Car Accident Lawyer Columbia, MO

There are many motor vehicle collisions every day, from property damage fender-benders to serious wrecks that cause catastrophic injuries and fatalities. Even when you are sure to remain cautious while driving, accidents can happen when others are careless.

If you are injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t bear the cost of your damages and injuries. Filing a claim can recover these costs from the at-fault party, but this is much easier to do with a car accident lawyer in Columbia, MO.

The physical and mental trauma of a car accident can be severe, and the process of filing an insurance claim may feel like a hassle. With an attorney, you could recover the benefits of an insurance claim without dealing with the stress of negotiating it yourself.

Wendt Law Firm P.C.: Car Accident Lawyer in Columbia, MO

The costs of an injury can pile up quickly, even in a minor accident. The team at Wendt Law Firm P.C. wants to help you get compensation to cover your losses, such as from lost income, medical expenses, and repairing and replacing damaged property. Our attorneys work hard to get the compensation that you deserve.

With more than 50 years of combined experience, Wendt Law Firm P.C. lawyers have helped injured individuals with complex personal injury claims, including car accident claims. We negotiate for you, investigate the crash, prove fault in the accident, and gather evidence of the damages you suffered. We understand how costly and strenuous an injury is, and we want to secure the compensation you deserve while causing you as little stress as possible.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Car Accident?

After a motor vehicle collision, injured individuals can recover their financial losses and other damages by filing a car insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance. You could also recover compensation by filing a civil personal injury claim against another party, like a public agency or a faulty product manufacturer.

These claims could recover any of the damages that you sustained in the injury, including both non-economic and economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are losses caused by the accident that have a set financial value.

Medical bills are part of these damages, covering bills for things like hospital transport, prescription drugs, prescription medical devices, surgeries, doctor’s visits, and other treatments.

In addition to existing bills, compensation can cover future costs of medical treatment, such as the cost of mobility aids, modifications to homes or vehicles, physical therapy, and long-term care. Compensation can also cover the cost of any expected medical costs, like common medical complications associated with the injuries you suffered.

Economic damages also cover lost wages. An injury may require you to take time off of work for weeks to months. The wages you should have earned in that time can be compensated by a claim. If your injuries are permanently disabling, then the wages you should have earned without being injured are compensation. This amount varies based on whether you are able to work partially or not.

Property damages are also compensable in a claim. Most often, this covers the cost of fixing or replacing a damaged vehicle. Other personal property that was on your person or in the vehicle may also be included in property damage coverage.

Non-economic Damages

Non-economic damages do not have a clear financial value but are considered by the court to be recognized losses from an injury. These damages are emotional, physical, or psychological in nature and include:

• Physical pain and suffering.
• Emotional suffering.
• Mental trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Loss of enjoyment of life.
• Disability.
• Loss of companionship or consortium.
• Loss of quality of life.

The mental and emotional costs of an injury that alters your life are taken into account, such as the inability to do basic daily tasks or the limitations on the things you enjoy. The value of non-economic damages is often related to the value of economic damages because more serious injuries and accidents are more likely to affect your life long term.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are not available in all car accident claims. They are available when a claim goes to court, and the court discovers evidence of either intentional harm without reasonable cause or intentionally reckless disregard for general safety.

Punitive damages are not awarded to compensate you for your losses, like economic and non-economic damages, but are assigned with the intention of punishing the at-fault party for their behavior. This is intended to prevent the party and others from exhibiting similar behavior in the future.

Wrongful Death Claims and Their Damages

Wrongful death claims are a type of personal injury claim filed by surviving family members when someone dies because of another party’s negligence or misconduct. These claims can recover some of the same damages as a personal injury claim. If their loved one received treatment but later died from their injuries, then a wrongful death claim can recover medical bills. Wrongful death claims can also recover costs such as:

• The financial support the family should have continued to receive.
• The reasonable costs of a funeral and a burial or cremation.
• The mental and emotional trauma of losing a loved one.

A wrongful death claim does not make up for losing a loved one. All it can do is provide a grieving family some closure, hold the at-fault party accountable, and give a family some financial stability in a tumultuous time in their lives.

What Should I Do After a Motor Vehicle Accident?

A motor vehicle accident can leave you feeling confused and overwhelmed. After a collision, there are several actions you should take to safeguard your own health and the success of a potential claim. If you are unable to take these actions because of an injury, then your own well-being should be the priority. However, if you can, you should do the following:

1. Move somewhere safe. Depending on the circumstances of the crash, you may want to move motor vehicles off to the side and out of the way of traffic, or all individuals in the accident away to a safe location, or both. During this time, review yourself and others for injuries.
2. Call emergency services. Call to report the accident, reporting any noted injuries so the appropriate support can be sent. 
3. Exchange information with other drivers. Swap contact and insurance information with the other driver or drivers involved in the collision. This includes names, phone numbers, and addresses. You may also want to exchange driver’s license information. This information is crucial for future claims.
4. Receive medical care. Get medical attention at the scene of the crash, even if you think you are uninjured. Certain injuries may have delayed symptoms or may not be apparent to you because of shock. An emergency medical provider is better equipped to check for those medical concerns.

Getting medical care at the scene is also important for your claim because it can make it harder for an insurance company to claim you did not receive your injuries as a result of the crash. After emergency medical attention, it can also be helpful to get a check-up from your own provider, who may have better equipment to check for delayed injuries like traumatic brain injuries.

1. Provide the accident report. Give the on-scene officer an accident report when asked. This report is crucial in the initial determination of fault. Be truthful in the accident report, but do not admit fault for the collision.
2. Gather evidence at the scene. Collect evidence, such as taking pictures and videos of the scene, writing down the information that you remember, and taking note of any eyewitnesses to the accident. If you can, get contact information for eyewitnesses and a short statement.
3. Report the accident to your insurer. You should inform your insurance company of the accident, even if you were not at fault. Provide the minimum information required until you can have an attorney continue the discussion.
4. Contact an attorney. Find legal support in your area or the locations where the accident took place. Your attorney can benefit your claim significantly.

What Can a Car Accident Lawyer in Columbia, MO, Do for Me?

There are many ways in which an attorney can help with a car accident claim. Your claim is more likely to be successful and more likely to recover the most compensation that is available. An attorney can help by:

• Being aware of the relevant legal statute of limitations, deadlines, and filing requirements for your claim.
• Determining your damages, including the fair value of your non-economic damages and the future economic costs you may sustain.
• Gathering evidence of the full extent of your damages to prove them in negotiations or litigation.
• Investigating your motor vehicle crash, including what caused it and the party or parties that may be at fault.
• Gathering evidence to prove the other party is liable for your damages.
• Negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance provider on your behalf.
• Bringing the claim to court if the insurance adjuster will not accept a fair settlement.
• Representing you in a civil personal injury claim.

There is a limited period of time after an injury that you must file your claim. These time limits are important but can be difficult to worry about as you deal with physical pain and stressful treatment. When you work with an attorney, they can handle this, and you can focus on your personal wellness.

What Are Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Collisions?

The cause of a car collision is a crucial determination in order to discover the party at-fault. The at-fault party is typically another driver, but other parties may be liable depending on the circumstances. Some of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents include:

Speeding

Speeding significantly over the posted limit can be incredibly dangerous. It increases the chances of a collision occurring and increases the resulting damages if a collision does happen. Speeding limits the amount of time a driver has to react to hazards and changes on the roadway.

Distracted Driving

Driving distracted includes anything that removes a driver’s attention from that road, whether they are daydreaming or completing an action that makes them look away from the road or concentrate less on driving safely. This could include eating, drinking, texting, calling, or talking with others in the car.

Driving Under the Influence

It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Driving under the influence impairs the rational thinking and response times of a driver. A driver who causes an accident while impaired can face a criminal charge and civil claims.

Commercially licensed drivers also usually have a lower legal limit than other drivers due to having a higher level of responsibility for other drivers. These drivers can also face the suspension of their licenses.

Driving Fatigued

When a driver is operating their car while fatigued, their reaction speeds are lower, and it may be harder to make clear decisions. Driving fatigue can also result in drivers falling asleep at the wheel, which is a significant cause of head-on collisions.

Aggressive and Reckless Driving

Unsafe decisions on the road can interrupt the flow of traffic and cause a collision. This may include actions like tailgating, failing to signal, unsafe lane changes, and failing to yield the right-of-way.

Malfunctioning and Defective Vehicle Components

The failure of a car component can cause an accident, and this may point to many different parties as being at fault, depending on the circumstances. The manufacturer or distributor of the car or car part may be liable if the component is unreasonably dangerous or defective.

The owner or driver of the car may be liable if they knew their car needed repairs and drove it without getting those repairs. A mechanic may also be liable if they complete poor or improper repairs to the vehicle.

Poor Road Conditions

Badly maintained roads, such as lots of potholes, poor drainage, or damaged road signs, can lead to an accident. When this happens, the public or private agency responsible for road maintenance could be liable. However, drivers are also liable for lowering their speed in dangerous conditions.

Working With a Skilled Car Accident Lawyer in Columbia, MO

After a sudden car accident, it is important to find the right legal support. Contact Wendt Law Firm P.C. today to learn how we can help with your car accident claim.