St. Louis Rear-End Accident Lawyer
Each year, distracted drivers cause thousands of car accidents and fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, approximately 87 percent of rear-end crashes in which the driver struck the car in front of them included some form of driver distraction. Further, only 40 percent of crash-involved drivers were looking forward when the car in front of them started braking. These statistics are no surprise: distracted drivers can cause rear-end accidents and any related injuries likely could have been avoided!
At Fritz Law LLC, we litigate rear-end accident cases across the entire St. Louis metropolitan area and surrounding region. St. Louis Rear-End Car Accident Lawyer John P. Fritz recognized early on in his career the uphill battle that injured victims have when it comes to dealing with insurance companies. He has represented clients in personal injury cases in a number of jurisdictions all over the United States, including St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles County, Franklin County, Madison County, St. Clair County, Chicago and New York. He has taken hundreds of depositions and has participated in dozens of trial teams, including multiple cases that have been tried to verdict. John utilizes his prior experience of defending insurance companies to help his clients achieve maximum compensation for their injuries.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle
- Rear-End Accidents
- Broadside (or T-Bone) Accidents
- Trucking Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Catastrophic Accidents
- Wrongful Death Accidents
What Do I Do After Being Involved in a Rear-End Accident?
Accident victims need to seek all necessary medical attention immediately after an accident. In some cases, injuries don’t appear until a few days after an accident. If this happens, seek medical attention as soon as you realize your injuries. Don’t wait! Documentation of your injuries is key to your potential recovery.
Common Injuries From Rear-End Accidents
Whiplash
Whiplash is a sudden, forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck that can cause injury to inter-vertebral joints, discs and ligaments. Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness, headaches, tenderness in the shoulders, upper arms or back, tingling or numbness in the arms and dizziness.
Broken Bones
A broken bone is a common injury that occurs due to blunt force trauma or injury. Symptoms can include bruising, pain, swelling and tenderness near the injury site.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and fatigue.
Broken Ribs
A broken rib is an injury that occurs when one of the bones in your rib cage breaks or cracks. Symptoms can include pain in the chest when you take a deep breath, press on the injured area or bend/twist your body.
Internal Bleeding
Internal bleeding is bleeding that occurs inside your body. It is typically a result of blunt force trauma or injury and is often hard to detect. Symptoms can include low blood pressure, severe weakness, dizziness, severe abdominal pain, shortness of breath, visual problems and chest pain.
Herniated Discs
A herniated disc is a fragment of a disc on your spine that is pushed out into the spinal canal through a tear or rupture. Symptoms can include pain, numbness, burning, tingling or weakness near the injured disc. Pain can also radiate down the arms and/or legs depending on the location of the injury.
Document any Lost Wages and Other Expenses
It is extremely important that you also document any time that you were unable to work and any other additional expenses that are a direct result from your injuries. If the court determines that another party is at fault for the accident, you may be able to seek damages for lost wages in addition to your medical expenses.
What is My Case Worth?
Each case is different and results will vary. The amount of compensation that you may receive will be based on the fault of the parties involved and the type and severity of your injuries, taking into account the following:
- Medical Expenses
- Pain and Suffering
- Lost Wages
- Emotional Distress
- Physical Rehabilitation
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
- Punitive Damages (where applicable)
Talk to a Lawyer Before Talking to the Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are in the business of making money by not paying on claims. They have teams of adjusters and lawyers whose only job is to reduce potential settlements. In order to level the playing field, Fritz Law LLC takes a very “hands-on approach” to handling its rear-end accident cases. We deal directly with the insurance companies so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
Hire an Experienced St. Louis Rear-End Accident Lawyer
Hiring an experienced injury attorney is vital to the outcome of your case. At Fritz Law LLC, we know how to deal with the insurance companies. We also conduct a thorough investigation into the facts and consult with experts to build the best possible case. We fight the insurance companies so that you get the compensation that you deserve. If you have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, give Rear-End Car Accident Lawyer John P. Fritz a call today!