A personal injury claim is often defined as a physical, mental, or combination injury that was caused by another’s negligence. For example, if your husband was T-boned by a driver who drove through a red light, causing your husband a fractured leg, he has a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. Or, if you tripped over uneven flooring and broke your wrist while at a grocery store, you may have a personal injury claim against the store. Even mental disorders like PTSD that resulted from an accident can fall under the umbrella of a personal injury claim. 

If you believe you or a loved one may have a personal injury claim, contact Duckworth Injury Law today. Our attorney will review your claim for free and help you determine whether your claim is valid and worth pursuing financially.

If your personal injury attorney successfully argues your case with the negligent party’s insurance company or at trial, you may be compensated for a number of different economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages cover the monetary costs incurred by a personal injury victim. Economic damages typically include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and more. Non-economic damages cover intangible losses like pain and suffering, inconvenience, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. Non-economic damage amounts often correlate with the severity of the injury you or your loved one has suffered, and it is important to understand that no two claims are the same. As such, it’s important that you have an attorney focusing on injury law to properly evaluate your claim and to ensure all damages are properly accounted for. 

To learn more about how you can file a personal injury claim and what your case may be worth, get in touch with Duckworth Injury Law for a free, no obligation case evaluation.

In Missouri, a personal injury claim is brought by the individual who suffered the injury and/or their attorney. For example, if you suffered an injury after being bitten by a neighbor’s dog, you may file a claim on your own behalf. 

However, there are exceptions to this general rule that a personal injury claim should be brought by the injured party. For instance, if your spouse was seriously injured in a tractor-trailer accident and can no longer advocate for him or herself, you may be permitted to bring a claim on their behalf. Further, if your minor child is injured by the negligence of another person, you may also bring a claim on their behalf as their court-appointed “next friend”. 

With regard to the death of a loved one due to the negligence of a third party, Missouri law specifies who may bring a wrongful death claim on their behalf. RSMo. § 537.080 states that a wrongful death action should be brought by the spouse, children, and parents of the decedent. If none exist, the wrongful death claim can then be brought by the siblings of the decedent.  

To better understand who can file a personal injury or wrongful death claim, get in touch with Duckworth Injury Law today.

The first step to filing a personal injury claim is to contact an experienced attorney. While insurance companies will likely pressure you to settle your claim without hiring an attorney, you will be far better off first speaking with an injury attorney to discuss your options. A lawyer with a background in personal injury cases like auto accidents, truck accidents, and premises liability claims will know exactly how to help you proceed and how to get you maximum compensation for your claim. However, before you commit to one lawyer, you may want to contact several firms to find the right fit for you.

A good personal injury lawyer will schedule a call or invite you to their office to go over the details of the accident. You can prepare for this meeting by gathering any evidence you may have pertaining to your or your family member’s injury claim. If the attorney feels there is enough evidence to build a case and believes hiring an attorney is in your best interest, they will inform you of the next steps in the process.

When you attend your free personal injury claim consultation, bring as many relevant documents and photos as you have available. This may include any of the following:

• Video of the accident
• Evidence of lost wages
• Hospital bills
• Incident reports
• Claim numbers
• Insurance statements
• Your insurance policy and declarations page
• Medical records
• Photos from the scene of the accident
• Photos of your injuries
• Police reports
• Witness statements
• Anything else you think may be relevant to your claim

With this evidence in hand, our attorney can more accurately determine whether you have a viable personal injury claim and the value of your claim. While not every consultation will lead to our firm pursuing your personal injury claim, we can guarantee that we will provide a compassionate and thorough evaluation of your claim. Whether that involves showing you how to handle the claim on your own, referring you to another lawyer, or handling your claim ourselves, Duckworth Injury Law has a commitment to always leaving its clients and potential clients in a better position than where they were before they met us. Please call or contact our personal injury attorney to book your free consultation today.