What Are The Top Misconceptions About Auto Accident Claims?

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The most common misconception about auto accident claims is the belief that you can handle them without the need for an attorney. In addition, people often have misconceptions about the amount of money that they will receive from insurance companies. They fail to understand the importance of hiring a St Louis Car Accident Attorney to defend their case.

What Is Comparative Negligence? How Does It Affect My Auto Accident Claim In Missouri?

Comparative negligence has been adopted by a lot of states and is based on the old concept of contributory negligence, which means that if there is any degree of fault attributable to the injured party, then they are not able to collect any amount of money. On the other hand, comparative negligence also called comparative fault considers the percentage of negligence versus the other driver’s percentage of negligence. In the end, they base the injured party’s damages on the percentage of negligence of the other driver. So, it’s a saving factor for a lot of people in negligence cases in terms of being able to recover damages, but it’s also a calculation and limitation of how much the other side will pay out.

What Are The Statutes Of Limitations For Bringing An Auto Accident Lawsuit In Missouri?

Missouri has a five-year statute of limitations for personal injury and accident claims. For a wrongful death case involving an accident, there is a three-year statute of limitations. Most states are considered border states, meaning that they touch other states. Missouri touches Illinois, and Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury matters. An attorney needs to be very careful about which state they are trying to represent a client in, because it may have a different statute of limitations. If you have been in a car accident in St Louis, Missouri, then you need to get in touch with a car accident attorney in St Louis MO. Call (314) 786-3536 to talk to an auto accident lawyer in St Louis MO immediately.

What Steps Should I Take After I Have Been Injured In An Auto Accident?

If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, the first thing you need to do is obtain all of the necessary information from the other driver, which can be done by calling the police department. The police need to come out and take a report so they can record all of the other driver’s insurance information. If you just rely on what the person gives you, you may end up with inaccurate information. The next step you should take is to go to a doctor. Many people will not feel the effects of an injury right away, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t something serious going on. The third thing you need to do is get to a lawyer right away so they can start the process of contacting your insurance company and the other side’s insurance company.

If you go to an emergency room for your injuries, you will probably only be seen there for a few hours. However, your injuries probably need much more than a few hours’ worth of treating, and a lawyer can get you to a specialist in the injury field. It is important to document everything that’s going on with your body and every conversation that you’ve had with the insurance adjuster. You should not say anything to anyone aside from your lawyer, because it could become a question of liability. In other words, the other side is going to try to limit the amount that you collect. You want to make sure that you are in good communication with your lawyer on everything beyond that.

Should I Notify My Insurance Company Of The Accident? What About The Other Party’s Insurance Company?

You should notify your own insurance company of the accident, because it is required that you do so. We at the Jimerson Law Firm assist in notifying your insurance company that there has been an accident. If your insurance company is not notified, then there is a risk of losing that insurance company or getting higher premiums. Your insurance company may not necessarily want to pay for the damages. They may say it’s the other side’s fault, but that’s okay. As long as you put them on notice that there has been an accident, I think you are in compliance with the policy. Leave it to your attorney to notify them right away.

You will want to get your car fixed, but you can’t rely on the other side pointing to his or her insurance company for all of the facts. You want to make sure that your side of the story is getting told. At the Jimerson Law Firm, we ensure that that happens by contacting the insurance company, presenting them with the facts as we know them, presenting them with the police reports as we see them, and making sure that the liability issue rests solely on the driver.

For more information on Misconceptions About Auto Accident Cases, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (314) 786-3536 today. Our St Louis Car Accident Attorney will answer all the questions you may have.