When misfortune strikes in the form of a personal injury, the path to justice and recovery can feel overwhelming in University City, Missouri. At Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand the profound impact such events can have on your life and the lives of your loved ones. Our University City personal injury attorneys are here for you.
The shock and pain of injury, the unfamiliar hospital setting, the violent interruption of your daily routine, and mounting medical bills with no obvious way to pay them can leave you reeling. At Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re here to help. We have worked with hundreds of personal injury clients in University City, MO, since 2010, and we have experienced tragedy in our own lives as well.
If you were injured in an accident, contact our University City personal injury lawyer by calling (314) 444-4444 for a free consultation.
How Our University City Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Accident
With over 100 years of combined experience in personal injury law, Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers serves as a beacon of hope for the residents of University City, Missouri. Over the years, we have brought in over $50 million for our clients, and more accumulates daily. We have earned a strong reputation as effective advocates who will fight to get you fair compensation through settlement or at trial.
Our University City personal injury lawyers can help you in a multitude of ways, including the following:
- Case evaluation: Examining the facts of your case to provide a clear understanding of its merits and the potential for compensation.
- Statute of limitations: Ensuring that your claim is filed within Missouri’s statute of limitations to preserve your right to pursue compensation.
- Evidence collection: Gathering evidence such as medical records, eyewitness accounts, and photographs to build a strong claim.
- Legal representation: Representing you in all legal proceedings, including negotiations with defendants and insurers, and at trial if necessary.
- Expert witnesses: Obtaining testimony from medical experts, accident reconstruction experts, and financial experts to support your claim and prove the amount of your damages.
- Insurance negotiations: Negotiating with insurance companies to settle your claim without falling for lowball offers or intimidation tactics.
- Comparative fault: Minimizing the extent to which you may be held partially liable for your own injuries.
- Calculating damages: Accurately calculating your damages including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, punitive damages, and estimated future damages.
- Litigation: Represent you at trial if your case does not settle.
- Legal advice and support: Offering compassionate legal advice and emotional support throughout the claims process.
Ultimately, only you can take the first step towards justice in your case. Once you do that, our University City personal injury attorneys will fight to make sure you obtain every dime in compensation that you deserve.
Our Personal Injury Law Firm’s Primary Practice Areas
It is possible to break down personal injury claims into dozens of different practice areas. Below is a listing of some of the most common types of claims that our legal team works on:
Car Accidents
University City, Missouri roads have unfortunately seen a lot of accidents.
Missouri administers an “at-fault” car accident insurance system. This allows injury victims to get compensation for their medical expenses and lost earnings by filing lawsuits or third-party claims against the at-fault party’s auto liability insurance policy.
Dog Bites
Although anyone can be victimized by an aggressive dog, children are particularly vulnerable. In Missouri, you don’t need to prove that the dog owner was negligent in order to win your dog bite claim. Fortunately, homeowner’s insurance and renter’s insurance typically cover dog bite claims.
Motorcycle Accidents
Your mother was right—motorcycles are dangerous. They lack the frame protection of an automobile. Catastrophic injuries and road rash are common in motorcycle accidents. Legal complications arise when the rider fails to wear a helmet or when the rider dies from their injuries.
Truck Accidents
Unlike motorcycles, trucks cause death and catastrophic injuries not because they are small, but because they are large. A fully loaded eighteen-wheeler can weigh 80,000 pounds. Trucking is a highly regulated industry, which provides ample opportunity to prove negligence through regulatory violations. Commercial truckers are also very well insured.
Construction Accidents
Construction is one of the most dangerous occupations available. Construction workers are injured on the job more than any other major occupational group, with the possible exception of coal miners. While most of these claims are subject to workers’ compensation limitations, some are not.
Medical Malpractice
A medical malpractice case arises when a medical professional, such as a doctor or a hospital, harms a patient through professional negligence. These cases can be difficult to prove, but they can result in large verdicts and settlements once liability is established.
Product Liability
A product liability claim arises when you are injured by a product that is defective and unreasonably dangerous. If you file a strict product liability claim, you can sue any party in the chain of distribution. You may not even have to prove fault to win. However, product liability claims are often scientifically complex.
Slip & Fall Cases
Although older adults are particularly vulnerable to slip and fall accidents, anyone can fall down a flight of stairs or slip on a wet floor. Liability is particularly likely if the defendant is a retail establishment and the injured victim is a customer.
Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation allows a worker who is injured on the job to establish liability without proving fault on the part of the employer. Workers’ compensation insurance provides permanent disability payments in some cases and can also pay out in cases of wrongful death.
Wrongful Death Cases
A personal injury claim can become a wrongful death claim once the victim dies from their injuries. Typically, a close relative will file the lawsuit on behalf of eligible relatives and the victim’s probate estate.
What Kind of Evidence Do You Need to Win a Personal Injury Claim in University City?
There are many different items of evidence that you might need to resolve a personal injury or wrongful death claim, including:
- Accident reports: In cases of injuries on commercial premises or at work.
- Cell phone records: To establish a claim of distracted driving or distracted operation of machinery.
- The contents of a vehicle’s event data recorder (“black box”): Commercial trucks and many automobiles carry event data recorders that record critical information about an accident, such as speed and braking time.
- Expert testimony: Statements from accident reconstruction experts, medical experts, etc.
- Medical Bills: Documentation of all expenses related to the injury treatment and services.
- Photographs of Injuries: Taken immediately after the incident and throughout the recovery process.
- Photographs of the accident scene: To show the layout, lighting, weather conditions, and any hazards.
- Police Report: An official report of the injury resulting from an incident like a car accident. Police reports are useful in settlement negotiations.
- Safety Records: For workplace injuries, records of workplace safety violations.
- Surveillance Footage: Video from nearby cameras that captured the incident.
- Travel Receipts: Receipts related to injury treatment, such as trips to specialists or hospitals.
- Witness Statements: Accounts from people who saw the incident or who can testify about the injury’s impact.
Hundreds of more items of evidence are possible, depending on the circumstances of your case.
Damages Available in University City Personal Injury Cases
Missouri recognizes three broad categories of damages–economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
- Economic damages such as medical bills, lost work time, child care expenses
- Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress
- Punitive damages if the defendant’s behavior was outrageous
It is common for non-economic damages to constitute the majority of compensation. Defendants almost never agree to punitive damages in settlement negotiations.
What Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in St. Louis County?
Many St. Louis County, Missouri personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee system. Under this system, you pay nothing upfront. If you win your claim, your legal fees will equal a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation. If you don’t win, you will owe us nothing in legal fees.
Statute of Limitations in Missouri Personal Injury Cases
The Missouri statute of limitations for personal injury is five years after the accident. The wrongful death statute of limitations is three years from the date of the victim’s death. You must file a lawsuit, if at all before the statute of limitations deadline expires.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With a University City Personal Injury Lawyer
It can be difficult to assess the true value of a personal injury or wrongful death claim in University City, MO. A skilled University City personal injury attorney can help you determine the value of your claim and get the compensation you deserve.
Schedule a free initial consultation with Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers so that we can explore your options.
