You should consider hiring a lawyer when the crash causes significant injuries, fault is disputed, the insurance company is pushing back, or you are unsure whether the settlement being offered is fair. Not every minor accident requires an attorney, but legal help becomes more important as the injuries, damages, or liability issues become more serious.
Contact a car collision attorney in St. Louis to pursue compensation for your injuries.
Call us at (314) 300-6260.
Serious Injuries Are the Clearest Reason to Hire a Lawyer
If the accident caused hospitalization, surgery, broken bones, a head or brain injury, a spinal injury, long-term disability, or permanent impairment, you should speak with an attorney.
Serious injury claims are worth more, and they are harder to value. They often involve future medical care, lost earning capacity, and damages that extend years beyond the crash, none of which shows up on bills you have at this moment. An insurer’s early offer rarely accounts for what the injury will cost over a lifetime, and once a claim is settled, it cannot be reopened when new expenses appear.
When the Insurance Company Denies or Delays Your Claim
A lawyer can help if the insurer denies liability, delays responding, disputes your injuries, refuses to pay certain medical expenses, or offers far less than the claim may be worth. Insurance companies investigate both fault and damages before paying, and some use that process to wear claimants down. An attorney can push the claim forward and help you get what you’re really entitled to.
Disputed Fault Makes Legal Help More Important
Disputed liability is one of the most common reasons to hire an attorney. Fault disputes arise when both drivers blame each other, witnesses give conflicting accounts, the police report is unclear, or multiple vehicles were involved and the situation is complicated. A lawyer can gather the evidence that resolves those disputes, like video footage, witness statements, vehicle damage analysis, and crash records.
Review Any Settlement Offer Before You Accept It
If you have significant injuries, talk to a lawyer before accepting a settlement. Signing a release generally ends the claim permanently, even if your condition worsens. An attorney can review whether the offer actually accounts for:
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent limitations
If the offer covers your emergency room bill but nothing beyond it, that review can be the difference between a full recovery and paying out of pocket for years.
The Other Driver Has Little or No Insurance
Legal help is also useful when the at-fault driver is uninsured or carries low policy limits. You may need to use your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, and another party may provide an additional source of recovery. A lawyer can review every available policy, and also help you determine if it makes sense to file a lawsuit against the responsible party.
You Are Being Blamed for the Crash
Missouri follows comparative fault principles, so any percentage of fault assigned to you reduces your compensation by that share. Insurers know this, and shifting blame onto the injured person is a tactic that they may use to reduce the amount of money they have to pay out. A lawyer can challenge unsupported fault allegations and present evidence showing that you aren’t responsible.
Contact a Lawyer Sooner Rather Than Later
If you are unsure if you need a lawyer for your claim, you can always reach out for a free consultation. You don’t have to pay, so you have nothing to lose but a little bit of time. If it turns out you’re better off handling the case on your own, at least now you know you’re moving in the right direction.
If you have any questions, reach out to our team at (314) 300-6260 to schedule a free consultation.