FAQs
How do I know that I have a St. Louis Personal injury case?
Car accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and workplace accidents are some of the most types of personal injury cases. If you can prove that your injuries were someone else’s fault, you likely have a case.
The most frequent basis for compensation is through a legal theory called “negligence.” Negligence has four elements and you must prove all of them to win your case. The four elements of negligence are:
The defendant owed you, the plaintiff, a “duty of care.” (Needed to act in a certain way)
The defendant violated that duty of care in one or more ways.
The defendant’s violation of that duty of care directly caused you damage.
You suffered economic and non-economic damages as the result of the Defendant.
While negligence is the most common way to pursue a personal injury claim, it is not the only way. For a more complete explanation and analysis of your situation, call us at 314-222-4223 for a free case evaluation.
I do not have the money to pay a lawyer, can you still take my case?
ABSOLUTELY YES. At our firm, we utilize contingency fee agreements, meaning that we do not get paid unless we win your case! We understand that your personal injury case almost certainly has caused significant financial hardship on you and your family. The last thing we want to do is add to the stress, that is why we take every case on a contingency so that you do not have to worry about paying us for our services.
We advance all of the costs of pursuing your case; collecting records, hiring investigators, filing fees, etc., and you do not and will not owe us a dime unless and until we win your case. Moverover, we guarantee that our fees will never exceed your share of the recovery, regardless of the circumstances.
How much is my case worth?
It’s hard to evaluate a case without seeing all the evidence and we believe any lawyer or law firm telling you how much your case is worth before they have done any work on the case is just trying to get you to sign a contract. That is why we do not determine value until we have ample evidence to evaluate your case.
At our firm, we determine the value of the case based on three primary factors: liability (who is responsible for injury), injuries and the treatment for those injuries (how much medical care was necessary to get you feeling better), and the available insurance (some policies have more coverage than others).
In every case, we seek to maximize the recovery for our client, but we are limited by the three factors mentioned above. As soon as you hire our firm, we will investigate your claim and help you get the necessary medical care you need.
Once your medical treatment has been completed and we have investigated the available coverage(s), we will be able to give you a better idea of how much we believe your case is likely worth. Give us a call at 314-222-4223 to get your case started and we will do everything we can to maximize your case.
I have a personal injury case but I am not sure of the right time to hire a lawyer. What do you recommend?
We want to get involved in your case as soon as possible. The sooner we get working on your case, the easier it will be to preserve evidence, help with medical care, and advocate on your behalf to the insurance company.
The insurance company will hound you to settle your case quickly and on the cheap. They will use tactics to bully you into accepting money that is less than you deserve. That’s why we want you to call us right away. Your focus should be on recovering from your injuries, not dealing with insurance companies.
Contact us any time at 314-222-4223 for a free case evaluation and to discuss how we can help you.
How long will it take for my case to be closed?
Every personal injury case is unique and our goal is to maximize your recovery. This means it’s impossible to put a specific timeline on the conclusion of your case.
In every case, our office will investigate the insurance coverage that is available to you and all potentially liable parties. While we investigate your case, you will need time to recover from your injuries with the advice and recommendations of respected medical doctors.
Once you have been released from medical care and we have conducted a thorough investigation, we will be able to negotiate a settlement on your behalf or file a lawsuit against all potentially liable parties. Ultimately, in consultation with you, we will take all necessary steps to resolve your case with the aim to maximize your recovery.
I have been injured before, do I still have a case?
Yes! Absolutely. Both Missouri and Illinois follow the “egg shell plaintiff” rule. This is a legal theory which states that a Defendant (the person responsible for your injuries) must take you as you come and they cannot claim that you were already injured as a defense to your claims for damages.
Pre-existing conditions can affect the total value of your case but they are only one of the factors we consider in evaluating your case. Give us a call to discuss your case and how your prior injury may impact your current claim.