Jefferson City, MO Personal Injury Attorney

In most circumstances, we all have a responsibility to act safely around others. When we fail to make smart decisions, it may result in the pain, suffering, or even death of those around us. This may sound dramatic, but when you consider the potential consequences of taking your eyes off the roadway to send just one text while you are behind the wheel, it can be a sobering reminder of how your actions can affect those around you. In personal injury and wrongful death cases, it is your attorney’s responsibility to establish that the at-fault party had a duty of care. In Missouri, this is defined as “what a reasonably careful person would do under the same or similar circumstances.”

For example, truck drivers have a duty of care to keep a careful lookout and to always be alert and aware of their surroundings when operating a commercial vehicle. The existence of this duty of care is important because if a truck driver gets distracted or nods off while behind the wheel, the risk of serious injury or death to other motorists is high.  Further, commercial property owners typically have a duty of care to keep their walkways in a safe condition, free of unreasonable dangers or defects. Property owners need to abide by this duty, as it protects the public from increased risk of trip-and-fall incidents. Depending on the situation, we typically all have some sort of duty of care owed to each other, and when we fail to uphold our responsibility, others may suffer.

When proving negligence, gathering strong evidence is essential to demonstrate that the at-fault party failed in upholding their duty of care. At Duckworth Injury Law, we meticulously collect video footage, accident photos, medical records, witness statements, and expert testimony to build the most compelling case possible. With years of experience, our attorney understands what judges and juries look for, and he won’t stop until he has uncovered every piece of relevant evidence. You deserve an attorney who is relentless in pursuing justice, and for Jefferson City, MO injury claims, that attorney is Duckworth Injury Law.

In a personal injury or wrongful death claim, a lawyer must demonstrate that the defendant's actions were the cause of the accident. This is an element required to prove negligence. For instance, if a grocery store shopper slipped on a wet floor and suffered a traumatic brain injury, a viable claim may not be possible if the shopper saw the wet floor warning signs and chose to enter the dangerous area anyway.

In Jefferson City, MO, establishing actual causation requires demonstrating that the accident would not have occurred “but for” the defendant’s actions, while proximate causation involves proving that the resulting harm was a foreseeable consequence of the defendant’s conduct. Successfully proving the causation element of negligence is critical in a personal injury or wrongful death case, and the experienced attorney at Duckworth Injury Law has the knowledge and resources to help your family do so.

Even with the other elements of negligence satisfied, the at-fault party may still try to avoid taking responsibility for you or your loved one's injury or death. Oftentimes, insurance companies will attempt to blame the injuries on a pre-existing condition of the victim or contest the extent and severity of the injuries of the victim. At Duckworth Injury Law, we hold negligent people and businesses accountable for their dangerous actions, including the insurance companies that represent them. It’s the goal of these insurance companies to pay as little money as possible for you or your loved one’s damages. It’s our goal to prove all the damages that resulted from the defendant’s conduct and to recover full compensation for such. Fight back against greedy insurance companies and seek the representation you deserve with Duckworth Injury Law, Jefferson City’s injury law firm.