A Missouri Motorcycle Injury Lawyer is very familiar with the high rate of fatalities that occur from motorcycle accident.  The shear difference in mass between a passenger vehicle or tractor-trailer and a motorcycle is a major cause in fatal motorcycle crashes.  But another direct factor that can result in life or death is the equipment that a motorcycle rider chooses to use.  The Kansas City Police Department recently published findings that there have been 10 fatalities this year in Kansas City so far resulting from a motorcycle crash.  70% of the time, the rider was wearing a DOT (Department of Transportation) approved helmet.  The fatality rate in motorcycle accidents is actually increased this year as compared with trends in the past consecutive five years. 

Why is there an increase in fatal Missouri motorcycle accident claims?  Part of the reason may be attributable to an overall increase in motorcycle sales.  When gasoline prices were sharply increasing, sales for motorcycles and mopeds increasing accordingly.  Also of note is that Missouri has revised its helmet laws and as of March 12, 2009, anyone over the age of 12 does NOT have to wear a helmet.  It may be some time before there is enough data to provide insight into whether Missouri's repeal of the mandatory helmet law causes an increase in motorcycle accidents resulting in serious personal injuries or death claims.

A Missouri Motorcycle Injury Lawyer may be able to offer assistance to a victim seriously injured in a motorcycle accident.  Often times there is a bias that motorcycle riders are aggressive and dangerous, and that when an accident occurs it was the riders fault.  Don't be victimized twice.  A Missouri Injury Lawyer will be able to adequately investigate the scene and evidence and determine whether the other driver was negligent and thus liable under Missouri Law.

Thousands of Americans are forced to have hip replacements on an annual basis.  Fortunately, there have been huge advances in technology when it comes to hip prosthetics and ceramic cups used in hip replacement surgeries.  However, the Federal Drug Administration has recently warned that Zimmer Inc and Stryker Corporation are producing defect hip components that may cause serious side-effects and require future surgeries to repair damage. 

The Durom Hip Replacement System Cup is known to loosen over a short period of time, causing an audible noise when the recipient walks.  The Zimmer Durom Hip Replacement System consists of a hip cup, head, and neck adapter and in August 2008 litigation commenced against Zimmer due to the defect of their hip replacement system.  The defective Durom cups may need to be repaired or replaced within two years of the original surgery due to their high rate of failure.  This is obviously of particular concern with recipients, as traditional hip replacement solutions should last decades, not two years.  Do you have a Zimmer Dorum Cup defect claim?

The Stryker Corporation was sent a warning letter by the Food & Drug Administration back in November 2008, warning the company of high rate of defects associated with the Stryker Trident Acetabular PSL Cup and Trident Hip Implant.  The components of the Stryker hip replacement are known to cause a high level of friction and produce squeaking noises, resulting in pain and suffering by the recipient.  What is most concerning is that federal investigators inspected the Stryker manufacturing facility and uncovered serious quality control deficiencies and use of nonconforming hip replacement parts. Do you have a Stryker Hip Implant defect claim?

If you have a Zimmer Durom hip replacement or Stryker Trident hip replacement, contact hip implant injury lawyer Stephen Schultz to discuss the merits of your hip replacement defect claim.  Our hip implant defect lawyers will file a claim on your behalf against all manufacturers responsible for your injuries.  Don't be victmized twice, contact us today for a case evaluation and consultation at (866) 840-3636. 

Prescription medications are necessary drugs and treat a wide variety of illness and disease.  Without them, many illnesses would go untreated and the patient could die.  Prescription drugs are heavily regulated by the Food & Drug Administration, a federal agency that is responsible for warning the public on the dangers associated with these drugs.  Manufacturers of prescription drugs have an absolute duty to manufacture and market drugs that are not known to cause serious side-effects that outweigh the benefit of the product.  For example the drug Cipro is used to treat various infections and illnesses of the respiratory and nerve system.  However, it is now commonly known that Cipro may cause serious injuries, including tendon rupture and epidermal disorders that can become fatal if not identified and treated quickly.  Users can file a Cipro injury claim against Bayer Corporation by contacting a drug defect lawyer.     

The responsibility of drug manufacturers to produce safe medications falls under the legal doctrine of product liability.  Simply put, manufacturers are strictly liable for personal injuries sustained by consumers when using their products for "their intended use", and even when consumers MIS-use these products as one may anticipate.  Internal medications are inherently volatile, as the body can react to them in different ways.  This is why most manufacturers await several years of testing before mass marketing their drugs.  However, when the testing period is shortened due to a desire to market the product quickly and make enormous revenues, the manufacturer may be compromising YOUR safety. 

If you are experiencing extreme side-effects or have sustained injury as a result of taking a prescription drug, contact the Schultz Legal Group Drug Recall Injury Lawyers and get a consultation to discuss your injury claim.  Our Missouri drug injury lawyers have a comprehensive database consisting of unsafe prescription medications and their side-effects and can quickly assess your case to determine whether you can file a Missouri drug injury claim.

Cipro (Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride) is an antibiotic prescription medication that doctors have used to treat various medical concerns, including infections of the respiratory system, stomach, joints, and urinary tract.  The Federal Food & Drug Administration has recently red-flagged Cipro due to the severe side-effects.  Cipro may cause serious nerve and tendon injuries, including Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, which is a life-threatening skin disease.  Symptoms of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis include skin rashes, pain, fever, and skin lesions that spread quickly.  If you notice ANY of these symptoms, contact your physician immediately to report the concern.  Consumers who experience dangerous side effects from taking Cipro should contact a drug recall injury lawyer immediately.

In July 2008, the FDA issued warnings that Cipro is linked to tendon rupture and increased risk of tendinitis.  This warning has been issued to the following Cipro-type drugs:  Cipro XR, Proquin, Levaquin, Floxin, Factive, and Noroixin.  Consumers must also be aware that these drugs come under a myriad of other generic names.  Tendon reptures associated with Cirpo are occuring in the legs and feet, and elbows.  Victims of Cipro related injuries are urged to report them immidiately to a doctor and seek independent evaluation to determine the extent of the personal injuries.

Did you take the drug Cipro and sustain injuries?  Contact a Cipro Injury Lawyer and get the consumer advocates at Schultz Legal Group on your side.  You don't have to be a part of the Cipro Class Action lawsuit and receive pennies for your injuries.  Our Missouri Cipro Injury Lawyers can file a Cipro Drug Defect Claim on your behalf, thus obtaining much greater compensation for your Cipro related injuries.  
 

Negligence can mean many things, depending upon the circumstances.  General negligence is is failing to exercise the 'care' that a reasonable person would exercise in similar circumstances. In a Missouri premises liability case, negligence would be defined as allowing a dangerous condition to exist on your premises (eg: restaurant, building, property) without fixing it or posting warning signs so that third parties will avoid the danger.  Negligence when operating a vehicle means that the driver failed to exercise the care that a prudent person would in the same given situation, and thus causing a Missouri car accident that results in serious personal injuries and a subsequent personal injury claim.  A jury that is considering whether someone was negligent essentially places themselves in the position/situation of the negligent driver and determines whether they would personally acted differently, ie: drivin slower, paid more attention, braked sooner.

There is also the Missouri legal doctrine of negligence per se.  This negligence doctrine is triggered when a motorist fails to exercise the care required within Section 304 of the Missouri Revised Statutes and causes a serious car accident, truck accident, or motorcycle accident.  Commonly referred to as the "Missouri Rules of the Road", Section 304 requires everyone who operates vehicles on Missouri's roadways to abide by certain standards of care so not to cause a car crash.

If you believe a negligent driver was the cause of your personal injuries, contact St. Louis Injury Claim Lawyer Stephen Schultz and get the experienced lawyers at Schultz Legal Group on your side.  Our Missouri injury attorneys will evaluate your claim to determine what parties are liable and/or accountable for your personal injuries and obtain the conpensation you deserve pursuant to Missouri law.

JUST RELEASED:  The United States has known since 2003 of the extreme risks of distracted driving, yet they failed to release these findings to the public!  The National Highway Traffic Safety Department withheld this critical information from Congress since 2003 in an effort to "not make Congress mad."  Ultimately those withheld findings determined that distracted driving is as dangerous as drunk driving!  Researchers have now published data that concludes in 2002 alone, over 955 fatalities and 240,000 serious personal injuries were caused on our nations highways by cellphone use when driving.  Cellphone use can include text messaging, emailing, and talking.  Keep in mind that these findings were way back in 2002!  It is estimated that there are 10 times and many cellphones in used today than in 2002.  So what does that mean about the highway death claims and injury claims?

Researchers have also determined that hands-free kits such as bluetooth and earbuds did little to eliminate the threat of death and injury on our roadways as a direct result of cellphone use.  Missouri motorists that are using their cellphone while operating a car or truck are 4X as likely to cause a serious car accident, truck accident, or motorcycle accident.  What is our government going to do about this?  Probably little if anything, partially due to lobbiests in Congress.  Many states have proposed bans on using cellphones while operating a motor vehicle, but the proposals have not converted into law.  Moreover, police have indicated a difficulty in enforcement of such a proposal. 

Missouri Accident and Injury Lawyer Stephen Schultz recommends that you put down the cellphone when behind the wheel.  Many of his injured clients have been seriously injury or lost loved ones to the inattention and distraction caused by using a cellphone.  Texting is particularly dangerous, as the driver is forced to concentrate on a phone's screen instead of the roadway, causing motorists to cross the centerline of traffic and a head-on car crash.

St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer Stephen Schultz is contacted daily with questions from injury victims.  Persons injured in accidents and crashes are vulnerable.  Often times they are dependent upon doctors, family members, and claims adjusters to lead them through the process of handling their personal injury claim.  The problem is none of these persons understands or appreciates what the injury victim is entitled to receive as compensation for his or her injuries.  Doctors are doctors.  Family members, while they offer invaluable personal support, are not lawyers.  Claims adjusters represent the LAST person to seek advice or guidance from, as they certainly do NOT have your interests first.

Here are a few of the common questions St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer Stephen Schultz fields on a daily basis:

Question:  Someone told me that I should get 3X my medical bills as a settlement for my injury claim.  Is that accurate?

Answer:  No.  There are no two injury claims that are alike and thus to make such a general assumption can create confusion and disappointment.  I have cases that I have obtained settlements for 2X medical bills, and I have other cases where I have obtained settlements and verdicts that are 20X medical bills.  There is no exact formula.  More often than not, I obtain well over 3X what my client's medical bills are as recompense for their serious personal injuries.

Question:  Do I have to pay back my health insurance if I get a settlement? 

Answer:   It depends.  Some health insurance policies are governed by ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act), which often times does entitle that insurer to reimbursement for benefits paid to treat injury victims.  MediCare and MedicAid generally have to be reimbursed as well.  As your injury lawyer, I must request a copy of the health insurance company "Plan" to determine what language governs reimbursent in your particular injury case.

Question: Will my case go to trial?

Answer:  Probably not, but it depends.  Statistically speaking, most personal injury cases are settled before trial.  The Missouri personal injury lawyers at Schultz Legal Group make a good effort to settle cases before filing a lawsuit.  After all, if fair compensation can be obtained without the expense and delay of extended litigation, then it makes sense to settle.  However, the client is the ultimate decisionmaker when it comes to accepting or rejecting a settlement offer.  If the client and attorney decide together that a settlement offer is too low, then our lawyers file a lawsuit and prosecute the case thru the courts.  Even when a lawsuit is filed, the case often times will settle before it matures to a trial.

If you have been injured in a MIssouri car accident, tractor-trailer crash, bus crash, or by the use of a defective product, contact St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer Stephen Schultz for a case consultation and evaulation.  Mr. Schultz can be reached at (314) 448-0934 or toll free at (866) 840-3636.  Don't be victimized twice.  Claim your fee consultation with one of Missouri's top 100 personal injury lawyers today!  

The Missouri Highway Patrol reported a serious head-on Missouri car accident that resulted in catastrophic personal injuries and one death.  Preliminary reports indicate that a Chevy being driven at a 'high rate of speed" by James Trent of Hgginsville, Missouri, crashed into a Buick, resulting in both vehicles leaving the roadway.  The Buick was being driven by Tracy McCain of Warrensburg.  McCain sustained life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene of the car accident.  This Missouri car accident took place in broad daylight, around lunchtime on July 15th.  Authorities are still investigating the circumstances of the crash, as civil and criminal charges may be brought.

The prosecuting attorney must have probabe cause to charge anyone with a crime committed with a vehicle.  Comon charges in this respect include:  vehicular manslaughter, vehicular negligence, and involuntary manslaughter.  When a car accident results in a fatality, the police report is typically much more detailed and therefore can take several days, or weeks, to complete.  During that time, it is critical for injury victims and their families to diligently work hard to secure and preserve evidence that maybe relevant to both criminal and civil claims.

If you have been injured, or lost a loved one in a car accident, contact Missouri Car Accident Lawyer Stephen Schultz and get an investigation team on your side who know what evidence to seek out and preserve.  The Missouri injury lawyers at Schultz Legal Group can be reached at (866) 840-3636, (314) 448-0934, or by email.  Don't be victimized twice!

Do I have an Avandia Claim Against GlaxoSmithKline? Maybe.  The Avandia trials start in June 2010 in Federal Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.  Persons prescribed the drug Avandia suffer from Type 2 diabetes.  The goal of Avandia was to control blood sugar levels in those persons who are known to have Type 2 diabetes (not other types).  The problem with Avandia is that the Federal Drug Administration has determined that use of Avandia increases your risk of heart attack by 43%.  It is also known that Avandia increases its user's risk of cardiovascular disease and death by up to 64%.  That is stagering and may likely outweight the benefits of the drug.  Use of Avandia may also cause bone fractures due to a reduction in bone density, aka osteoporosis. 

Lawyers for GlaxoSmithKline will be working hard at trial next year to minimize and/or completely bar recovery by those persons seriously injured by the use of Avandia.  Don't be left out of the litigation.  Contact an Avanda Drug Defect Lawyer immediately to see if you qualify to be a party to the Avandia Litigation and file an Avandia Injury Claim.  It is suspected that GlaxoSmithKline had notice of the dangerous side-effects and inceased risk of heart attack and stroke.  For example, in 2007 it was notified of several serious injuries, including wrongful death, which resulted from the use of the drug Avandia. 

Don't be victimized twice.  Contact the Drug Recall Injury Lawyers at Schultz Legal Group to determine whether you are entitled to money damages (compensation) for your injuries.  
 

Have you recently taken the drug Reglan?  If so, you may have a Reglan Injury Claim against the manufacturer.  Reglan, in its generic form, is called metoclopramide.  Reglan is commonly used to control a variety of gastrointentinal problems, including reflux, diabetic gastric stasis, naseau, and vomitting.  Reglan and metoclopramide are now known to cause Tardive Dyskinesia.  This untreatable disorder causes symptoms of uncontrollable twitching, leg and arm jolts, and other involuntary movements of the body.  The drug Reglan is prescribed in various forms, including pills and injection.

So how do I know if I have a Reglan Injury Claim?  It is important to check with your family doctor to see exactly how long ago you were prescribed and administered Reglan.  Second, contact the Reglan Injury Claim Lawyers at Schultz Legal Group.  This type of claim falls under Products Liability law, in which the manufacturer of a drug or product is required to design and manufacture only those drugs and products which are safe when used for their intended purpose. Reglan Drug Defect Injury Lawyer Stephen Schultz can be reached toll-free at (866) 840-3636, (314) 448-0934, or by email.  Don't be victimized twice!   

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) have risen in the past eight months due to use of gadolinium-based contrast agents.  Gadolinium-based contrast agents are often time used to assist in developing clear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) films.  This contrast agent is commonly used in a mylogram or discogram type of MRI, where the patient is admitted into the hospital, and a contrast agent, or dye is injected into the spine to create a much clearer image than a traditional, non-contrast, MRI. 

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis can also cause scarring and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, resulting in very serious personal injuries that require aggressive medical treatment and medications, up to and including extended hospitalization.  So what manufacturers produce Gadolinium-based contrast agents?  The most common at General Electric (GE), Bayer, Bracco and Tyco/Malinckrodt (aka Covidien).   The majority of the Gadolinium injury claims have been filed against General Electric for their product "Omniscan."  Do you have a Gadolinium Injury Claim?

If you have been administered a Gadolinium-based contrast agent, contact the MRI Gadolinium Injury Lawyers at Schultz Legal Group to consult with an experienced Gadolinium Defect Injury Attorney.  Don't wait until its too late.  It is critical to be examined by a qualified physician to determine what, if any, personal injuries have been caused by the use of the Gadolinium-based contrast agent.  You may be able to file a Gadolinium Injury Claim of your own.    

Oral Sodium Phosphate (OSP) has recently been linked by the FDA to cause acute nephropathy, a type of serious acute injury.  This type of injury involves very serious kidney issues that may require an Oral Sodium Phosphate injury victim to receive dialysis or a kidney transplant.  So who is at risk for Oral Sodium Phosphate injuries?  Anyone who has recenty had a colonoscopy may have used an Oral Sodium Phosphate to clear the bowels for the procedure.  Our Oral Sodium Phosphate injury lawyers have seen patients with perfectly healthy kidneys go into a colonoscopy and come out with serious kidney injuries.  Do you have a Fleet Phospho-soda injury claim?

Fleet Phospho-soda has also been linked to serious kindey injuries.  Fleet Phospho-soda is commonly used to relieve constipation and may also be used to prepare the patient for a colonoscopy.  In December 2008, Fleet Phospho-soda was recalled by the Federal Drug Administration due to concerns that the drug caused kidney injuries so serious that victims required kidney transplants to repair damage. 

If you have been injured by the used of Oral Sodium Phosphate or Fleet Phospho-soda, contact the Drug Recall Injury Lawyers at Schultz Legal Group to discuss whether or not you are entitled to money damages and compensation.  Manufacturers of drugs have a strict duty to produce products that are safe when put to their intended uses.  Don't be victimized twice!  Contact our Fleet Phospho-soda injury lawyers and get the experience and dedication of Schultz Legal Group on your side! 

Let's face it, insurance companies are in business to make a profit.  That doesn't necessarily make them "bad."  What does make the situation 'bad' is when they place the drive to turn profits FIRST and the interest of the Missouri injury victim LAST.  Studies and recent lawsuits have exposed the fact that the injury claim is being negatively affected by the insurance company's pursuit of profits.  Before the late 80's and early 90's, insurance companies were relatively 'fair' in valuing the injury victim's claim.  That all changed with the advent of computer software specifically designed to minimize injuries and convince victims to accept low-ball settlements.  The bottom line is profits.

Insurance companies assume that only 20% of injury victims will ever retain a Missouri Injury Lawyer.  Therefore, it becomes a shear numbers game with them.  Insurance adjusters will often low-ball the victim with the understanding that only 2 of 10 victims will reject the offer and seek the representation of a skilled injury attorney.  Many large insurance companies such as State Farm, Farmers, and Allstate have implemented claims programs such as "Advancing Claim Management Excellence" and/or "Claim Core Process Redesign" were were designed solely to reduce claim payouts and/or deny them completely.

DON'T BE VICTIMIZED TWICE!  Don't let the insurance company bully you with a low ball settlement. Contact the experienced Missouri trial lawyers at Schultz Legal Group at (314) 448-0934 for advice on how to handle your Missouri injury claim.  Get the fair compensation you are entitled to pursuant to Missouri Law.

On July 6, 2009, St. Louis Lawyer Stephen Schultz was nominated for membership in the American Trial Lawyers Association.  This exclusive organization consists of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in each state.  Membership into the American Trial Lawyers Association is by invitation only, and nominees must exemplify superior qualifications, trial results, and leadership in their respective state and areas of practice.  Missouri Injury Lawyer Stephen Schultz is devoted to the representation of those seriously injured throughout the state of Missouri in car accidents, bus accidents, semi-truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and by the use of defective/dangerous products. 

"I am proud to be part of such an exclusive organization with such talented trial lawyers from each state.  I firmly believe that trial lawyers perform a critical service in this Country, and without them many injury victims would be victimized twice."  To reach Attorney Stephen Schultz toll-free, call (866) 840-3636, or (314) 448-0934.  Stephen can be reached 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency.  The injury lawyers in his office can meet with injury victims in their home, office, or online.  To learn more about Attorney Stephen Schultz, visit the Schultz Legal Group injury victim website.     

"The choice of an attorney is an important decision, and should not be based solely upon advertisements."  This phrase is required for all Missouri injury lawyers who advertise via any medium.  Missouri injury victims have a broad range in options when choosing an injury attorney.  There is a sea of internet websites, billboards, and television commercials that bombard potential clients with information and solicitations.  The problem is that not all Missouri injury lawyers are created equal.

The decision on which lawyer to represent you for your injury claim is extremely important.  It can mean the difference between fair compensation and unfair compensation.  It is recommended that Missouri injury victims ask potential personal injury lawyers several key questions, such as how long they have been practicing, what types of results they have achieved, and whether they practice injury law exclusively.  It is critical to retain a lawyer who is devoted to the practice of injury law.  Otherwise, you may end up with an attorney who practices in numerous areas of law (including personal injury), but does not specialize in any particular area. 

If you have been injured in a Missouri car accident, Missouri tractor-trailer accident, Missouri motorcycle or bus crash, contact St. Louis Accident Lawyer Stephen Schultz and claim your free consultation.  The injury lawyers at Schultz Legal Group are devoted exclusively to the representation of those victimized by serious injury and death claims.