If you’ve been in a car accident in St. Louis, you’re probably wondering whether you need a lawyer or if you can handle the insurance claim yourself. The answer depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, who was at fault, how the insurance company is treating you, and whether liability is disputed. The Dixon Injury Firm’s award-winning legal team has recovered over $60 million for St. Louis injury victims, and we’ve seen firsthand how hiring an experienced attorney can mean the difference between a lowball settlement and full compensation for your injuries.
The Dixon Injury Firm has successfully fought and won against some of the largest insurance companies in Missouri, recovering millions for accident victims who initially thought they didn’t need legal help. Attorney Chris Dixon lives in St. Louis and raises his family here—his children attend local schools—so when we fight for you, we’re fighting for our neighbors. Call (314) 208-2808 today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss whether hiring a lawyer makes sense for your specific situation. You pay nothing unless we win.
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Not every car accident requires an attorney. In certain limited circumstances, you may be able to handle the insurance claim on your own without sacrificing compensation.
Minor property damage only accidents are often straightforward enough to handle yourself. If no one was injured, the other driver was clearly at fault, their insurance company has accepted liability, and you only need your vehicle repaired, you may not need legal representation. These claims typically involve getting repair estimates, submitting them to the at-fault driver’s insurance company, and receiving payment for property damage.
Very minor soft tissue injuries with quick recovery might not require an attorney. If you went to the doctor once or twice, missed no work, fully recovered within a week or two, and the insurance company is offering to pay your medical bills plus a reasonable amount for your minor inconvenience, you might be able to settle directly. However, be careful—what seems minor can sometimes develop into chronic problems weeks or months later.
Clear liability with cooperative insurance companies is rare, but it happens. If the other driver rear-ended you at a stoplight, admitted fault, their insurance company immediately accepted liability, you have minimal medical treatment, and the insurer is offering fair compensation without hassle, you might be able to resolve the claim without an attorney.
The problem? These ideal circumstances are uncommon. Insurance companies know that unrepresented claimants typically accept far less than represented claimants, so they have financial incentive to minimize your payout even in seemingly straightforward cases.
In the vast majority of car accident cases involving injuries, hiring an experienced attorney significantly increases your compensation and protects your legal rights. Here are situations when you absolutely should consult with a St. Louis car accident lawyer.
Serious or permanent injuries always warrant legal representation. If you’ve suffered traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, broken bones, back injuries, neck injuries, or any injury requiring surgery or long-term treatment, you need an attorney. These cases involve substantial medical expenses, lost wages, and future care needs that insurance companies will try to minimize. Our firm has recovered millions for clients with serious injuries, including a $2.75 million premises liability settlement and a $1.175 million car crash settlement.
Disputed liability requires legal expertise to prove fault. If the other driver is claiming you caused the accident, or if the insurance company is trying to shift blame to you, you need an attorney to investigate the crash, gather evidence, interview witnesses, and potentially reconstruct the accident scene. Missouri follows pure comparative fault rules, meaning your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault—so even being found 20% at fault can cost you thousands of dollars.
Insurance company denial or delay tactics are red flags. If the insurance company is denying your claim, offering an unreasonably low settlement, delaying your claim for weeks without explanation, requesting the same documents repeatedly, or pressuring you to settle quickly, hire an attorney immediately. These are common tactics insurers use to frustrate unrepresented claimants into accepting less than they deserve. We’ve fought and won against major insurance corporations that employ these strategies.
Multiple parties or complex accidents require legal navigation. Accidents involving commercial trucks, rideshare vehicles like Uber or Lyft, multiple vehicles, government entities, or businesses create complex liability questions. These cases often involve multiple insurance policies, corporate defendants with teams of lawyers, and complicated legal issues that unrepresented individuals cannot effectively handle.
Significant lost income justifies hiring an attorney. If your injuries caused you to miss substantial work, lost you a business opportunity, or threaten your future earning capacity, you need legal representation to accurately calculate and prove these economic damages. Insurance companies routinely undervalue lost wage claims from unrepresented claimants.
Long-term or permanent symptoms that develop over time require legal protection. What starts as minor neck pain can evolve into chronic issues requiring ongoing treatment. If you settle your claim too early without an attorney, you cannot reopen it later when you discover the full extent of your injuries. Lawyers understand when to settle and when to wait until you’ve reached maximum medical improvement.
Contact The Dixon Injury Firm at (314) 208-2808 for a free consultation. With over $60 million recovered for clients and 25+ years of combined legal experience, we can evaluate your case and advise you honestly about whether you need legal representation.
Many accident victims initially believe they can save money by handling the insurance claim themselves. Here’s what typically happens when you go it alone against an insurance company.
Insurance adjusters will take advantage of your lack of legal knowledge. They may ask you to give recorded statements that they’ll later use against you, request you sign medical authorizations that give them access to your entire medical history (looking for pre-existing conditions to blame), or tell you that you don’t need a lawyer because the claim is “simple.” Remember: the adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. Their job is to minimize what their company pays you.
You’ll likely accept a low settlement without knowing it. Studies consistently show that represented claimants receive significantly higher settlements than unrepresented claimants, even after attorney fees. Why? Because attorneys know how to accurately value claims, including future medical expenses, long-term impacts on quality of life, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering. Insurance companies count on you not knowing what your case is truly worth.
You may settle before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Insurance companies often pressure unrepresented victims to settle quickly—sometimes within days or weeks of the accident. But many injuries worsen over time or require ongoing treatment. Once you sign a release and accept a settlement, you cannot reopen your claim later, even if you discover you need surgery or develop chronic pain.
You’ll miss important deadlines and legal requirements. Missouri law has specific requirements for preserving evidence, notifying insurers, and filing lawsuits. Missing a deadline can destroy your claim entirely. While Missouri allows five years to file personal injury lawsuits, evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and delays can harm your case. Attorneys know how to preserve your legal rights from day one.
You won’t have the resources to fight back effectively. Insurance companies have teams of adjusters, lawyers, investigators, and medical experts working to minimize your claim. As an individual, you don’t have the resources to hire accident reconstructionists, obtain expert medical testimony, or conduct thorough investigations. Law firms like ours invest our own resources into building the strongest possible case for our clients.
The question isn’t just whether you need a lawyer, but whether hiring one will result in more money in your pocket after fees. The answer is almost always yes in cases involving any significant injury.
Accurate case valuation means higher compensation. Our firm has been exposed to thousands of personal injury cases throughout Missouri. We know what car accident cases are worth based on the severity of injuries, the insurance policy limits, the defendant’s assets, and the jurisdiction where the case would be tried. We don’t guess—we calculate your damages based on actual medical bills, documented lost wages, future medical needs, and the going rate for pain and suffering in similar cases in St. Louis courts.
Negotiation expertise levels the playing field. Insurance companies negotiate settlements every day. You don’t. Experienced attorneys know when an offer is fair and when to push back. We understand insurance company tactics, know what leverage we have, and won’t let adjusters take advantage of our clients. Our track record includes a $1.175 million car crash settlement and a $1 million uninsured motorist auto accident recovery—results our clients would never have achieved negotiating alone.
We handle all communication and paperwork. After a car accident, you should focus on your medical recovery, not battling with insurance companies. When you hire us, we take over all communication with insurers, handle all paperwork, track down medical records, obtain police reports, gather evidence, and build your case while you heal. You don’t have to worry about missing a deadline or saying something that hurts your claim.
We’re not afraid to file a lawsuit if necessary. Insurance companies know that most unrepresented claimants won’t file a lawsuit—they’ll eventually accept whatever the insurer offers because the process is too overwhelming. When you hire an attorney, especially one with a track record of winning at trial, insurance companies take your claim seriously. They know we will file suit, conduct discovery, hire experts, and take the case to trial if they don’t offer fair compensation. This significantly increases settlement values.
Contingency fee arrangements mean no upfront costs. The Dixon Injury Firm works on a contingency fee basis: you pay nothing unless we win. We advance all case costs, invest our own resources in building your case, and only get paid a percentage of your recovery if we successfully obtain compensation. This means you get experienced legal representation without financial risk. Even after paying attorney fees, clients typically net significantly more than they would have received handling the claim themselves.
Don’t face the insurance company alone. Our award-winning legal team has recovered over $60 million for St. Louis injury victims. Call (314) 208-2808 for a free case evaluation.
Understanding how insurance companies operate helps you see why legal representation matters. Here are tactics insurers commonly use against accident victims without lawyers.
Quick settlement pressure: Adjusters call you repeatedly in the days after your accident, offering to “settle this quickly” before you’ve finished medical treatment or consulted an attorney. They know that early settlements are usually dramatically undervalued because the full extent of injuries hasn’t yet been determined.
Requesting recorded statements: Insurance companies ask you to give recorded statements about the accident, ostensibly to “get your side of the story.” They’ll use these statements to find inconsistencies, get you to admit partial fault, or catch you minimizing your injuries. You’re not required to give the at-fault driver’s insurance company a recorded statement, and you shouldn’t without consulting an attorney.
Blaming you for the accident: Even when their insured clearly caused the crash, insurance companies often try to shift some or all of the blame to you. Under Missouri’s comparative fault system, every percentage of fault assigned to you reduces your compensation by that amount. Insurers know that unrepresented claimants often don’t have the resources to fight back with evidence, so they try this tactic routinely.
Minimizing your injuries: Adjusters suggest that your injuries aren’t that serious, that you don’t need ongoing treatment, or that your complaints are exaggerated. They may hire private investigators to surveil you, comb through your social media looking for photos that suggest you’re not really hurt, or point to pre-existing conditions in your medical history.
Delaying the claim process: Some insurers slow-walk claims, taking weeks to respond to communications, repeatedly requesting the same documents, or claiming they need “more information” before evaluating your claim. They hope you’ll become frustrated and accept whatever they offer just to end the process.
Making unreasonably low offers: Insurance companies often make initial offers that are 10-20% of what a case is actually worth, hoping you don’t know any better. When you reject the offer, they may slightly increase it, giving the impression they’re negotiating in good faith while still offering far less than fair compensation.
Using legal jargon and complex paperwork: Insurers send documents filled with legal language, hoping you’ll sign something without fully understanding it. Releases, authorizations, and settlement agreements often contain provisions that benefit the insurance company and limit your rights.
An experienced attorney knows these tactics and protects you from them. We handle all communication with insurance companies, so you don’t have to navigate these manipulative strategies alone.
Understanding Missouri personal injury law helps you see why legal expertise matters in car accident cases. Here are key legal issues that affect your claim.
Missouri’s five-year statute of limitations gives you five years from the date of your car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (RSMo § 516.120). While five years seems like plenty of time, you shouldn’t wait. Evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories fade, and insurance companies become less willing to settle as time passes. Additionally, if a government vehicle was involved, you may have as little as 90 days to file a notice of claim.
Pure comparative fault rules in Missouri allow you to recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident (RSMo § 537.765). However, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re found 30% at fault and your damages are $100,000, you receive $70,000. Insurance companies aggressively try to assign fault to unrepresented claimants because every percentage point they shift to you reduces their payout. Attorneys know how to fight these allegations with evidence.
Missouri’s minimum insurance requirements are 25/50/25: $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. These minimums are woefully inadequate if you’re seriously injured. If the at-fault driver carries only minimum coverage, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may provide additional compensation—but insurance companies don’t volunteer to pay from these policies. Attorneys know how to identify all available insurance coverage.
Damages available in Missouri include economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, property damage, future medical expenses, loss of earning capacity) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring and disfigurement). Calculating these damages accurately requires legal expertise. In cases involving drunk drivers or egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be available.
Missouri’s “made whole” doctrine in subrogation cases can affect how much you ultimately keep from your settlement. If your health insurance or medical payments coverage paid some of your bills, they may have a right to reimbursement from your settlement. Experienced attorneys can often negotiate these liens down significantly, putting more money in your pocket.
These legal complexities demonstrate why handling a car accident claim yourself puts you at a significant disadvantage. The insurance company has lawyers; you should too.
When you choose The Dixon Injury Firm to represent you, you get more than legal advice—you get an award-winning team with the experience, resources, and commitment to maximize your compensation.
Proven track record against major insurance companies: We’ve successfully fought and won against some of the largest insurance corporations in Missouri. Our case results include a $30 million sexual assault wrongful death case, a $12 million wrongful death settlement, a $2 million commercial bus crash settlement, and a $1.175 million car crash settlement. Insurance companies know our reputation and take our demands seriously.
Award-winning legal team: Attorney Chris Dixon has been recognized as a Super Lawyers® honoree for 2024-2025, named a “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” by the National Trial Lawyers Association, and is a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum—an organization limited to the top 1% of trial lawyers in the United States. These credentials reflect real results for real clients.
Deep St. Louis roots and community commitment: Chris Dixon isn’t just a St. Louis lawyer—he’s a St. Louisan who chose to build his life and raise his family here. He grew up in St. Louis, graduated from Lindbergh High School, and today his children attend local schools in the area. When we fight for injured St. Louisans, we’re fighting for our neighbors—people who shop at the same stores, drive the same roads like Highways 40, 44, 70, and 270, and care about the same community we call home.
Over $60 million recovered for injury victims: Our firm has recovered more than $60 million in compensation for clients throughout Missouri. This track record demonstrates our ability to maximize case value through skillful negotiation and, when necessary, aggressive litigation.
Personalized attention to every case: You’re not just a case number to us. Every client receives individualized legal strategies tailored to their specific circumstances. You’ll work directly with your attorney, not just paralegals or support staff. We take the time to understand how your injuries have affected your life, your family, and your future.
No fee unless we win: We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront and owe nothing unless we successfully recover compensation for you. We advance all case costs and only get paid if you get paid. This eliminates financial barriers to quality legal representation.
Resources to build the strongest case: We have relationships with accident reconstruction experts, medical specialists, economists, vocational rehabilitation experts, and other professionals who can provide testimony supporting your claim. We invest our own resources in building your case because we’re confident in our ability to deliver results.
Experience with all types of car accidents: Whether you were injured in a rear-end collision, head-on collision, side-impact crash, hit-and-run accident, or crash with an uninsured motorist, we have the experience to handle your case effectively.
Time matters in personal injury cases. Evidence must be preserved, witnesses must be interviewed while memories are fresh, and insurance companies must be put on notice that you have serious legal representation. Call (314) 208-2808 today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Many accident victims hesitate to hire a lawyer because they’re worried about legal fees. Understanding how contingency fee arrangements work shows why cost shouldn’t be a barrier to quality representation.
You pay nothing upfront. Unlike other types of attorneys who charge hourly fees or require retainers, personal injury lawyers working on contingency don’t require any money upfront. You can hire an experienced attorney even if you’re struggling financially after your accident.
We only get paid if you get paid. If we don’t recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing. This arrangement aligns our interests with yours—we’re motivated to maximize your recovery because our fee depends on your success.
Attorney fees are a percentage of your recovery. Contingency fees in personal injury cases are typically a percentage of your total recovery. This percentage varies depending on the complexity of the case and whether it settles before or after filing a lawsuit. We clearly explain our fee structure during your free consultation, so there are no surprises.
You typically net more even after paying attorney fees. Studies show that represented claimants receive settlements that are, on average, three to four times higher than unrepresented claimants receive—even after attorney fees. For example, if an insurance company would offer you $20,000 without an attorney but an attorney negotiates a $75,000 settlement with a 33% contingency fee, you net approximately $50,000—more than double what you would have received on your own.
Case costs are advanced by the firm. In addition to attorney time, cases involve costs like filing fees, expert witness fees, medical record fees, deposition costs, and investigation expenses. We advance these costs, meaning you don’t pay them out of pocket. If we recover compensation, these costs are typically deducted from your settlement. If we don’t recover anything, you owe nothing.
Free consultations mean you can get answers without risk. We offer free, no-obligation consultations to evaluate your case. You can meet with us, explain what happened, get answers to your questions, and receive honest advice about whether hiring an attorney makes sense for your situation—all without spending a dime.
The contingency fee model makes experienced legal representation accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. Don’t let cost concerns prevent you from getting the legal help you deserve.
If you’re wondering whether you need a lawyer for your St. Louis car accident claim, the answer depends on your specific circumstances. At The Dixon Injury Firm, we offer free consultations where we evaluate your case, answer your questions, and provide honest advice about your best path forward—even if that means handling the claim yourself.
In most cases involving any significant injury, hiring an experienced attorney dramatically increases your compensation and protects your legal rights. Insurance companies have teams of professionals working to minimize what they pay you. You deserve experienced representation fighting for your maximum recovery.
Our award-winning legal team has recovered over $60 million for injury victims throughout St. Louis and Missouri. We’ve fought and won against major insurance corporations, recovered millions in catastrophic injury cases, and helped thousands of accident victims get the compensation they deserve.
Attorney Chris Dixon lives in St. Louis and raises his family here—his children attend local schools in our community. When we represent you, we’re representing our neighbors, our friends, and our fellow St. Louisans. We understand what it means to drive on Hampton Avenue during rush hour, navigate the Highway 40/270 interchange, or deal with dangerous intersections throughout the metro area because we drive these roads every day.
We work on a contingency fee basis—no fee unless we win. You have nothing to lose by calling us today and everything to gain.
Call (314) 208-2808 now or contact us online to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. Let us evaluate your case, answer your questions, and help you make an informed decision about your car accident claim. Don’t let the insurance company take advantage of you. Get experienced legal representation on your side from day one.
Most car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront and nothing unless they recover compensation for you. The attorney fee is typically a percentage of your settlement or verdict. At The Dixon Injury Firm, we offer free consultations and only get paid if we win your case.
Insurance adjusters often tell unrepresented claimants they don’t need lawyers because they know people without legal representation typically accept far less money. The adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. Their goal is to minimize what their company pays. You should get independent legal advice from an attorney who represents your interests, not the insurance company’s.
While attorneys may take more time to thoroughly investigate your case and build maximum value, this typically results in significantly higher compensation that more than makes up for the wait. Insurance companies often use quick settlement pressure to get unrepresented claimants to accept lowball offers before they understand the full extent of their injuries. A short delay usually means substantially more money in your pocket.
Yes, you can hire an attorney at any point during the claims process, as long as you haven’t already signed a settlement release. However, the earlier you hire an attorney, the better. Some damage may have already been done if you gave recorded statements, signed medical authorizations, or made statements that hurt your case. Call us immediately if you’ve been handling your claim and the insurance company is being difficult.
Many serious injuries don’t become apparent immediately after an accident. Soft tissue injuries, concussions, herniated discs, and other conditions can worsen over days or weeks. If you settle your claim too quickly, you cannot reopen it later when you discover the full extent of your injuries. At minimum, consult with an attorney before making any decisions about settling your claim.
The timeline varies depending on the complexity of your case, the severity of your injuries, and whether the insurance company makes a fair offer. Simple cases with clear liability and minor injuries might settle in a few months. Complex cases involving serious injuries, disputed liability, or multiple parties may take a year or longer. Your attorney will work efficiently while ensuring your case is fully developed to maximize your compensation.
Bring any documentation you have, including the police report, photos of the accident scene and your injuries, medical records and bills, correspondence with insurance companies, and information about the other driver. However, don’t let a lack of documentation delay your consultation. We can help you gather necessary evidence if you don’t have everything yet.
Most car accident cases settle without going to trial. However, having an attorney willing and able to take your case to court if necessary significantly increases settlement value. Insurance companies know The Dixon Injury Firm has a proven trial record, which motivates them to make fair settlement offers. If your case does go to trial, we’ll guide you through every step of the process.
Missouri allows drivers to operate without insurance or with only minimum coverage. If you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may provide compensation. These claims involve dealing with your own insurance company, which can be complex. An attorney can help you navigate uninsured motorist claims and identify all available sources of compensation.
Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident, ideally before giving any statements to insurance companies or signing any documents. While Missouri’s statute of limitations gives you five years to file a lawsuit, evidence disappears quickly, witnesses’ memories fade, and early mistakes can hurt your case. The sooner we can begin investigating your accident and preserving evidence, the stronger your case will be.
Many personal injury law factories get as many clients in the door as possible, hoping one will be the jackpot. Not us. At The Dixon Injury Firm, we’re highly selective about our cases because we devote considerable time and attention to each client.
