Missouri Car Accident Injury Attorneys
Helping you heal after your St. Louis auto accident
Moving on isn’t easy, especially when you’ve been in a car accident. When driving becomes such a routine, we forget that auto accidents can change your life and the lives of others. Especially as we teach our young teens to drive, the scary realities of car accidents begin to hit home. When you’ve been in a car accident, driving isn’t as simple as turning the key in the ignition and putting on your seatbelt. It’s scary; you know what happens when a simple commute to the office goes awry.
An auto accident is one of the most shocking and unexpected injury-causing events. You can’t prepare for the aftermath– the emotions, the injuries, and the medical bills catch you off guard. One moment you are going about your normal day, and next, an accident happens, putting your job, your family’s activities and your daily routine on pause.
At Schlapprizzi Attorneys at Law, we know that a car, truck or motorcycle accident can be one of the most trying times you will ever face. Whether you have car insurance or not, nothing can prepare you for the challenges you will face when you’ve been in a car accident because of someone else’s negligence.
Over 60 Years of Combined Experience
It’s crucial that you speak with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney and the attorneys at Schlapprizzi Attorneys at Law know your options after an accident.
We have made it our mission to help people in St. Louis, Missouri and surrounding areas seek the compensation they deserve after a devastating auto accident. These accidents can leave you with crippling injuries: broken arms and legs, serious third-degree burns, severe concussions, and brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, back and neck injuries, and more. You need to heal from these injuries, but in order to do that, you need extensive hospital care. Surgeries, physical therapy sessions, and stays at the hospital add up, and your insurance may not cover all of it.
It’s in your best interest to contact us as soon as you can. As experienced car accident injury attorneys, it is our job to communicate with the insurance companies and take care of any other things hindering you from getting better. With so many people telling you what to do and what steps to take next, it can be a very confusing time. With your medical professionals in one ear and the auto insurance company in the other, who do you trust to explain all your options?
Your vehicle accident is unique. At Schlapprizzi Attorneys at Law, we will investigate what happened and help you figure out your best plan of action. Read our Car Accident Injury Guide for more information.
What if the Accident was my Fault?
Do you remember everything that happened during your car accident? Do you know what directly caused the accident? Was it your fault or the other driver’s? The truth is, you’ll never know the precise cause and effect until you and your attorney properly investigate the accident. Even if you share some responsibility in the accident, the investigation won’t be for naught. Missouri is a “comparative fault” State. This means that even if you shared responsibility in the accident with the other driver or with the city, you are still entitled to some compensation for your injuries. Illinois is a “modified comparative fault” state. This means that you may recover so long as you are less than 50 percent at fault. To learn more about comparative fault, give us a call and we’ll explain it to you further.
What is Uninsured Motorist & Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects insured individuals. They compensate for injuries to policyholders, authorized drivers, or passengers who are injured in a vehicle collision that are caused by a driver who has no insurance or insufficient insurance coverage.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
This type of coverage is mandatory in Missouri, so if you have car insurance you have uninsured motorist coverage.
It may apply where an individual is involved in a collision with a driver that has no insurance, where the owner or operator of another vehicle cannot be identified, for example, a hit-and-run case (although it is not necessary that physical contact be made between the insured vehicle and the uninsured vehicle), as well as other scenarios. Whether you, your relative, or any person occupying an insured vehicle is considered “insured” and entitled to uninsured motorist coverage is determined by your policy’s language. Illinois does not require uninsured motorist coverage.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This type of coverage is optional and NOT mandatory in Missouri or Illinois. You must look at your auto insurance policy to determine if you pay for this type of coverage. Generally, underinsured motorist coverage may pay for damages incurred if the party at fault has insufficient liability coverage to pay for your damages.
Because there is no statutory regulation, the contract between the insured and the insurer determines how much coverage an individual is entitled to recover.
There is a time limit in which a case must be filed making it essential to seek the advice of a St. Louis lawyer familiar with this type of complex claim.
Contacting a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
Whether you’re in the hospital or you are in the recovery phase, it is likely that you have questions, and you should ask them. Just like any other type of injury-causing event, this accident caused by another person’s negligence has sincerely affected your life. Getting in contact with an attorney can help you move on and ease into what is next.
Schlapprizzi Attorneys at Law is conveniently located in St. Louis, Missouri. For over 30 years, we have been helping individuals throughout the greater St. Louis area in both Missouri and Illinois. Our family dedicates our life to helping other families throughout St. Louis in the worst of times. Give us a call so we can help you recover, and move forward.