Sideswipe accidents happen when two vehicles traveling in the same direction make contact, usually because one driver changed lanes without looking, drifted while distracted, or misjudged the space. The contact itself may seem minor, but the results often aren’t. A sideswipe at highway speed can push a car into a barrier, another lane, or a spin the driver can’t control.
When the insurance claim begins, both drivers often blame each other for causing the collision. Our St. Louis accident attorney at Meyerkord & Kurth represents people injured in sideswipe accidents throughout St. Louis and helps them prove what actually happened. Call us to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation.
The Advantages of Having Meyerkord & Kurth on Your Side
When you’re picking a law firm after a serious injury, you want an experienced team that truly understands how these cases are built. Meyerkord & Kurth works strategically and closely with every client. We offer:
- Unmatched experience: With over 100 years of combined legal experience, we know personal injury law inside and out.
- Proven results: We’ve recovered more than $450 million for our clients, handling a wide range of injury cases both large and small.
- Trusted St. Louis presence: For more than 40 years, our firm has been helping clients here, and we know local rules, judges, insurers, and medical experts.
With Meyerkord & Kurth, you have the benefits of a small team but the power of significant resources. Let us handle your case while you focus on recovering.
Why Sideswipe Accident Claims Need an Attorney’s Help
Sideswipe accidents may not always seem serious at first, but proving who was truly at fault and making sure your injuries and losses are fully compensated can be more complicated than you’d expect. Having a knowledgeable attorney on your side is key.
- Investigating and reconstructing the crash: Your lawyer collects accident reports, witness statements, surveillance or dashcam footage, and expert analysis to clearly show how the crash happened and who is responsible.
- Countering insurance tactics: Insurance companies often try to downplay these cases by blaming both drivers or arguing the injuries aren’t serious. An attorney fights back and makes sure your side is heard.
- Valuing your full damages: Sideswipe collisions can lead to hidden injuries, loss of work, or future costs that insurance won’t mention. Your attorney accounts for everything, so you don’t settle for less than you need.
By having an attorney handle your claim, you increase your chances of fair treatment and full recovery for all your damages.
Common Injuries in Sideswipe Accidents
People sometimes assume sideswipe accidents are minor because the vehicles only make contact along their side. However, the accident often causes the driver to lose control, and the second impact with a guardrail, pole, or another vehicle is frequently the one that does the damage. These crashes commonly cause:
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Back and spinal injuries
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
You may be entitled to recover compensation for injuries caused by both the initial sideswipe and any secondary collisions that followed.
How Missouri’s Comparative Fault Rule Affects Your Claim
Missouri uses a system called pure comparative fault. Your compensation is reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned to you; if you’re found 20% at fault, you recover 80% of your damages. Unlike some states, Missouri doesn’t cut off your right to recover at any threshold, so you can still bring a claim even if you’re found mostly at fault.
However, every percentage point they can assign to you still costs you money, which is exactly why insurers work to assign you as much blame as possible in a sideswipe case. Pushing back on that number is one of the most valuable things a lawyer does because that means you end up with more of what you’re truly owed.
Get Answers About Your St. Louis Sideswipe Claim
If you were injured in a sideswipe accident, the other driver’s insurance company is going to have a version of events, and it may be very different than what you think really happened. Don’t accept their version, which is likely to blame you (at least partially), without talking to a lawyer first.
Contact Meyerkord & Kurth for a free review of your sideswipe accident claim.