A report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals that more than one driver out of every five on the road has been involved in a motor vehicle accident. One out of every eight have been seriously hurt in a crash, and a third of all Americans knows someone whose been badly injured or killed in an accident.
Car accidents happen every day and the cost in terms of lost productivity, medical bills and lost lives is astronomical. In Missouri, a total of 142,966 motor vehicle accidents occurred in 2011 alone, taking 786 lives, injuring 51,060 victims and costing $3,213,233,000 in economic loss.
If you or a loved one is one of the thousands of victims injured or killed each year, you need a St. Louis car accident lawyer to help you understand your rights and obtain compensation for your losses. The dedicated attorneys at Carey Danis & Lowe have recovered millions for motor vehicle accident victims and we are ready to put our legal experience to work on your case. Give us a call today to learn more.
Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents happen for many different reasons, but often are the fault of drivers who break safety rules or who fail to be reasonably safe and cautious behind the wheel. The 2011 Missouri Traffic Safety Compendium reveals that speeding was the cause of as many as 38.2 fatal crashes in the state in 2011, while other top causes of accidents include:
• Drunk driving
• Distracted driving
• Tailgating
• Aggressive driving
• Fatigued drivers
• Failure-to-yield
When a driver breaks the law, such as by driving drunk or violating the speed limit, that motorist becomes legally responsible for compensating accident victims if he causes a crash. Likewise, drivers who are negligent and fail to exercise reasonable caution while driving can also be sued for car accident losses.
Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries
Injuries from car accidents can often be fatal, as the body cannot withstand the force or impact of the collision. For those lucky enough to survive accidents, however, the consequences of the crash and resulting injuries can be life-changing Many motor vehicle accident victims experience permanent or painful injuries including:
• Broken bones
• Facial injuries from airbags
• Spinal cord injury
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
The medical bills for treating these and other injuries can be high, especially if you require lifelong care. Often, the injuries will also necessitate time off from work or may even make it impossible for you to continue to hold down a job.
The driver who caused the accident should be responsible for covering the cost of all of your losses, including those caused by the death of a loved one in a car accident.
A St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
Victims of motor vehicle accidents can make a personal injury claim to obtain compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other damage. Those who have lost loved ones can make a wrongful death claim to be compensated for lost financial support, funeral expenses, medical bills prior to death, and the loss of companionship caused by the untimely death.
While every case is different, car accident victims are often entitled to significant compensation for their losses. However, it is up to victims to pursue their claims and take action. The experienced St. Louis motor vehicle accident lawyers have helped many clients to get the money and justice they deserve. Give us a call or schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how we can help you.
References:
https://www.aaafoundation.org/sites/default/files/2012TrafficSafetyCultureIndex.pdf
http://www.mshp.dps.mo.gov/MSHPWeb/SAC/pdf/missouri2011TrafficSafetyCompendium.pdf
