It’s easy to get overwhelmed after an unexpected accident in St. Louis, Missouri. However, it’s important to call Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to explore your legal rights and options. As an injury victim, you have rights. Our experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyers want to help you take action and fight to get the compensation you deserve.
For 14 years, Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers has been a trusted advocate for injury victims and devastated families in St. Louis, MO. Backed by over 21 years of experience – including time spent defending the very insurance companies we challenge today – we’ve helped clients recover tens of millions of dollars in monetary awards.
Whether you’ve been injured in a car accident, a slip and fall, on the job, or because of a negligent medical provider in St. Louis, we’re here to help you get the financial accountability you deserve. We offer a free consultation with a St. Louis personal injury attorney, so call us for help today at (314) 932-1066.
Why Should I Hire Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to Handle My St. Louis Personal Injury Case?
While you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, disability, and distress, it’ll be tough to get an insurance company to pay you the full value of your legal claim. Your interests simply aren’t aligned. The insurer will have the advantage from the start of your personal injury claim. That’s true until you force them to fight fairly.
That’s why you shouldn’t hesitate to call our St. Louis personal injury lawyer for help after you get hurt.
At Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve dedicated our careers to helping everyday people stand up to companies in power when things go wrong. As tireless advocates for justice, we’ve forced those companies to pay our clients tens of millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts.
When you hire our personal injury law firm in St. Louis, MO, to represent you, we will:
- Execute a prompt investigation into your personal injury case to understand how and why you got hurt
- Evaluate your medical records, the police report, statements from eyewitnesses, property damage, photographs, video surveillance footage, and other important pieces of evidence we gather during the discovery process
- Hire expert witnesses with relevant knowledge and experience in areas related to your case
- File your legal claim with the St. Louis County court clerk and/or the at-fault party’s insurance company, if appropriate
- Assess your damages and work to establish what your personal injury case is worth
- Offer support and advice during the claims process so you’re able to make informed decisions about how to resolve your case
- Force the insurance adjuster to make a maximum settlement offer or risk going up against our skilled Missouri trial attorneys in court
You’ll be able to count on us to do everything in our power to negotiate a favorable settlement for you. However, we won’t hesitate to bring your case to trial if the defense refuses to make things right. With over 130 jury trials under our belts, we’re known and respected litigators with a proven ability to get top results.
We offer a complimentary case evaluation with a St. Louis personal injury attorney for all prospective clients. Don’t hesitate to contact our law office in St. Louis to get started.
Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?
Personal injury cases are a matter of tort law. Torts arise when one person (the plaintiff) is injured because of another person’s (the defendant) wrongful actions.
You might have a personal injury case if you’ve been:
- Injured in a motor vehicle accident because another driver was careless
- Hurt while working in St. Louis
- Harmed by a defective product
- Injured because of hazards on someone else’s property
- Assaulted or the victim of another act of criminal violence
- Bitten by a dog
- Struggling with the wrongful death of a family member
Most often, you’ll have a personal injury case if you’ve been injured or experienced the death of a family member because someone else was careless.
If you suspect that you have the right to seek compensation, call Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers. Our personal injury attorneys in St. Louis are available to listen to your story and help you understand what opportunities might be available to you at this time.
Why Should I Hire a St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney?
Accidents are stressful. Related claims for damages can be, too. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney near you in St. Louis can make life a lot more manageable.
It can also increase the odds of winning your personal injury case and recovering a more substantial monetary award.
Here’s why:
- The insurance company loses any advantage it once had and is forced to fight on a level playing field
- Claims of comparative negligence won’t go unchallenged
- You’ll be able to make informed decisions about whether to accept a settlement because you’ll know what it’s worth
- Experts will be hired to weigh in and offer testimony to support your case, which will strengthen your fight for damages
You’ll also have the time you need to focus on recovering from your serious physical injuries and emotional trauma.
Choose a law firm that will provide the honest, aggressive representation you deserve. Call Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to set a time for a free consultation now.
We Handle All Personal Injury Cases in St. Louis, MO
At Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we have a proven track record of helping clients in all types of personal injury disputes, including:
Car Accidents
Many car accidents are reported across the city of St. Louis every year. Unfortunately, most of these accidents happen because drivers are distracted, under the influence of drugs and alcohol, speeding, or otherwise careless at the wheel. When you file a claim with their insurance provider, you’ll face a lot of resistance. Our car accident attorneys in St. Louis help crash victims force fair fights and win top-dollar awards.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists can suffer life-threatening injuries in St. Louis motorcycle accidents. To make matters worse, it’s common to blame motorcycle riders for the accidents in which they’re involved. Our St. Louis motorcycle accident attorneys help clients fend off these often unsubstantiated claims and fight to hold those truly at fault accountable for resulting medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.
Truck Accidents
Even though trucking operations must comply with state and federal safety regulations, accidents involving semi-trucks, big rigs, and 18-wheelers still happen all the time. Our truck accident attorneys in St. Louis help crash victims hold negligent truckers and trucking companies responsible when violations of critical safety laws cause life-threatening truck accidents.
Pedestrian Accidents
As a pedestrian, you’re vulnerable to catastrophic injuries in a pedestrian accident. When a negligent motorist is responsible for a wreck, our pedestrian accident attorneys in St. Louis work hard to hold them accountable for the full extent of our client’s suffering.
Construction Accidents
Working in construction is inherently dangerous. Missouri law ensures that protections are in place if you get hurt on the job. Our St. Louis construction accident lawyers help injured laborers seek maximum workers’ compensation benefits and, when appropriate, additional damages in civil lawsuits.
Uber & Lyft Accidents
While Uber and Lyft can offer a convenient way to get around St. Louis, rideshare trips aren’t always the safest option. In fact, the rate of fatal car accidents has increased since Uber began operations. While you typically won’t be able to sue Uber for an accident, several insurance policies may offer relief for your medical expenses, lost wages, and suffering. Our Uber accident attorneys in St. Louis can help you navigate these complex claims and fight for maximum damages.
Brain Injuries
Brain injuries – including contusions, hematomas, and concussions – can happen anytime you sustain a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. When a brain injury happens in an avoidable accident, you have the right to seek compensation from the at-fault party or their insurer. Our brain injury lawyers in St. Louis have the experience and resources needed to help you obtain the damages needed for your costly medical care, disability, and much more difficult-to-value suffering.
Catastrophic Injuries
When an injury is catastrophic, it fundamentally changes your life. Many times, these changes are permanent. As a result, the costs of spinal cord injuries, amputated limbs, severe burns, and other catastrophic trauma can be quite high. You deserve to be compensated when someone else is to blame. Our catastrophic injury attorneys in St. Louis help tragically injured clients seek maximum damages through insurance claims and lawsuits.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
It costs nothing out of your pocket to hire a personal injury lawyer in St. Louis. At Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent our clients on a contingency fee basis.
We’ll cover the costs related to litigating your case, including expert witness fees, administrative expenses, and court costs.
You’ll pay nothing unless we’re successful in recovering compensation on your behalf.
Our fees – which are a predetermined percentage of your winnings – are taken out of your financial award. Typically, you can expect a personal injury attorney to receive between 33 percent and 40 percent of your damages.
What Damages Are Available to St. Louis Accident Victims?
While there are some exceptions – like claims for workers’ compensation benefits – you’ll typically have the opportunity to seek two types of compensatory damages in a personal injury claim.
Economic damages are intended to help you handle the financial consequences you experience as an accident victim, such as:
- Current and future medical bills
- Nursing care
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Disability
- Funeral expenses
Non-economic damages are designed to help you deal with consequences of an accident that are much more personal and, in turn, difficult to value objectively.
This can include money for:
- Chronic physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- PTSD
- Embarrassment
There are times when an additional class of damages – known as punitive damages – can be awarded, too. Punitive damages are appropriate when a personal injury lawsuit goes to trial, and a jury is convinced that the defendant’s actions were grossly negligent or malicious.
How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
Even though every personal injury case is different, certain factors will always be relevant when assessing a victim’s damages.
- What types of physical injuries did you suffer?
- Are your injuries permanent or catastrophic?
- How long will it take for you to recover?
- What type of medical treatment is required, and for how long?
- Do you need assistance performing everyday tasks, such as driving, eating, or bathing?
- Can you still work?
- Have you experienced a change in your earning capacity?
- What out-of-pocket costs will you have?
- Are you partially to blame for the accident?
- Did you take steps to mitigate your damages?
- How old are you?
- What’s your life expectancy?
- How has being injured and/or involved in a traumatic accident affected your quality of life?
- What insurance policies are available?
The types of injuries you’ve sustained and their severity will often have the greatest impact on the value of your personal injury case. The more traumatic your injuries, the more they’ll change your life – emotionally, physically, and financially. In turn, the more you may be able to expect to get when your personal injury claim is resolved.
However, don’t underestimate what your claim might be worth if your injuries are more moderate. Even minor trauma can turn your life upside down and warrant a sizable financial award.
The best way to maximize your recovery is by hiring an experienced Missouri personal injury attorney near you in St. Louis to advocate for you. At Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve helped clients win millions. Now, we’re here to fight to get you top results, too.
What if I’m Partially At Fault for the Accident?
You can still get compensation as long as you’re not entirely responsible for the accident. However, your financial award will be affected by your comparative negligence.
Under Missouri’s pure comparative negligence statute, damages are reduced proportionately to your shared fault. As a result, you can expect to recover 75 percent of the value of your personal injury claim if you’re assigned 25 percent of the blame for your injuries.
It’s a common tactic for insurance companies to point fingers and blame victims for their injuries. Unanswered, these claims can significantly reduce monetary awards or, in some cases, bar them altogether.
At Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re all too familiar with the insurance company’s playbook and strategies. We’ll anticipate these tactics and work to prevent them from having any impact on your ability to get compensation for your medical care, lost income, and suffering. The less liability you’re assigned, the more you can expect to get when your personal injury case is settled.
Personal Injury FAQ
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After an Accident in Missouri?
A five-year statute of limitations applies to most personal injury lawsuits in the state of Missouri. So, if you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, sustained injuries in a slip and fall, or been abused at a St. Louis nursing home, you’ll have five years to bring a claim for damages.
There are some notable exceptions:
- Wrongful death: three years from the date of death
- Medical malpractice: two years from the date an injury is discovered
- Workers’ compensation: two years from the date of a work-related injury or illness
Claims are only valid if they’re filed within the applicable statute of limitations. If you miss the filing deadline, you lose the right to hold a negligent party or an insurance company accountable for your injuries and suffering.
What Is Negligence and How Do I Prove It?
Negligence, the primary cause of action for most personal injury cases, involves a deviation from expected standards of care that causes another party’s injury or death.
While the specific elements can vary from case to case, you’ll need to prove four different things to win a negligence action:
- Duty: the defendant owed you a duty of care
- Breach of Duty: the duty of care owed to you was breached because the defendant’s actions were unreasonable under the circumstances
- Causation: the accident in which you were injured was a direct and proximate result of the defendant’s behavior
- Damages: you’ve suffered identifiable damages
For instance, let’s say you were injured in a rear-end collision in St. Louis because the driver of the car behind you was texting. When you file your personal injury claim, you’ll establish that they owed you a duty of care because they were driving, they breached this duty by texting, the fact that they were texting distracted them and prevented them from braking in time, and you’ve suffered injuries that generated medical bills and caused you to miss time at work.
In Missouri, negligence actions must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence. At the end of the day, your claims must be more likely true than not if you want to win your personal injury case.
Will My Personal Injury Case Go to Trial?
Many personal injury cases are resolved prior to trial.
However, it’s always possible, especially if:
- The insurance company handles your personal injury claim in bad faith
- The defense refuses to accept responsibility or blames you for the accident
- There is a genuine dispute regarding liability
- Settlement negotiations haven’t been fruitful
You have the power to settle your claim or reject an offer and go to trial. You can force the insurance company to take your claim more seriously and engage in more significant negotiations by hiring an experienced and respected Missouri trial attorney to represent you. When you hire a civil litigator with a proven track record in the courtroom, the insurance company will take notice. The adjuster will know that you won’t be manipulated into taking a lowball offer and will be willing to exercise patience if your case goes to trial.
The last thing the insurance company wants is a public showdown in court against a successful litigator. As a result, they might be more inclined to make you a better offer earlier on in the claims process.
How Long Will My Personal Injury Case Take?
It depends. Straightforward claims can potentially settle in a matter of days or weeks. More complex claims can also be settled, but the process might take weeks or months. If a settlement can’t be reached and your claim goes to trial, you can expect the process to take a year or longer.
Ultimately, the decision is yours. You get to decide whether to settle or push forward to trial. It’s important to keep in mind that once you agree to a settlement, you waive the right to seek additional damages in the future – even if your damages are higher than you’d initially expected.
So, it’s important to take the time to fully assess your damages and understand the ways in which your life will change because of your injuries. Then, and only then, should you decide to revolve your claim for its full value.
Contact Our Experienced St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers For Legal Help
You don’t have to struggle with the consequences of a recent accident in St. Louis, Missouri, alone. Someone else caused you to get hurt, and they should be held accountable. Eason Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Our St. Louis personal injury lawyer is an award-winning Missouri litigator with over 21 years of experience. As a former insurance defense lawyer, James Eason knows what you’ll be up against and has strategies in place to help you emerge with the victory you deserve.
As tireless advocates for St. Louis injury victims, we’ve helped our clients win tens of millions in damages. Now, we’re ready to help you win life-changing case results, too.
Call our St. Louis law office today. Your first consultation with our legal team is free.