If you were injured in a sideswipe car accident in St. Louis and it was not your fault, you might be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries and other losses. Our experienced sideswipe car accident attorneys in St. Louis want to help you demand the money you deserve so you can focus on healing.
At Sumner Law Group, LLC, we have more than 50 years of combined experience helping people in your position pursue the justice and accountability they deserve. We have successfully secured millions of dollars on our clients’ behalf.
Contact us today for a free consultation and find out how we can help.
What Is a Sideswipe Accident?
A sideswipe accident happens when two vehicles collide and impact each other’s sides. This type of accident often occurs on highway on-ramps or anyplace two lanes merge into one.
Sometimes, a driver doesn’t realize their lane is ending, or they merge too quickly, without signaling, and without checking their blind spots, which is why these collisions are also known as blind spot accidents. Sideswipe accidents can happen anytime two vehicles are traveling parallel to each other, even at slow speeds or on residential streets.
Because a vehicle’s side does not provide occupants with as much protection as the vehicle’s front or rear ends, a sideswipe accident puts occupants at risk of severe injuries. Additionally, the initial impact can make one vehicle or both spin out of control and into other lanes of traffic or off the side of the road, where they might collide with other vehicles or hit highway retaining walls, trees, or other objects. The secondary impact is often the most dangerous part of a sideswipe accident because it can lead to additional severe injuries.
Common Causes of St. Louis Sideswipe Collisions
Many factors can contribute to a sideswipe collision, including:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Overcorrecting or oversteering
- Swerving to avoid a hazard
- Failure to check blind spots before changing lanes
- Improper merging
- Failure to stay in proper lanes
- Reckless driving
Other outside factors – such as poor road maintenance, poor lighting, bad weather conditions, and lack of lane markings – can lead to a sideswipe accident. However, driver error is often the cause of these accidents. An experienced sideswipe accident attorney can investigate the accident to determine who is at fault.
Who Is at Fault for a St. Louis Sideswipe Accident?
Usually, the driver who changes lanes and collides with another vehicle is at fault for the crash. However, some circumstances can make it difficult to determine who is at fault. In some instances, the driver who did not change lanes may be at fault if they intentionally did something to inhibit the other driver from safely changing lanes, like slowing down or speeding up.
Our skilled St. Louis sideswipe car accident attorneys can investigate the accident to determine who is liable for your injuries. That involves gathering evidence from multiple sources, including police reports, dashcam footage, and witness statements, and working with accident reconstruction specialists to better understand the circumstances that led to the collision.
Common Sideswipe Collision Accident Injuries
Sideswipe accidents can cause a variety of injuries, including:
- Cuts and scrapes
- Bruising
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries (including paralysis)
- Traumatic brain injuries
An accident victim may also experience mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression, especially if a severe injury has impacted their daily life.
Potential Compensation for Sideswipe Collisions in St. Louis
If you were injured in a sideswipe accident that was not your fault, you might be entitled to pursue compensation for a variety of losses, including:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
Your attorney can give you a better idea of what your case may be worth during a free consultation.
How Our Law Firm Helps People Hurt in Sideswipe Crashes
Filing a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company is not always as easy as it sounds. The insurance company is a business, and like any other business, it is trying to make a profit. It is in the insurance company’s best interest to reduce or deny your claim. Furthermore, the amount the company offers may not account for the unique circumstances of your case and the personal losses you have experienced, such as pain and suffering.
It is crucial to have an experienced attorney on your side who can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. A St. Louis sideswipe car accident lawyer with Sumner Law Group, LLC, is ready to learn more about your needs and the financial and personal losses you have incurred due to your injuries.
Determining the compensation you may be entitled to involves more than adding up medical bills and lost wages. If you hire our firm, our attorneys will work with you directly to understand the emotional impact of your injuries and the compensation you require to heal.
Should negotiations with the insurers fail because they refuse to offer a fair settlement figure, our attorneys have the resources and skills to take your case to court and pursue full compensation for your injuries and related expenses.
Contact Our Experienced St. Louis Car Accident Lawyers Today
If you’ve been injured in a sideswipe car accident that was not your fault, you should not have to bear the burden of costly medical bills and lost wages yourself.
At Sumner Law Group, LLC, our legal team is dedicated to advocating for the rights of injured victims in the greater St. Louis area. We prioritize individuals rather than case volume to ensure that every client gets personalized attention from one of our experienced attorneys. The better we understand your goals, the more we can build a solid case to seek the maximum compensation you deserve.
Contact us for a free initial consultation to learn more about your legal options.
