St. Louis Rear-End Car Crash Lawyer

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Rear-end collisions are some of the most common types of vehicle accidents in St. Louis, MO. Unfortunately, they can lead to extensive property damage and significant injuries for drivers and passengers. If you’ve been involved in a rear-end crash, it’s important to know what causes them, who’s at fault, and what steps you need to take afterward.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in St. Louis, contact us at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation by calling at (314) 444-4444. Our St. Louis rear-end car crash lawyers can help you obtain compensation.

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How Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Rear-End Car Accident in St. Louis

Unfortunately, getting into a car accident is part of life for many drivers. One of the most common types of accidents in St. Louis, Missouri, is rear-end collisions. If you’ve been hit from behind, it’s important to know what steps to take next and how an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer can help you on your path to recovery. Here’s how we can help you:

We will investigate the accident thoroughly and determine who was at fault.
We will calculate your damages. This includes both economic damages (such as medical expenses or property damage) as well as non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering or mental anguish).
We will file an insurance claim and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. Insurance companies are known to make very low settlement offers, but they’re more likely to take you seriously if you have legal counsel by your side.
If negotiations with the insurance company fail, we will file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver or their insurance company.

At Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers your initial consultation is free!

How Common Are Car Crashes in St. Louis, Missouri?

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of fatalities in the United States. Unfortunately, St. Louis is not immune to these statistics.

In 2021, there were 15,092 traffic accidents in St. Louis.
In 2022, Missouri experienced 1,058 car accident fatalities.
In St. Louis specifically, there were 281 traffic-related fatalities in 2022.

If you or a loved one were recently injured in an accident, reach out to Schultz & Myers personal injury lawyers to discuss your legal rights and options.

Overview of St. Louis Rear-End Car Crashes

A rear-end crash is a type of car accident that involves one vehicle colliding into the back of another. They are some of the most common types of accidents on the road and can cause serious injuries as well as extensive property damage.

How Rear-End Crashes Occur

Rear-end crashes often occur when one vehicle fails to leave enough space between them and the vehicle ahead. This can be due to any number of factors, including driving under the influence of drugs, distracted driving or weather-related conditions like slippery roads or low visibility.

Rear-end collisions also happen when the driver in front makes an abrupt stop without warning.

Common Injuries From Rear-End Crashes

Rear-end crashes can result in a wide range of injuries, from minor bumps and bruises to more serious head trauma and whiplash. The most common types of injuries include the following:

Whiplash
Broken bones
Concussions
Soft tissue damage
Spinal cord damage
Internal injuries
Seatbelt injuries
Airbag injuries
Psychological trauma, such as anxiety and depression

Anyone involved in a rear-end should seek medical attention right away so that any potential injuries can be diagnosed and treated quickly.

Liability in Rear-End Crashes

To determine liability for a rear-end car accident, the injured victim must establish that the at-fault driver acted negligently. All four elements of negligence must be met for the claim to succeed. These four elements are:

Duty of Care

This means that the responsible driver had an obligation to act with reasonable care. All drivers on the road are required to behave in a way that keeps others on the road safe; they have an obligation not to engage in reckless or negligent behavior.

Breach

The at-fault party failed to uphold their obligation. A breach could include speeding, driving under the influence (DUI), driving aggressively, or even just changing the radio while driving.

Causation

The breach of the duty of care directly and proximately caused harm. If a driver is texting while driving and runs a red light crashing into another car, this is causation.

Damages

You must prove that actual harm occurred and you suffered financial losses. This could include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Who Is at Fault for Rear-End Car Crashes in St. Louis, MO?

It’s easy to assume that, no matter the circumstances, the driver who was hit from behind will be able to sue for damages. While this is often the case, the situation isn’t always so cut and dry.

There are certain situations in which both drivers can be found partially liable for a rear-end crash. If the driver who is rear-ended is engaging in brake checking or other reckless driving, they could be partially responsible for the accident as well.

If a judge or jury finds that both drivers were negligent, they will assign each party a percentage of fault based on their actions leading up to the accident. The plaintiff’s monetary award will then be reduced by their percentage of responsibility.

The total sum of these percentages should equal 100%. For example, if the plaintiff driver is found 40% at fault and the other driver 60% at fault, the plaintiff can only receive 60% of the awarded compensation.

In Missouri, victims can recover compensation even if they are up to 99% at fault for the accident because the state follows a pure comparative negligence standard.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our St. Louis Car Crash Lawyer

If you’ve been involved in a rear-end crash in St. Louis, MO, and need legal assistance, we’re here to help. Contact Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation with our St. Louis rear-end car crash attorneys.