If you are considering filing a personal injury claim due to a car accident, dog bite, or other covered situation, finding the right Arnold personal injury lawyer is essential. When you’re already overwhelmed by the circumstances, you need an attorney who can help you stay calm and feel assured through the process of filing a claim and understanding your options. At Albers Injury Law, we are esteemed attorneys who take pride in helping our clients navigate the legal waters of personal injury lawsuits.
Why You Need an Arnold Personal Injury Lawyer
There are a variety of reasons to hire an Arnold personal injury attorney to handle your case. Our attorneys have experience assessing many different types of claims. Whether you’ve been in a car accident or have another type of case, we have you covered. Hiring an attorney can help with a number of elements of a personal injury case.
Paperwork
Filing any personal injury claim can be tedious and complicated if you aren’t knowledgeable about these types of cases. A personal injury lawyer in Arnold has an in-depth understanding of the required paperwork and documentation you’ll need to take your case to court or mediation and can help you complete everything according to the law and within specified deadlines.
Unique ways to solve your problems
Going to court doesn’t necessarily need to happen. Our attorneys can help you examine your options to determine the approach that best meets your needs. Many of our clients turn to mediation instead of going before a judge. Mediation occurs when you and your attorney meet with the defendant, their attorney, and a neutral person to help with the process. You might prefer mediation if you don’t want a lengthy trial, hope to save money, or want the case to remain confidential.
Communication with insurance companies
If your personal injury case involves a car accident, you will likely encounter insurance adjusters who try to pay you the lowest amount possible in a settlement. Our attorneys are adept at identifying these situations and helping you attain fair compensation.
Thinking clearly
Your personal injury case likely started because of a harrowing experience, which can often cloud your judgment and make it hard to determine the best action. Our compassionate professionals can help you remain calm, examine the facts, and determine the best solution for you.
Common Personal Injury Claims in Arnold, MO
People file personal injury claims for many reasons.
Motor vehicle accidents
Accidents on the road are among the most common reasons people need an Arnold personal injury lawyer. These accidents fall into several subcategories:
- Auto accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Rideshare accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Product liability
Product liability claims are common and lead to unique cases. Product liability occurs if you or a loved one is injured or killed due to a faulty consumer product. These claims require proof of a design or manufacturing defect or proof of inadequate warnings about the dangers associated with a product.
Premises liability
If you are injured on a business property or someone’s residential property, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim. Most of these cases are slip-and-fall accidents filed against businesses.
Medical malpractice
If a healthcare provider injured you while you were a patient, you may be entitled to compensation. Common medical malpractice cases include surgical errors, failure to diagnose dangerous conditions, misdiagnosis, or improper prescriptions. These cases are more scientifically complex, often require expert medical witnesses, and almost always require the presence of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney.
Animal attacks
Animal attacks, especially dog bites, commonly cross the desks of personal injury lawyers. Unlike some states, which have a “one-bite” rule for dogs, Missouri dog owners are liable for their dog’s bite injuries or property damage from the first occurrence.
Compensation for Personal Injury Claims
In Missouri, three types of damages are available in personal injury cases: economic, non-economic, and punitive.
Economic damages
Economic damages, also called special damages, refer to the expenses you pay out-of-pocket due to your accident or injury. Special damages fall into several categories:
Medical bills: Medical bills covered in a personal injury claim include hospitals, rehabilitation, emergency room and ambulance fees, therapies, medical supplies, medications, mobility devices, and any long-term care costs.
Out-of-pocket expenses: Some claims pay for out-of-pocket expenses, such as maintaining your household and property if you can no longer do it yourself, travel expenses to and from medical appointments, and daily living assistance.
Loss of income: If your injury caused you to miss work, you can receive compensation for lost wages, including overtime, benefits, commissions, and bonuses. If you are unable to work in the future, you may receive compensation for future lost wages.
Non-economic damages
Often called general damages, non-economic damages include pain and suffering, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, or other ailments related to your accident. While pain and suffering are the most common non-economic damages, you may also receive payment for loss of use and enjoyment, permanent impairment and disability, or loss of consortium, which includes love and affection, sexual relationships, companionship, and the ability to have children.
Punitive damages
Punitive damage is money paid to you to punish the person or company responsible for your injury or accident for intentional wrongdoing or gross negligence. It isn’t often awarded, as the defendant’s conduct must meet certain requirements.
Overall, your personal injury case could award you anywhere from a few thousand dollars to more than a million, depending on its complexity.
Personal Injury Laws in Arnold, MO
Understanding some of Missouri’s personal injury laws may help you understand your case better and learn why you will benefit from an Arnold personal injury lawyer.
Statute of limitations
The statute of limitations is how long you have after your injury or your loved one’s wrongful death to file a claim. In most cases, you must file your personal injury claim within five years of your injury. This pertains to auto accidents, product liability, premises liability, and dog bites. There are different statutes of limitations for other personal injury cases.
If your case falls under medical malpractice, you typically have two years from the date of the malpractice to file your personal injury claim. However, you may have a special case if the medical malpractice is an unreported test result or a misplaced foreign object or involves a minor patient.
If your injury occurred because of somebody’s intentional actions, known as an intentional tort, you have up to two years to file your personal injury claim. This includes situations like assault, battery, false imprisonment, defamation, or malicious prosecution.
Comparative negligence laws
If your injury results from someone else’s intentional or negligent behavior, you may be entitled to compensation under Missouri’s comparative negligence laws. Missouri is one of 12 states that use a pure comparative negligence system. Suppose you successfully prove that someone else caused you harm. In that case, the state uses a comparative fault percentage system to determine how much loss occurred and what percentage was your fault as compared to the other person’s fault percentage. This is common in car accident cases. For example, if you were found to be 40% at fault in an accident, you would cover 40% of the other driver’s damages. However, this means they’re 60% at fault and are covering that percentage of your damages. Since Missouri uses a pure comparative negligence system, you can even file a claim if you are 99% at fault.
Wrongful death laws
There are specific rules regarding who can file a wrongful death claim on behalf of a deceased loved one. The first people with the right to file the claim include the victim’s living spouse, parents, children or, if the children are deceased, the living grandchildren. If nobody falls into the first category, then a sibling or the sibling’s descendants may file a claim. Wrongful death claims typically pay for funeral expenses, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact Our Arnold Personal Injury Lawyers Today
If you were injured in an auto accident, on someone’s property, or in one of a variety of other situations, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, or a range of other situations. The compassionate and professional attorneys at Albers Injury Law are ready to be your Arnold personal injury lawyer. Contact us today to learn about your options.
Personal Injury FAQs
Should I consult an attorney after a motor vehicle accident?
If you are in a motor vehicle accident, it is a good idea to consult our personal injury attorneys to determine if you have a personal injury case.
How soon should I hire a personal injury attorney after my accident?
Contact our attorneys as soon as possible after your accident. We can guide you through the claim process and help you secure compensation quicker.
Should I turn over medical records in my personal injury case?
Filing a personal injury claim requires you to turn over medical records that directly relate to your injury and any previous records that involved the same part of the body. You do not need to turn over unrelated medical records.