St. Louis Personal Injury Attorneys
More Than 40 Years of Experience Representing Injury Victims
If you were injured because of another person’s negligence or misconduct, a St. Louis personal injury lawyer can help you understand your rights, preserve important evidence, and evaluate the legal options available under Missouri law. Depending on the circumstances, a claim may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and other supported losses.
At Sedey Harper Westhoff, we represent individuals, not insurance companies, employers, or corporations. Our firm brings more than 40 years of legal experience to personal injury and employment matters, and our attorneys prepare cases with the possibility of litigation in mind when trial becomes necessary.
Learn more about our attorneys and their backgrounds.
Discuss your legal options with our St. Louis personal injury attorneys. Call (314) 819-0963 or contact us online to schedule a consultation today.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in St. Louis
We represent injured people in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and surrounding Missouri communities in a range of personal injury matters. The legal issues can vary significantly by case, so we evaluate how the injury occurred, who may be responsible, what insurance coverage is available, and how the incident has affected the client.
Our personal injury practice includes:
- Car accidents: Claims involving negligent driving, speeding, distraction, failure to yield, impaired driving, and other unsafe conduct.
- Construction site accidents: Injuries involving unsafe jobsite conditions, falling objects, equipment failures, and potential third-party liability.
- Catastrophic injuries: Serious injuries that may create long-term medical, financial, and personal consequences.
- Dangerous products: Claims involving defective design, manufacturing defects, or inadequate warnings.
- Premises liability: Injuries linked to unsafe conditions on another person’s or organization’s property.
- Motorcycle accidents: Crashes in which riders may suffer serious injuries and face disputed insurance issues.
- Pedestrian accidents: Claims involving people struck by vehicles in crosswalks, intersections, parking areas, and other locations.
- Sexual assault and abuse: Civil claims seeking accountability from individuals or institutions when the facts support liability.
- Truck accidents: Collisions involving commercial vehicles, where driver conduct, company responsibility, maintenance, and insurance coverage may need to be investigated.
- Work accidents: Injury claims that may involve unsafe conditions, defective equipment, workers’ compensation issues, or liability of a third party.
- Wrongful death: Claims available to eligible family members after a fatal injury caused by negligence or misconduct.
Each type of personal injury case can involve different legal standards, evidence, insurance issues, and deadlines. Our attorneys can determine which claims may apply after reviewing the specific circumstances.
Hear From Our Happy Clients
We Get Results!
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"I have the utmost respect for Sedey Harper Westhoff."They are a unique group of smart, talented, dedicated and passionate attorneys working together to represent their clients with the highest degree of legal expertise, and to make a positive difference in the world. Their work is unparalleled.- Francine K.
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"The counsel that I received from Sedey Harper Westhoff during each phase of my discrimination and retaliation case was excellent."The professionalism and knowledge exhibited, and the personal touch my family received, was comforting during a very difficult time in my life.- Rickey D.
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"You don’t just get one attorney… you get an entire firm on your side. I can’t recommend them highly enough."Their reputation with the court system and the opposing firm / defendant spoke volumes in getting this case to a winning settlement. Most importantly, they are real people in a sea of so many attorneys.- Terry H.
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"I felt not only well represented but emotionally supported, and I got the best possible outcome."She helped me understand where the law could protect me and where it would not. She is thorough, knows the law, and was always more prepared than the other lawyers.- Lori C.
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"She was honest, straightforward and very professional."It was a privilege working with Donna. She was always prepared, got me prepared for every step along the way, and her skills and tenacity got me a great result.- Jim M.
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"She is a brilliant attorney and I felt very lucky to have her in my corner."Being involved in a lawsuit is a scary situation but at my first meeting with Mary Anne Sedey I was put at ease.- John W.
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"I can truly say that they are ‘simply the best’ law firm that I have worked with."It has been a professional pleasure working with your law firm. Ben Westhoff clearly explained all my rights to help resolve my legal issues, and always provided the answers in a timely manner.- Emma T.
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"I would not hesitate to refer this amazing law group to friends and family for future legal issues."Many thanks to Sedey Harper Westhoff! From the start they believed in me and fought for what was right. Bob and Ben were both professional yet personable which made for a very pleasant experience.- Scott B.
How a Missouri Personal Injury Claim Works
Most personal injury claims require proof connecting another party’s conduct to an injury and resulting losses. In a negligence claim, the injured person generally must establish that the defendant owed a duty of care, breached that duty, caused the injury, and caused legally recognized damages.
Not every case relies solely on ordinary negligence. Depending on what happened, a claim may involve premises liability, product liability, intentional misconduct, strict liability, wrongful death, or another legal theory. The applicable law should be evaluated from the specific facts rather than assumed from the type of accident alone.
A claim may move through investigation, insurance discussions, settlement negotiations, and, when appropriate, litigation. If a lawsuit is filed, the case can involve pleadings, discovery, depositions, expert testimony, motions, settlement discussions, and trial.
For matters arising in St. Louis, venue may include the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis or the Circuit Court of St. Louis County depending on the parties and circumstances.
Compensation That May Be Available
The damages available in a Missouri personal injury case depend on the evidence and the effect of the injury on the individual. Potential compensatory damages may include:
- Medical expenses and future treatment needs supported by the evidence.
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity.
- Property damage.
- Physical pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress.
- Loss of consortium or loss of enjoyment of life when legally supported.
Punitive damages are different from compensatory damages and are not available in every case. Missouri law imposes specific standards and limitations on punitive damages, so whether they may be pursued requires case-specific analysis.
Contact Sedey Harper Westhoff or call (314) 819-0963 today for a consultation. Our attorneys can review the circumstances, answer your initial questions, and explain your legal options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
Our St. Louis personal injury lawyers handle personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis. If we agree to represent you, you do not pay an upfront attorney fee. The firm receives an agreed percentage of a settlement or court-awarded recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorney fee is owed.
What Is Missouri’s Personal Injury Filing Deadline?
Missouri Revised Statutes Section 516.120 provides a five-year limitations period for certain actions involving injury to a person or the rights of another. Other claims can have different deadlines. For example, Missouri wrongful death actions are generally subject to a three-year period under Section 537.100. Exceptions can apply, so the correct deadline should be evaluated from the facts of the specific case.
Can a Personal Injury Claim Settle Without a Trial?
Yes. Some claims resolve through negotiation without a trial. Whether settlement is appropriate depends on issues such as liability, the evidence, insurance coverage, the nature of the injuries, and the offers made. If a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached, litigation may remain available.
Discuss Your Injury Claim With Our Attorneys
If you were injured in St. Louis because of another party’s negligence or misconduct, our attorneys can review the circumstances, explain the legal issues that may apply, and discuss possible next steps.
Call (314) 819-0963 or contact us online today to schedule your consultation with our personal injury lawyers in St. Louis.
Our Settlements & Verdicts
We are nationally recognized employment lawyers and experienced personal injury lawyers who will aggressively fight for your rights.
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$2,000,000 $2 Million Dollar Verdict
Ben Westhoff and Donna Harper won an invasion of privacy action for an individual whose history of addiction and medical issues were publicly discussed on air by the radio station where he worked. The jury awarded compensation for emotional distress and punitive damages.
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$3,500,000 $3.5 Million Settlement for Wrongful Death
Ben Westhoff and Erin Lueker resolved a wrongful death action for the family of a man who died suddenly after the tire fell off his vehicle as he drove home following service of the vehicle at a repair shop in St. Louis County. The repair shop had failed to secure the lug nuts on the wheel, which caused the car to crash and led to the man suffering a fatal heart attack at the scene.
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$350,000 $350,000 Discrimination Claim
In May 2022, Ben Westhoff settled an age discrimination claim against Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla, Missouri. Three long-term Phelps Health employees shared the settlement after they were terminated in a what was called a “reorganization.”
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$395,000 $395,000 Settlement for Whistleblower Suit
Ben Westhoff and Mary Anne Sedey achieved a $395,000 settlement in an age discrimination and whistleblower suit that they litigated for over a year on behalf of an employee who was terminated from a Fortune 500 company.
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$400,000 $400,000 Settlement For Couple Injured in Auto Accident
Ben Westhoff successfully settled an injury case for a husband and wife injured in a car crash on Interstate 64 in St. Louis County. The crash occurred after the couple were struck from behind by a drunk driver speeding down the highway. In addition to bodily injuries, the intensity of the crash caused significant psychological injuries to the young couple. The case settled for $400,000 after several months of litigation in St. Louis County Circuit Court.
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