Dealing with the aftermath of a pedestrian accident in St. Louis can be overwhelming. You may be facing painful injuries, unexpected medical bills, and uncertainty about how to pursue compensation. At Sub:BusinessName}, we understand what injured pedestrians go through because we’ve helped many Missouri residents navigate these same challenges. Our goal is to guide you through the insurance process, explain your legal options, and help secure the financial support you need to recover. If you’re wondering how a pedestrian accident affects your rights, insurance benefits, or financial future, this blog is written for you.
Who Pays for Your Damages After a Pedestrian Accident?
If you're struck by a vehicle in St. Louis, the driver’s auto liability insurance typically pays for your medical bills, lost income, and other losses—up to the policy limits. Missouri follows comparative fault rules, meaning that even if the insurance company claims you share some responsibility, you can still recover compensation. Your payment may simply be reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned.
Unfortunately, minimum coverage in Missouri is only $25,000 per person for bodily injury—an amount that doesn’t come close to covering many pedestrian injuries. If the driver has too little insurance or disputes fault, you may need to rely on your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. This can be a crucial safety net, especially when injuries are severe.
Evidence such as eyewitness statements, traffic camera footage, and police reports can significantly strengthen your claim. Because insurers often try to limit payouts, having legal help ensures you aren’t blamed unfairly or pressured into accepting less than you deserve.
Will Your Insurance Rates Go Up After a Pedestrian Accident?
Many pedestrian victims worry whether filing a claim under their own UM/UIM coverage will raise their insurance rates. Although rate increases are less common for victims compared to at-fault drivers, some insurers still raise premiums after any claim, especially large medical claims.
Factors that may influence a rate increase include:
- The size of the payout
- Whether law enforcement was involved
- Your prior claims history
- The type of coverage used (such as MedPay or UM/UIM)
If your insurer raises your rates unfairly, you can request written explanations, dispute incorrect information in your claims report, or shop for more competitive coverage. A knowledgeable attorney can help challenge improper surcharges.
Does Auto Insurance Cover Injuries to Pedestrians?
As a pedestrian, your medical costs are generally paid first by the driver’s liability coverage—again, up to their policy limit. If the driver is uninsured or carries bare-minimum coverage, your UM/UIM insurance can help fill the gap. Missouri requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, which is especially important for pedestrians hit by uninsured or hit-and-run drivers.
If you don’t have auto insurance, your health insurance may help pay for treatment. However, health insurers often seek reimbursement from any settlement you receive, making the claims process more complicated.
Understanding how different types of coverage interact—auto liability, health insurance, MedPay, UM/UIM—is critical to ensuring you’re not left paying out-of-pocket.
How Insurance Investigations Affect Pedestrian Claims
After a pedestrian accident, insurance companies move quickly to investigate. Their adjusters may:
- Visit the scene
- Examine intersection or traffic camera footage.
- Interview witnesses
- Review medical records
- Request your statement
- While Missouri insurers must investigate claims promptly, delays are common when injuries are severe or when they attempt to shift blame.
As the injured person, you must provide accurate information and meet documentation deadlines, but you do not have to accept unfair statements or assumptions about fault. Keeping organized records—medical bills, photos, witness information, and correspondence—helps protect your claim.
What If the Driver Doesn’t Have Enough Insurance?
Sadly, many pedestrian victims find out too late that the at-fault driver had little or no insurance. In these situations, your UM/UIM coverage may be your best option for recovering compensation. This can cover:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
But proving the driver was uninsured or underinsured, as well as showing the full extent of your losses, can be challenging. Insurers often require substantial documentation and may still dispute your injuries or damages.
If you don’t have auto insurance, you may have to rely on health insurance or seek help through programs such as the Missouri Crime Victims Compensation Program—especially in hit-and-run cases.
Contact Us Today
If you’re suffering from serious injuries, facing disputed fault, or struggling to get fair treatment from an insurance company, speaking with a lawyer quickly can protect your rights. At Sedey Harper Westhoff, we are ready to fight for you and your rights. Call us at (314) 819-0963 for support.
Contact us today to get started with our team.