Spring in St. Louis is beautiful. The blooms at the Botanical Gardens, the home opener of the Cardinals season, the first warm evenings on a patio in Lafayette Square — this city comes alive this time of year. But it is also a time when preventable accidents happen at higher rates, and when insurance companies work hardest to pay victims the least. In fact, the insurance companies are ready — ready to minimize, delay, and deny your claim.
At Finney Injury Law, we have seen what happens when victims trust the process and accept a lowball settlement. We have also seen what happens when someone fights back — when a real jury of their neighbors hears the truth about what happened on that road. We go to trial for our clients because we believe justice is not found in a settlement conference. It is found in a courtroom.
Why Spring Is One of the Most Dangerous Seasons on St. Louis Roads
Most people associate dangerous driving with winter ice storms. But spring in St. Louis brings a unique and often underestimated set of hazards. Here is what changes on local roads when the calendar flips to March, April, and May:
Freeze-thaw potholes: St. Louis winters routinely cycle between freezing and thawing, which causes moisture to expand and contract beneath the asphalt. By the time spring arrives, roads throughout the metro area are riddled with potholes that can blow out tires, misalign steering, and cause drivers to swerve into adjacent lanes.
Spring rain and hydroplaning: April is consistently one of St. Louis's rainiest months. A thin film of water mixed with oil and debris on a dry road surface — especially at the start of a rain event — creates near-zero friction. Many drivers do not reduce their speed and rear-end collisions and intersection crashes spike dramatically.
Sudden storms and reduced visibility: Spring in Missouri means unpredictable weather. A clear morning can turn into a hail-producing thunderstorm by afternoon. Drivers caught off guard experience sudden reduced visibility, with some pulling over abruptly or stopping on highways — creating rear-end collision risks.
Increased road construction: Spring marks the beginning of construction season across St. Louis city and county. Merge zones, reduced lanes, and changed traffic patterns near Highway 40, I-270, and dozens of local roads create confusion and collisions — especially when signage is inadequate or workers are present.
More pedestrians and cyclists: Warmer weather brings more people onto sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes throughout St. Louis neighborhoods like the Hill, Soulard, and Tower Grove. Distracted or inattentive drivers are not prepared for the increased foot traffic.
When "Weather" Becomes the Insurance Company's Excuse
Here is what happens far too often after a spring car accident in St. Louis: a driver runs a red light in the rain, slams into your vehicle at an intersection, and causes serious injuries. You file a claim. And the insurance adjuster responds by pointing to the weather.
"Road conditions were a contributing factor." "Visibility was limited for both parties." "Our insured made reasonable efforts given the circumstances."
This is a deliberate tactic. Insurance companies know that weather-related accidents create an aura of ambiguity — and they exploit that ambiguity to reduce their payout. They want you to believe that because it was raining, no one is truly at fault. That is almost never true.
Missouri law is clear: drivers have a duty to adjust their driving behavior for road and weather conditions. Driving 60 mph on a rain-slicked road, failing to leave adequate stopping distance, or running a light because visibility was reduced is not excused by the weather. It is negligence.
The question is whether you have a legal team willing to prove that in front of a jury.
Finney Goes to Trial — And That Changes Everything
Most personal injury law firms settle. They have to — their business model depends on volume, and trials are expensive, time-consuming, and uncertain. Insurance companies know which firms settle and which ones to fight, and they adjust their offers accordingly.
At Finney Injury Law, we are trial lawyers. When we take your case, the insurance company knows we are prepared to stand in front of a jury of twelve St. Louis citizens and tell your story — completely, honestly, and powerfully.
We use a trial-by-human methodology. What does that mean? It means we do not treat your case like a math problem to be solved with a formula. We treat it like what it is: a human story. We present your injuries, your losses, and your life to real people — your neighbors, your community — and we trust them to recognize the truth.
Juries understand spring weather. They drive on these roads. They know what it means to be careful in the rain — and they know the difference between an unavoidable accident and inexcusable negligence.
You deserve more than a check that barely covers your medical bills. You deserve accountability. You deserve a jury of your peers to hear what happened to you.
At Finney Injury Law, we take that responsibility seriously. We go to trial. We fight for St. Louis victims. And we do not stop until justice is done.