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St. Louis Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
Mr. Trotz was recognized from 2019-2024 as a Super Lawyers Mid-South Rising Star. Mr. Trotz is also a member of the Young Lawyers Division of the Memphis Bar Association, Memphis Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association where he serves on the Executive Committee. READ OUR EDITORIAL GUIDELINES
Mr. Trotz was recognized from 2019-2023 as a Super Lawyers Mid-South Rising Star. Mr. Trotz is also a member of the Young Lawyers Division of the Memphis Bar Association, Memphis Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association where he serves on the Executive Committee. READ OUR EDITORIAL GUIDELINES
When pedestrians are involved in vehicle accidents, they often face a difficult road to recovery. No one using a city street is as vulnerable as pedestrians because they have no protection.
During the past four years, the number of people injured and killed while walking on city streets in St. Louis has increased. According to the 2021 St. Louis City and County Crash Report published by Trailnet, more than 100 people died in St. Louis County due to traffic violence in the past year, 22 of which were pedestrians.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a pedestrian accident, or if you lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, call NST law. We can help.
Table Of Contents
- Dangerous Roads for Pedestrians
- Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
- Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents
- Am I entitled to compensation for a pedestrian accident that occurred in St. Louis?
- Why use a pedestrian accident attorney?
- The Cost of Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
- The Personal Injury Claim Timeline
- Call Today for a Free Case Review
- Our St. Louis Office
Dangerous Roads for Pedestrians
While pedestrians should always exercise caution, some St. Louis streets are more dangerous than others. In fact, 45 percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred on just seven streets. These include:
- Grand Ave.
- Gravois Blvd.
- Broadway/7th
- Natural Bridge Ave.
- Kingshighway Blvd.
- Page Ave.
- MLK Drive
Pedestrians are always more vulnerable on crowded city streets. If you regularly use these streets, you should use extreme care.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
While pedestrian accidents can happen without a clear cause, many accidents occur because of human error or negligence. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the most common causes of pedestrian accidents include:
- Failure to yield
- Not using crosswalks properly on streets or intersections
- Poor visibility
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Driving while distracted or inattentive
- Speeding
Ignoring traffic signals is also a commonly reported cause in pedestrian accident claims.
Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents
Because pedestrians lack protection, they can be severely injured when they are involved in a car accident. Injuries that happen in this kind of accident can be catastrophic. These serious injuries can include:
- Soft tissue damage, such as abrasions, tears, sprains and dislocations
- Fractured or broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Death
If you have been involved in a pedestrian accident, you should seek immediate medical care. Sometimes injuries are not obvious at first, so it’s important to have a complete exam. Not only does this ensure you remain healthy, but it also protects your right to take legal action.
Am I entitled to compensation for a pedestrian accident that occurred in St. Louis?
In St. Louis, a pedestrian who has been injured in an accident involving a motorist has various options for recovering damages under Missouri law. Missouri is an at-fault state, which means the driver responsible for the crash is liable for any damage that results.
Missouri’s system is based on a pure comparative fault principle. Under pure comparative fault, a certain percentage of blame is assigned to each party involved in an accident. Compensation is awarded according to the percentage of fault assigned to the people involved.
Missouri’s statute of limitations requires that legal efforts to recover damages be initiated within five years from the date of the accident. Any wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within three years.
Pedestrians who are injured in a pedestrian accident in St. Louis may be entitled to financial damages to cover costs including:
- Current and future medical bills
- Rehab or long-term medical treatment
- Lost wages and lost wage-earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
- Loss of companionship or consortium
Missouri does not have a cap for economic or noneconomic damages in personal injury claims unless the claim concerns medical malpractice. This means there are no established financial limits set on your potential damage award.
Why use a pedestrian accident attorney?
To have a successful personal injury claim, accident victims must be able to prove negligence. This is not an easy task. Building a solid case requires providing well-organized documentation of all damages. This documentation can help to prove the other driver’s negligence and support your claim.
Necessary documentation for building your case includes:
- Police report
- Witness statements
- Medical records or medical bills
While you’re healing, you should allow the St. Louis personal injury attorneys at NST Law to handle the details of your case. Our nationally known lawyers can help you by:
- Using our extensive resources to thoroughly investigate your case
- Working with crash reconstruction experts and medical professionals to build your case
- Providing strong representation for you when dealing with insurance companies
- Representing you in a trial if negotiations are not successful
Experienced lawyers can relieve much of the stress in the legal process. If you’re working to recover from your injuries or you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, you should consider allowing a skilled attorney to represent you so you can concentrate on healing.
The Cost of Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
Insurance companies budget considerable amounts of money for lawyers who represent their interests. They are for-profit companies that don’t want to pay out large claims. For this reason, you should consider hiring a seasoned attorney to represent you.
Many personal injury lawyers offer free consultations and work on a contingency-fee basis. This means that you don’t pay them anything unless you collect damages.
they are investing time and money in your case, with no guarantee of payment. This fee structure provides you with the assurance that they will work to maximize your award or settlement.
After resolving your case, your lawyer will keep a percentage of your award as payment for their services. You will likely recover significant compensation as a result of your attorney’s skill and experience, which will justify the cost.
The Personal Injury Claim Timeline
Many injured people wonder how long it might take for their case to settle once it’s filed. This is an understandable concern. Often when you are injured, you watch medical bills mount while your bank accounts dwindle. When it comes to receiving compensation to relieve your financial stress, time is of the essence.
There is no set amount of time in which a personal injury case is resolved. Factors that can influence the duration of your case include:
- Ease or difficulty of determining liability
- The number of parties involved in your case
- Unclear legal issues
- The success and speed of settlement negotiations
- Whether or not the case goes to trial
When waiting for money from a personal injury lawsuit, it can be easy to become impatient. It’s important to recognize that quicker settlements often mean settling for less money.
Personal injury cases usually take somewhere between a few months to two years to settle. Sometimes, your financial needs will require a quick settlement for less money to avoid financial catastrophe on top of your physical pain. Accepting a quick settlement from an insurance company can alleviate immediate financial concerns and allow you to avoid litigation.
Call Today for a Free Case Review
The St. Louis personal injury lawyers at NST Law are available to meet with you for a free consultation. When you contact us, we will listen to the details of your case. We will ask questions to ensure that we understand the facts, and we will provide you with legal advice about your options. Let us help you rebuild your life.
Our St. Louis Office
St. Louis Office
701 Market St Suite 285
St. Louis, MO 63101
Phone: 314-476-0500
Fax: 314-476-0006
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