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Seriously Injured as a Result of Someone Else's Negligence? Our Skilled Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You Recover Fair Compensation

A car crash, truck wreck, or other accident comes like a thief in the night, taking you by surprise and leaving potentially devastating consequences in its wake. You may find yourself seriously hurt, temporarily or permanently unable to work because of your injuries, and desperately worried about how you’ll ever be able to pay the resulting medical debt. To say that the situation you’re in is distressing would be an understatement. A severe injury, coupled with significant financial losses can threaten to turn your entire world upside down.

However, if your injuries were caused by the negligence of another person or company, you may be entitled to compensation. Unfortunately, you’ll likely have to fight for it—and, if you’re like a lot of Missouri personal injury victims, when things are so chaotic, even just the idea of taking legal action can feel overwhelming. We understand and we’re here to help. We can handle all aspects of your personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit from start to finish, lifting the stressful, day-to-day burdens of litigation from your shoulders so that you can focus on your health and physical recovery, while we focus on recovering the financial compensation you deserve.

Cases We Handle

Our firm represents clients in a wide range of Missouri personal injury matters—and no case is too big, too small, or too complex for us to consider. We have extensive experience handling personal injury cases involving:

Potential Damages Available in Missouri Personal Injury Cases

If you were injured due to someone else’s negligent or malicious actions, Missouri law allows you to pursue compensation for a wide variety of economic losses (those that correspond to a quantifiable dollar amount) and non-economic damages (intangible losses of subjective value). Depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to recover compensation for:

  • Accident-related medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of earning capacity (if your injuries prevent you from working)
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional and psychological trauma
  • Scarring or disfigurement
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Reduced quality of life
  • And other losses

Wondering which types of damages may be available in your case? Let us help you explore potential avenues for compensation.

Missouri Personal Injury Case Basics

The personal injury insurance claims and litigation process can be complicated. Here’s what you need to know to protect your right to recovery:

  • Insurance companies usually aren’t acting in your best interest. Insurers profit by taking in more in premiums than they pay out in claims settlements. As a result, they’re often looking for ways to reduce their financial obligation to you, the claimant. The more contact you have with them when you’re not represented by an attorney, the easier it is for them to achieve this objective.
  • You may be able to recover compensation, even if you’re partially responsible for your injuries. Missouri follows comparative negligence rules, which means you’ll be assigned a percentage of fault and any financial award will be reduced accordingly. For example, a recovery of $100,000 would be reduced to $85,000 if you were found to be 15 percent at fault.
  • The time to file your lawsuit is limited. Missouri’s statute of limitations gives you just five years to file a claim seeking damages. It’s wise to take legal action much sooner to preserve the integrity of the evidence. Additionally, the time frame for bringing a case against a municipality could be much shorter.

Don’t Worry: You CAN Afford an Attorney

We work on a contingency basis for Missouri personal injury cases, which means we don’t get paid unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront fees or costs. Instead, we’re paid a portion of your settlement when we’ve successfully resolved your case, making skilled legal representation affordable to all.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Personal Injury Law

1. What constitutes a personal injury case?
Personal injury cases arise when one person suffers harm due to the negligence or intentional act of another person or entity. Common types of personal injury cases include car accidents, slip and fall incidents, medical malpractice, and workplace injuries.

2. How much is my personal injury case worth?
The value of a personal injury case varies significantly based on factors such as the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and the degree of the other party’s fault. A personal injury attorney can help estimate the potential value of your claim based on the specific facts of your case.

3. How long do I have to file a personal injury claim?
The time limit, or “statute of limitations,” for filing a personal injury claim varies by jurisdiction and type of case. It is generally a period ranging from one to several years from the date of the injury. Consult a lawyer in your jurisdiction to determine the exact timeframe.

4. Do I need a lawyer to file a personal injury claim?
While you can file a personal injury claim without a lawyer, having an experienced attorney can significantly improve your chances of receiving fair compensation. An attorney can navigate the legal process, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent your best interests.

File Your Missouri Personal Injury Case Before It’s Too Late

Missouri, like every other state, limits the amount of time that you have to file a lawsuit after a personal injury accident. If you wait too long and file your case after the statute of limitations expires, you won’t be allowed to recover any compensation for your injuries. Instead, the defendant will file a motion to dismiss with the court, and the court will refuse to hear your case.

How Long Do I Have to File a Case?

In most cases, you have:

  • 5 years to file a personal injury case if you were hurt in an accident.
  • 3 years to file a wrongful death case if your loved one was killed in an accident.
  • Some cases may be required to be filed in as little as one year.
  • Some notices of injury must be made within 90 days of injury.

In limited circumstances, the statute of limitations may be extended. For example, you may have extra time to file a lawsuit if:

  • You were under the age of 21 when you were hurt.
  • You were mentally incapacitated when you were hurt.

In all of these situations, the time for filing a case may be extended, but it does not continue indefinitely.

Three or five years may sound like a long time, but you can potentially face significant problems if you wait that long to contact a personal injury lawyer. If you delay contacting a lawyer:

  • Essential evidence may no longer be available. A lack of evidence may mean that you can’t prove that the defendant was negligent, and you should recover damages.
  • You delay getting the compensation you need. You won’t get any money until your case settles or is decided in court. The longer you wait to take action, the longer this will take.
  • A lawyer may not have enough time to file your case before the statute of limitations expires. If you contact a lawyer shortly before the deadline, then it could be too late to get help.

Request a Free Initial Consultation

Before he was an accomplished Missouri personal injury attorney, Jim Deffet defended insurance companies in litigation and, as a result, he knows what makes them tick. Now he puts his extensive experience and insight to work for you. Injured and suffering the consequences of someone else’s negligence? Need a trusted legal partner to go to battle on your behalf? Look no further. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a free, initial consultation to find out if we can help you with your case.