Car Accident Lawyer O’Fallon, MO. After you have suffered injuries in a car or truck accident, having concerns about your job or your family should be your lowest priority. Between car repairs, medical treatment, and mental trauma or anguish, the aftermath of an car accident in O’Fallon, MO can quickly take over anyone’s life, doubly so when insurance companies refuse to deal with you or you do not receive the monetary reward you are entitled to.
Contact Our O’Fallon, MO Car Accident Lawyers Here
Combs Waterkotte is here to help O’Fallon, MO residents who have been involved in car accidents and are unsure about what to do next. Our O’Fallon car accident lawyer reviews accident reports, gathers evidence, and corresponds with insurance or financial representatives for their clients. We fight fiercely for all our O’Fallon, MO auto accident clients to win them not only fair and just compensation, but also closure following an incredibly traumatic experience.
After you’ve been in a O’Fallon, MO auto accident, don’t hesitate to contact Combs Waterkotte, either online or by calling (314) 900-HELP, and put a veteran O’Fallon, MO auto accident attorney in your corner. Our firm offers free initial consultations, and vows that won’t owe us a penny if we do not get a positive outcome in your case.
Giving You Peace Of Mind
A Complete O’Fallon, MO Car Accident Lawyer
On any given day, thousands of vehicles are on the road in and around O’Fallon for all sorts of purposes. Sadly, though, car accidents regularly occur, caused by bad weather, poor road conditions, or someone else’s negligence. Injuries and property damage can range from minor cosmetic blemishes or a few cuts and scrapes, to life-altering ailments and a car so damaged as to be unrecognizable.
As veteran O’Fallon, MO car accident lawyers, Combs Waterkotte has taken all kinds of car accident claims and seen first-hand how the aftermath of a car accident in O’Fallon can change someone’s life, in some cases permanently. Our firm has years of experience in the courtroom, and has seen the lengths insurance companies go to avoid paying just compensation to O’Fallon accident victims. We offer unique legal strategies that are built to satisfy your unique needs and get clients both justice as well as a fair reward for their injuries and losses.
What To Do After A Car Accident In O’Fallon, MO
After you have been in a car accident, it is likely that people will be stunned and unsure of how to proceed. However, having worked with many car accident clients across O’Fallon, 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 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 call for an ambulance. 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 providers when determining 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 O’Fallon, MO accident and compile evidence. Get shots of skid marks, property damage, physical surroundings, and the point of impact of your accident. If nearby pedestrians saw your accident, it is wise to record what they saw, as it can greatly benefit your case.
- Get medical attention. If you were hurt as a result of your O’Fallon car accident, immediately seek out emergency medical care. For more minor 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 require a trip to the hospital, or if possible a visit to your primary care physician.
- Contact a car accident lawyer. The sooner you speak to a reputable and compassionate O’Fallon, MO car accident lawyer, the faster they can begin work on your case and allow you to focus on recovering after an accident.
As well as these steps, our firm recommends that all our clients save the following receipts and documentation. They can help immensely when discussing settlement terms, or to fully illustrate the effect a car accident in O’Fallon, MO had on your life.
- Medical records
- Pictures 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 records
- 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 types of damages an accident victim can claim following a car accident in O’Fallon, 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 to fully recover from accident injuries, and necessary medical equipment such as crutches, 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 successfully 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 repair or replacement of your car as well as any/all additional items that were damaged as a result of your O’Fallon auto accident.
- Pain and suffering: these damages can be difficult to quantify, since by and large the amount of difficulty one goes through after an accident differs from person to person. In general, though, recording changes in personality, attitude, and mental health is a smart rule of thumb.
- Disability or disfigurement: in more severe situations, a O’Fallon, MO car accident may result in someone suffering 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 successfully navigate their new normal.
It is also key 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 much 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 O’Fallon, MO Car Accident Lawyer Who Cares
At Combs Waterkotte, we provide the muscle and intelligence of a top O’Fallon, MO car accident law firm as well as the one-on-one attention of an individual practice. Our firm has worked with O’Fallon residents from all walks of life to obtain the justice they merit following a car accident in O’Fallon, MO. We take all our cases on what is referred to as a contingency basis, meaning that unless you win your O’Fallon, MO car accident case or obtain a favorable settlement, you will not need to owe us anything.
If you have been injured in a car accident in O’Fallon, MO caused by another party’s negligence, do not hesitate: contact a O’Fallon car accident lawyer at Combs Waterkotte today by dialing (314) 900-HELP or online for a free, no-obligation case review.
