Pain and Blame: Personal Injury in Missouri

Personal injuries in Missouri can range from seemingly physically harmless incidents – such as a caterer promising to serve beef and then serving pork instead – to much more harmful injuries, like asbestos used in industries and truck assembly plants causing lung cancer and mesothelioma and/or even death. Claiming “personal injury” allows a person a chance to collect money to compensate him/her for damages, and it also allows the wrongdoer(s) to be punished.

Lawsuits, Settlements and More

To file a personal injury lawsuit in Missouri, one must go to the clerk of courts and submit the lawsuit paperwork. If the problem deals with an amount of money below $3,000, one may go through the small claims courts. When filing a lawsuit without an attorney, this is called per-se. However, since dealing with legal situations can become complicated, it is best to have a personal injury attorney. If one can not afford an attorney, there may be one who is willing to take the case on for free (pro bono). Most people seek to settle out of court to avoid costly fees and time. If you do choose to accept a settlement, be sure to have a lawyer look over the agreement for you.

Evidence Speaks Louder than Words

A person must remember to collect evidence as soon as possible (including photographs, any written correspondence he/she may have, etc.). There is also a statute of limitations on personal injuries. In Missouri, this is five years for most injuries; but wrongful death includes a statute of only three years. One should speak with an attorney as soon as possible so he/she will know the statute of limitations for filing. An attorney will also be able to know whether or not there is a reason for a lawsuit and if that person should proceed. The nature of personal injury lawsuits requires clear proof that damage was done to someone and by someone else – and personal injury attorneys are able to make sure justice is served.

Contact Your Lawyer With Any Questions You Have

Questions in a legal case are to be expected. It’s natural that you’ll have a lot of them, especially if you’ve never had a legal problem before. Whether you’re dealing with a personal injury case or you’ve violated the law – or anything else requiring legal counsel – a lawyer can answer your questions and help you understand what’s taking place.

Don’t Be Worried About Asking

Some people don’t want to ask their lawyer questions because they feel like they’re bothering them. If they really want to help you, though, and if they’re the right lawyer for you, they’ll answer all your questions without a problem. Try to stay organized and ask questions together so you’re not always contacting the lawyer, but don’t be afraid to get in touch if there’s something you really need to know.

Your Lawyer Is There For You

Your lawyer is your advocate. It’s their job to help you through whatever legal trouble you’re dealing with. Because of that, you should know that they’re there for you. Let them help you, and don’t be afraid to talk to them about your concerns.

Get Clarification If You’re Unsure

When you’re unsure about your legal issues, you want to have things clarified. That only makes sense. The best way to get that clarification is to ask your lawyer. They can explain the ‘legalese’ to you so you’re clear on what’s happening with your case, and that can make you feel a lot better.

When you’ve got a legal case going and you get nervous, remember your lawyer is there to help you. Ask questions and get clarification. That way, you’ll have fewer worries.

Get A Referral To A Good Lawyer

Finding a good lawyer can be difficult, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. You can get a referral to a good lawyer, and it will cut down on the time spent searching for one on your own. There are several ways you can use to get a lawyer you’ll really feel comfortable with.

Ask Friends And Family Who They Recommend

If you have any friends or family members who’ve used a lawyer in the past, ask them about their experiences. You might find a great lawyer that way. If you don’t find one, you may at least determine who you want to avoid or which lawyers won’t be right for you.

Use A Lawyer Referral Network

There are many lawyer referral networks around. There are some to be found online, and there are also some that can be located in the phone book. Asking around is a good idea, and you can get a lot of good recommendations and information from referral networks.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Around

If you know people at work, at a store you frequently shop at, or even over the Internet, you can also ask those people about lawyers in the area that you might want to talk to. That’s a good idea, because you get more suggestions that way – just be sure you know those people well enough to ask the question.

Asking around and getting referrals can be a quick and easy way to find the right lawyer for you. If you aren’t sure whether a recommended lawyer is the one you want to you, you can probably get a free consultation to answer that question.

Don’t Take Your Lawyer For Granted

Getting a lawyer can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be that difficult. What you need to do is find one that you like and then make sure that you work with them in order to handle your case in the best way possible. Appreciate your lawyer, because they’ll work hard for you.

Your Lawyer Is Working Hard For You

Some people complain about how much lawyers get paid, but they work very hard for their clients. There are a lot of expenses to being a lawyer, and the fees are high because those expenses have to be covered. It’s important to realize that your lawyer does a lot of work on your behalf.

Getting Help Can Be Difficult

It’s not always easy to find a good lawyer. Some of them are only interested in high dollar cases, and others are so busy that you can’t be sure you’re getting enough attention for your particular case. You can find a lawyer you like, though, if you look around a little bit.

Be Sure To Be Honest With Your Lawyer

Telling your lawyer the truth is something that you really need to focus on. If you’re dishonest with your lawyer, he may decide that he doesn’t want to represent you anymore. That’s never a good thing, of course, especially when you really need the representation. You don’t want to waste time hunting for another lawyer.

If you’re honest with your lawyer and appreciate what he’s doing for you, you’ll have a better chance of getting a good outcome for your case. That’s something to carefully consider.

Find Out About Your Lawyer’s Education

If you’re hiring a lawyer, knowing where and how he was educated may matter to you. While all lawyers have to go through law school and pass the bar exam in the state where they practice, there are still some differences in continuing education and other issues.

Ask Where They Went To School

There’s nothing wrong with asking your lawyer where he or she went to school. Often, the degree will be prominently displayed on the wall in his office. If it’s not, don’t be shy. Ask about schooling and find out where he or she attended, because some schools are better than others.

How Long Ago Did They Graduate?

It’s never a bad idea to find out how long your lawyer has been out of law school. Being out a long time isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but laws can and do change. On the other hand, you might not want someone just out of law school with little experience.

What About Continuing Education?

Ask your lawyer about continuing education, as well. There are requirements that these lawyers have to meet, so they can stay up to date with the latest information. You want to make sure your lawyer is meeting these requirements, and he should be willing to talk with you about it.

If your lawyer has any special education or credentials where your kind of case is concerned, that could be very helpful. Asking about these kinds of things can help you get to know your lawyer better, and that can make you more comfortable in making a decision about legal representation.

Experience Matters With A Lawyer

Anytime you’re getting a professional to help you with something, you want to get the best one for you. You want someone who knows what he’s doing, and who has a lot of experience helping people like you. With a lawyer, all of those things are very important.

Don’t Judge On Personality Alone

You need to be able to get along with your lawyer so the two of you can communicate about your case, but that doesn’t mean that the lawyer’s personality has to be ‘perfect’ or even similar to your own. Know when to overlook some quirks in favor of experience and education, both of which are very important.

Education Is Relatively Uniform

All lawyers have to go to law school and pass the bar, so they will all seem similar. It’s important to know that you don’t really need to be worried about education for your lawyer. Because there are requirements for uniformity, you’ll be safe with any legitimately licensed lawyer that you choose.

Make Sure Your Lawyer Has Tried Cases Like Yours Before

Experience is the most important thing when it comes to finding a lawyer. You want someone who knows what he is doing, and someone who has experience in handling cases that are similar to yours. Without that experience, your case could suffer.

When you ask the right questions of your lawyer, you’ll feel more confident in your choice of legal counsel and your choice of whether or not to proceed with your specific case. It’s always important to know all your options before you make a choice.

Look For A Lawyer You Feel Comfortable With

All lawyers are not created equal. They have to pass the bar in the state they practice in, but they can be very different beyond that requirement. To really do justice to your case, you should find a lawyer you’re comfortable with.

Experience Is Important

The experience that your lawyer has matters a lot when it comes to handling your case. If your lawyer has never handled a case like yours before, he might not really be prepared to do what it takes to get you compensation. Be wary of hiring an inexperienced lawyer.

Personality Does Matter

If you don’t get along with your lawyer, you can have a difficult time with your case. Communication is important, and not being able to talk to your lawyer means that sensitive and necessary information could be missed. That’s very detrimental to the case, and something you’d want to avoid.

Don’t Forget About Education

All lawyers must pass the bar exam, but they don’t all involve themselves with the same level of continuing education. Your lawyer’s education is important, so don’t be afraid to ask about it. Any lawyer who wants to work with you should be willing to answer your questions.

Don’t take anything for granted or make assumptions where legalities are concerned. Always find a good lawyer and ask the questions that are important to you. If you do that, you’ll have a better chance at a successful outcome. You may not get everything you want from your case, but you’ll know where you stand and what your options really are.

If You Don’t Have Much Money, You Can Still Get A Lawyer

Lawyers don’t just represent rich people.   Sure, there are high dollar lawyers out there who wouldn’t even see you unless you had thousands or hundreds of thousands in the bank. But there are many others who would be very happy to help you even if you were living payday to payday. Don’t be afraid to seek out a lawyer, even if you have a low income.

Legal Help Is Available For Low Incomes

There are some public defenders who help low income people with criminal cases, but there are also lawyers who can help with civil cases. These kinds of lawyers can be found through referral services and through simply calling around. There’s one out there waiting to help you.

Talk To Your Lawyer About Your Finances

Be honest with your lawyer. Don’t say you’ll pay them and then try to get out of it later. That’s never a good thing, and it could get you in legal and financial trouble. Rather than lie about your income, simply tell your lawyer the truth about your money. If he can’t help you because you don’t have much income, it’s better to find out right away.

Don’t Give Up On Getting Help With Your Case

You’ll find some lawyers who can’t or won’t help you, but don’t give up. Keep trying until you locate one who will. Finding a lawyer who will work inexpensively has nothing to do with the quality of legal services you’ll be getting, so don’t worry about that. Just keep moving forward in your quest to find legal help.

If only rich people could get lawyers, there would be a lot of people who would have missed out on their compensation. You don’t have to have a lot of money to get a lawyer, so be sure you don’t give up trying to get compensation and an advocate for your case.

Think You Need A Lawyer? See One For Free

There are people each and every day who get hurt through no fault of their own. Slips and falls, car accidents, and other unfortunate events can seriously injure people who haven’t done anything wrong. If you’re one of those people, you may want to consult a lawyer to help you get compensation.

Most Lawyers Give Free Consultations

Especially for personal injury cases, the majority of lawyers will offer one free consultation. That gives the lawyer time to find out about you and your injury, and it gives you time to determine if the lawyer can help you. Since it’s free, it’s worth the time to get the information.

Ask Your Lawyer About His Rates

Even if you work with a lawyer on a contingency fee basis, you’ll still owe money when the lawyer collects for you. How much (what percentage of your judgment) can vary, so ask. Also make sure you’re not responsible for any costs or fees if your lawyer isn’t successful in winning your case.

Inexpensive Legal Help Is Available

Don’t let a lack of money stop you from getting the compensation you deserve. There are lawyers out there who will work with you even when you can’t afford much. Go to them and ask. The worst that can happen is they won’t be able to help you. You can simply find another lawyer at that point.

When you really need legal help, it can be a scary time – but it doesn’t have to be. You can find the right lawyer for you, even if you aren’t rich or don’t have a lot of money saved up. There are always lawyers available to help people who are truly in need.

Make Sure You’re Getting Fair Compensation For Your Injury

No matter what kind of injury you’ve sustained, if you’re entitled to compensation for it you want to make sure that it’s fair. You may be offered compensation from the company, person, or insurance company involved in the case, but it may not be a good deal.

Don’t Give Up On Injury Compensation

Even if you aren’t sure whether you can get compensation for your injury, it’s work finding out. Not all lawyers have the same opinion. Some may feel you have a case, and others may not. No matter what you hear from one lawyer, you have the right to another opinion.

The Right Lawyer Will Fight For You

When you find a lawyer who feels you really have a case, he will be willing to fight for you and make sure that you get what’s fair for the injury you’ve sustained or the trauma you’ve been through. Get a lawyer who’s aggressive and who wants to make things right for you.

You Shouldn’t Have To Pay Unless You Collect

Contingency fees are very important in personal injury cases. You don’t want to pay a lot of money, only to lose a case and not get anything for your trouble. Instead, get a lawyer who will only charge you money if he wins your case. You’ll pay him out of the money you collect from the other party.

Be sure to ask what happens if you win the case but the other party doesn’t have money. You may end up owing your lawyer a lot of money and not have it available. It’s better to ask questions beforehand.