Stephen Schultz | September 11, 2025 | Car Accidents
If you’ve been in a car accident, it can be difficult to know what your options are for receiving compensation. After most collisions, people begin a personal injury claim, but is that something you can pursue if your car was damaged but you weren’t hurt? Learn more about what your options are after an accident in St. Louis.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
To file a personal injury claim in Missouri, you must have suffered a physical or psychological injury from the car accident. If you weren’t hurt, you can’t pursue this type of claim. Proving negligence is central to these cases—you’ll need to show that the other party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and that their actions caused your injuries and damages.
Missouri follows a pure comparative negligence rule. This means you can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault for the crash. However, your award will be reduced based on your percentage of responsibility.
Because of these complexities, having legal guidance early on can make a major difference in proving negligence and maximizing your recovery.
Filing an Insurance Claim
If you didn’t suffer injuries but still experienced losses, you can begin an insurance claim instead. Missouri is a fault state, so you must show that the other driver was responsible to recover from their insurer. At the same time, it’s wise to review your own policy, as it may offer additional coverage to help after the crash.
In these claims, you may receive compensation for repairs to your vehicle, rental car expenses, public transportation costs, or even a replacement vehicle. Other related expenses may also be covered, depending on the policy.
Filing promptly and keeping detailed records will help strengthen your claim and ensure you receive the coverage you’re entitled to.
Why Consulting With an Attorney Is Essential
Sometimes, people assume that as long as they haven’t suffered catastrophic injuries that will require significant compensation, they don’t need an attorney. That’s not the case even with property damage claims.
Filing against the other party’s insurance is not as simple as it may look. You will need to present a significant amount of information, and you may not know what evidence will make the most difference. An attorney will have experience managing these claims.
They know how to address the various challenges insurance companies can bring up to deny or minimize your case. Negotiations with adjusters are never simple. They can try to get you to accept a low offer, and you may be under enough stress to accept if you don’t have an attorney’s support.
Property Damage Lawsuits: Beginning One After a Car Accident
A property damage lawsuit is an option after a car accident in which your vehicle was damaged, but you didn’t sustain injuries. It’s a lengthy process, so most lawyers will first attempt to get you a settlement from the insurance company. If that fails, the next step can be to sue the liable party.
You should never begin this process without an attorney because of the complexities involved, from filing a demand letter to presenting your case in court.
Contact the St. Louis Car Accident Lawyers at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
If you were in a crash and your car sustained damage, knowing what legal options you have is not always easy. The first step after the crash is to contact a St. Louis car accident attorney who can assess the case and provide guidance on whether to pursue a claim against the other driver’s insurance. Call Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation.
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Louis Office
319 N 4th Street, Suite 835, St. Louis, MO 63102
(314) 444-4444
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Columbia Office
28 N 8th St # 502, Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 702-3285
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Ladue Office
9807 S 40 Dr, St. Louis, MO 63124
(314) 912-3302
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers – Creve Coeur Office
999 Executive Pkwy Dr #205, Creve Coeur, MO 63141
(314) 350-4021
