A serious car accident can rearrange your entire life, from the injuries that keep you out of work to the bills that pile up while you recover. When the stakes are this high, the attorney you choose to stand in your corner matters enormously.
The St. Joseph car accident lawyers at Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe bring over a century of combined trial experience to every case we accept. We know how to build cases that hold negligent drivers accountable and provide our clients with the financial resources they need to move forward. Call us today to learn how we can help you rebuild.
Why Hire Our St. Joseph Car Accident Lawyers After a Car Crash?
- Our St. Joseph injury attorneys have been recognized among the Top 50 Attorneys, America’s Top 100, and Super Lawyers, bringing nationally respected skill to your case.
- We take a holistic, client-centered approach, treating you as a partner in your case rather than just another file on the desk.
- Because we work on a contingency basis, you pay no legal fees unless and until we win compensation for you.
How Much Is Your St. Joseph Car Accident Claim Worth?
In Missouri, you have the right to recover compensation for every way the car accident has affected your life: physically, emotionally, and financially. Damages may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Vehicle repairs and property damage
- Permanent disability and chronic pain
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
There is no flat rate for a car accident case; your compensation depends on what exactly happened to you. These factors may include the severity of your injuries, the cost and length of your treatment, how much work you have missed, and the lasting impact the crash has had on your daily life and ability to earn a living. Our attorneys will document each of these losses thoroughly and build them into a demand that reflects the true cost of your accident.
Another important consideration is shared liability. Missouri follows a pure comparative fault rule, which means your award is reduced by your percentage of responsibility for the crash, but you can still recover even if you were partly to blame. For example, if a jury values your damages at $100,000 but finds you 20% responsible for the collision, your recovery is reduced by that 20%, leaving you with $80,000. You can be found up to 99% at fault and still collect that remaining 1%
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How a Car Accident Lawyer in St. Joseph, Missouri Can Help Your Case
Handling a car accident claim on your own can feel manageable at first. But then, the insurance adjuster starts asking pointed questions, and the requests for paperwork and recorded statements keep coming. The value of your claim can be affected by a comment taken out of context or administrative errors that you may have overlooked.
A St. Joseph car accident attorney changes the trajectory of your case from day one. At Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe, our attorneys will immediately get to work tracking down police reports, securing surveillance and dashcam footage, and enlisting the help of accident reconstruction and medical experts when your case calls for them. Just as important, we calculate the full value of your losses, including future care and diminished earning capacity that you may not know how to account for.
When negotiations stall, our trial-tested lawyers are fully prepared to take your case to a Missouri courtroom. We have years of experience securing multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for injured clients. That credibility often compels insurers to put stronger offers on the table, because they know we are ready and able to try the case if they refuse to negotiate fairly.
Common Injuries Suffered in Missouri Car Accidents
Even a low-speed collision unleashes enough force to cause severe damage to the human body. Some injuries heal in weeks, while others reshape your life permanently and demand long-term care. The most common injuries our St. Joseph car accident clients face include:
- Whiplash and other neck or soft-tissue injuries
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage, including partial or full paralysis
- Broken bones and crush injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Lacerations, burns, and disfiguring scars
- Emotional trauma, including anxiety and post-traumatic stress
Types of Car Accidents Our Attorneys Handle in St. Joseph
Over the years, Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe has represented drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians in nearly every type of car accident. That breadth of experience means we understand how fault is established across very different crash scenarios. We know what evidence each type of collision requires and where insurers tend to look for an excuse to deny responsibility. In cases of fatal car accidents, our wrongful death lawyers in St. Joseph have the skills and legal expertise to fight for justice for surviving family memebers.
We regularly handle cases involving:
- Rear-end collisions and stop-and-go traffic crashes
- Head-on car accidents
- T-bone and intersection accidents
- Distracted driving crashes
- Accidents caused by impaired drivers
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist claims
- Commercial truck and delivery vehicle accidents
- Multi-vehicle collisions on busy highways and interstates
Mistakes That Can Weaken Your St. Joseph Car Accident Case
Even a strong case can be undermined by a few avoidable missteps in the chaotic days after a crash. Insurance companies are watching for any reason to reduce or deny your claim, so protecting yourself starts with knowing what not to do.
To keep your case on solid ground, avoid these common mistakes:
- Skipping or delaying medical treatment after the crash
- Giving a recorded statement to the insurer before consulting a lawyer
- Accepting the first settlement offer you receive
- Posting about the accident or your injuries on social media
- Failing to document the scene, your injuries, and your expenses
- Waiting too long and risking the statute of limitations
Contact Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe for a Free Consultation
From your first phone call to your final settlement, the St. Joseph car accident attorneys at Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe will stand beside you, fighting to hold the negligent driver accountable and put your life back on track. Your first consultation is free, and you owe us no legal fees unless we win. Contact us today and let’s start building your case.