorable settlement, you will not need to owe us a penny.
If you have been injured as a result of a car accident in Kirkwood, MO caused by someone else’s reckless behavior, do not wait: contact a Kirkwood car accident lawyer at Combs Waterkotte today by dialing (314) 900-HELP or online for a free, no-obligation case review.
