Court System for Truck Accidents in St. Louis County
Truck accidents can cause injuries that impact you for a lifetime. The losses you face could cause you a great deal of financial hardship. This is why you deserve to hold all at-fault parties accountable for their actions.
Filing a claim can be difficult, but our team at Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers has the experience to guide you through it. An experienced truck accident attorney could advocate on your behalf to help you get the money you need. Reach out to a St. Louis County truck accident lawyer today to learn how we can help you get your case to the right court.
Levels of Courts for Truck Accident Claims
There are three courts in which the injured parties may file their truck accident case. The most common is small claims court, which is the lowest level court. In small claims court, an individual may file any action up to $5,000.
The next court is the associate circuit court, which is for any case up to $25,000 in damages. If there is any remote possibility that a case is worth more than $25,000, an injured party should file their case in the circuit court.
Cases over $25,000 should be filed in the circuit court. If a person files their claim in either of the lower courts, they will be capped by those limits. A nearby truck crash attorney could help a victim determine how much their case may be worth.
Filing in District Court
If the case is valued at more than $75,000, involves defendants from other states, or involves federal questions, an individual should file their case in the district court. This is called the United States Federal Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
What are Federal Questions in an Auto Wreck Case?
A lawsuit involves federal questions if it triggers federal law. A common example of this is 42 United States Code § 1983 which involves police brutality.
How to Prevent a Case from Ending up in District Court?
Adding a defendant from the State of Missouri to the lawsuit can prevent it from staying in federal court. If the case has is already in federal court, it will be remanded down once those additional defendants are added. A local attorney can assist a potential plaintiff in deciding the best place to file their claim.
Get in Touch with a St. Louis County Truck Accident Attorney Today
Injured parties should not file an auto accident case in associate circuit court or circuit court without hiring an experienced attorney. There are certain rules and regulations that could get limit the amount of money a victim could receive or get the case dismissed entirely.
If you try to take on your case alone, you may lose your chance to receive just compensation that covers the full value of your damages. Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers has a team of professionals who could help you file motions, request discovery, issue subpoenas to the defendant, and when necessary, try the case in court. Call us today to speak with a lawyer in your community about your case and the court system for truck accidents in St.Louis County.