Every fall, St. Louis County sees a rise in car accidents tied to deer, wet and leaf-covered roads, and shorter daylight hours. When one of those crashes turns your life upside down, you need a firm that has actually tried cases to a St. Louis County jury, not just settled them.
Updated August 2026
Insurance adjusters like to treat fall crashes as bad luck: a deer ran out, the leaves were slick, the sun was in someone's eyes. Sometimes that framing is fair. Often it is a way to avoid asking whether a driver was following too closely, driving too fast for conditions, or simply not paying attention.
Our job is to find out which one it was, document it, and hold the right party accountable. We approach every fall car accident case in St. Louis County the same way we approach every case: prepared to take it to trial if that is what it takes to get a fair result.
Deer activity increases sharply during Missouri's fall mating season. St. Louis County's wooded parks and greenways, including areas near Creve Coeur Lake, Queeny Park, Lone Elk Park, and Castlewood State Park, put more deer near roadways at exactly the time commuters are driving in reduced daylight.
Fallen leaves on corridors like Manchester Road, Big Bend Boulevard, Clayton Road, and Olive Boulevard can hide lane markings and turn slick when wet, extending stopping distances well beyond what drivers expect.
As daylight hours shrink, the sun sits lower on the horizon during the morning and evening commute, creating dangerous glare on east-west routes like I-64/US-40, I-44, and I-270.
Fall brings school buses, drop-off congestion, and evening traffic around county high schools during football and other sports seasons, all of which add unpredictable stops and pedestrian activity to routes drivers travel every day.
In March of 2021, a self-made business owner was driving his truck when another driver ran a red light and hit him. He underwent multiple disc replacements in his neck, a spinal fusion in his lower back, and a recovery complicated by blood clots that threatened his life. He had to hand his business over to others and watch from the sidelines while he healed.
The insurance company never offered him what the case was worth. So we took it to trial. A St. Louis County jury of twelve heard his story and returned a verdict of $10,000,000.
Past results do not guarantee a future outcome, and every case depends on its own facts. These are public-record verdicts from St. Louis County that show what trial-prepared representation can produce.
Self-made business owner hit by a red-light runner. Multiple disc replacements, lumbar fusion, blood clots. St. Louis County jury awarded $10M. Read full story →
Insurer said her wrist injury was healed. A unanimous St. Louis County jury disagreed in 15 minutes, awarding 10x the last offer. Read full story →
Photograph wet or leaf-covered pavement, lighting conditions, and any animal involved. Fall-specific evidence disappears quickly, and it is often the difference in disputes over fault.
Some injuries from a jarring impact do not show symptoms right away. A documented medical record protects both your health and your claim.
We deal with adjusters directly, including those who try to frame a fall crash as an unavoidable seasonal event rather than investigating what actually happened.
We have tried car accident cases to verdict in St. Louis County Circuit Court. That posture is what creates leverage for a fair settlement, and it is why our results speak for themselves.
Deer activity during peak rut season in October and November, wet or leaf-covered roads that reduce traction on corridors like Manchester Road, Big Bend Boulevard, and Olive Boulevard, low sun glare during commutes on routes like I-64/US-40 and I-44 as daylight hours shorten, and increased traffic around schools and evening sports events.
Yes. Deer activity rises sharply during October and November. A crash caused by swerving to avoid a deer, or a collision with one directly, can still involve driver negligence, including following distance, speed for conditions, and failure to keep a proper lookout. Insurers often try to treat these claims as unavoidable rather than investigate what a driver actually did.
Wet or slick, leaf-covered pavement does not excuse a driver from adjusting speed and following distance. Under Missouri's pure comparative fault system, a driver who travels too fast for conditions can still be held liable, and you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault.
Missouri sets specific filing deadlines for car accident claims, and they can vary depending on the facts, including whether a minor or a wrongful death is involved. Because missing a deadline can end a claim entirely, it's best to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Insurance companies value claims differently depending on whether they believe the firm on the other side will actually take a case to trial in that county. Finney Injury Law has tried car accident cases to verdict in St. Louis County Circuit Court, including a $10 million verdict for a business owner hit by a red-light runner. That history is public record, and it factors into how adjusters approach new claims.
The decisions you make in the days after a crash affect your ability to recover fair compensation. Free case review. An attorney personally reviews every case. English- and Spanish-speaking staff available.