Name: Do I Need a Lawyer for a Car Accident Injury?
Uploaded: 2022-05-27
Description: A video by Burger Law

Question 1

How To Choose The Right Personal Injury Lawyer Near Missouri

Accepted Answer

How do you determine which personal injury lawyer is right for you? As you've undoubtedly heard the disclaimer at the end of TV and radio commercials for law firms: the choice of a lawyer is important and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

The key is to speak with the lawyer and determine whether or not you are comfortable with them handling your claim. The outcome of your case has the potential to drastically change your life for better or worse. Burger Law understands the importance of a competent and caring personal injury lawyer in any accident case. We are available to discuss your case free of charge to help you make this important decision. Call us at 314-542-2222 or contact us online today.

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How To Choose the Right Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have never had to hire or interact with a lawyer before, it can be difficult to conceptualize just how true that statement is. Different lawyers use different marketing techniques, but it's vital that you choose someone you can have an honest relationship with. You don't have to be best friends, but you need someone who has your best interests at heart, listens to your concerns, has real experience in similar cases, and is organized and able to communicate with you.

Referrals and Recommendations
Ask individuals who have worked with personal injury lawyers about their experiences and feedback. In addition, you should look into client testimonials and reviews for any lawyer or law firm you are considering hiring. Burger Law welcomes feedback from all of our current and past clients. Some of our clients have graciously shared their experiences via video and written testimonials.

Research Online
Simple searches online will yield a variety of information. Check out the websites of any lawywers you are considering. In addition, there are directories for lawyers in your area. Look for the lawyer's credentials and community involvement. Check for peer-reviewed honors such as this Super Lawyers directory.

Reflect on What's Important
You are hiring a personal injury attorney to work for and represent you. This case can have a huge impact on your life, so it's important that you choose a lawyer who meets your needs and is in line with your priorities. Consider which variables are most important to you. You might particularly care about:

Their experience with your specific type of case
The results of the previous cases they have represented
Their credentials, titles, honors, and education
Their seniority level or years of experience
The size of their firm
The proficiency of their support staff
Their ability to communicate and educate
How much time or availabilty they have


Meet With Them
There are many talented, qualified personal injury lawyers and law firms who are capable of representing you in your personal injury case in the St. Louis area, but they are all work a little differently. Your relationship with your personal injury lawyer is paramount to a positive outcome.

Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no upfront charge to you, and you don't pay unless and until you win your case. Most law firms offer free initial consultations as well; this is the perfect opportunity for you to meet with your potential lawyers face to face to get a better idea of how comfortable you feel with them handling your case.

The Right Personal Injury Lawyer For Me
You have a St. Louis area personal injury case and you aren't sure how to choose the right one for you. You should choose a lawyer with whom you feel comfortable speaking, who understands your needs and is willing to dedicate time and energy towards you, and who is available and willing to answer your questions and keep you informed.

Burger Law feels that educating our clients every step of the way is a powerful tool. We make available many resources, such as the free books on personal injury claims authored by Attorney Gary Burger. The Burger Law staff is always available and willing to answer your questions for free.

You need a lawyer you can trust in your personal injury claim. Don't waste any time. Find the lawyer you trust to begin working on your case right away. Call Burger Law at 314-542-2222 today for a free consultation and to get help with your personal injury case now.

Question 2

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Missouri?

Accepted Answer

Do you know how long you have to file a personal injury claim? Or when the best time is to file one? Is it better to do it immediately after your accident or to wait until you know how significantly your injuries have affected your life?

These are just the beginning of the string of questions that are likely to creep into your mind after being injured due to someone else's negligence. Personal injury cases, even those that seem straightforward, are often complicated. In order to have the best possible chance at the best outcome in your injury case, it is important that you speak to a reputable personal injury law firm as soon as possible. Burger Law is here to help and ready to fight for your rights. Speak to us today by calling 314-542-2222 now.

 
 
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After you or a family member has been in an accident, the first priority should always be your health. You should receive whatever emergency medical care is necessary at the time of the incident and follow up with the proper medical attention afterward to evaluate your condition. This is true even if you do not feel that your injuries are severe or do not require treatment. It is important to your recovery and your personal injury claim that you receive thorough and prompt medical care. Some conditions and injuries do not manifest right away or may appear less significant than they ultimately are.

When Should I File My Claim?
If you are unfamiliar with personal injury claims, as the majority of victims are, your instinct may tell you to wait to file your claim. If you are seriously injured and are in the middle of receiving treatment, isn't it too early to tell just how injured you are and how much these injuries will affect your life?

Yes, it does take time to understand the full extent of the damages your accident has caused you. However, you should not wait to file your claim because of this. There are deadlines to filing a personal injury claim and if you do not file in time, you will not have a chance to recover any damages at all. It takes time to understand the full sum of both the economic and non-economic damages you have sustained due to the accident, but that will be addressed over time. Personal injury cases often take several months to settle, and your experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyer will be able to advise you, shape the course of your case, and present your case to ensure that you receive the full compensation you deserve.

When you or your family member is injured in a car accident, slip and fall, work accident, or another type of incident another person caused, you should file your personal injury claim as soon as possible. Once you are physically safe, you should contact a personal injury lawyer at Burger Law right away to begin your case and ensure the best possible recovery.

Time Limit for Filing a Claim

It is important that you file your personal injury claim as soon as possible because there are laws, known as statutes of limitations, in each state's laws that establish a deadline for a victim to file a personal injury claim. If you wait until after that statute of limitations in your state has expired, you will not be allowed a chance to recover the damages from your accident.

Hiring a skilled personal injury attorney right away will help you make sure you file your claim correctly and within the time frame. Each state has a different policy, but the statute generally states that a victim has so many years from the date of the accident to file a claim. In Missouri, the statute of limitations is five years for a personal injury case, and the Illinois statute is two years.

There are some exceptions to state statutes. For example, in cases where the victim is a minor child, the time limit typically does not begin until the victim reaches the age of 18. There are also different rules in cases where the victim becomes disabled or incapacitated. On the other hand, there is a shorter time frame for filing a claim against a government agency or government employee.

While you should generally file your claim as soon as possible, there may be exceptions in your case. The best thing you can do to make sure you are able to obtain the compensation you deserve after suffering injuries in a personal injury case is to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area right away. They will be able to understand the nuances of your case and advise you on the best course of action.

Personal Injury Lawyers Near Me | Burger Law
Burger Law has recovered millions of dollars for injury victims and their families. We know the ploys defendants and their insurance companies use to try to get out of paying what they should. When you are injured because of someone else's negligence, we fight to make sure you get the compensation the law says you are owed. Speak to one of our knowledgeable attorneys today by calling us at 314-542-2222 or sending us a message here.

Question 3

When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer Near You?

Accepted Answer

When To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer. Accidents and injuries are always unexpected, and it can be hard to know what to do in the aftermath, and how to go about getting compensation for your property damage, medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. Burger Law knows how to handle cases and get the best possible compensation for our clients. We have offices in Chicago and St. Louis, and serve the injured throughout Missouri and Illinois. If you were injured because of somebody else's negligence, call a Burger Law personal injury lawyer today at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form.

In minor accidents where your injuries only required a quick trip to the emergency room and don't have any lasting effects, you may be able to get a fair settlement offer without the help of an attorney. But often, you will need the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer to get the full financial recovery you deserve. Talking to our personal injury lawyers is free, so it's you should always speak to an attorney first before accepting any settlement offer.

Typically, there are four reasons you should get a personal injury lawyer after you were injured:

You Sustained Significant Injuries or Injuries That Require Ongoing Care.
If your injuries require assistive devices like crutches, will involve ongoing physical therapy and treatments or impact your ability to work and make a living in the future, you need to hire a personal injury lawyer so the full scope of your damages is paid for.

The personal injury lawyers at Burger Law also have extensive medical knowledge and have connections with great doctors. A 2014 study by the Insurance Research Institute found that people who hire personal injury lawyers are more likely to get the full medical treatment they need. Getting the right medical treatment will also increase the value of your case.

The Insurance Company Isn't Being Fair
While insurance companies are obligated to pay you for their client's negligence, their real interest is in paying you as little money as possible. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and often have shareholders who will be upset if they pay out a lot of claims. Insurance adjusters are professionals when it comes to minimizing or denying claims.

Some of the tricks insurance companies use to devalue claims are:


    Stalling
    Trying to get you to settle quickly, before you realize the full extent of your injuries
    Offering false sympathy
    Trying to shift blame for the accident on you
    Lying to you, for example
    
        Telling you your medical care was unnecessary
        Saying they don't have to pay for medical care because you have insurance
        Saying they don't have to pay for lost wages because you had unused vacation time
        Telling you a lawyer will cost more money than they are worth
    


Insurance companies are far less likely to deny claims when people hire an attorney. They know they can take advantage of a lot of people, but an experienced personal injury lawyer will let them know you're serious about getting a full financial recovery. They'll be more likely to give you what they deserve in the hopes of avoiding a lawsuit.

There is Disagreement About Who Is At Fault
Some people who act negligently do not want to take responsibility for their actions. After all, if they admit they were at fault in a car accident, their insurance premium will rise. If the other party is disputing fault, a personal injury lawyer will investigate all the facts and take official depositions to prove negligence. Burger Law knows how to hold negligent parties accountable.

There Are Other Complications to the Case

Not every personal injury case is cut and dry. Sometimes, multiple people can be at fault, for example if a bar knowingly overserves a drunk driver, you may be able to make a claim against the drunk driver and the bar. In multi-vehicle accidents, it can be difficult to determine which driver is at fault.

Other complications can be disputed facts, if you were hit by a commercial or public vehicle, you were injured in a hit and run or there are issues with insurance coverage. At Burger Law, our personal injury attorneys have over 70 years of combined experience dealing precisely with these kinds of issues and always getting the best possible results for our Missouri and Illinois clients.

Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

Many people are nervous about hiring an attorney because they think it will be too expensive. The great thing about our personal injury lawyers is that we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we take a percentage of the compensation you receive as payment. That means there are no upfront fees, and you don't owe us anything until we win your case.

We offer consultations and preliminary investigations for free. If you've been injured because someone else was reckless of negligent, call a Burger Law personal injury lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.

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Do I Need a Lawyer for a Car Accident Injury?