What Happens When The At-Fault Driver Leaves The State After a Crash in Missouri?
If the at-fault driver leaves Missouri after causing your accident, you can still pursue legal action against them. Missouri courts have jurisdiction over anyone who causes harm within the state, regardless of where they move afterward. The driver’s relocation doesn’t shield them from responsibility for the injuries and damages they caused. When someone flees Missouri […]
Back and Neck Injuries From Rear-End Collisions in Missouri
Back and neck injuries frequently occur as a result of rear-end collisions in Missouri, often impacting drivers and passengers involved in these accidents. These injuries occur when the sudden impact forces your body forward while your head snaps backward and then forward again. This whipping motion damages muscles, ligaments, discs, and other structures in your […]
The Discovery Rule in Missouri Car Accident Claims
Missouri’s discovery rule protects car accident victims when injuries don’t appear immediately after a crash. Under this rule, called ‘capable of ascertainment,’ the deadline to file a lawsuit is based on when you become aware of your injury rather than the date of the accident. This protection is crucial because some serious injuries like whiplash, […]
Improper Lane Change Accidents in Missouri
In Missouri, improper lane change accidents occur when a driver switches lanes without signaling, checking blind spots, or ensuring sufficient space, violating state traffic laws and creating dangerous conditions that often lead to serious collisions. Missouri law requires drivers to change lanes only when it’s safe and prudent, and violations can result in both traffic […]
What is the Average Settlement for a Non-Injury Car Accident?
In Missouri, most non-injury car accident settlements range from $3,000 to $15,000 for property damage alone, with the average falling between $5,000 and $8,000. Settlement amounts for non-injury car accidents can vary widely depending on the specifics of the incident, such as the extent of property damage and the details of your insurance coverage. Property […]
Vehicle Total Loss Laws in Missouri
In Missouri, an insurance company considers your vehicle a total loss if the repair costs plus its salvage value meet or exceed 80% of its actual cash value just before the accident. This calculation generally applies to vehicles under six model years old. For older cars, insurers can decide on their own method to determine […]
Can You Sue for Emotional Distress After a Car Accident in Missouri?
In Missouri, you can sue for emotional distress after a car accident. The law allows compensation for psychological struggles like anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress that may follow a serious collision. These damages are usually part of a personal injury case together with things like medical bills, lost income, lost earning capacity, and property damage. […]
Punitive Damages in Missouri Car Accident Claims
In Missouri, punitive damages in car accident claims are awarded to punish the at-fault driver for reckless or malicious behavior and deter similar conduct in the future. These damages are in addition to compensatory damages, which cover the victim’s actual losses. What Exactly Are Punitive Damages Punitive damages have a distinct role compared with standard […]
Missouri Sovereign Immunity Laws for Car Accidents
In Missouri, sovereign immunity generally protects government entities from lawsuits, but this immunity is waived in specific situations, including motor vehicle accidents caused by negligent operation of a car, bus, or truck by a public employee. This means the state can be sued for motor vehicle accidents where a public employee negligently operated a car, […]
Stop Sign Accidents in Missouri
Too often, in Missouri, people treat a stop sign like a suggestion—slowing down, glancing around, then rolling through. That split-second decision is how many intersection crashes start. When one driver assumes it’s safe to go and another has the right of way, the result is usually a hard side impact. These aren’t fender benders. They […]