How Do I Know When I Have a St. Louis Personal Injury Case?
How Do I Know When I Have a St. Louis Personal Injury Case?
No matter the accident you have been in, several determining factors come into play. Your St. Louis personal injury accident attorney can answer any questions that may arise or can provide any necessary additional information regarding these factors. The top three factors indicating whether you have a case and need to speak with your personal injury accident attorney are:
- Responsible party's negligence — proof that a driver, employer, or another party failed to use reasonable care, including: speeding, driving under the influence and failing to comply with workplace safety standards.
- The negligence caused injury — for example, in a car accident, if the victim suffered a broken leg, and had difficulty walking as a result of the crash, the other driver's negligence would be considered the cause of the victim's injury.
- Evidence of victim's injuries — proof that the other party's negligence caused physical, mental or financial injury to the victim, including: wage losses, medical bills, pain and suffering and property damage.
What Are Common Damages in a St. Louis Personal Injury Case?
What Are Common Damages in a St. Louis Personal Injury Case?
Some of the most common claims your St. Louis personal injury accident attorney sees include:
- Pain and suffering
- Physical impairment — disfigurement, scarring, amputation
- Loss of use of a body part
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of earnings
- Lost earning capacity
- Medical bills
- Cost of future medical care
- Loss of consortium
It is important to remember that every personal injury case is different, and what you may be eligible to recover is based entirely upon the circumstances of your claim with your St. Louis personal injury accident attorney. Your recovery comes first, and is your personal injury accident attorney’s highest priority. We fight for you so that you can receive the compensation you are owed for the damages you have sustained. If you have questions for your St. Louis personal injury accident attorney about your case, the compensation you may be able to recover or other questions regarding personal injury claims, call us immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us.
Missouri Statute of Limitations Regarding St. Louis Personal Injury Accidents
Missouri Statute of Limitations Regarding St. Louis Personal Injury Accidents
The Missouri personal injury accident statute of limitations — Missouri Code section 516.120
— sets a deadline of five years for your St. Louis personal injury accident attorney to file a lawsuit or claim seeking a remedy for an “injury to the person.” There are a couple of exceptions to the five-year deadline:
- Missouri Revised Statutes section 516.170
If an injured person is under the age of 21 or is mentally incapacitated at the time of the accident, a St. Louis personal injury accident attorney has five years once the period of “legal disability” ends — once the injured person turns 21 or is declared competent.
- Missouri Revised Statutes section 516.200
If the defendant, or the person responsible for the injuries, is a resident of Missouri, but leaves the state some time after the accident, and before the personal injury accident attorney can file the claim or lawsuit, the period of absence probably will not be counted as part of the five-year filing deadline.
Your St. Louis personal injury accident attorney knows the importance of filing your case in a timely fashion. Burger Law takes great pride in working with and for our clients to ensure everything is in order. Call your St. Louis personal injury accident attorney now with any questions at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online to start discussing your case.
What Are the Types of Compensation Available in My St. Louis Personal Injury Claim?
What Are the Types of Compensation Available in My St. Louis Personal Injury Claim?
Your St. Louis personal injury accident attorney works aggressively and is committed to fighting for maximum compensation. It is not enough to simply win a case; your livelihood and future are of the utmost importance. Your St. Louis personal injury accident attorney will seek the following:
Economic Damages
These damages include any financial hardships your St. Louis personal injury accident attorney deems applicable as a direct result of the accident:
- Medical Bills/Cost of Treatment
This can cover anything from ambulance and emergency room costs, surgical costs, doctor appointment costs or the cost of any special equipment, to the cost of any medication you might need.
- Lost Wages
If your injuries prevent you from returning to work or keep you from working full time, your St. Louis personal injury accident attorney will demand recoupable payment based on pay stubs and/or W2s.
- Lost Earning Capacity
This refers to future missed income that you will no longer be able to earn. Lost earning capacity is complicated, but, if your injuries are severe and prevent you from future work, your St. Louis personal injury accident attorney may be able to prove this.
Noneconomic Damages
These damages can include anything that lowers your quality of life and contributes to a loss of enjoyment, including:
- Permanent or Temporary Disability
This includes partial or full paralysis, impaired cognitive function or an inability to lift heavy objects.
- Pain and Suffering
The physical pain and emotional distress caused by an injury. A judge or jury asks how your lifestyle, capacity for happiness or your relationships at work or home were affected by the injury.
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Cases We Win
Burger Law's Missouri personal injury accident law firm based in St. Louis has a team of gifted litigators and trial lawyers with more than 70 years of combined experience practicing law and protecting the vulnerable and injured. We will fight to get you maximum compensation in any injury claim in Missouri, including the case types listed here. Click for more information.