Car Accident Claims

Our experienced St. Louis bus accident attorneys can evaluate your claim for free and help you determine what your next steps should be.

It’s a parent’s worst nightmare, hearing their child has been injured on a school bus. You put your faith in these drivers, thinking your child will safely reach school or home, but the reality is that all means of transportation come with some level of risk.

Most states, Missouri included, have traffic laws that protect school buses. As a result, the nationwide statistics for accidents involving school buses are only at 0.4%. However, even if the number shows the chances are slim, it doesn’t mean accidents can’t happen. When they do, parents can be left wondering how to proceed.

What Does the Law Say?

Missouri drivers are required to stop when a school bus stops to let students on or off the vehicle, whether at the educational institution or in the area where the children live. Still, distracted drivers, or those who are too impatient to wait, may violate these rules and cause an accident.

When that happens, parents may seek compensation from the at-fault driver. They can either file a personal injury claim with the driver’s insurance company on the child’s behalf or even sue for negligence if the case warrants such a move. An experienced bus accident lawyer in St. Louis can advise you what is best for your case.

However, there is also the possibility of the school bus driver being at fault. In this case, matters can be more complicated.

If the school bus driver is at fault, you may recover compensation from the school district, which should have insurance for these types of events. Since they are a government entity, it can be quite challenging to demand compensation from them. The process is quite laborious and involves many more steps than if you’d be asking another driver for compensation. You should consult with an experienced lawyer if this is the case. You will have to prove these other parties were negligent and caused the suffering of your child.

St. Louis Bus Accident Attorney

It’s impossible to imagine what a parent feels when they find out their child has been injured. If you are in this situation, please contact The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. to discuss your case and decide your next steps. Our experienced bus accident attorneys can evaluate your claim for free and help you determine what your next steps should be.

If your pet has been injured in a St. Louis car crash you may be wondering if you are entitled to compensation for their injuries.

If you have a pet, you may consider it a part of the family. You may do everything you can to make sure they are loved, fed, and safe. However, sometimes, your pet’s safety can be out of your control.

For instance, if you ride in a car with your pet and get in a car accident, they could get severely injured. Apart from the pains caused to your pet and your family, the veterinary bills can add up and drain your budget. So, now you’re probably wondering: can I get compensation when the injured passenger is a pet?

The short answer is that it is possible. While it’s best to reach out to an experienced attorney, here are some general things to keep in mind.

Getting Compensated for Your Pet’s Injuries

Missouri law states that if you are the victim of a car accident, you are generally entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages from the party at fault. The law does not explicitly mention whether pets fall under these categories, but since these proceedings most likely will go through the other driver’s insurance, they’ll be the ones to decide.

Insurance companies tend to handle these cases differently. Still, if you work with a lawyer, they can argue the veterinary costs constitute a burden on you directly caused by the accident. Therefore you may be entitled to be compensated for it, as it would not have happened if it weren’t for the accident.

The amount you’ll be compensated, however, will depend on a few factors. In most cases, the pet’s age is considered because older pets are more prone to complications. The argument here is that if the pet were younger, then the medical treatment it needs wouldn’t be as extensive as it would for older pets.

Other factors that may influence the final sum of the compensation include the pet’s health history, purchase price, breed, and pedigree. Many insurance companies consider pets as property in these cases, so they analyze the situation by calculating the pet’s value and seeing the potential losses caused by the accident.

Other methods insurance adjusters may use to calculate the cost of replacement and factor in any unique economic values if the pet is trained to perform any special tasks (as it is with the case of guide dogs). All these details can factor in and influence the final amount.

What Should You Do?

If your pet has been injured in a car accident, speak with an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer as soon as possible and discuss the details of the case with them. They can advise the best course of action to ensure your pet’s treatment gets compensated by the person who’s caused their injuries.

Car accidents often become an extremely complicated process, as insurance companies try to save money and offer as little as possible in the way of a settlement.

If you have been involved in a St. Louis car accident, it is highly advisable that you speak with an experienced attorney about your accident to determine what your legal rights are and ensure that they are protected. Here are 5 factors to consider:

1. Status of Fault Liability

Cases where the other driver and his insurance company have accepted liability are often fairly straightforward; however, cases where the fault liability is contested become complicated and may end up in court. You will be generally be required to prove the other driver’s fault, and failing to do so will result in a denial of compensation. Having an experienced attorney on your side can ensure you are not pressured to settle for less than you are legally entitled to.

2. Out-of-Pocket Expenses

After an accident, you end up spending some money on your treatment and/or on repairing the damage to your vehicle. In many cases, your out-of-pocket expenses may add up to the thousands. An attorney can help you keep track of your out-of-pocket expenses and fight to get you compensated for these.

3. Extent of Bodily Injuries

Serious injuries sustained in an accident often take a long time to recover, and a permanent injury will stay with you for your life. A broken bone, a herniated disc, and other such injuries may require surgery, increasing the expenses for treatment. A permanent injury or disability will affect your day-to-day life and should be compensated adequately. Typically the higher the compensation amount, the less likely the other party is to agree to pay.

4. Is your case going to Court?

If you have exhausted all other means of negotiations and settlements, you will likely have to take your case to court. Having an experienced attorney by your side will undoubtedly increase your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve. They understand that tricks insurance companies use to try lowering your settlement amount.

5. Time Invested

Representing your own case will no doubt require a great deal of time and energy. Especially in complex cases, you may invest hours in researching legalities and preparing your case, not to mention the stress of presenting your case, should it go to court. With an experienced car accident attorney on your side, you will be able to focus on physical recovery and can rest assured, knowing everything is being done to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.

Contact The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. today if you have been involved in a St. Louis car accident. We can evaluate your case for free, help you determine what your legal options are, and assist you through every step of the process.

Here are a few important things to understand about the compensation you may be entitled to after a car accident.

If you’ve been the victim of a car accident, you may have many questions running through your mind. Who is going to cover the costs of my medical bills and lost wages? Should I hire a lawyer? And, how much money will I receive from the settlement?

Here are a few important things to understand about the compensation you may be entitled to after a car accident.

To Settle or Go to Trial?

Many people throw the word “settlement” around when it comes to car accident cases. However, few truly understand how car accident claims are settled.

A car accident settlement is an agreement to resolve a legal claim for personal injuries or damages after a car accident. When a settlement is reached, the plaintiff agrees not to sue or drop any charges. 

Most car accident claims are resolved through a settlement as going to court takes a lot of time and effort without guaranteeing that the plaintiff will get the amount he is hoping for. 

Don’t expect to reach a settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurance company quickly. These negotiations can also take some time as the insurance company will generally push back and look for any opportunity to lower the claim. 

How Much Compensation Am I Entitled To After a Car Accident?

There isn’t a simple answer to this question. Each car accident is unique, and the nature and extent of the injuries can differ greatly. However, the insurance company will take certain factors into account when negotiating. 

• The medical expenses related to the injuries;
• Past and future lost wages that occur because of the accident;
• Non-medical expenses that were caused by the accident;
• Pain and suffering, meaning the toll the accident took on the victim’s life and how much their quality of life was affected;
• Punitive damages to punish the behavior that caused the accident. 

The money you will get largely depends on the extent and severity of your injuries. Generally, the more severe your injuries are, the higher the compensation. An experienced St. Louis car accident attorney can correctly estimate your present and future expenses and fight for a fair settlement.

Other Factors That Can Influence Your Car Accident Settlement

Your costs aren’t the only factor that can influence the value of your settlement. The number of parties involved in the accident, for example, can also affect how much money you will get. If more than one party is found liable for causing the crash, then your settlement will probably be higher. The amount of insurance the at-fault driver carries will also impact the amount of money you will get. 

St. Louis Car Accident Lawyers

An experienced St. Louis auto accident lawyer can help ensure your legal rights are protected after a car accident and that you receive the full amount of compensation you are entitled to. If you have been involved in an accident, give us a call 24/7 to benefit from our 20+ years of experience protecting the rights of car accident victims in and around St. Louis, Missouri.

Here is what you need to know about pursuing compensation after being hit by a police car in Missouri.

With so many government employees on the road, including first responders like police or paramedics, getting hit by a police car on a mission is not such a far-fetched scenario. 

What should you do if you get hit by a Missouri police car on a mission? If you suffer injuries or property damage, the usual procedures are to file a claim to an insurance company or file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver. However, going against a police officer might be intimidating for the average person.

Here is what you need to know about pursuing compensation after being hit by a police car in Missouri. 

Sovereign Immunity in Missouri

Police officers and other public employees have sovereign immunity in Missouri by law. This means that they generally cannot be sued by a civilian. There are exceptions to this rule. One instance is if someone suffers injuries due to a police officer’s negligent conduct when driving. 

It is also important to note that their sovereign immunity will generally not be waived if they are responding to an emergency. This means that the sirens and lights are on so that other motorists and pedestrians can notice them coming. 

If a police officer is not responding to an emergency and they cause a car accident due to negligence, you might be able to file a lawsuit.

Insurance Coverage Limit

Even when the police officer can be sued, there most likely is a modest insurance coverage limit for personal injuries. In Missouri, the state can purchase insurance to cover the exceptions to the sovereign immunity law, but the limits generally cannot exceed $2,000,000 for an occurrence and $300,000 per person. 

Also, if a regular personal injury suit can include punitive or exemplary damages, suing a police officer will generally not allow you to pursue these. Punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant for outrageous conduct and to serve as a discouragement for others. 

What to Do If You File a Suit Against a Police Officer

Because of the special circumstances, we highly recommend speaking with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney if you have been involved in a car accident with a police officer.

These types of cases are more complex than regular car accidents. Our experienced legal team can evaluate your case for free and help you determine what your legal rights are.

Things can quickly become more complicated if you are involved in a car accident with an out-of-state driver. Here’s what you should do if it happens.

Pursuing an injury claim can be a stressful experience. If you find yourself in a St. Louis crash involving an out-of-state driver, things can get even more confusing and complicated. Many questions arise: How do you pursue your claim for personal injuries and damages? Where should you report the accident? Which state’s insurance laws will your claim be based on? Let’s consider the answers to these questions and what you should do if you are involved in a St. Louis car accident with an out-of-state driver.

Where Should You Report the Accident?

Generally, since the accident happened in St. Louis, the state of Missouri, under the “Long-Arm” Statute, has jurisdiction over the matter. Therefore, you need to report the incident to St. Louis Police. Also, as with any auto crash, it is important to inform your vehicle’s insurer about the accident right away. Don’t forget to gather evidence and exchange insurance info with the out-of-state driver.

Filing Your Injury Claim: Which State’s Auto-Insurance Laws Will Be Applied?

Each state has its own auto-insurance laws and procedures. The location and state where the accident happened will generally dictate which laws are in effect. So, if your accident happened in Missouri, you’ll generally follow Missouri laws to determine who is liable and how to go about getting compensation.

Since these accidents take time to resolve, it can be difficult to negotiate with an out-of-state party. After all, they will likely head back home before the process is complete.

What To Do If You Are Involved in a Crash With an Out-of-State Driver

Here are some general steps you should follow if you are involved in a car accident with an out -of-state driver:

• Contact the authorities (police, paramedics, etc.)
• Seek prompt medical attention
• Document any injuries and property damage (take as many pictures as possible)
• Collect the information of any witnesses
• Get in touch with an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer

Again, it is important to understand that negotiating these types of cases can be more difficult in these situations.

Consult An Experienced Auto Accident Attorney

Before you make any decision regarding your injuries or claim, contact an auto attorney. An experienced attorney can guide you through the process and ensure your legal rights are protected.

If you or one of your family members has been injured in a St. Louis accident involving a non-resident driver, contact The Hoffmann Law Firm today to discuss your legal options.