Did you lose a loved one due to negligence in St. Louis? You deserve answers, accountability, and an attorney prepared to pursue both. At Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, our St. Louis wrongful death attorneys hold negligent parties accountable and pursue full compensation for families who deserve answers.
When negligence takes a life, your family deserves an attorney who is prepared to fight, not just negotiate. James Eason handles every case personally, with trial preparation beginning on day one.
Free Consultation • No Fee Unless We Recover • Contingency Fee Basis
When you’ve lost someone because of another person’s negligence, the lawyer you choose changes everything. Not just the outcome, but the experience of getting there.
Since 2003, James Eason has represented Missouri and Illinois families through their most devastating moments. But what sets this firm apart isn’t just experience. It’s how the work gets done.
You work directly with our small but experienced legal team. Your case, your calls, your questions will be handled personally, from the first consultation through resolution.
Every case is built for trial from day one. This firm doesn’t sort cases into “settle quick” and “fight hard” piles. Every file is prepared as if it’s going before a jury because that preparation is exactly what forces insurance companies to take your claim seriously.
This is not a settlement mill. James doesn’t measure success by volume or speed. He measures it by whether your family received what you actually deserved.
He knows how the other side thinks because he used to be on it. As a former insurance defense attorney, James understands precisely how carriers evaluate, undervalue, and delay wrongful death claims. That knowledge doesn’t just inform his strategy. It drives it.
Millions recovered. Families heard. Justice pursued, not processed.
If you’re wondering whether to call, that’s exactly when you should.
“I understand that no amount of money can bring your loved one back. But I also know that financial security during this devastating time can help your family focus on healing instead of worrying about bills. As a former insurance defense attorney, I’ve seen how insurance companies treat wrongful death claims. Now, I use that insider knowledge to build cases insurance companies cannot ignore.”
From the moment you hire us, your case is treated as if it will be decided by a jury. That means:
We don’t rely on police reports alone. We conduct our own review of evidence, scene conditions, and witness accounts.
Critical evidence disappears quickly. We move fast to secure surveillance footage, vehicle data, medical records, and witness statements before they are lost.
We work with accident reconstructionists, medical specialists, and forensic economists to build a case that holds up under cross-examination.
Insurance companies pay more when they know the attorney across the table is genuinely prepared to try the case. We are always that attorney.
Fatal accidents continue to take hundreds of lives each year across Missouri. According to the most recent fully reported data from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and federal safety agencies:
These numbers have remained relatively consistent in recent years, underscoring the ongoing risk of fatal accidents across Missouri.
What This Means for Families in St. Louis
St. Louis sits at the intersection of I-70, I-44, I-55, I-64, and I-270—some of the busiest freight and commuter corridors in the Midwest. According to MoDOT regional crash data, the St. Louis metropolitan area accounts for a significant share of serious and fatal crashes statewide each year.
Many wrongful death cases in the region result from:
Behind each number is a family facing an unexpected loss—and often, unanswered questions about what went wrong and who is responsible.Founder & Trial Attorney
Under Missouri law, a wrongful death occurs when a person dies due to an act, conduct, or negligence that would have allowed them to recover damages if they had survived.
These companies and their insurers begin building a defense strategy immediately. Evidence preservation — including black box data, driver qualification files, and dispatch records — must happen quickly or it will be lost. We send preservation letters the same day we are retained.
Civil justice allows families to seek compensation even when criminal proceedings fail. You do not need a criminal conviction to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Missouri law provides a hierarchy for who has the right to file a wrongful death claim:
If no qualifying family members exist
To establish negligence, you must prove:
There is a direct causal link between the breach of duty and the fatal outcome.
Dangerous road conditions, defective infrastructure, or negligent public employees may create liability against a city, county, or state agency, subject to specific notice requirements.
In trucking accidents, you may sue the trucking company. In medical negligence cases, you may sue a hospital for wrongful death in St. Louis. A thorough investigation is essential to identify every responsible party.
Missouri follows a pure comparative negligence rule. This means compensation can still be recovered even if your loved one was partially at fault — as long as they were not 100% responsible.
If damages equal $100,000 and your loved one was 40% at fault, your family may still recover $60,000.
You will never receive an invoice for our time. Our compensation is tied entirely to your result.
We only get paid if we recover compensation for your family. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.
Under §537.100 RSMo, Missouri families generally have three years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Missing this deadline can permanently bar your claim, no matter how strong the case.
If damages equal $100,000 and your loved one was 40% at fault, your family may still recover $60,000.
If damages equal $100,000 and your loved one was 40% at fault, your family may still recover $60,000.
If damages equal $100,000 and your loved one was 40% at fault, your family may still recover $60,000.
If damages equal $100,000 and your loved one was 40% at fault, your family may still recover $60,000.
At Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we know that behind every wrongful death case is a family in crisis. That’s why we:
“I understand that no amount of money can bring your loved one back. But I also know that financial security during this devastating time can help your family focus on healing instead of worrying about bills. As a former insurance defense attorney, I’ve seen how insurance companies treat wrongful death claims. Now, I use that insider knowledge to build cases insurance companies cannot ignore.”
After a wrongful death in St. Louis, you should obtain official reports, preserve medical and accident records, avoid speaking with insurance adjusters alone, and contact an experienced St. Louis wrongful death lawyer immediately. Early legal action helps protect evidence and strengthens your claim.
Missouri law sets a specific order for who has the right to file. Under §537.080 RSMo, that order is:
Missouri law determines who can file, not who loved the person most. If you’re unsure whether you qualify, an attorney can clarify your standing quickly.
You may recover economic damages (medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, loss of companionship), and in some cases, punitive damages if the conduct was especially reckless or intentional.
There is no fixed amount. Value depends on the deceased’s income and earning potential, medical and funeral costs, the surviving family’s relationship losses, and whether punitive damages apply. An attorney can evaluate your specific circumstances and give you an honest assessment.
A denial is not the end. Insurance companies routinely deny or undervalue claims as a negotiating strategy. We investigate independently, build the evidentiary record, and are prepared to litigate if the insurer refuses to accept responsibility.
Traffic collisions—especially those involving high speeds or commercial vehicles—are among the leading causes, followed by workplace incidents and industrial accidents.
Your Family Deserves Answers and Accountability
Call (314) 597-9276 today for a free consultation with an experienced St. Louis wrongful death attorney. We work on a contingency fee basis — No Fee Unless We Recover.
Free Consultation • No Fee Unless We Recover • Available 24/7