St Louis Car Accident Attorneys
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Car Accidents
According to The Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 56 people were killed in St. Louis County car accidents in the year 2008. Whenever someone is injured or killed in a St. Louis County car accident, an investigation will be needed to determine who was responsible and if negligence was a contributing factor in the crash. Victims of St. Louis car accidents may pursue financial compensation for their losses with the help of an experienced personal injury attorney.
Missouri Car Accident Statistics
According to the 2009 Missouri Department of Transportation Accident Statistics Manual, there were 392 fatal Missouri car accidents resulting in 453 deaths. During that same year, there were 16,238 injury car accidents resulting in 24,685 injuries in Missouri.
Causes of Car Accidents
Investigators looking into the cause of a St. Louis car crash often find that a driver:
- Was Under the Influence: Driving while intoxicated is a serious offense that can lead to major injury accidents and fatalities. A driver does not have to be cited by the police for a DUI in order to be held liable for an accident involving alcohol.
- Failing to Yield Right-of-Way: Under Missouri Statute 304.341, drivers must properly yield the right of way and must only turn when and where it is safe to do so.
- Was Driving Recklessly: Excessive speeding and weaving in and out of traffic lanes can lead to serious injury crashes.
- Disobeyed a Traffic Control Device: It is a violation of statute 304.271 to fail to obey a red light or stop sign. Drivers who fail to stop at an intersection may be held liable for the accidents they cause.
- Was Speeding: Violating Missouri Revised Statute 304.010 by speeding is a common cause of devastating accidents.
The Rights of a Car Accident Victim
Victims of negligent drivers may pursue financial compensation from the at-fault motorist by filing a personal injury claim. All losses should be considered in a civil lawsuit. Damages that may be covered include hospital expenses, lost wages, cost of physical therapy and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and emotional distress. When an accident leads to a fatality, the victim's family may pursue damages by filing a St. Louis County wrongful death claim.
Contacting an Experienced
St. Louis Injury Lawyer
The first place you should go after a serious injury accident is the hospital. If possible, there are a number of steps you can take before leaving the scene of the crash that may help your potential claim. Collect the contact and insurance information from any other drivers involved in the crash. If there are witnesses to the accident, collect their information as well. Whenever someone is hurt in a Missouri car crash, the police must be notified. If the police arrive at the crash site, you should make sure that your account of the incident is included in their report. If the police do not arrive at the scene of the crash, you can file a report at the nearest station.
If you have suffered injuries and damages in a car accident, it would be in your best interest to contact the experienced St. Louis County personal injury attorneys at Page Law. We have extensive experience and a successful track record helping injured car accident victims obtain fair compensation and hold the at-fault parties accountable. Contact us today for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.
St. Louis County Personal Injury Resource Center
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