Nothing seems to alter life like being involved in a car accident-especially when you have no idea what the steps are afterwards. Knowing what to do in the immediate moments and days following a Missouri car accident can make all the difference in the outcome of any potential legal or insurance claim. This next guide gives recommendations in a step-by-step manner on how to effectively handle such situations and describes how experienced attorneys recommend navigating the aftermath.
1. Priority to Safety – Call for Medical Attention
This will be the golden rule after any accident, wherein the keyword will be ‘safety first’. Try removing your car from the path of traffic if possible, and turn on the hazard light as a way of alerting others, call 911 in case of injury. These wounds may seem insignificant to you, but it would be left to you to consult a medical professional, as some of those injuries will not reveal their symptoms at the beginning and can continuously deteriorate with the gradual passage of time.
Attorney’s Tips: Go to the hospital even if you feel OK.
All good attorneys will tell you, go get checked out now. You need it for personal injury claims. It also establishes an injury in relation to your accident. This can be really important in proving you took your injuries seriously and got immediate attention because often insurance companies try to argue that if you didn’t get treatment right away, then your injuries weren’t serious.
2. Missouri Accident Report with Police
State law in Missouri requires drivers to report any accident causing an injury, a death, or damages over $500. Reporting to the police generally starts an official record of the incident that assists if you happen to file a claim. A responding officer will give a report on the accident-what is called a crash report-and this may be important evidence if there are later disputes.
ATTORNEY’S ADVICE: You need to get a police report
Attorneys advise that you request a police report because it is a statement from an unbiased third-party observer as to what exactly happened in the accident. Often the report will also include the officer’s determination of fault and additional observations and statements by the officer and witnesses which could be helpful in proving your case. Always ask how to obtain a copy of the report, or request it online through the Missouri State Highway Patrol website.
3. Evidence Collection at the Scene
In the event of a motor vehicle collision, on-scene evidence should be collected. It is advisable to take photos from the scene of the accident, damage to your and other parties’ vehicles, and road conditions. Collect on-scene contact and insurance information from the other driver(s), passengers, and any witness(es).
Quick Tip from Lawyers: Use High-Quality Photos
The camera will record critical details of the accident, including license plates, traffic signs, even the condition of the road. Legal experts say such clear images of these scenes go a long way in visually corroborating the claims of fault as one presents proof of the impact from the accident.
4. Limit Your Statements and Avoid Admitting Fault
Emotions run high immediately following an accident, and most will want to explain what happened. Attorneys advise that immediately following an accident, a victim is better off really being more careful about what they tell anyone in their vicinity, including the police and the insurance individuals involved. No culpability should be accepted by anyone, nor speculation made about how the accident occurred. Facts must first be established and then reported.
Attorney Advice: Beware of Your Statements
Missouri is a comparative fault state, and compensation apportions one’s percentage of fault for the accident or injury. Partial fault on your part will reduce your compensation. An unconscious comment or sympathetic apology may fall into the wrong ears as evidence of admitting liability and make the actual recovery of all your damages slim.
5. Inform Your Insurance Company
Even when it’s not your fault, let your insurance company know the accident has happened as soon as possible. In fact, most policies do require that you notify them promptly for them to start working on a claim. Also report to your insurance company the facts of what happened and avoid making any speculation regarding fault or liability in the accident.
Pro Tip: Speak Carefully with Insurers
It is standard operating procedure for all carriers to take recorded statements; as such, you want to be forthcoming, not at fault for the accident. If you are unsure of what to say, it probably would be in your best interest to find an attorney prior to speaking to any insurance adjusters. Most Missouri attorneys will meet with you once for free regarding your case and what the next step in the process will be before contacting the insurance adjusters regarding your case.
6. Missouri’s Statute of Limitations Regarding Car Accidents
There is, generally speaking, a five-year statute of limitations in Missouri within which you must file your personal injury lawsuit after a car accident. Sometimes this may be shorter, sometimes longer. The sooner you act in collecting evidence and contacting an attorney, the better preserved your right to pursue compensation.
Attorney Insight: Don’t Wait Too Long
Attorneys impress on one that the worst thing one can do is to wait until the last minute to file a claim. Over time, physical evidence can deteriorate, get lost or otherwise disappear. The memories of witnesses can grow dim. Early filing will also enable attorneys to do better presentations and receive the compensation they will deserve.
7. Contact an Experienced Missouri Car Accident Attorney Today
Of the vital things you can do to protect one’s self and his rights is consulting with an attorney in case there is any injury or something critical damage occurs. Good injury attorneys and skilled car accident attorneys will review your case, determine what your claim is worth, negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company, and represent your best interests in court if your case does proceed to a courtroom.
Legal Benefits: How Lawyers Beef Up Your Claim
A good lawyer will know the laws in regard to Missouri car accidents and find those areas in which you can receive compensation that you would have never noticed. Many times, lawyers settle for more than clients could settle for when taking into consideration pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and future expenses.
8. Know Your Compensation Options
Missouri is an “at-fault” state. All that means, in a nutshell, is that liability for paying for damages in the case of an accident will be placed on one party or another. If this is not your fault, then you may also be entitled to compensation through the other driver’s insurance or a personal injury lawsuit.
See a lawyer whose advice might be to the effect of not taking the first offer
They may offer a settlement, but the first offers are always low, as opposed to what one may get. Lawyers that usually handle this kind of work always advise you that you will be better off negotiating or taking your case further to court on cases where the settlement is one-sided. You are more than likely to be compensated by an attorney for all your expenses.
9. Document Your Recovery and Financial Losses
Documentation of medical recovery, doctor visits, and financial losses due to your accident provides important support to your claim. Keep all the receipts for doctor bills, medical treatments, lost income and any other related expenses.
Attorney’s Tips: Detailed Records Mean Better Damages
The better the records, the better the compensation, attorneys say. Good and detailed records translate into an attorney’s ability to rapidly build a strong case for a client’s total compensatory damages.
Final Words
These, in turn, will be the steps toward protection of your rights and maximization of your chances of receiving fair compensation post a car accident in Missouri: first and foremost, safety; then collection of evidence; notification of your insurer; and lastly, seeking experience in the field of law. Early consultation with an attorney prepares you for complexities in Missouri car accident laws that jeopardize the compensation entitled to you. Knowing your rights and what to do about it makes that terrible moment a lot more bearable because it gives you a secure direction toward recovery and justice.
