St. Louis and Missouri injury claims
Experienced St. Louis car accident attorney fighting for maximum compensation after Missouri auto collisions. Free consultation — no fee unless we win.
Results-backed case review
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome, but they show how Ott Law Firm prepares injury claims around facts, damages, insurance, and trial risk.
Car crash claim check
Missouri car accident claims often turn on early evidence, medical causation, and insurance coverage. A short review can identify what needs to be preserved before adjusters narrow the file.
Police report, 911 record, crash-scene photos, or witness information exists but has not been organized.
The other driver, an insurer, or a company vehicle owner is already disputing fault.
Treatment is ongoing, symptoms changed after the crash, or future care is still uncertain.
A recorded statement, medical authorization, early offer, UM/UIM issue, or total-loss dispute is pending.
If the crash has a specific issue, start there.
Free Case Review
Ott Law Firm reviews serious car accident matters directly, preserves time-sensitive evidence, and explains practical next steps before you give a recorded statement or sign a release.
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A short summary is enough. We can sort out the legal categories after we understand the injury and insurance posture.
Car accidents are the most common source of serious personal injury claims in the St. Louis metro area. Interstate 70, Interstate 64, and Interstate 44 converge in St. Louis, creating some of the highest-traffic corridors in Missouri — and some of the most dangerous. We also represent people hit while walking; those claims are covered in more detail on our pedestrian accident lawyer page. If a driver hit you while you were riding a bicycle or e-bike, our bicycle accident lawyer page explains safe-passing, bike-lane, visibility, and evidence-preservation issues. If the at-fault driver fled the scene, our hit-and-run accident lawyer page explains the uninsured motorist and evidence-preservation issues that make those claims different. If Uber, Lyft, or another transportation network company was involved, our rideshare accident lawyer page explains app-status evidence and Missouri TNC insurance tiers. When a collision caused by someone else's negligence leaves you with mounting medical bills, lost income, and pain that will not go away, you need an attorney who understands Missouri car accident law and will fight the insurance company on your behalf. Joseph Ott has spent his career doing exactly that.
At Ott Law Firm, we handle every aspect of your car accident claim from the initial investigation through settlement or trial. You will work directly with your attorney — not a paralegal, not a call center. We take car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Missouri follows a fault-based system for car accidents. The driver who caused the crash — or more precisely, that driver's insurance company — is responsible for paying the damages of everyone they injured. Unlike no-fault states where you file a claim with your own insurer regardless of who caused the accident, Missouri law allows you to pursue a claim directly against the at-fault driver and their insurance carrier.
This matters because it gives you the right to seek full compensation for all of your damages, including pain and suffering, which no-fault systems often limit or exclude. It also means that establishing fault is the central battleground of your case. Insurance adjusters will look for every opportunity to shift blame onto you, minimize your injuries, or argue that the accident was not as serious as you claim. Having an experienced attorney who can document fault through police reports, witness statements, traffic camera footage, and accident reconstruction analysis is critical to the outcome of your claim.
Missouri applies a pure comparative fault standard, meaning you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If a jury finds that you suffered one hundred thousand dollars in damages but were twenty percent at fault, you recover eighty thousand dollars.
There is no threshold that bars recovery entirely. Even if you were fifty or sixty percent at fault, you still have a valid claim for the remaining percentage. Insurance companies know this and will aggressively argue that you share more fault than you actually do. Every percentage point they can shift to you reduces what they pay. Ott Law Firm fights these tactics by building a thorough evidentiary record that accurately reflects what happened.
The steps you take immediately after a car accident can significantly affect your ability to recover compensation. Here is what we advise every client:
Call 911 and get a police report. Missouri law requires drivers to report accidents involving injury, death, or property damage exceeding five hundred dollars. The police report creates an official record of the accident, including the officer's observations about fault, road conditions, and witness information.
Seek medical attention immediately. Even if you feel fine at the scene, many serious injuries — including concussions, herniated discs, and internal bleeding — do not present symptoms for hours or days. A gap between the accident and your first medical visit gives the insurance company ammunition to argue that your injuries were not caused by the crash or are not as serious as you claim.
Document everything. Photograph the scene, vehicle damage, your injuries, traffic signs, and road conditions. Exchange insurance and contact information with all involved drivers. Get names and phone numbers of witnesses. This evidence may be irreplaceable.
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. Adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to undermine your claim. Anything you say can and will be used against you. Politely decline and contact an attorney first.
Contact Ott Law Firm before accepting any settlement offer. Insurance companies frequently make early lowball offers hoping you will accept before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Once you sign a release, you cannot go back for more — even if your condition worsens.
The force generated in even a moderate-speed collision can cause injuries that require months or years of treatment and may result in permanent impairment. We regularly handle cases involving:
Missouri gives car accident victims five years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under RSMo 516.120. While five years may seem like a long time, waiting to pursue your claim works against you. Evidence deteriorates, witnesses forget details, and the insurance company's leverage increases the longer you wait. We recommend contacting an attorney as soon as possible after the accident to preserve evidence and begin building your case.
If someone dies as a result of a car accident, the wrongful death statute of limitations is three years under RSMo 537.100. Different deadlines may apply if the at-fault driver was a government employee operating a government vehicle.
Insurance companies are not on your side — even your own insurer. Their adjusters are trained to minimize payouts, and they use a predictable set of tactics to do it. They will request a recorded statement hoping you will say something they can use against you. They will ask you to sign a blanket medical authorization so they can search your entire medical history for preexisting conditions to blame your pain on. They will make an early settlement offer that sounds reasonable but does not account for future medical treatment, lost earning capacity, or the full impact of your injuries on your daily life.
Ott Law Firm handles all communications with insurance companies on your behalf. We know their playbook because we have been fighting it for years. We build your claim with the documentation, medical evidence, and expert analysis needed to demand full and fair compensation — and we are prepared to take your case to trial if the insurer refuses to pay what your case is worth.
Missouri law requires every driver to carry minimum liability insurance of twenty-five thousand dollars per person and fifty thousand dollars per accident. In practice, many drivers carry only the minimum, and some drive with no insurance at all. If you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, you may be able to recover compensation through your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
These claims are handled by your own insurance company, and despite owing you a duty of good faith, your insurer will still try to minimize what they pay. Ott Law Firm has extensive experience pursuing UM/UIM claims and holding insurers accountable when they refuse to honor their obligations to their own policyholders.
How much is my car accident case worth? The value of a car accident case depends on the severity of your injuries, the cost of your medical treatment, your lost income, the impact on your daily life, and the strength of the evidence establishing fault. There is no formula that applies to every case. Ott Law Firm evaluates each case individually based on the specific facts and damages involved. We do not accept lowball offers, and we are prepared to take your case to trial to get the result you deserve.
Should I accept the insurance company's first offer? Almost never. Initial settlement offers are typically designed to close your claim quickly and cheaply, often before you know the full extent of your injuries. Once you accept and sign a release, you cannot go back for additional compensation. Have an attorney review any offer before you sign anything.
What if the other driver does not have insurance? You may be able to recover compensation through your own uninsured motorist coverage. Missouri requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage, and many drivers carry it without realizing it. Ott Law Firm will review your policy and pursue every available source of recovery.
Do I need a lawyer for a car accident claim? You are not required to hire an attorney, but insurance companies know that unrepresented claimants settle for significantly less on average. An experienced car accident attorney understands how to document your claim, negotiate with adjusters, and take your case to trial if necessary. At Ott Law Firm, you pay nothing unless we win, so there is no financial risk in getting legal representation.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident? Missouri's pure comparative fault rule means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not barred from recovery. Insurance companies will aggressively argue shared fault to reduce their payout — having an attorney who can counter those arguments with evidence is essential.
If you or a family member has been injured in a car accident in St. Louis, contact Ott Law Firm for a free, no-obligation consultation. We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. From your first call, you will work directly with attorney Joseph Ott, who will evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and fight to get you the result you deserve.
Call (314) 710-2740 or contact us online to get started. We represent car accident victims throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area, including St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, and the Metro East.
Ott Law Firm represents car accident victims throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area and across Missouri. Our office is located in St. Louis, and we regularly appear in the St. Louis City Circuit Court (22nd Judicial Circuit) and the St. Louis County Circuit Court (21st Judicial Circuit). We also handle auto collision cases in St. Charles County Circuit Court for clients from St. Charles, O'Fallon, Wentzville, and St. Peters, and in courts throughout Missouri for clients from Chesterfield, Florissant, Clayton, Kirkwood, Ballwin, Creve Coeur, Des Peres, Webster Groves, and Wildwood. Motorcyclists injured in the St. Louis metro will find additional resources on our motorcycle accidents practice page.
Many of the car accident cases we handle involve crashes on Missouri's high-traffic corridors — I-70, I-64, I-44, I-270, I-255, and Highway 40. Whether you are in Kansas City, Springfield, Jefferson City, or anywhere in the St. Louis metro, Ott Law Firm is available for a free consultation. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win.
Missouri injury questions
These answers address the Missouri deadlines, proof issues, and insurance questions that usually determine whether a claim needs immediate legal attention.
Under RSMo 516.120, you generally have five years from the date of a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Missouri. For property damage claims, the same five-year period applies.
Car accident victims in Missouri may recover medical expenses, lost wages, future earning capacity, vehicle repair or replacement costs, and compensation for pain and suffering.
Missouri requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. If the at-fault driver has no insurance, your own UM policy may cover your losses. An attorney can help you navigate these claims.
Most Missouri car accident claims are resolved through negotiation and settlement without going to trial. However, if the insurance company refuses a fair offer, filing suit may be necessary to protect your rights.
Missouri follows a pure comparative fault system. Insurance companies, judges, and juries evaluate the evidence — police reports, witness statements, crash reconstruction — to assign a percentage of fault to each party.
Need a case-specific answer?
A short consultation can separate general Missouri law from the facts, insurance coverage, and evidence deadlines in your claim.
Selected verdicts and settlements that show how Ott Law Firm prepares injury claims for negotiation and trial. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
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personal injury
Negotiated a $1,000,000 settlement in a car crash case.
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personal injury
Secured an $877,000 settlement in an underinsured motorist car crash case.
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Achieved a $500,000 settlement for a client with no recollection of the crash by using expert testimony to disprove the defendant's version of events.
View resultAfter reviewing similar results
Talk with Ott Law Firm about whether the facts, injuries, insurance, and deadlines in your claim call for the same level of preparation.
Missouri appellate decisions currently tagged to this practice area.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern DistrictJan 12, 2026affirmed
Appellants sought damages for a wrongful death resulting from a motor vehicle collision involving a pursued driver, alleging the Missouri State Highway Patrol's pursuit was negligent and proximately caused the collision. The court affirmed summary judgment for MSHP, finding that Appellants failed to produce sufficient facts demonstrating that MSHP's actions were the proximate cause of the collision, which is a necessary element of their case.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western DistrictMay 20, 2025affirmed
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern DistrictOct 22, 2024reversed
Missouri LIRC decisions surfaced from structured injury and decision text signals related to this practice area.
Feb 14, 2023affirmedback
The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits to Theresa Thompson for a low back injury sustained on July 20, 2010 while lifting and shelving copper coils. The claimant was entitled to temporary total disability benefits, permanent partial disability compensation, and medical aid totaling over $223,000, with additional underpayment and back pay amounts owed.
Feb 3, 2023affirmedback
The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award granting permanent total disability compensation to Donald Brown for his work-related injuries to his back and left elbow. The Commission rejected the Second Injury Fund's argument that an anxiety disability should be considered in the PTD determination, finding that non-qualifying psychiatric disabilities need not be factored into the analysis.
Feb 3, 2023modified
The Commission modified its prior award regarding permanent partial disability benefits calculation following a court mandate to recalculate based on full-time worker standards. The employer is now liable for $16,320.00 in permanent partial disability benefits at a rate of $204.00 per week for 80 weeks, with the Second Injury Fund liable for an additional $9,424.80 in enhanced benefits.
Injury Case Review
Talk with Ott Law Firm about your car accident lawyer in st. louis matter, evidence, deadlines, and insurance coverage.