tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2008-08-26:/50 2010-09-18T21:56:48Z St. Louis, Missouri Injury Law Firm Movable Type Pro 4.34-en tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15877 2010-09-18T21:34:23Z 2010-09-18T21:56:48Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com DePuy hip implant defect lawyers are currently being retained by patients who have the DePuy ASR hip replacement system.  Johnson & Johnson first received complaints as early as 2007 that their ASR hip implants were experiencing a high rate of failure.  The DePuy acetabular cup is the component of its hip implant that is suspected of failing in at least 13% of the 93,000 units that are currently implanted in patients.  This is a particularly high rate of failure, especially for a surgical medical device that is supposed to undergo comprehensive testing prior to introduction to the market. 

If you are on of the patients who have a DePuy hip implant defect claim, chances are high that you will have to undertake another surgery to remove the defective hip replacement.  Another surgery is a daunting proposition and will inflict emotional distress on just about any patient.  After all, you were told that the DePuy hip implant was a state of the art medical device that would sustain your hip for 15-20 more years.  Unfortunately you were misled.  The recall of the DePuy ASR hip replacement will result in future medical expenses that could reach into the hundreds of thousands.  You are entitled to compensation for your claim.  Call our toll-free DePuy hip recall hotline at 866.840.3636 for an immediate consultation.

A failure rate of 13% will affect 11,000 of the 93,000 patients that have this hip replacement system implanted in their pelvis.  A failure rate over 2-4% is very concerning, especially if you consider the cost of the DePuy hip implant system.  Product and installation typically costs patients and health insurance over $150,000, not including costs associated with rehabilitation and post-op imaging.  Call 866.840.3636 for an immediate consultation with one of our DePuy hip implant lawyers.
]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15872 2010-09-18T13:27:28Z 2010-09-18T13:50:05Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com St. Louis personal injury attorney.  Some lawyers will charge you for an initial consultation.  However, firms such as Schultz Legal Group offer free consultations to injury victims, and they offer them the same day of the request.

When you are dealing with the claims adjuster, understand that you are at an informational disadvantage.  Insurance claims adjusters have a rough knowledge of the law, which they commonly misinterpret to serve the interests of their employer.  These adjusters are highly trained in negotiation tactics that are designed to minimize injury settlements and maximize corporate profits.  The medical bills from a car accident can stack up quickly.  You end up being in a position where you are desperate to settle your injury claim JUST to get those bills paid.  Don't fall into this trap!  You are legally entitled to more than just medical bills reimbursement.  Missouri law allows for several forms of compensation for a car accident personal injury claim, including economic and non-economic damages.

Chances are relatively high that you will be involved in a car accident at some point in your life.  Hopefully the incident is minor and no one is injured.  However, if you are injured, don't despair.  A St. Louis personal injury attorney can assist in protecting you from medical bill collections and negotiate maximum compensation from the insurance company.  Your accident claim is always worth more once a lawyer gets involved.  You only get one shot at obtaining a fair settlement.  Don't leave it to chance.  Call an attorney for a free consultation at 866.840.3636 and get your questions answered by a professional.
]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15841 2010-09-16T03:18:42Z 2010-09-16T03:32:38Z

St. Louis personal injury and accident attorney Stephen Schultz has had his cases published in the Missouri Lawyers Weekly, St. Louis Post Dispatch, STL.TODAY.COM, News Channel 5, and other local media outlets. His cases have also been featured in nationwide...

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
There is negligence everywhere.  Whether or not the negligence will result in liability depends on many factors.  One of the things our St. Louis car accident injury lawyers do is use our private investigator on each automobile accident case.  Even simple rear-enders will sometimes prove difficult and unless you treat each case as your top priority, evidence will fall through the cracks.  Our private investigators will obtain recorded statements on each car accident case.  These statements can later be used against the defendant as an 'admission'.  Often times we find that drivers are most candid BEFORE a defense lawyer or insurance claims adjuster 'coaches' them on what to say.  Getting our investigator involved early in each case is paramount to success.  It can make or break your car accident claim for compensation.

Don't leave your personal injury claim to chance.  You only get one shot and full compensation.  If you don't use the best, you won't get the best result.  Our results are boasted in legal and media periodicals across the country, and for good reason.  The personal injury attorneys at Schultz Legal Group at rated in the top 1% of trial lawyers in the country and rated Top 100 trial lawyers in the state of Missouri.  This recognition only comes with dedication to serious personal injury and wrongful death litigation, in conjunction with a passion to achieve the best possible result on each and every claim.  Contact our St. Louis car accident injury lawyers by calling the injury free consultation hotline at 314.448.0934 or toll-free at 866.840.3636.
]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15840 2010-09-16T02:48:43Z 2010-09-16T03:08:20Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
GlaxoSmithKline has also agreed to pay $1 Billion to settle more than 800 Paxil drug defect claims that have been filed against the drug company.  Paxil is used to treat depression and is quite a powerful prescription medication.  GlaxoSmithKline had originally earmarked $2.4 Billion to settle Paxil claims and Avandia drug defect claims.  It is suspected that Paxil can cause serious birth defects in newborn.  Avandia has also faced intense scrutiny for triggering dangerous side effects in diabetes patients.  There are at least 100 remaining Paxil birth defect cases pending in the U.S. and each Paxil injury settlement is averaging $1.2 Million per family.

If your child has suffered a birth defect caused by Paxil, contact our Paxil drug recall injury lawyer hotline at (866) 840-3636 and find out what compensation you are and your family is entitled to by GlaxoSmithKline. 
]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15814 2010-09-15T12:33:43Z 2010-09-15T12:55:12Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
Reglan's link to Tardive Dyskinesia is confirmed by our medical experts and our Reglan injury lawyers are now filing product defect/product liability claims on behalf of its victims.  How do you know if you have a Reglan recall claim for compensation? First lets talk about the symptoms.  Tardive Dyskinesia is a very serious disorder that can, and will, cause debilitating symptoms, including:

• uncontrollable facial movements
  
• facial grimacing
  
• smacking of the lips / twitching of the lips
• rapid arm and/or leg movements
• bodily movements that have no purpose

Reglan users that are experiencing the symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia may be entitled to compensation for their injuries.  TD can cause a Reglan users to lose their jobs, become alienated from their families, and generally experience a diminished quality of life.  Reglan users are urged to contact a Reglan recall injury lawyer immediately to see if they quality for compensation.  Reglan claims can include allegations of product liability and users may be entitled to compensation for past and future injuries, including lost wages and loss of earning capacity.  The tragic nature of these injuries is heartbreaking, especially since the manufacturer had knowledge of these potentially serious side effects caused by Reglan.  Don't sit on your hands and let the manufacturer get away with it.  Call 866.840.3636 to speak with a Reglan injury claim lawyer and get your place in line for compensation. 
]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15809 2010-09-14T23:55:11Z 2010-09-15T00:14:40Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
First, demand that your health insurance pay all medical bills.  This is extremely important.  If you don't, hospitals and medical providers will sit on the balances and charge you "dollar for dollar" for the treatment rendered OR they will take payment directly from the at-fault insurance company....either way, money is taken out of your pocket...compensation that you are legally entitled according to Missouri law.  Health insurance companies have contracts with hospitals and doctors to accept and pay reduced charges for medical treatment rendered.  When the hospitals or doctors refuse to bill health insurance, they are breaching their agreement; an agreement which you are the third-party beneficiary of.

Second, never have the negligent driver's insurance company pay your medical bills directly.  They will use this against you when it comes time to settle the case and offer final compensation for the personal injury claim.  Again, you need to have your health insurance pay the bills, not the car insurance company.  If you don't have health insurance, there may be a chance your St. Louis personal injury lawyer can assist you in obtaining medical treatment based on a 'lien' from a doctor.  Few doctors will do this however, as it is a risky proposition for which the doctor may be left holding the tab.  Contact a St. Louis accident injury lawyer for more information.
]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15705 2010-09-08T13:29:59Z 2010-09-08T13:46:23Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
A common injury caused by minor low speed impacts is whiplash.  Whiplash involves the cervical area of the spine and can be properly diagnosed at the hospital by x-rays and MRI.  Whiplash can be minor or severe.  Minor whiplash can usually be treated with pain medication and neck adjustments.  Most of the time it can resolve itself.  However, severe whiplash can require extensive medical treatment, ranging from physical therapy, to interventional pain management, to possible surgery of the discs in the cervical spine. 

Whiplash can also interfere with a victims ability to continue working.  Persons who use computers or talk on the phone throughout their work day will find it hard to labor through a severe case of whiplash.  Even with regular breaks for stretching, a victim will find it difficult to concentrate on the task at hand.  Sleeping is also interrupted and whiplash victims cannot get enough quality REM sleep, even when using sleep medications such as Ambien or Lunesta. 

Insurance claims adjusters are notoriously unfair in minor low speed impact car accident cases.  The adjuster will argue that the injury could not be that bad if the damage to the cars was minor.  The argument is an unfair one, and can be debunked by a treating orthopedist or physician.  The key in these cases is for the personal injury lawyer to use statistical data and other medical testimony to completely destroy the erroneous link between low speed impacts and a lack of serious injury.  Don't despair, it can be done.  Get the help you need from a good doctor AND a quality personal injury lawyer to succeed in a low speed car accident case.
]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15639 2010-09-02T23:17:43Z 2010-09-02T23:39:41Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com New England Journal of Medicine and the British Medical Journal recently completed studies that confirm the that driving while on the phone drastically increases the risk of getting into a serious or fatal accident.  In fact, drivers who use cell phones have a slower reaction time on the road than a drunk driver!  This data is a rude awakening for all of us that conduct business, talk to family and friends, or check email on our phones from behind the wheel of a moving car.  This danger is also only going to rise, as cell phone users rose to almost 276 million in 2009.

Take for instance the story of an investment broker who was on his phone in New York when he drove through a red light, striking a young man on a motorcycle and killing him.  In 2004, an attorney was on the phone when she hit and killed a teenage girl.  The law firm the lawyer worked for eventually paid a settlement and the attorney was disbarred.  These two careless drivers aren't necessarily 'bad people' but they did make a conscious decision to risk life and limb to talk on the phone.  Is there ANY phone call that is THAT important?  We don't think so.  And rest assured, our personal injury lawyers request cell phone records in each and every car accident case to verify who was on their phone at the time of the crash.  We even request our own client's cell phone records to make sure they were not on the phone at the time of the crash and thus partially to blame.

In situations where we discover that the other driver was using a cell phone at the time of the crash, our lawyers are taking it one step further to determine whether that phone call was anything "work-related."  If we determine that the call was work related, our lawsuit will also include the employer of the negligent driver who caused the crash.  In a claim against the employer, our lawyers will prevail if we can prove:

• The driver was in the 'course and scope' of his/her employment at the time of the crash; and
• The employer did not have a policy against using cell phones while driving a car; and
• The use of the cell phone contributed to the cause of the crash.

Many people are unaware how dangerous drivers can be when using their cell phone from behind the wheel.  How many times have you seen the guy driving down the highway, veered in and out of his lane, only to pull up beside him and see him text messaging or talking on his phone?  It happens all the time.  Unfortunately, preventable car accidents take place each day due to the decision we make to use our phone.  Think twice.  Call 866.840.3636 or 314.448.0934 for more information.


]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15601 2010-09-01T12:37:51Z 2010-09-01T12:55:09Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com negligent driver or distracted driver, chances are high that you are in the hospital or seeking treatment from your primary care physician.  The last thing you are thinking of is locating a personal injury lawyer or car accident attorney.  However, you should locate one sooner than later so that evidence and other items of importance are not tampered with or destroyed.  Evidence collected at the crash site may prove critical in presenting a personal injury claim to an insurance company down the line.

The statute of limitations in Missouri for most personal injury claims is five years.  A statute of limitations is essentially a time frame of which you are permitted to file a personal injury lawsuit against negligent parties.  If your case has value in excess of $25,000, Missouri law allows you to file the case in a "Curcuit" court.  There are variations and exceptions to the standard statute of limitations, including but not limited to circumstances involving death, medical malpractice, and intentional acts.  This is another reason why it behooves you to locate a competent attorney at your earliest convenience following an incident involving negligence such as a car accident.

Locating a personal injury lawyer can be as easy as using the Internet, talking to a friend, or picking up the yellow pages.  There are many choices when looking into legal representation for a car accident and the search can become overwhelming.  Our advice is to ask as many questions as possible and if the situation feels 'weird', then the fit is probably not a good one.  You need to feel comfortable and confident with your lawyer.  Your lawyer should be dedicated to personal injury law and should not be a general practitioner.  Your lawyer should give his or her cell phone number to you for emergencies.  Your lawyer should pledge to update you on the status of your case on regular intervals.  If you are looking for all of these things in a personal injury lawyer, call 314.448.0934 or 866.840.3636 for more information and a free case evaluation.
]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15598 2010-08-31T22:49:48Z 2010-08-31T23:01:12Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com car accident in St. Louis or anywhere else in Missouri is to contact local law enforcement by dialing 911.  If you car accident takes place on highway in Missouri, the 911 call will be routed to the closest EMT service and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.  Ambulance personnel and law enforcement will typically arrive within several minutes of the call.  If you car accident involves only minor damage and no serious injuries, Missouri law requires that you move off of the highway onto the shoulder, as long as this can be accomplished safely without endangering yourself and others on the road.

If the car accident takes place in a rural area in Missouri, you are still best off by calling 911.  Emergency operators will route the dispatch to the closest ambulance service and likely to a local sheriff's office.  If the car accident involves serious or life-threatening injuries, 911 operators will likely dispatch AIR EVAC or another life-flight service that can arrive at the scene quick and transport injured drivers and/or passengers to the closest level-one trauma center.  Many rural area hospital and med stops are not equipped to handle catastrophic injuries that can result from head-on car accidents in outlying areas throughout Missouri. 

If you witness a car accident, it is also recommended that you dial 911 and report the accident to authorities.  This is important for several reasons.  First, the persons injured in the crash may be incapacitated or unable to locate their phone to call for help.  Second, persons injured in car accidents sometimes find it hard to communicate due to shock or excess adrenaline in the blood supply.  Third, when you contact authorities, they will ask for your contact information in the event that you need to provide witness testimony in the future.  This can be extremely beneficial to assisting in the resolution of an injury claim or property damage claim down the line.  Often times it comes down to the testimony of independent witnesses to a car accident.
]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15494 2010-08-25T01:19:52Z 2010-08-25T01:47:33Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com St. Louis personal injury lawyer, your chances of fair compensation are unlikely, at best, and here is why......

Insurance claims adjusters know that injury victims are not well educated on the laws in Missouri that cover medical treatment history, negligence, comparative fault, or right to monetary compensation.  Right from the very start, the claims adjuster and the car accident injury victim are on an unequal footing.  To make matters worse, the injury victim is likely still under duress from the accident itself, resulting in a situation where he or she may be willing to accept a low ball settlement offer.  Insurance adjusters use every tactic in the book, including a request for 'all of your medical records dating back to birth', obtainting a 'recorded statement', claiming 'comparative fault', and the list goes on and on.

The Missouri injury attorneys at Schultz Legal Group deal with unfair insurance claims adjusters every single day.  In fact, each and every client of the firm has one thing in common, they are all personal injury victims.  We turn the table on insurance companies and give them a dose of their own medicine.  The result is recorvery of fair compensation for each injured client.  If the adjuster continues to act in bad faith, we file a lawsuit and take the matter to the courts.  Often times our cases are settled prior to a trial, but nevertheless, the case may have to involve our court system in order to get the attention of the 'decision makers' at the negligent driver's insurance company.

Car insurance policies themselves are very difficult to interpret, even for lawyers and judges!  For this reason, an injury victim typically does not realize that numerous avenues of financial recovery that may be available to compensate for the injury.  Third-party liability, underinsured motorist coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage, and other coverages can sometimes be 'stacked' by a personal injury lawyer to obtain substantial compensation for an injury.  To discuss the available avenues of financial compensation and recovery in YOUR case, call our personal injury hotline at (866) 840-3636, or (314) 448-0934 to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney immediately.  You may also email our injury lawyers for a response.
]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15457 2010-08-23T00:29:25Z 2010-08-23T00:52:50Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com Accutane settlement drug lawyers recently obtained a $25 million dollar jury verdict against Accutane for causing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to a New Jersey woman.  The American College of Gastroenterology addressed the causal link between Accutane and IBD in an article published in November 2009.  Roche, the manufacturer of Accutane, first faced claims of injury in 2000.  Now, Accutane litigation is centralized in two states, Florida and New Jersey.  Roche continues to deny the link between IBD and isotretinoin, the active ingredient found in its anti-acne medication Accutane. 

In five trials between May 2007 and February 2010, juries found for Accutane injury victims and awarded verdicts of $2.6 million, $7 million, $10.6 million, $13 million, and $25 million.  Our Accutane injury lawyers are alleging that the warnings issued by Roche were insufficient and that the company knew there was a direct link between IBD and Accutane use.  One juror was recently questioned following an Accutane trial and was quoted as saying "it was all about the wording on the label....It didn't give a clear-cut explanation as to what you can get by taking this drug...that's my issue, was it properly labeled?"

Persons taking Accutane must be very careful and monitor their health closely.  This is a very strong anti-acne medication.  If you experience any symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel disease, contact an Accutane litigation attorney immediately following a consultation with your physician.  Accutane injury lawyers are available 24 hours a day to discuss your case.  Contact an Accutane lawyer by calling (866) 840-3636 and get your questions answered immediately.   
]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15332 2010-08-17T13:18:43Z 2010-08-17T13:38:09Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
Fortunately, the truck driver was able to keep the big rig from striking other surrounding passenger vehicles.  Had the out of control truck crashed into other vehicles, there could have been additional fatalities or serious personal injuries caused.  Typically truck accidents involve at least one other vehicle on the road, even if that is another tractor-trailer.  These big rigs can weigh in excess of 60,000 pounds, that's 30 tons!  That amount of weight is difficult to keep from bouncing off other smaller passenger vehicles or stationary objects. 

Tractor-trailer crashes in Missouri can be serious incidents of injury and death.  Our state has seen its fair share of high profile truck accidents throughout the state.  This has also lead to concerns of whether there is strict enough legislation to assure safety in the commercial trucking industry.  Distracted driving is a lead concern in that campaign, and whether truck drivers should be banned from using cell phones behind the wheel.  A recent influx of fatal rear-end truck crashes in southern and central Missouri have been the product of distracted truck driving.  It remains a heated issue amongst motorists and the commercial trucking industry.  Missouri tractor-trailer accident lawyers remain dedicated to advocacy for improved safety in the trucking industry.
]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15331 2010-08-17T13:18:43Z 2010-08-17T13:36:31Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
Fortunately, the truck driver was able to keep the big rig from striking other surrounding passenger vehicles.  Had the out of control truck crashed into other vehicles, there could have been additional fatalities or serious personal injuries caused.  Typically truck accidents involve at least one other vehicle on the road, even if that is another tractor-trailer.  These big rigs can weigh in excess of 60,000 pounds, that's 30 tons!  That amount of weight is difficult to keep from bouncing off other smaller passenger vehicles or stationary objects. 

Tractor-trailer crashes in Missouri can be serious incidents of injury and death.  Our state has seen its fair share of high profile truck accidents throughout the state.  This has also lead to concerns of whether there is strict enough legislation to assure safety in the commercial trucking industry.  Distracted driving is a lead concern in that campaign, and whether truck drivers should be banned from using cell phones behind the wheel.  A recent influx of fatal rear-end truck crashes in southern and central Missouri have been the product of distracted truck driving.  It remains a heated issue amongst motorists and the commercial trucking industry.  Missouri tractor-trailer accident lawyers remain dedicated to advocacy for improved safety in the trucking industry.
]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.15115 2010-08-03T01:11:30Z 2010-08-03T01:29:38Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com Accutane injury claims being made against the company.  Accutane is a prescription medication used to treat severe cases of acne.  Regulators fear that Accutane can cause serious side-effects, including Accutane birth defects, inflammatory bowel disease, suicide, and liver complications.  Accutane injury settlement claims are now being filed against Roche and compensation may be awarded to those who qualify.

Accutane birth defects can result in brain injury and eye, nose, ear, and other skin deformities that can be caused by just ONE dose of Accutane by an expectant mother.  Accutane birth defect lawyers will seek advice from medical experts and other physicians to determine if your child's birth defects were caused by Accutane toxicity.  Accutane can cause excessive Vitamin A deposits in the tissues, which can result in trauma to the liver.  Persons considering an Accutane prescription should do their homework before using this powerful drug. 

Accutane side-effect lawyers will typically file a claim against Roche on a contingency fee basis.  This means that your drug defect injury lawyer will not charge attorneys fees unless he or she wins your case and obtains compensation for your injury claim.  This allows equal opportunity to high quality legal representation, regardless of whether the victim is rich, middle class, or low-income.  Accutane lawyers will vigorously evaluate the merits of your case, and if a link exists between your use of this drug and the injuries sustained, your personal injury lawyer will seek compensation in the form of a settlement or verdict.
]]>