Were You Injured as a Passenger in a Missouri Auto Accident?

Posted on

Whenever an auto accident in Missouri leads to passenger injuries, the passengers are unlikely to know where to turn or what to do to get compensation for their injuries. Missouri is a fault based state when it comes to auto accidents, with comparative negligence laws. Yet, the passengers are not involved in the comparative negligence aspect of an auto accident claim because they cannot be held liable for the collision in full or in part. The passenger is not responsible for the accident. Still, these laws can be confusing when it comes to which insurance policy the passenger should turn to for coverage. This is where it helpful to communicate with a Missouri auto accident attorney from the Krause & Kinsman Law Firm. We can evaluate your claim and help you to figure out which insurance policy should cover your damages. Then, we’ll negotiation for a settlement that fairly compensates your injuries and losses.

What Kinds of Injuries are Passengers in Missouri Auto Accidents Most Likely to Have?

Which kinds of injuries you are likely to encounter as a passenger in a Missouri auto accident depends on many different factors. Where were you sitting in the vehicle? Were you wearing a seat belt? Did your seat belt have a shoulder strap? Were you using the shoulder strap? Were you reclined or lying down? Were you sitting in an odd position? Were you sleeping? All of these factors can impact the passengers in Missouri auto accidents. The driver is going to be sitting in the typical position, not reclined, not laying down, not sitting with their legs crossed. Thus, the injuries that we see in drivers are often similar. Drivers are at risk for whiplash and steering wheel impact injuries, for example. Meanwhile, passengers are at risk for various injuries depending on these listed factors. At the same time, passengers can be in a safer position if they are relaxed and do not see the accident coming. If you were asleep, then you didn’t tense up when you realized an accident was about to happen, so you may have fewer injuries. On the other hand, if you were lying down in the back seat or simply not wearing a seat belt, you could be crushed between seats or thrown from the vehicle.

Steps to Take After a Missouri Auto Accident When You Are an Injured Passenger

If you are an injured passenger in a Missouri auto accident, the steps that you take in the immediate aftermath of the collision will depend largely on the severity of your injuries. If your injuries are severe and immobilizing, then you need to stay still. You may have spinal injuries that could result in paralysis or death if you attempt to move from your position. If you have a cell phone that you are able to reach, then you can call 911 for help. If you are not able to call 911, then you may be able to shout for help and for someone else to call 911. Try to remain as still as possible until help arrives. If you are bleeding a lot, then you may be able to locate the source of bleeding and put pressure on the wound. In any event, doing your best to remain calm is going to be your best option in the immediate aftermath of a Missouri auto accident that causes you to become severely injured.

If you are not severely injured and if you are able to move to check on others, then this is what you need to do. Find out if anyone else is injured and respond to those injuries to the best of your ability. This may mean putting pressure on a wound or providing first aid in any way that is necessary. You should call 911 if the injuries are serious to get an ambulance quickly on the scene. The 911 operator can also assist you in providing first aid to the injured. Again, be aware that injured persons should not be moved after a Missouri auto accident unless it is absolutely necessary.

What You Should Do After Injuries Are Addressed in a Missouri Auto Accident

After the injuries of the incident are addressed, you can focus on exchanging information and collecting evidence. If you are taken to the hospital via ambulance, then you may be able to ask someone to do this for you. As a passenger, you may not know which auto insurance policy is going to cover your damages, so you will need to collect he auto insurance and contact information of all drivers. This includes the driver of the vehicle that you were a passenger in. You can also take time to gather evidence in the form of photographs of the scene, injuries, and damage, and the contact information of any witnesses who may have seen what happened. You should also write down your memory of the auto accident before the details start to fade, which can happen more quickly than you think.

If you are not taken to the hospital with serious injuries after the auto accident, then you need to either go to the emergency room or schedule an appointment with your doctor right away. Even if you don’t think you are injured, you need to do this. You may not notice your symptoms or you may find that injuries become much worse over time. Seeking medical treatment right away will ensure that any injuries you may have are found and addressed quickly. Thus, those injuries will receive proper treatment instead of becoming worse without treatment. At the same time, you will have medical evidence that the auto accident did cause injuries.

Contact a Missouri Auto Accident Attorney to Discuss How You Will Recover Compensation

The process of recovering compensation as an injured passenger in a Missouri auto accident can be confusing and complicated. The best thing to do is to contact a determined Missouri auto accident attorney from the Krause & Kinsman Law Firm to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. We will help you to establish who was at fault in the auto accident and which insurance policy is responsible for compensating your injuries and damages. Call us today and get all of your questions answered.

Our Reputation

The Krause & Kinsman Law Firm is made up of some of the nation’s foremost legal minds in the mass-tort field. That’s why our clients & co-counsel partners choose us.

Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, and Co-Chair of the Law & Briefing Committee in MDL 2846:

In Re: Davol, Inc./C.R. Bard, Inc., Polypropylene Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation

Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in MDL 2974:

In Re: Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation

Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in MDL 2924:

In Re: Zantac (Ranitidine) Products Liability Litigation

Along with the aforementioned MDLs,

Plaintiff’s Counsel has prosecuted thousands of cases across other Multi-District Litigations and Mass-Torts, including:

MDL No. 3043:

Acetaminophen ASD/ADHD Product Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2753:

Atrium Medical Corp. C-Qur Mesh Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2782:

Ethicon Physiomesh Flexible Composite Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation

MCL No. 627:

In Re: Physiomesh Litigation, MCL

MCL No. 633:

In Re: Prolene Hernia System Mesh Litigation

MDL No. 2750:

Cook Medical, Inc., IVC Filters Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2641:

Bard IVC Filters Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2326:

In Re: Boston Scientific Corp. Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2606:

Benicar (Olmesartan) Product Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2666:

In Re: Forced Air Warming Devices Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2591:

Syngenta AG MIR162 Corn Litigation

MDL No. 2936:

In Re: Smity’s/CAM2303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation

MCL No. 630:

In Re: Proceed Mesh Litigation

MDL No. 2543:

In Re: General Motors LLC Ignition Switch Litigation

MDL No. 2004:

In Re: Mentor Corp. ObTape Transobturator Sling Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2187:

In Re: C. R. Bard, Inc. Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2325:

In Re: American Medical Systems, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2327:

In Re: Ethicon, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 2387:

In Re: Coloplast Corp. Pelvic Support Systems Products Liability Litigation

MDL No. 251:

In Re: Neomedic Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation

Highly Awarded Trial Attorneys

The Krause & Kinsman Law Firm is one of the nation’s leading mass-tort & personal-injury law firms. The founding partners, Adam & Robert, have been selected to serve on steering committees for some of the largest pharmaceutical mass-tort cases.

Working With Us

Partnering with Krause & Kinsman is easy. When you partner with Krause & Kinsman, you can be sure that our mutual clients’ complex matters are handled with the utmost care and dedication. In addition to our top-notch representation, we will ensure our mutual clients receive frequent communication about the status of their cases.

Partner With Us

Why Us?

Recognized leaders in mass-torts with vast experience in complex litigation.

Your clients will appreciate the high-quality representation provided.

Your clients will consistently real-time updates on the status of their case via video, email, text, and phone.

Get real-time updates on the status of our mutual clients while their cases progress.

Collaborate on the case together and receive co-counsel fees.