St. Louis Personal Injury Attorneys

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Our team of St. Louis personal injury attorneys at Sedey Harper Westhoff have the experience and resources to effectively take on many types of personal injury claims. We are familiar with how Missouri courts adjudicate these cases and what goes into a successful claim. 

We are prepared to represent Missouri personal injury victims in cases involving:

• Car accidents
• Construction site accidents
• Dangerous products
• Dangerous properties
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Truck accidents
• Wrongful death

What To Do After an Injury

Following these steps is important to take after an injury:

Ensure Safety First

• Move to a safe area if possible, especially if you’re in a dangerous place (like a busy road).

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

• For serious injuries, call 911 or emergency services right away.
• Even if the injury seems minor, get checked by a healthcare professional to rule out hidden damage.

Document the Injury and Scene

• Take photos or videos of your injury and the accident scene.
• Collect contact info of any witnesses.
• Keep any relevant evidence (broken items, clothing, etc.).

Report the Incident

• If at work, notify your supervisor or HR immediately.
• If it was a car accident or public place, file a police report or incident report.

Keep Detailed Records

• Maintain a journal of symptoms, doctor visits, treatments, and how the injury affects your daily life.
• Keep copies of medical bills, prescriptions, and correspondence with insurance companies.

Follow Medical Advice

• Adhere to prescribed treatments and attend all follow-up appointments.
• Rest and avoid activities that worsen the injury.

Consult a Lawyer if Needed

• If someone else caused your injury, you might be entitled to compensation.
• Speak with a personal injury attorney to understand your rights and next steps.

Elements of a Personal Injury Claim

If you were harmed by the negligence, carelessness, or malicious conduct of another person or organization, you may have a personal injury claim. Building the foundation for a successful case will involve gathering and presenting evidence that demonstrates four key elements. Our lawyers can help obtain evidence and craft strong arguments.

Proving a personal injury claim involves establishing the following elements:

• Duty of care. You must demonstrate that the defendant owed you a duty of care. This means the defendant was required to act in a reasonably prudent manner to prevent harm. For example, drivers owe others on the road a duty of care whenever they get behind the wheel.
• Breach of duty. You must show that the defendant breached this duty of care through action or inaction, which a reasonable person would not have done under similar circumstances.
• Causation. You must establish a clear link between the defendant's breach of duty and the injury incurred by the plaintiff.
• Damages. You must provide evidence of actual damages resulting from your injuries, such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. These damages must be directly connected to the defendant's breach of duty.

What are Some Recoverable Damages in a Missouri Personal Injury Lawsuit?

In a Missouri personal injury lawsuit, you can recover both economic and non-economic damages, which serve to compensate for different kinds of losses experienced due to your injuries. Economic damages refer to the tangible, quantifiable costs incurred as a result of your injuries. Non-economic damages address the more subjective, intangible losses linked to your injuries that do not have a direct monetary value. 

Our St. Louis personal injury attorneys can fight to get you maximum compensation for all economic and non-economic damages, including:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering 
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Additionally, a court can sometimes award punitive damages if the defendant’s conduct was malicious or extremely egregious. Punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant and deter others from behaving similarly in the future. Note that Missouri generally enforces caps on punitive damages.

Understanding the Personal Injury Claim Process

Recovering compensation through a personal injury claim involves specific legal procedures. We understand how to successfully navigate this process and can provide results-oriented guidance from start to finish. 

The personal injury claim process tends to involve the following steps:

• Initial consultation. It is in your best interest to consult an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as you can. You will need to provide details of what happened and any relevant documentation of your injuries, such as medical reports. Our team at Sedey Harper Westhoff can assess and advise you of the strength of your case and how we can help.
• Investigation. Once we take your case, we can conduct a thorough investigation. This involves gathering evidence, speaking with witnesses, acquiring police reports, and consulting experts if necessary. Our goal is to build a robust foundation to support your claim.
• Filing the claim. After collecting sufficient evidence, we can file the claim with the appropriate insurance company or court. This entails detailing the damages suffered and the compensation sought.
• Negotiation. Following the filing, the next stage is negotiation with the insurance company. We may engage in discussions to reach a settlement that adequately compensates you for your losses without the need for litigation. 
• Litigation. If negotiations do not result in a satisfactory settlement, the case may advance to litigation. During this phase, both parties present their evidence and arguments before a court. The litigation process involves discovery, pre-trial motions, and potentially a trial where a judge or jury renders a final decision.