ST. LOUIS REAR-END CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER
The Midwest's Most Effective Injury Law Firm
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
- Last Modified:
- July 26, 2024
Most rear end collisions are avoidable. Unfortunately, they happen all too often, thanks to unsafe driving practices like tailgating and speeding. Rear end car accidents aren’t always minor fender benders. They can cause severe injuries that impact a victim’s life forever.
Our law firm has been a source of top-tier legal representation for car accident victims in St. Louis since 1979. We’re award-winning trial attorneys with decades of experience and an unparalleled record of success. Our client-driven approach has helped us recover over $1 billion in compensation for clients just like you.
Don’t let the insurance company call the shots. Make the most of your opportunity to recover compensation by partnering with a skilled St. Louis rear end accident lawyer from Brown & Crouppen. We offer a free consultation, so reach out to get started today.
- Brown & Crouppen Can Help You After a Rear End Collision in St. Louis
- What’s the Primary Cause of Rear End Collisions?
- Is the Rear Driver Always at Fault for a Crash?
- What Types of Damages Can Rear End Car Accident Victims Get in St. Louis?
- Why Should I Hire a Lawyer After a Rear End Car Accident in St. Louis?
- How Much Time Do I Have To File a Claim After a Rear End Collision in Missouri?
- What Are the Most Common Injuries in Rear End Car Accidents?
- Trusted St. Louis Rear End Car Accident Attorneys Ready To Fight for You
Use our legal checklist to learn what to do after an accident and understand key legal considerations for recovering financial compensation.
Brown & Crouppen Can Help You After a Rear End Collision in St. Louis
Rear end collisions can cause catastrophic injuries, especially to the head, neck, and back. It’s tough fighting for much-deserved compensation from a negligent driver and their insurance company when you suffer these kinds of injuries. The St. Louis rear end accident attorneys at our award-winning law firm help people like you level the playing field against big insurers eager to deny your claim. While you focus on healing, we will focus on maximizing your compensation.
Our St. Louis car accident attorneys will handle your insurance claim and lawsuit. We will deploy our decades of experience to:
- Oversee an exhaustive investigation of your accident.
- Gather critical evidence, including video footage, photographs, witness statements, medical records, and accident reports.
- Work with accident reconstructionists, forensic specialists, tire track specialists, medical professionals, and other experts to bolster your claim.
- Counter the defendant’s efforts to shift blame and avoid liability.
- Skillfully negotiate a favorable rear end car accident settlement.
- Fight fiercely in court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
Everyone deserves access to high-quality legal representation in their hour of need. That’s why our firm offers free consultations. We also take rear end collision cases on a contingency basis, meaning there are no upfront costs. You pay nothing unless we secure compensation on your behalf.
"Our clients can expect to get the updates they need. We will give them exactly what they want. Some people want to be contacted every week. To some people, that's a bother. They want to be contacted once a month. We give them what they need because we're here to serve them. We don't call it client service. We call it client satisfaction, and we're out to satisfy our clients."
What's the Primary Cause of Rear End Collisions?
Rear end accidents are often caused by distracted driving. They can also be caused by a number of other irresponsible driver behaviors, such as tailgating. When a car in front stops, the vehicle closely following might not have enough time or physical distance to come to a complete stop, resulting in a rear end car accident.
Many things can cause a driver to tailgate:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Road rage
- Fatigued driving
- Limited visibility
- Traffic congestion
Of course, tailgating isn’t the only reason rear end crashes happen in St. Louis. Other causes include:
- Brake failure
- Mechanical failure
- Bad weather conditions
- Unsafe lane changes
- Changing lanes without signaling
- Illegal turns
It’s important to identify every potential cause of your rear end car accident in St. Louis. Understanding why the accident happened is half the battle. Once causation is known, our car accident attorneys can identify those responsible and work to secure financial accountability on your behalf.
Is the Rear Driver Always at Fault for a Crash?
The rear driver is often at fault in a rear end collision because they do not leave enough distance between themselves and the leading vehicle. Following too closely does not allow them to brake in time when there is a sudden change in traffic flow. Missouri’s rear end doctrine creates a presumption of fault on the part of rear drivers.
However, leading drivers can sometimes also be at fault or share responsibility for a rear end collision. For example, this may be the case when the front driver is distracted or intoxicated. Similarly, a driver who turns right on red without looking may get rear ended by a vehicle driving lawfully through the intersection. In this case, the lead driver would be liable.
Who is liable for a rear end collision ultimately depends on each situation’s specific facts and circumstances. Factors including traffic, weather, and road conditions, as well as each motorist’s actions leading up to the accident.
Read More: Who is At Fault in a Rear-End Collision?
What Types of Damages Can Rear End Car Accident Victims Get in St. Louis?
Whether you were rear ended or simply couldn’t avoid crashing into a vehicle traveling ahead of you on the road, you may be eligible for compensatory damages through a rear end accident case. There are two kinds of compensatory damages. Economic damages cover financial costs, and non-economic damages cover the more subjective impact of your injuries. Our top-rated St. Louis personal injury attorneys can help you pursue compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy \
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological trauma
- Scarring, disfigurement, and disability
- Reduced quality of life
- Lost wages
- Lowered future earning capacity
- Lost job opportunities
- Property damage
Evidence that another driver intentionally caused your accident or operated their vehicle with a conscious disregard for the safety of others could also result in punitive damages. Our skilled rear end accident lawyers have a long history of securing positive case results for our clients, including:
- $330,000 settlement for a client who was rear ended by a tractor-trailer, resulting in a serious leg injury requiring surgery. After stopping suddenly to look for a turn, our client held significant fault for the crash. The insurance company agreed to honor the $1 million policy limit, with one-third going to our client despite her partial liability.
- $100,000 settlement for a client who was rear ended, sustaining significant property damage and eventually requiring rotator cuff surgery. After the surgery, the insurance company initially offered only $7,299.13.
Why Should I Hire a Lawyer After a Rear End Car Accident in St. Louis?
Never ask an insurance adjuster if you should get a lawyer for a rear end accident. They will likely downplay the importance of securing an attorney so they don’t have to face someone who can see through their underhanded tactics designed to avoid liability. Without strong legal representation in your corner, they may pressure you into accepting a low-ball settlement.
When you have mounting bills to pay, it can be hard not knowing how long it will take to settle your rear end crash claim. Still, never accept a settlement until you know the full extent of your injuries and their potential long-term impact. If you accept an offer too soon, you can’t ask for more compensation later, even if you find out that you will miss more work, need surgery, and face a longer recovery than you originally expected.
Hiring an accomplished car or truck accident attorney to deal with insurance companies is the best way to protect your interests and safeguard your future. Our rear end collision lawyers have high client satisfaction rates, extensive experience handling cases like yours, and a strong track record of success. We will answer all of your car accident questions and push back hard when insurers try to take advantage of your situation.
Call our Missouri law offices, conveniently located in St. Louis, Clayton, and Ferguson, to learn more about why our team is the right choice to handle your rear end collision. We are here to ensure you know your rights and leave no money on the table.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Claim After a Rear End Collision in Missouri?
In Missouri, you’ll have five years to file a car accident lawsuit after a rear end crash. Families will have just three years to bring a wrongful death action if a rear end collision in St. Louis is fatal.
This can seem like a lot of time, but the deadline can come and go before you know it. When that happens, you’ll have given up the right to file a claim and pursue compensation.
Reach out to our experienced rear end car accident lawyers in St. Louis right away. We’re standing by and ready to begin fighting for you today.
What Are the Most Common Injuries in Rear End Car Accidents?
Rear end collisions are very common in Missouri. According to data from the Missouri Statewide Traffic Accident Reporting System, there were over 30,000 front-to-rear collisions in 2023. These resulted in 78 fatalities and 8,653 injuries.
The force of these accidents can cause serious injuries to drivers and passengers. Some rear end car accident injuries that we frequently see include:
- Neck injuries, such as whiplash
- Spinal cord injury, such as herniated discs, spinal fractures, spinal stenosis
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Broken and fractured bones
- Chest and rib injuries
- Knee and shoulder injuries
- Sprains, strains, tears, and bruises
- Cuts and lacerations
- Nerve damage and paralysis
- Wrongful death
Seek medical attention immediately after a rear end collision. Seeing a doctor early on will protect your health and ensure you have access to thorough medical records linking your rear end collision to your injuries.
Our St. Louis rear end accident lawyers understand that many people can’t afford even a few missed days of work, let alone mounting medical bills and the loss of their vehicle. No matter the circumstances, we are here to ensure you know your legal options. We focus on people rather than the size of their cases and are dedicated to serving our community by providing high-quality legal representation to injury victims in their hour of need.
Get started with a free consultation with one of our skilled Personal Injury Lawyers today.
Trusted St. Louis Rear End Car Accident Attorneys Ready To Fight for You
You don’t have to deal with the aftermath of a rear end collision in St. Louis alone. Let Brown & Crouppen join your fight for fair compensation by calling (314) 501-9510 or completing our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.
Our St. Louis rear end car accident lawyers have the experience, knowledge, and resources you need to take on negligent motorists, manufacturers, insurance companies, and anyone else who tries to stand between you and the fair compensation you deserve. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t face the added stress of paying upfront legal fees. We only get paid if we win your case.
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