St. Louis, MO Car Accident Attorneys

St. Louis Car Accident Lawyers Serving Missouri and Illinois

Car accidents happen every day on our interstates, highways, and rural and city roads. Every car accident victim suffers some degree of property damage or personal injury. When another party is negligent, including drunk or drug-impaired drivers and distracted drivers, or if you are injured due to faulty tires, airbags, or seatbelts, Gray Ritter Graham car accident attorneys can help.

In order to be fairly compensated for your medical bills, pain and suffering, damage to your vehicle, and other losses you endured, you need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side who understands the complexities of the law. After all, insurance companies enter into disputes armed with attorneys; you should too.

Car Accident Attorneys | Missouri and Illinois

At Gray Ritter Graham in St. Louis, we help people who have been injured and families who lost loved ones in catastrophic car and truck accidents to get the compensation they deserve. We have a long and storied track record that dates back to 1946 when the firm was founded. Let us put our years of experience and knowledge to work for you!

After a car accident, insurance companies may want to settle quickly before the full extent of your injuries is clear. An experienced personal injury attorney from Gray Ritter Graham can assure that your rights are protected.

Types of Auto Accidents

• Fatal car accidents – When a loved one dies in a crash, survivors not only experience deep grief but also quite often suffer a loss of financial support covering years into the future. Gray Ritter Graham represents surviving family members to obtain fair and just compensation for their emotional and financial harm.
• Drug-impaired and drunk driving (DUI) accidents – When another driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs, they are putting their lives and the lives of everyone else on the road at risk. In 2017, more than 250 people lost their lives in Missouri in drunk driving crashes. Those are sobering facts. If you were seriously injured or had a loved one killed in a drunk driving crash, contact Gray Ritter Graham
• Distracted driving – When accidents occur because another driver was using a cell phone, adjusting the radio or temperature controls, or is not paying attention to the road due to other distractions, they can often be quite serious. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a crash involving a distracted driver, contact Gray Ritter Graham
• Multiple-vehicle accidents – Multiple-vehicle accidents can create challenges for investigators who are trying to determine who is at fault. Gray Ritter Graham, with a wealth of experience, will investigate on your behalf when you are an innocent victim in a multi-car wreck.
• RV and ATV accidents – RV and ATV crashes that are caused by a manufacturer’s defect or someone else’s negligence can result in severe injuries. You may be entitled to compensation for injuries and other damage if someone else is responsible for your loss.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist accidents – Just because an at-fault driver does not have insurance or does not have enough coverage doesn’t mean you don’t deserve compensation. Let Gray Ritter Graham represent your interests.
• Passenger injuries – If you are a passenger in a car crash, your injuries can be just as severe if not worse than those of the driver. Gray Ritter Graham will protect your interests.
• Auto defect accidents – Manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure that tires, airbags, and seatbelts are safe for consumers who rely on them. When accidents occur due to faulty tires, or when airbags and seatbelts don’t operate properly, Gray Ritter Graham will fight for you.
• Roadway defects – Potholes, broken guardrails, barriers, and road construction can create unsafe roadways. When these conditions cause serious accidents, it can be difficult to prove who is at fault. Gray Ritter Graham is experienced in these cases.

Do you have Questions About your Car Accident Claim? We have handled a lot of cases through the years, and we’re ready to help. Here are answers to some of the most common questions we hear.

Gray Ritter Graham Can Help

When you or a loved one is injured or killed in a car accident, Gray Ritter Graham will fight for justice and make sure you receive the compensation you need. Click here to learn more.

Talk to an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney.

The moment you engage the services of Gray Ritter Graham, we will work to protect your rights. You can focus on healing while our personal injury lawyers focus on getting you the compensation you need to get your life back on track.

Car crashes involve a lot of forms to fill out and questions to answer. It is difficult to determine if you are being treated fairly by an insurance company, and if you will have enough money to cover your medical needs and financial losses. Our personal injury trial lawyers can assist you with the following:

• We help you understand the law. In many cases a lawsuit must be filed before a certain date, called a statute of limitations. We will help to ensure that you do not waive any right you may have to compensation.
• We help you prove liability. We ensure that evidence is preserved, and interview witnesses to give you a fighting chance.
• We document your injuries. Courts can be particular about details, and our experienced team knows how to properly document your case.

Recouping Losses After a Car Accident

If you have suffered a car accident that wrecked your car, you may be able to file a total loss property damage claim in order to recuperate your losses. The insurance company must deem your car a total loss before it will compensate you for the cost of replacing the car. The exact amount that you would receive depends upon the estimated worth of your car before the wreck, and the estimated cost of purchasing a like-model car of the same year to replace it.

Sales Tax Credit Affidavit

With a total loss property damage claim, you may not need to owe sales tax on the replacement car. When your car is totaled, you have the opportunity to obtain a Sales Tax Credit Affidavit in the State of Missouri.

You first need to ask the adjuster to provide the affidavit, then provide it to the license bureau when you license the new replacement vehicle. According to Missouri law, you will not be charged the sales tax on the amount that your insurance company paid on your car.

For example, if the insurance company valued your car at $10,000, and you purchase a new car for $25,000, the portion of the sales tax that you will owe will only be calculated on the $15,000 difference.

To benefit from this sales tax credit, you must submit a notarized total loss statement from the insurance company, as well as all of the supporting documentation that you receive when you apply for the title on your replacement vehicle. The replacement vehicle must be purchased or contracted to purchase within 180 days of the total loss of your prior car in the accident.

If your car is totaled and you intend to have the insurance company replace it, once again, make sure you request the Sales Tax Credit Affidavit. For more information on what to do if your state does not allow this waiver or how to get a refund if you have already paid the sales tax, read our blog, Recouping Expenses After Your Car is Deemed a Total Loss.

Recouping Expenses After Your Car is Deemed a Total Loss

Contact Our Team of Personal Injury Attorneys

If you need help fighting the insurance company for what you are owed, contact Gray Ritter Graham for a free, no-obligation consultation. We represent clients injured in catastrophic auto collisions in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, and the surrounding region.

Meet our team of attorneys who represent those who have suffered catastrophic losses in car accidents caused by the negligence of others.