St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

Thompson Law works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront and no attorney fee unless we win your case. If we recover compensation for you, our fee is a percentage of that recovery, typically between 30-40% depending on the case. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing in attorney fees. Case costs such as filing fees may apply,  Tyler will walk you through everything clearly during your free consultation. 

Missouri gives you 5 years to file a personal injury lawsuit (§516.120 RSMo). Illinois gives you 2 years from the accident date. While these deadlines may sound generous, waiting is risky , because your witnesses might forget details, surveillance footage gets deleted, and evidence disappears. The strongest cases are built immediately after the accident. Contact Thompson Law as soon as possible, the sooner your case is documented, the stronger it is. 

Take these steps in order:

1. Call 911 and wait for police to file an official accident report.
2. Seek medical attention even if you feel fine, injuries like whiplash and internal bleeding often appear days later.
3. Photograph everything at the scene — all vehicles, your injuries, road conditions, and any relevant signage.
4. Collect the other driver’s name, insurance information, and contact details.
5. Do not admit fault or apologize at the scene.
6. Contact Thompson Law before giving any statement to an insurance adjuster.

In most cases, the first offer significantly undervalues your claim. Adjusters are trained to close claims quickly and cheaply, often before you know the full extent of your injuries or future medical costs. Accepting any settlement means permanently giving up your right to additional compensation, even if your condition worsens later. Tyler reviews all offers at no charge,  before you sign anything.  

You can still recover compensation. Missouri follows a pure comparative fault rule, which means your payout is reduced by your percentage of fault, but not eliminated. For example, if you are found 25% at fault and your total damages are $100,000, you would still recover $75,000. Insurance companies routinely exaggerate your share of fault to reduce what they owe you. Tyler Thompson challenges those fault determinations with evidence. Don’t assume partial fault means no case, call us first. 

Most car accident cases in Missouri settle within three to twelve months without going to trial. The timeline depends on the severity of your injuries, how long your treatment takes, whether liability is disputed, and how cooperative the insurance company is. Cases that go to trial can take one to three years. Having an experienced attorney typically speeds the process up,  insurers take represented claimants more seriously and respond faster to well-documented demands. Tyler will give you a realistic timeline estimate during your free consultation. 

You may still be able to recover compensation through your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Missouri law requires insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage with every auto policy; if you have it, your own insurance company pays your damages up to that policy’s limits. You can also file a personal injury lawsuit directly against the uninsured driver, though collecting from an individual without assets can be difficult. Thompson Law will identify all sources of compensation available in your case, including underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage if the at-fault driver’s policy limits fall short of your damages.