A Car Accident Can Change Everything. You Deserve Someone Who Will Fight for You.
A serious car accident doesn’t just damage your vehicle. It can derail your life. Medical bills start arriving before you’ve even left the hospital. Time away from work adds financial pressure on top of physical pain. Insurance adjusters call quickly, asking questions and making offers that may sound reasonable but often fall well short of what you actually need to recover. If you’re not careful, you can find yourself settling a claim for far less than you deserve, signing away your rights before you fully understand the extent of your injuries.
That’s why having the right legal representation matters so much after a serious accident. At Boevingloh & Pliakos, we represent Missouri accident victims who have been injured through someone else’s negligence. We understand how insurance companies operate, how to investigate liability thoroughly, and how to build a case that reflects the true cost of what you’ve been through, not just your immediate medical bills but your future care, your lost income, and the impact on your daily life.
We handle auto accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means there is no upfront cost to you and no attorney fees unless we recover money on your behalf. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. This arrangement exists so that access to quality legal representation is never a financial barrier after an accident.
If you or a family member has been injured in a Missouri car accident, call us for a free consultation. The sooner we get involved, the better position we’re in to preserve evidence, document your injuries, and build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
Key Takeaways
- Boevingloh & Pliakos represents Missouri car accident victims on a contingency fee basis, meaning no upfront cost and no fee unless we win.
- We handle all types of serious auto accident cases, including crashes involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
- Compensation in a Missouri car accident case can include medical expenses, future care costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
- Missouri’s statute of limitations for personal injury is five years, but waiting to hire an attorney weakens your case. Act quickly.
- We offer free consultations and serve clients across Missouri, including St. Louis, St. Charles, Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
Why Do You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Missouri?
Many people assume that if the other driver was clearly at fault, the insurance company will simply pay what’s owed. That’s not how it works. Insurance companies are businesses, and their goal is to settle claims for as little as possible. They have adjusters, investigators, and legal teams working to minimize what they pay you from the moment the accident is reported.
Without legal representation, you’re negotiating against professionals who handle thousands of claims a year. You may not know the full value of your claim, the deadlines that apply, or the legal strategies available to you. A single misstep, like giving a recorded statement before you understand your rights or accepting an early settlement offer, can permanently limit what you’re able to recover.
We Level the Playing Field
When you hire Boevingloh & Pliakos, you have experienced litigation attorneys handling the communication with insurance companies, gathering evidence, working with medical providers, and building the legal case. We understand motor vehicle law as it applies to injury and wrongful death accidents in Missouri, and we have an in-depth knowledge of how the automobile insurance industry operates. That experience changes the dynamic significantly.
We Investigate Every Potential Avenue of Liability
Not every accident is caused by a single factor or a single party. We fully investigate the circumstances of your crash to identify every source of potential liability, whether that’s a negligent driver, a vehicle manufacturer, a road maintenance authority, or another party whose actions contributed to what happened. Holding all responsible parties fully accountable is how we maximize the recovery available to our clients.
Types of Auto Accident Cases We Handle in Missouri
We represent victims of all types of motor vehicle accidents in Missouri. The type of accident affects the legal strategy, the evidence we need to gather, and the parties who may be liable.
Car and Truck Accidents
Car accidents are the most common motor vehicle cases we handle. Commercial truck accidents are particularly serious given the size and weight of the vehicles involved, and they often involve additional parties such as trucking companies, cargo loaders, and vehicle maintenance contractors who may share liability for the crash.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users, and the injuries sustained in motorcycle crashes tend to be severe. We understand the particular legal and factual issues that arise in motorcycle accident cases, including the bias against riders that sometimes appears in insurance negotiations, and we fight to make sure our clients receive fair treatment and full compensation.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
When a pedestrian or cyclist is struck by a vehicle, the injuries are often catastrophic. These cases require careful investigation of the circumstances, including traffic controls, sight lines, vehicle speed, and driver behavior. We handle pedestrian and bicycle accident cases with the same thoroughness we bring to all motor vehicle matters.
Wrongful Death Cases
When a family member dies as a result of someone else’s negligence in a motor vehicle accident, the losses are devastating in ways that go far beyond the financial. Missouri law allows surviving family members to pursue wrongful death claims that can include compensation for final medical expenses, funeral costs, future lost wages, and the loss of a loved one’s companionship and support. We handle these cases with the seriousness and sensitivity they deserve.
Common Causes of Missouri Car Accidents
Car accidents have many causes, and identifying the correct cause or causes is essential to building a strong liability case. The most common causes we see in Missouri auto accident cases include drunk or impaired driving, distracted driving such as texting or cell phone use, excessive speeding, aggressive or reckless driving, driver fatigue, poor road conditions, and mechanical failures or vehicle defects.
Distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of accidents in Missouri and across the country. A driver who is looking at a phone, eating, adjusting their radio, or otherwise not paying attention to the road is a danger to everyone around them. When distracted driving causes an accident, the evidence of that distraction becomes a critical part of the liability case.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Missouri Car Accident?
Missouri law allows accident victims to recover a broad range of damages when another party’s negligence caused the crash. What you’re entitled to recover depends on the facts of your case, the severity of your injuries, and how your life has been affected.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the measurable financial losses caused by the accident. These include current and future medical expenses, hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation and physical therapy costs, prescription medications, medical equipment, and lost wages for time you were unable to work. If your injuries affect your ability to earn income in the future, that loss of earning capacity is also a recoverable economic damage.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate for losses that are real but harder to put a dollar figure on. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the impact your injuries have on your relationships and daily activities all fall into this category. These damages can be substantial in serious injury cases, and accurately valuing them is one of the most important things an experienced attorney can do for a client.
Types of Injuries We Handle
We have experience representing Missouri accident victims with a wide range of serious and catastrophic injuries. These include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputation injuries, severe burn injuries, multiple bone fractures, and other injuries that have lasting effects on our clients’ lives. The severity and permanence of an injury directly affects the value of a claim, and we make sure those long-term consequences are fully accounted for.
Schedule your Free Consultation.
Talk to an attorney today.
Missouri’s Deadline for Filing a Car Accident Claim
Missouri law gives accident victims five years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is called the statute of limitations, and missing it will almost certainly bar your claim entirely, regardless of how strong the evidence is.
While five years sounds like plenty of time, waiting significantly weakens your case. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget details. Accident scenes change. Medical records become harder to connect to the accident the more time passes. Insurance companies know this and may be less willing to negotiate fairly if they believe you’re not prepared to act. Getting legal counsel involved early gives you every possible advantage.
No Fee Unless We Win
We handle all auto accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There is no charge for your initial consultation, and we do not charge attorney fees unless we recover money for your injuries or loss. If we are unable to obtain a recovery for you, you will not be billed for our time or the costs associated with pursuing your case.
This fee structure exists because we believe that access to quality legal representation should not depend on your financial situation at the time of the accident. You’ve already been through enough. The last thing you should have to worry about is how you’re going to pay a lawyer while you’re recovering from an injury.
Frequently Asked Questions About Missouri Auto Accident Cases
Q. What should I do immediately after a car accident in Missouri?
Make sure you and anyone else involved receives necessary medical attention first. Call the police and get a copy of the accident report. Document the scene with photos if you’re able to do so safely. Get the other driver’s information, including insurance details. Avoid giving recorded statements to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Then call us for a free consultation as soon as possible.
Q. Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?
Be very careful. The other driver’s insurance company is not on your side. Their adjusters are trained to gather information that can be used to minimize your claim or deny it entirely. Before giving any recorded statement or accepting any offer, speak with an attorney. We handle all insurance communications on behalf of our clients so that nothing is said or signed that could hurt your case.
Q. How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Missouri?
Missouri’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is five years from the date of the accident. However, waiting that long is rarely a good idea. Evidence deteriorates over time and early action puts you in a much stronger position. If the accident involved a government entity, different and shorter deadlines may apply. Contact us as soon as possible to make sure your rights are protected.
Q. What if the accident was partly my fault?
Missouri follows a pure comparative fault rule, which means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found to be 20 percent at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would recover $80,000. The specific facts matter a great deal here, so call us to discuss your situation.
Q. How much is my car accident case worth?
Every case is different. The value of a claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the cost of your medical treatment, your lost wages, the impact on your quality of life, and the available insurance coverage. We’ll give you an honest assessment during your free consultation based on the specific facts of your situation.
Q. What if the other driver didn’t have insurance?
You may still have options. Missouri requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, and your own policy may provide compensation if the at-fault driver was uninsured or underinsured. We’ll review the available insurance coverage and identify every source of potential recovery for you.
Q. Can I still file a claim if I was a passenger in the accident?
Yes. Passengers injured in a car accident have the right to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver or drivers, regardless of which vehicle they were traveling in. In some cases, multiple parties may share liability. We’ll review the facts and make sure all available sources of recovery are pursued.
Q. How long does a car accident case take to resolve?
It depends on the complexity of the case, the severity of the injuries, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Cases with clear liability and documented injuries sometimes resolve in a few months. More complex cases involving serious injuries or disputed liability can take a year or longer. We’ll give you a realistic picture of the timeline once we’ve reviewed your situation.
Q. What if a family member died in a car accident?
Missouri law allows surviving family members to bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of a loved one who died as a result of another party’s negligence. Recoverable damages include final medical expenses, funeral costs, future lost wages, and loss of companionship and support. These cases are handled with the same care and thoroughness as personal injury cases, and the same contingency fee arrangement applies.
Related Practice Areas
Depending on your situation, one or more of our other practice areas may also be relevant.
If your accident resulted in significant medical bills and you’re also dealing with debt collectors, our consumer debt defense services can help protect you on that front as well.
If you’re involved in a civil dispute that goes beyond a car accident, our general litigation practice covers a broad range of civil matters in Missouri.
For a broader overview of the consumer protection work we do for Missouri residents, visit our debt defense practice overview.
Ready To Talk About Your Accident?
If you or someone in your family has been injured in a Missouri car accident, the decisions you make in the days and weeks after the crash can significantly affect your recovery, both physical and financial. Insurance companies move fast, and you deserve representation that moves just as fast on your behalf.
We offer free consultations for auto accident cases. There is no obligation, no pressure, and no fee unless we win your case. When you call us, you’ll speak with someone who handles these cases regularly in Missouri courts and who will give you a straight, honest assessment of where you stand and what your options are.
We’ve spent over 20 years representing Missouri residents in courts across the state. We know how to investigate accidents thoroughly, how to negotiate with insurance companies from a position of strength, and how to take a case to trial when the other side won’t offer fair compensation. That willingness to fight produces better outcomes at every stage, including at the settlement table.
Don’t wait. Missouri’s five-year statute of limitations gives you time, but the evidence that supports your case starts to fade from the moment the accident happens. The sooner we get involved, the stronger your case will be.
Call us at 314.989.1492 or toll free at 1.800.989.1492. Our office is located in Clayton, just steps from the courthouse. You can also reach us through the contact form on this site. Boevingloh & Pliakos serves clients across Missouri, and we are ready to help.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.
