If you have been involved or hurt in an automobile accident, your reaction to the situation will likely play a big role in whether you receive fair compensation for your damages. Many victims often make mistakes that jeopardize their chances of getting the settlement they deserve.

Common Mistakes You Ought to Avoid

Here are common mistakes you want to avoid after a car accident, regardless of whether you are at fault or not. An experienced car accident attorney can take you through the steps of what you should and shouldn’t do if you’ve been involved in a recent accident.

Failure to call the police — Contacting law enforcement after an accident is very important. You need to involve them in the situation so they can promptly come to the scene, provide help if needed, and complete an accident report. The police can help survey, investigate, and conclude the probable cause or causes of the accident. …

If you’ve been injured in a car accident and if you’ve decided to press charges, you should expect a deposition hearing notice by the defendant’s attorney soon. Depositions usually occur during the litigation stage of the legal process. After deposition, the insurance company of the driver at-fault may make a settlement offer, which you can choose to accept or reject. Before making a decision, you should consult with your attorney. …

Determining the value of your settlement before you file a claim can be complicated, as it depends on many factors that are revealed in the discovery phase of your case. There are several online calculators for such claims, but they are only able to give you a rough estimate of what you could get from the insurance company.

In this article, we will discuss what is taken into account when a settlement is calculated, and what you can expect from several possible scenarios.

How Will Your Settlement Be Determined in the State of Missouri?

First, let’s go through the main principles that influence the way a car accident is handled in Missouri. As an “at-fault” state, Missouri gives the responsibility of paying for damages to the driver who is responsible for causing the accident. Sometimes, other parties may be involved, like companies hiring drivers, or the municipality in charge of maintaining roads. …

If you’ve been in a car accident, you may be wondering if you should hire a auto accident attorney. Perhaps you are not sure if you have a case to recover damages from the responsible party. Let’s take a look at a few signs that you could greatly benefit from the help of an experienced car accident lawyer.

1. Your Accident Involved Major Damage To Your Car Or Serious Injuries

If you are involved in a serious accident that causes major property damage to your vehicle, and results in multiple injuries among you and your passengers, it’s likely a good idea to speak with an attorney.

According to the FHWA, the average cost of an accident with no injuries is about $2,300, while the average cost for an accident involving a “nonfatal disabling injury” is $61,600. Your lawyer can make sure you get the compensation you deserve. …

Driving is generally straightforward. Driving over the speed limit or under the influence can increase your risks of getting in a collision and so do distractions or drowsiness. However, common sense isn’t always an accurate predictor. Case in point: driving during summer may be considered more dangerous than during winter.

We’ll explain why in a minute.

Here are three car accident facts that seem to defy logic.

More Accidents Happen in the Summer Than in the Winter

Driving conditions during winter are harsh. Snow, heavy winds, and slippery roads are known to increase the risks of accidents. So, obviously, you would think that most car crashes happen during this period.

However, one study found that out of the 35,000 fatalities that occur in the U.S every year, only 6% of them happen in February. The percentage increases to 9% during June and July before reaching its peak in August at over 10%. …

Every day, people get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol. According to the CDC, drunk driving causes 29 deaths every day in the United States (around one death every 50 minutes.) More than one million drivers were arrested in 2016 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

As the numbers show, drunk driving seems to be an epidemic in the US. But, what if the driver that caused the accident was under the legal limit? What are your options then?

Understanding BAC and the Factors That Can Affect It

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) refers to the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream at a given time. The legal limit in the US is 0.08 for drivers over the age of 21, meaning that you have 0.08 …

In 2014, the traffic fatality rates were one of the lowest we have witnessed in many years. However, in 2015 traffic deaths increased considerably. In this post our firm’s St Louis Car Crash Lawyer will discuss some key nationwide statistics concerning traffic fatalities.

8 Percent Increase Nationwide

In United States, the number of traffic fatalities increased by around 8 percent in 2015 over the previous year. This shows the largest year to year percentage increase in the last 50 years, according to the National Safety Council. Overall, around 38,300 people lost their lives on US roads and another 4.4 million sustained serious injuries. …

If you suffer an injury as a result of an accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation, not only your medical expenses and lost earnings but possibly your pain and suffering. However, negotiating your car accident claim for pain and suffering is typically a difficult task.

In most cases, an insurance adjuster may agree to the fact that there was pain and suffering as a result of the insured’s negligence. However, they may still deny the amount you are claiming. Fortunately, there are ways to estimate the amount you are entitled to. While this will not guarantee success, it may help you negotiate with the adjuster from an informed perspective. …