CAR accident Cases
Involved in a Car Accident? How Schmittgens Injury Law Firm will help you.
At Schmittgens Injury Law Firm, our experienced personal injury attorneys are dedicated to assisting you throughout the legal process and helping you secure the compensation you deserve after an auto accident. With nearly a decade of experience, attorney Rob Schmittgens has the knowledge and skill to effectively represent your interests and fight for your rights. In your time of need, you can count on us to be by your side and guide you through the legal system.
At our firm, we will assist in collecting relevant evidence for your case, speaking with witnesses, and ensuring you get the medical treatment you need to recover from your injuries. We take the stress of dealing with the insurance companies off your plate and will advocate on your behalf to them. We collect your medical records and bills and negotiate any outstanding bills down at the time your case is resolved.
There is no upfront cost for our services and we work on the “contingency fee” meaning we do not and will not get paid until we win your case. Moveover, we guarantee that our fees will never be more than your net share of any recovery.
When choosing Schmittgens Injury Law Firm to represent you in your car accident case, you will be working with attorneys who have a wealth of experience in personal injury law. Rob Schmittgens, a trial attorney with nearly a decade of experience practicing law in both Missouri and Illinois, is well versed in personal injury, and worker’s compensation cases. As a born and raised St. Louisian, Rob understands the community and its legal landscape, and has successfully helped hundreds of clients navigate through their legal challenges.
Common Varieties of Motor Vehicle Accidents
Rear End Collisions
Rear end collisions are probably the most common type of case our firm handles. These collisions are almost always caused by a negligent driver who fails to observe the brake lights in front of them. These collisions can result in significant injuries. While liability is likely a non-issue, an experienced lawyer, like Rob Schmittgens, can examine and analyze medical records and bills to determine the full value of the claim. We work to resolve the claim in a timely manner and for fair value with all relevant insurance companies.
Low Impact Collision
This is a “catch-all” term used to describe collisions where the negligent driver is traveling at a low speed (typically 15 mph or slower). Despite what an insurance adjuster may try to tell you, there is little relationship between the amount of property damage to the vehicle and the potential injuries sustained by the people in the vehicle.
We treat these cases like all others, work them up to obtain maximum value for our client. At our firm, we will preserve the relevant evidence, ensure we get the treatment you need, and negotiate a resolution on your behalf with the insurance company.
Head-On Crashes
A head-on collision is exactly what it sounds like - when vehicles moving from opposite directions collide front to front. Many car accidents cause injury but statistics prove head on crashes are more likely to result in serious injuries or fatalities. An experienced attorney, like Rob Schmittgens, will “carry the load” in developing the case and prosecuting while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
Intersection or T-Bone Accidents
Intersection or T-Bone accidents are also called side impact collisions. These accidents typically happen when one vehicle does not stop at a stop sign, stop for a red light or fails to yield the right of way. The collision happens when the vehicle that has the right of way can not slow down and impacts another vehicle in the side.
Multiple Vehicle Collisions
A multiple vehicle collision also known as a multi-car collision and multi-vehicle collision are car accidents including many vehicles. These accidents commonly occur on highways and freeways in poor weather conditions while vehicles are following too closely to one another. Multi-car accidents are also common at high speed and can be very dangerous.
These collisions are especially complicated because there are frequently multiple potentially liable parties and often cross and counter claims which can be asserted by those involved in the wreck. An experienced attorney, like Rob Schmittgens, will evaluate the potentially liable parties and determine all liable parties and maximize the recovery for the client.
Vehicle Rollover Incidents
Vehicle rollover car accidents are typically the most dangerous type of car accident often resulting in fatality. These collisions often occur on or near highways and result in catastrophic injuries.
What should I do after I am in an Car accident:
The question we get the most is “what should I do after I am in a wreck?” Here’s our advice to anyone who was involved in a wreck:
1. Get to Safety.
Car accidents often occur in traffic or on busy streets. The first and most important step is to get to safety. You will likely be in shock, disbelief, and pain, but it’s important to get yourself to safety.
2. Call the Police and Take Pictures
Call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so. Tell the dispatch operator above the crash and request an emergency response. The police will make a report about the crash and document the circumstances of the incident. While you wait for the police, take a picture of the other driver’s car, including their license plate. This can be helpful if the other driver decides to leave the scene. It is also important to get pictures of the damages to your vehicle and the parts of the defendant’s vehicle which struck you. Pictures which show the location of the crash and the scene of the incident are also extremely helpful.
Hopefully the police arrive on scene quickly - when they do, tell them in short, plain language, what happened. If you are experiencing any pain, it is important to let them know what parts of your body are hurting you.
3. Gather Witness Names and Phone Numbers
Hopefully, the police will collect the names and phone numbers of anyone who claims to witness the scene. However, sometimes witnesses do not hang around for the police to arrive. Therefore, if someone claims to have witnessed the incident, get their name and their phone number so we may contact them after opening your file.
4. Get the Other Driver’s Information and More Photographs.
Take pictures of the other driver’s vehicle at the scene of the accident. Once the other driver’s vehicle leaves the scene of the car accident it is hard to find it to get photographs of it. Now that we have cell phones in our hands all the time, it makes it easy to just take photographs of both sides of the vehicle as well as the front and back. The photos should show the whole sides and front and back of the vehicle and not just a close of the dents. In a car accident case, a picture is worth a thousand words.Next, get the other driver’s identification information and car insurance information by simply taking a picture or writing it down.
5. Collect Statements by Other Driver(s) at the Scene.
If the other driver makes a statement to you or you hear them tell the officer or another passenger in their car how the accident happened and what caused them to hit you, take note of it and remember it as it is important to your claim and case. The other driver might say to one of their passengers, “I told you not to be texting while you were driving”. Obviously, this would be important to show their fault in the accident.
6. Go to the Hospital or Doctor to Document Your Injuries ASAP and Take Photographs of Them.
Get to a doctor as soon as possible. We absolutely understand that you may have affairs to get in order; kids to pick up, work schedule to arrange, and a vehicle to fix. But it is imperative you get your injuries documented as soon as possible.
When you get to a doctor, tell your doctor everything that is causing you pain; the parts of the body, the severity of the pain, and how it is impacting you. It is very important to describe every one of your injuries to the medical personnel because we do not know which injuries will last the longest. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to come back later, and tie an injury to an accident weeks, months, or even years later.
It’s also important to take pictures of any scrapes, cuts, bruises, or swelling which may be present. These pictures help tell a complete story about your injuries and can help us demonstrate the severity of your injuries.
7. Call the Attorneys at Schmittgens Injury Law Firm
If you feel the need to call us from the scene of the crash - please do. But if you do not call us from the scene, call us as soon as possible after. We’re always here to discuss your case and how to best represent you on your claim.
We can be reached at 314-222-4223 or through this website. You can also schedule time to meet - in person - at our office.
What NOT TO do after I am in an Car accident:
Do Not Speak With the Insurance Company Without A Lawyer.
Insurance companies will use tactics to get you to speak about the case without a lawyer. Don’t let them. They will ask you questions which are designed to be ambiguous and confusing, and then use your answers against you. By hiring Rob Schmittgens, he will prepare you for these types of statements, and prevent the insurance companies from using your words against you.
Insurance companies know there is an imbalance of power between them and you. By hiring the Schmittgens Injury Law Firm, you have a team of experienced legal professionals who will level the playing field.
Hire Schmittgens Injury Law Firm as soon as possible after a car accident, and we will protect and help you get reimbursed for your losses and fully compensated for your injuries. If you already gave a statement to the insurance company, we can still help you as we know what to do and how to handle every situation from our years of experience.
Trust the Insurance Company’s Promises
Insurance companies often lie to you about what they will do. They want you to feel like they are trying to help you. But in reality, the only thing they are trying to do is to get you to either accept a small settlement or deny your claim.
Sign Any Documents Sent to You By the Insurance Company Without a Lawyer
If an insurance company is asking you to sign something, it is likely a legally enforceable document. These documents often waive your right to seek further damages or limit the monetary damages which they may owe you.
What kind of damages can I recover from my motor vehicle crash?
Economic Damages:
These are damages which have a specific dollar value. Things like hospital bills, physical therapy, medical imaging, and medical devices can be extremely expensive, and assuming they are reasonable and necessary to care for your injuries, the law allows you to seek recovery of those damages from the negligent party.
You are also able to seek compensation for lost income. If you miss time at work or are forced to use benefits like paid time off or sick days, you can seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Our firm will assist you in collecting evidence of these types of damages and including them in settlement negotiations.
These damages are not just the damages which are “in the past” you are also entitled to seek damages for medical treatment or income earning in the future. At our firm, we will gather inf
Non-Economic Damages:
These damages generally do not have a specific dollar value, but you are still able to seek compensation for things like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, and stress. No one wants to live life in pain, and many of our clients spend months or even years in constant pain because of their car wreck, under the law, you can seek financial compensation for that pain.
You are also entitled to seek damages for the negative impact your injuries have on your life. If your injuries have prevented you from living the life you want to live, you are entitled to seek compensation. Some examples of “loss of enjoyment of life” may include the inability to participate fully in family activities, challenges to engaging in hobbies, or limitations in the activities of daily living.
Property Damage:
Motor vehicle accidents often include damages to personal property, specifically your car or the contents therein. If your stuff is broken or destroyed as the result of the other driver’s negligence, you are entitled to seek compensation for those losses.
Car Accident Lawyers Near You
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, attorney Rob Schmittgens is here to help. With nearly a decade of personal injury experience, he knows how to handle car accident cases in St. Louis. His deep understanding of the local legal system and strong connections in the community give you an advantage in your case.
Rob will take the time to understand your situation and fight for your rights. When you work with Rob, you can trust that you’re getting an attorney who will advocate for you every step of the way. As a personal injury attorney with extensive courtroom experience, Rob knows how to get results. A native of St. Louis, he's deeply connected to the community and is committed to ensuring justice for his clients.
At Schmittgens Injury Law Firm, we handle car accident cases on a contingency basis—so you don’t pay unless we win your case and we will never make more money than you.
How do I get started with the Schmittgens Injury Law Firm?
Call us at 314-222-4223 to speak with a member of our team for a free case evaluation. After reviewing your case, we will have you sign the necessary paperwork so we can get right to work on your case. By hiring our firm, you will have access to our dedicated legal team to answer your questions, a personalized app that will give you up to date information about the happenings of your case, and the peace of mind of knowing you are not in this alone. Remember at Schmittgens Injury Law Firm, we handle bicycle accident cases on a contingency basis—so you don’t pay unless we win your case.