Fighting For Auto Accident Victims in Jasper & Newton Counties
A serious motor vehicle accident can change your life in a matter of seconds. If you suffered a severe injury or lost a loved one due to a driver’s negligence or some other preventable cause, our award-winning team at Aaron Sachs & Associates, P.C. can help.
Since 1991, our firm has been fighting for the rights of injured individuals and families throughout Missouri. Our Joplin car accident attorneys have more than *200 years of combined experience, and a track record that includes more than $400 million in verdicts and settlements. We’re here to help you through the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Injured in a car accident in Joplin or the surrounding areas? Contact Aaron Sachs & Associates, P.C. today to learn how we can help. Call (417) 777-7777 for a FREE consultation.
For a free legal consultation with a car accident lawyer serving Joplin, call 417-777-7777
Proving Liability in Your Car Accident Case
In car accident cases, determining who is legally responsible, or at fault, for causing the accident is critical for resolving liability – that is, determining who is financially accountable for damages. In this context, fault describes the party that caused the accident due to some form of negligence, while liability refers to the financial obligation to compensate for any injuries and damages stemming from the incident.
When it comes to negligence, Missouri law allows victims to recover compensation from parties who negligently injured them. Negligence occurs when a party fails to exercise reasonable care, leading to an accident, and can take many forms. In a car accident case, some examples include:
- Driving while intoxicated
- Violating a traffic law
- Violating a trucking regulation
- Driving distracted
- Excessive speeds, unsafe lane changes, and other aggressive driving
- Committing some other careless, reckless, or negligent act
When negligence and fault are determined, victims will next need to focus on liability, or the financial responsibility for damages. While there are many cases in which the at-fault motorist is also the liable party, it’s important to note that it isn’t always the case. For example:
- If a truck driver negligently causes a truck accident while working, the trucking company might bear the liability.
- When a school bus or city driver causes an accident, the school district or city may be liable for any injuries.
- If a drunk driver causes an accident, it may be possible to hold a commercial establishment liable for damages if they served that person, specifically when they served a person who was under 21 or when they knowingly served a visibly intoxicated person.
There are also situations where injured victims have other options for recovering compensation. This includes first-party claims filed with their own insurance companies under their uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This optional coverage can be especially critical in situations where victims suffered serious injuries, have damages that exceed the policy limits of the at-fault party’s insurance coverage, or when they’ve been hurt in hit-and-run accidents.
Determining fault and liability is a complex process that demands professional legal expertise. At Aaron Sachs & Associates, P.C., we have considerable experience deciphering issues of fault and liability in all types of motor vehicle accident cases and have the resources to conduct meticulous investigations that allow us to build strong cases.
If you have questions about fault, negligence, or liability and how they work in your case, we are happy to answer them during a free consultation.
Call or text 417-777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
