University City Personal Injury Lawyer

Far too many of these life-changing injuries happen because of negligence, carelessness, or an inability to follow safety rules designed to keep Missourians safe. When a person or company fails in such a way that they cause harm, they can and should be held liable for resulting losses.

Unfortunately, far too many victims don’t know their rights and don’t get the monetary compensation they need and deserve. If you or someone you love was hurt, you don’t want that to happen to you. You should get professional legal help to make sure it doesn’t. 

Drafahl Law Firm represents injured clients in Missouri and we bring decades of collective experience to their cases to get them the justice they deserve.

Give us a call today at (314) 300-6260 or contact us online to learn more about the legal advocacy we can offer in the aftermath of an accident. 

What Kinds of Cases Can a University City Personal Injury Attorney Help With?

Among young people in Missouri, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death according to the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. Unintentional injuries can also cause serious impairment that affects your ability to work and causes considerable physical pain and emotional distress. 

Drafahl Law Firm represents clients in many types of personal injury claims. Some of the most common cases that our firm handles include:

• Car accident claims
• Motorcycle accident claims
• Uber accident claims
• Lyft accident claims
• Product liability claims
• Premises liability claims
• Truck accident claims
• Dog bite claims
• Slip and fall claims
• Spinal cord injury claims
• Brain injury claims 
• Broken bone clams
• Burn claims

Many of these injuries can be fatal. If a loved one died due to someone else’s negligence, contact the wrongful death lawyers in University City to get them the justice they deserve.

We have a successful track record of representing clients in every single one of these types of cases and we have helped victims of each of these types of incidents recover millions. It’s important to find an attorney who has handled the specific type of claim you’re involved in since the legal arguments are different for different kinds of injuries.  You can place your faith in us. 

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Things You Should Look For in a University City Personal Injury Attorney 

Many people don’t know exactly how to find the right lawyer. There are certain key things that you should look for to ensure you find an advocate who can represent you effectively and help you maximize your chances of getting justice. Here are some of those features:

• Courtroom experience. Insurance companies often want to pay as little as possible after an injury, so you need an attorney who can go to court to make them pay the full amount of damages. Our attorneys are trial lawyers, and we have a history of successfully large verdicts in personal injury claims so you can count on us to be ready to represent you in a courtroom and go the distance on your case. 
• Negotiation skills. Many people do prefer to settle to avoid court, but you don’t want to leave money on the table so you need an attorney who can negotiate a fair settlement. We have successfully negotiated with many insurance companies for our clients, helping convince them to pay the full amount needed to compensate victims for all losses. 
• Legal knowledge. You need a lawyer who can put together a strong case and make sound legal arguments such as showing how a defendant was negligent. You also need a lawyer who understands how to identify all defendants liable for injuries. With decades of collective experience handling personal injury claims, our firm offers the knowledge you need. 
• Compassion for clients. You’ll be working closely with your lawyer for weeks, months, or even years so you need someone who cares about you. Our firm has shown that we are compassionate and treat our clients right, as many past testimonials show. Our clients have said we made them feel like family, and we’ll do the same for you. 

You can trust our firm to offer the advocacy you need and deserve, as we have a long track record of providing top-notch representation to injured victims like you. 

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A University City Personal Injury Attorney Can Offer Help Throughout Your Case

Personal injury claims can take time to resolve, and there may be many steps involved. Our expert team can take care of all of those steps for you. We can help you:

• Gather evidence including police reports and medical records, evidence from the crash scene, security camera footage, and other proof as to the cause of your accident 
• Find and interview witnesses including eyewitnesses to your accident and expert witnesses who can testify on your behalf about what occurred and about the extent of the harm that you endured as a result of the incident (head trauma, burns, broken bones, etc…)
• Identify defendants who are liable to you, including those who hurt you and, in some cases, their employers under vicarious liability rules
• Proving the extent of your loss so you can recover compensation for medical costs, lost wages, future earning loss, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other economic and non-financial losses that you have endured as a direct result of the defendants who caused you harm 
• Negotiating with insurers, including those representing large companies who may be on the hook for your damages. The goal is to settle when possible if a fair offer is reached so you can avoid the stress of court proceedings
• Representing you in trial. You have the burden of proving your legal case and we’ll make solid arguments and present the right evidence in order to help you to do that. 

These are just some of the many ways in which we can assist in navigating the civil justice system and fighting for you. 

Evidence Needed to Win a Personal Injury Case in University City

Winning a personal injury case in University City comes down to gathering strong, believable evidence to back up your version of what happened. Important types include: 

Photographs and Videos 

Pictures or videos taken at the crash scene help show exactly how things looked right after your injury. These images can reveal things such as road conditions, vehicle placement, workplace hazards, and any physical damage that occurred. Take photos or video as soon as possible or ask someone you trust to do it if you’re unable. The exact evidence you’re looking to photograph will depend on the type of accident you were involved in.

Medical Records 

Records from hospitals, doctors, and physical therapists are proof that you were hurt and how bad your injuries are. They show what treatment you needed and create a timeline linking your medical care directly to the accident. Always keep copies of bills, test results, diagnoses, and discharge summaries.

Eyewitness Statements 

People who saw what happened can strengthen your case by giving an independent description of how the event unfolded. Names and contact information of other drivers, bystanders, or local business workers present at the scene are valuable. Collect statements early when memories are still fresh.

Police and Accident Reports 

Officials who respond to the scene usually file a report with details, summaries, and sometimes even their opinion about what happened. This report can carry weight with insurance companies or in court. You can ask the responding agency for a copy in the days after the accident.

Expert Testimony 

Sometimes experts in fields like accident reconstruction, medicine, or economics are needed to clearly explain complicated details. These specialists can review the facts of your case and offer opinions on how the accident happened, how severe your injuries are, or what your financial losses look like moving forward.

Each type of evidence plays a role in making your case as strong and convincing as possible.

Compensation Available in a University City Personal Injury Claim

Getting hurt in an accident in University City can lead to unexpected challenges – physically, emotionally, and financially. The law lets you seek a range of compensation, depending on what you’ve lost and what you’re going through.

Medical-Related Damages 

When you’re injured, the price of medical care can climb fast. You can request payment for all past and future medical costs linked to your injury. This covers everything from ambulance rides and hospital stays to follow-up visits, prescriptions, and therapy you might need down the line.

Lost Earnings and Job Loss 

An accident can keep you from earning your normal paycheck, either for a few days or for much longer. The law recognizes this and lets you ask for the income and benefits you lost during recovery, as well as the future financial impact if you can’t return to work or make as much money as you did before.

Pain and Suffering 

There’s more to an injury than medical bills. Lasting discomfort, day-to-day frustrations, and stress from not being able to participate in your regular life activities count as real harm. Missouri law allows you to claim damages for both the physical pain and the emotional toll the accident has caused.

Impact on Quality of Life 

Sometimes serious injuries change what you can do or how you live – from hobbies and travel to caring for family. If your activities or relationships aren’t the same after the accident, this harm can be included in your claim. 

Punitive Damages 

Punitive damages can be pursued when someone’s actions were especially shocking, intentional, or showed a complete disregard for the safety of others. To receive punitive damages in Missouri, you must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the other party either intended to cause harm without any just cause or acted in a way that was deliberately dangerous. 

510.261.  Punitive damages, restrictions on award of — proper award, when — civil actions, initial pleading not to contain claim for punitive damage award. — 1.  Except as otherwise provided by statute, punitive damages shall not be awarded unless the claimant proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant intentionally harmed the plaintiff without just cause or acted with a deliberate and flagrant disregard for the safety of others.

The goal of punitive damages is to not only punish harmful conduct, but also to deter others from behaving the same way in the future. 

Figuring out what compensation you are eligible for is important for moving forward. A lawyer familiar with these types of cases can help you calculate your losses and demand what you deserve.

Statute of Limitations in University City, MO

If you’re thinking about filing a personal injury claim in University City, it’s important to know you generally have five years from the date of your accident to start your lawsuit in Missouri. 

516.120.  What actions within five years. — Within five years:

(4)  An action for taking, detaining or injuring any goods or chattels, including actions for the recovery of specific personal property, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract and not herein otherwise enumerated;

Missing this time limit can mean your case gets thrown out. There are exceptions that might give you more or less time:

• If you were a minor when the injury happened, the five-year countdown doesn’t begin until you turn 21.
• When someone has a mental or legal disability at the time of the accident, the clock is paused until the disability is gone.
• If the person responsible for your injury is out of state, the time they are gone usually doesn’t count toward your five years.
• For cases involving the government, you need to act much faster and give notice of your intention to file a claim in as little as 90 days.
• If a company or person actively hides their involvement in your injury, the time limit may not start until you discover, or should have discovered, what really happened.

Knowing exactly how long you have and whether an exception applies can protect your chance to get paid for your losses. Whenever an accident happens, it’s best to get legal advice sooner rather than later to keep all your options open.

Getting Help With Your Personal Injury Claim

Drafahl Law Firm is here for you when you need a University City personal injury attorney. Give us a call at (314) 300-6260 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and learn more. We won’t charge legal fees unless we win and we’ll put our decades of legal experience to work offering you the compassionate representation that you truly deserve.