According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), more than 43,000 people were projected to die in motor
vehicle crashes in 2006 – a decline of slightly less than 1 percent from 2005.
The number of total motor vehicle crashes was also projected to decline, from
2.7 million in 2005 to 2.3 million in 2006.
Peterson & Associates, P.C. has experience and a
record of success in representing people injured or killed in car accidents
throughout Missouri. We understand that when a car accident occurs, it is
imperative that aggressive action is taken right away to protect the rights of
injured people. Every insurance company employs adjusters and investigators who
seek to minimize the compensation paid to those injured
people. It is in your best interests to contact an attorney who will put your
needs before the insurance company's interests. Always consult with a skilled
attorney before talking with an insurance representative.
>For more information on car accidents, please review
our Car Accidents FAQs
page.
In the state of Missouri, automobile owners are
required to carry proof of insurance coverage. If the other driver has no
liability insurance or does not have enough insurance to pay for your injuries, your own
policy may provide coverage through uninsured or
underinsured motorist benefits. It is best to consult an attorney and seek
damages against the driver of a motor vehicle under these circumstances:
- There was a fatality.
- Bones were broken or fractured.
- There is permanent and serious injury or disfigurement.
If you’re involved in a car accident, here’s what
you should do:
- Keep your auto insurance information in the glove compartment, including
a pre-printed form allowing you to provide the particulars of any accident,
including a sketch of the scene. (Even better, keep a disposable camera in your
car.)
- Stay at the scene of the accident until police have come and gone, making
sure you have the name of the officer(s) and that they have your version of what
happened. Do not assume a police report will "take you off the hook" or even
that one will be generated in the event of a minor accident ("minor" may mean no
one is injured even though your car suffers a direct hit).
- Exchange names, addresses, driver's license and insurance information
with the driver of the other car.
- Review your policy to make sure of your coverage. Make a list of
questions and related information you want to know.
- Report the accident promptly to your insurance company. This may not seem
wise or necessary to you. The accident may be minor, you may not want to risk
seeing your rates rise or you may live in a no-fault state and think that the
other driver's insurance company will pay for everything. But state laws
generally protect you from higher rates unless an accident was your fault.
Car accident victims should be thoroughly examined
by a doctor, since seemingly minor injuries often develop into major health
problems. Even if you do not have obvious injuries — broken bones, cuts,
lacerations or bruises — you may have sustained a connective-tissue or brain
injury which, if left untreated, could cause major health problems in the long
term.
If you were injured by another person’s
carelessness or recklessness, you may be entitled to recover damages that
include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Many accidents involve multiple vehicles and
dangerous conditions. Peterson & Associates works with experts who can
reconstruct the accident scene to help strengthen the case. The firm also
engages the services of medical specialists who can verify the extent of
injuries, as well as financial professionals who can help determine the past and
future financial losses suffered as a result of an accident.
If you or a loved one suffered personal injury
from a car accident, contact our firm immediately. Do not permanently lose your
right to file a claim. Contact Peterson & Associates today for your
complimentary legal consultation at our Kansas City office.
For more information:
Personal Injury FAQs
Car Accident FAQs
Personal
Injury Legal Glossary
Car Accident News
Car accident blocks traffic, three taken by ambulance
A car accident on 5th Street and Chiricahua Road between a black Ford Mustang driven by two females and a maroon Oldsmobile Intrigue driven by a man caused traffic to be rerouted Friday, July 30. All three victims who are unidentified at this time were transported by ambulance from the scene.
Car accident flips cars
A car accident on Hitt Road in Idaho Falls had traffic backed up Wednesday afternoon.
Morning car accident in Shinnecock Hills slows commute
A one-car accident in Shinnecock Hills slowed traffic on Montauk Highway this morning as rubberneckers peeked at the car, which had flipped on its side, and a tow service righted the vehicle so it could be removed.
Car Accident
We're getting reports of several ambulances being dispatched to a car accident on Guilford Road and Derby Lane in Rockford.
Fatal car accident in Princeton
Authorities are on the scene of a two car accident in Princeton on Route 460 near Mt. Horeb and Ingleside. Once person is confirmed dead. We'll bring you more information as this story develops.
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