St. Louis Car Accident Attorneys

What Your Car Accident Claim Is Actually Worth

Insurance adjusters are trained to settle quickly and cheaply. Their first offer is almost never your best option — and once you accept, you can't go back.

A full and fair car accident claim in Missouri can include compensation for:

• Emergency care, surgeries, hospitalizations, and ongoing treatment
• Future medical costs your doctors recommend
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Vehicle repair or replacement
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and PTSD
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life

The difference between what an insurance company initially offers and what you're actually owed can be substantial. Geoff Meyerkord's first jury trial tells that story: a $4,000 insurance offer became a $22,500 verdict. That same instinct — reject the lowball, do the work, fight for the real number — has driven over $60 million in recoveries for our clients. We know how to document every category of damages, including the ones insurers hope you won't think to ask about.

Serious Injuries We Handle

The more severe the crash, the more important it is to have an attorney who understands both the legal and medical complexity of your case. We regularly handle cases involving:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Broken bones and fractures
• Severe neck and back injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Amputations
• Severe burns and scarring
• Wrongful death

Our in-house clinical team — including a Registered Nurse and a Speech-Language Pathologist — allows us to assess medical records, identify long-term care needs, and build medically grounded arguments that hold up in court.

What Missouri Law Means for Your Case

Missouri is an at-fault state. The driver who caused the crash is responsible for your damages, paid through their insurance. You file a claim against them, not your own policy.

You can still recover if you were partly at fault. Missouri follows pure comparative fault rules. If you were 20% responsible, your recovery is reduced by 20% — but you are not barred from collecting.

You generally have five years to file. The statute of limitations for most car accident injury claims in Missouri is five years from the date of the crash. Important exceptions apply — particularly if a government vehicle was involved, where notice deadlines can be as short as 90 days. Don't wait to find out which rules apply to you.

Minimum insurance coverage is often not enough. Missouri requires drivers to carry $25,000 per person in bodily injury coverage. For serious injuries, that's rarely sufficient. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may be an additional source of compensation — navigating multiple policies is something we handle regularly.

What To Do After a Car Accident in St. Louis

At the scene: 

Call 911, even for accidents that seem minor. Move to safety if you can. Don't admit fault or apologize — even casually. Exchange driver and insurance information. Photograph everything: vehicle positions, damage, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries. Get witness contact information.

In the days after: 

when a government entity is involved—See a doctor as soon as possible, even if you feel okay. Adrenaline masks pain, and some injuries — particularly TBIs and soft tissue damage — take days to fully appear. A gap between the crash and your first medical visit gives insurers ammunition to dispute your claim.

Keep every document: medical bills, discharge instructions, out-of-pocket receipts, and all correspondence from insurance companies. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer before speaking with an attorney.

Call us early. The sooner we're involved, the better we can preserve evidence, guide your medical documentation, and keep insurers from gaining the upper hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do I Have To File a Car Accident Claim in Missouri?

Five years for most car accident injury claims in Missouri. Shorter deadlines apply if a government entity is involved — sometimes as few as 90 days for formal notice. Consult an attorney promptly.

Should I Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?

You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. Until you understand your rights, decline recorded interviews and direct future communication through your attorney.

What if the Other Driver Didn’t Have Enough Insurance?

Your own underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may provide additional compensation. We identify every available source of recovery.

What Does It Cost to Hire You?

Nothing upfront. We work on contingency — we only get paid if we recover compensation for you.

Do I Need a Lawyer if My Injuries Seem Minor?

Not always. But "minor" injuries sometimes turn out to be more serious over time, and once you've accepted a settlement, you cannot reopen your claim. A free consultation costs you nothing and tells you where you stand.

Our Results in Car Accident Cases

• $4,900,000 — Wrongful death caused by a distracted on-duty police officer. Navigated government liability caps, multiple insurance layers, and structured three separate trusts for the surviving family.
• $2,000,000 — Catastrophic crash caused by an underage employee served alcohol at a company party. Pursued the employer after the bar claim was already settled.
• $2,000,000 — Single collision resulting in two deaths and seven additional injuries. Coordinated recovery across multiple plaintiffs and insurance policies.
• $1,800,000 — Boating crash where the defendant's initial offer was zero. Forced settlement through intensive trial preparation.