Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer
We represent clients in personal injury cases across the State of Missouri. A personal injury can be one of the most traumatic events you or your family experiences. “Personal Injury” is a broad term that encompasses most injuries that a victim can suffer as the result of another person’s actions, whether intentional or negligent in nature. Sometimes the injury results in physical disabilities, lost income or wages, significant scarring and disfigurement, and mental health injuries as well. Personal injuries typically result in lasting effects beyond the physical and mental injuries. Medical bills from hospitals, rehabilitation, and other healthcare providers can accumulate significantly—and sometimes indefinitely.
A personal injury lawyer can contact each of these providers for the victim and obtain all of the medical records and medical billing records to prepare for settlement or a lawsuit. The attorney can also contact the relevant witnesses early in the case to obtain statements and accumulate evidence before it disappears. Once these records are compiled and the witnesses interviewed, the case can be evaluated for settlement or trial. It is common that the victim of a personal injury will incur future medical bills, both known and unknown. These future medical bills must be considered in any personal injury trial or settlement, as once settlement is reached or a jury verdict is rendered, the decision is final. Many times, expert witnesses such as accident reconstructionists, treating physicians, surgeons, and economists can be, or need to be, used to address liability and damages issues.
If you are the victim of an injury, it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer quickly. First, both physical evidence and witness testimony can be compromised with the passage of time, or even disappear. Second, the statute of limitations may bar a lawsuit from ever being filed if the victim does not contact a personal injury attorney to file the lawsuit in a timely manner. Lastly, the defendant’s insurance company will attempt to obtain statements from the victim that are only beneficial for their company. These adjusters typically act very friendly initially, until they have the information they want. It is important never to speak with the other party’s insurance company, but to tell them you have hired a personal injury lawyer. Remember, insurance companies are in the business of making money, and they make money by not paying you.
Once a case is settled, or a judgment rendered, lien-holding creditors must be paid from the funds you receive. Fortunately, an experienced personal injury lawyer is typically able to negotiate reduced bills or use Missouri statutes to reduce liens, including those from Medicaid and Medicare. This is vital and significant for any person who has suffered a personal injury, as it directly affects the amount of money the victim can retain after medical bills and other expenses have been paid.
Unfortunately, serious injuries or death can occur, resulting in significant life changes or death. We represent victims of personal injuries in obtaining compensation for these damages. Compensation generally comes from the defendant “tortfeasor” through settlement or litigation. Victims are typically paid through insurance or by collecting against the defendant’s personal assets, though other sources are sometimes available.
It is common for a client to come to us in a hopeless and overwhelmed state of mind. With medical bills accumulating and missed workdays causing additional anxiety, an experienced personal injury lawyer can deal with the defendant and insurance companies, inform you during the process, put your mind at ease, and keep the creditors at bay while you heal. We also take all of our personal injury cases on a “contingency fee,” not an hourly fee. This means that you do not pay any attorney fees until we recover a settlement or verdict for you.