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You've been involved in an accident and now you are doing your best to move on with your life.  Medical bills are coming in and you are nasty getting phone calls from the billing department of hospitals, medical facilities, and claims adjusters.  This is not a familiar process and chances are high that you will obtain conflicting advice from friends and family in dealing with the frustration of a car accident or other injury-related situation.  If you haven't already hired a St. Louis injury attorney to assist you with this process, there is advice out there to educate you on the methodology of the injury claims process and steps towards a settlement.  Dealing with things on your own rarely, if ever, pans out in the form of fair compensation.  This advice is not intended to replace the exceptional value that an experienced personal injury lawyer can provide you in this situation.  Bottom line, claims adjusters are highly trained to minimize or deny your claim.  Only a lawyer can make them pay fairly.

First, you have the option of filing a claim with your own insurance company, even if another driver was at fault for causing damage to your car and personal injuries.  With regard to property damage, this process is rarely contested.  With regard to injuries, it is almost always contested.  The only compensation you are entitled to recover from your own insurance company is for "med pay", UM and UIM coverages.  Your own insurance company essentially takes the position of the at fault insurance carrier.  This creates a conflict of interest of sorts...because the company that you pay your premiums to each month basically becomes and adversary.  Things can get heated very fast, especially when you start demanding a fair settlement for injuries caused in the crash.

UM and UIM are complex forms of insurance coverage that you may have on the vehicle involved in the crash.  While UM (uninsured motorist) coverage is required in the state of Missouri, UIM (underinsured motorist) coverage is NOT.  Making claims for either require certain procedural actions before you can obtain a nickel in compensation.  Because insurance contracts are written in what appears to most to be a foreign language, you may inadvertently void coverage by doing, or not doing, something.  Again, this is an area of insurance claims that is best left to an experienced insurance claims lawyer. 

Dealing with the at-fault party and their insurance company is never a pleasant process.  First, the insurance company has no legal requirement to pay you a dime, at least not without a lawsuit.  And claims adjusters know this.  They know that if a lawyer is not putting their feet to the fire, that they can bully an injury victim into accepting pennies on the dollar, or even a denied claim all together.  A popular tactic used by the unfair insurance claims adjuster is to start out very nice, especially when they are asking for your recorded statement, release of medical records, and other information that is never released by any well-respected car accident lawyer.  Then, when it comes time for the victim to discuss a settlement, the tone of the conversation changes dramatically.  The claims representative goes from defense to offense, challenging the legitimacy of your medical treatment and extent of your injuries.  If the crash itself didn't result in totaled vehicles, the adjuster will accuse you of inflating the extent of your bodily injuries.

There is a reason that statistics prove that attorneys are able to obtain 5-10X the amount of compensation from an insurance company that victims are without legal representation.  Talking your case over with an experienced car accident lawyer is worth your time, even if it is to discuss value of your case and advice on how to deal with an insurance claims adjuster.  You only get one opportunity at a fair settlement for your claim.  If you settle for less that what is fair, you will never get a chance to make the situation right.

Prescription medications save thousands of lives each year.  They can help patients live longer, healthier lives.  However, there are pharmaceutical drugs out there that have very serious side effects.  Those side effects can lead to death.  In the case of Pradaxa, reports are surfacing of patients who have experienced uncontrolled bleeding.  Because there is no known antedote for Pradaxa, this uncontrolled bleeding can result in death.  Pradaxa injury lawyers are also investigating claims of gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney failure, stroke, and other serious ailments. 

Pradaxa is a class of prescription blood thinner medications currently recommended by physicians.  If you experience any symptoms associated with the dangerous side effects described above, it is recommended that you contact your physician immediately.  If gone unreported and untreated, you risk future injury and potentially fatal consequences.  The FDA is monitoring these developments regarding Pradaxa.  Potentially victims are encouraged to report any of these side effects and injuries while taking Pradaxa to the FDA.

A Pradaxa lawsuit is a claim for compensation based on product liability, and area of civil litigation which holds manufacturers responsible for designing and producing a drug which ultimately causes serious harm or death to a customer (patient).  Product liability litigation is complex, contentious, and expensive.  A Pradaxa drug recall injury attorney will advance all costs in prosecuting your case and there will only be attorneys fees collected if your case is won.  So the financial risk of filing a Pradaxa lawsuit is on the shoulders of your attorneys. 

Speaking with an experienced Pradaxa lawyer is the first step at protecting your legal interests and increasing your chances of obtaining justice.  In the civil justice system, if we don't take action and hold negligent or reckless companies accountable to victims, the cycle of injustice will continue in perpetuity.  Get informed and determine if you have a Pradaxa side effect lawsuit.

In September 2010, the FDA took a closer look at Actos, a drug that has been in production since 1999 in the United States.  The FDA determined that there is a link between Actos users and an increased risk of bladder cancer.  The risk appears to be higher in men than woman, although both genders are at risk according to recent scientific research.  Actos has many potential side effects, including stomach pain, rapid weight gain, pale skin, painful urination, nausea and a general feeling of sickness.  Actos is used to regulate blood sugar levels, primarily in patients with type II diabetes.

If you are taking Actos and experience serious side effects such as a painful urination, blood in urine, kidney pain, or other similar pains notify your treating doctor immediately.  Do not abruptly stop taking Actos unless directed by your physician.  If your physician makes a diagnosis of bladder cancer, contact a Actos injury lawyer immediately to protect your claim for compensation. 

Once you have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, it is important to take steps to protect a legal claim that you may have against Actos.  Claims for compensation in these prescription drug cases can include a settlement for medical expenses (past and future), pain and suffering (past and future), and wage loss associated with treatment.  Bladder cancer is serious and should be attacked immediately with medication and aggressive medical care.

An Actos lawsuit should be filed by an attorney who is experienced in product defect and product liability laws.  Because these drugs are sold nationwide, there will likely be claims from victims made nationwide as well.  Drug litigation can often times be consolidated into what is known as "multi-district litigation", or MDL.  When drug injury lawsuits are consolidated in MDL, the litigation process, especially discovery of documents and depositions, are streamlined into a more efficient means of dealing with each individual claim.

If you are an Actos taker and have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, you may have the right to an Actos bladder cancer settlement.  To learn more about the Actos lawsuits that are currently being filed across the country, call toll-free (866) 840-3636 for immediate help. 

Folks injured in automobile accidents, by defective products, or at work have a right to fair compensation if someone else is legally responsible for causing those injuries.  That is where the role of a Missouri injury lawyer comes into play.  A lawyer can help maximize your compensation from a claim by providing a variety of services, which include 1) help obtaining the best medical treatment possible, even if you do not have health insurance 2) investigating and discovering all forms of compensation and insurance applicable to your injury 3) maintaining your right of privacy from probing insurance questions, and 4) negotiating an injury settlement that is satisfactory to your case.

Medical treatment is one of the most important aspects of any injury claim.  And breaking that down further into two components, 1) quality and 2) timeframe.  If you don't obtain the right type of treatment it can be just as damaging to your case as not getting treatment at all.  So if you have a spine injury, go see an orthopedist or neurologist that specializes in spine trauma.  Just like the law, medicine is broken into many, many specialties.  Second, getting the right treatment in the right timeframe is critical.  If you wait too long to get medical care, or have long "gaps in treatment" the insurance adjuster will likely lowball your case or deny it all together.  A personal injury lawyer can offer more advice on this important aspect of your case.

Investigating and discovering all insurance policies that apply your case is vital to maximizing settlement value.  Claims adjusters do their best to conceal available coverage, or mislead as to the 'policy limits' available to compensate an injury victim.  An injury attorney ends these games and ascertains all available insurance coverage, and determines what applies and what doesn't.  Sometimes insurance can be "stacked" to provide even additional compensation.  This aspect of the law is evolving in Missouri and predominantly determined by caselaw and policy language. 

Insurance companies love to uncover all your prior medical history, even if it bears no relevance to the case at hand.  They do this through the use of unrestricted medical record release authorizations that they will demand that you sign in order to present a claim for injury.  An accident injury lawyer would never permit this type of invasion of privacy to take place.   Prior health history can devalue your claim and ultimately lead to poor compensation when it comes time to negotiation of a settlement.  Rely on your lawyer to present only the evidence necessary to prevail in your accident injury claim, nothing more.  For more information, contact Missouri injury lawyer Stephen Schultz.  Mr. Schultz is AV-Rated and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Missouri for the 4th consecutive year.  He can be reached at (866) 840-3636 or locally at (314) 448-0934


  

Many people are hesitant to involve a personal injury attorney in their claim due to the fear of the unknown.  Though no two injury claims are exactly the same, most follow the same timeline of events.  After being involved in a situation that causes injury, it is in your best interest to seek immediate medical attention.  Documentation of your injuries through medical records and reports provides uncontested proof that you were injured as a result of an accident and were in enough pain to seek medical attention.  Once we have a better understanding of your exact injuries, we are able to refer you to a specialist who can use their expertise to further treat you. 

Most Missouri injury lawyers have close working relationships with many of Missouri's best doctors - all of which have the same goal: to help YOU. During the first phase of your claim, you are given a main focus and we (as your attorney) are given a main focus.  Yours is to obtain all recommended medical treatment.  The duration of your Missouri injury claim is the only time you will be able to receive medical treatment at the at-fault party's expense.  All charges for treatment incurred during this time is treated as addition to your final compensation amount. 

The focus of any experienced accident lawyer is concentrated on investigative work, gathering all details we can revolving around your case.  During this time, we are also able to assist you in finding, scheduling, and getting to your crucial medical appointments. Once your medical treatment is complete, we are able to move forward with establishing your claim's worth.  Together, we consider every aspect in which this injury has affected you and your lifestyle.  Some clients are able to fully recover physically and return to their lifestyle as it was prior to an accident.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case and clients are faced with a future of uncertainty.  Combining your physical, emotional, economical, and social losses, we fight hard to obtain a fair monetary amount to compensate you for this.  Our fight for this does not end until we (including YOU) are satisfied with a settlement. 

If a reasonable settlement offer is not agreed upon in a fair amount of time, a lawsuit is filed on your behalf in which we continue your legal battle for fair settlement.  Again, nothing is accepted without the knowledge and approval of a client. Upon settlement of your claim, we handle all remaining medical bills and account balances to ensure that nothing is lingering after a final settlement.  After reaching a settlement both the attorney and client are pleased with, all parties are able to continue with their lives as an injury claim being part of their past. A good lawyer prides himself on the ability to maintain open communication.  Clients always have access to attorney and staff office phones, email addresses, attorney cell phones, and office visits.  

Your injury claim is just that - yours.  You should never be left out of any communications regarding your case and should never be wondering the status of your case.  A compassionate St. Louis personal injury lawyer is available to discuss your case 24/7 and will come to you to address your concerns about the case.

This is a common question that many people ask after they are involved in a car accident or other incident in Missouri.  Its hard to say with certainly whether you need an accident injury lawyer unless you weigh your chances of obtaining a fair settlement from an insurance company.  There are studies and statistical data indicating that having legal representation on your side increases your chances of a fair shake at compensation by over 300%.  You have to look at it this way:  the insurance company is a well-funded, well-represented giant that does not have a personal interest or duty to treat you with respect or fairness.  Insurance companies are in business to generate huge profits.  They keep profits up and shareholders happy by minimizing payouts on PI claims, plain and simple.  Anyone who tells you otherwise is just not being truthful or realistic.

There are instances in which you can settle a case on your own without hiring a lawyer.  Those situations include cases where there is little to no property damage and your injuries are minimal.  By minimal I mean that you saw your primary care doctor, got checked out, and everything is clear and you are feeling fine.  One important piece of advice though:  Never, ever settle your case, even if your injuries are very minor, until you give your body at least 60 days to show any signs of lingering symptoms.  This most commonly comes up in whiplash cases or soft tissue car accidents.  Soft tissue injuries can be sneaky.  You can appear sore for a few days, then fine for a few days, and then things can deteriorate quickly.  In some events, victims experience "radicular" symptoms, which are radiating pains down the arms and legs.  This is a sign of a very serious disc problem.

As an experienced Missouri lawyer with an AV-Preeminent peer review rating from Martindale Hubbell, I can tell you that there will be times that we will turn down potential clients.  We feel that unless we can add value to a client's case by aggressive legal representation, that we would rather explain the process to the caller and advise them to handle the case without a lawyer.  This is something that not all lawyers will do.  There are some personal injury attorneys that will accept every case that walks in the door, even if the injured client could have settled the case without legal representation and therefore avoid paying attorneys' fees.

If you ever need to discuss your case and whether hiring a lawyer is in your best interests, contact a St. Louis personal injury lawyer at Schultz Legal Group law firm by calling toll-free (866) 840-3636.  Schultz Legal Group has offices in Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas and will come to clients locations whenever necessary to consult on a one-on-one basis.

Federal and state cases for prescription drugs Reglan and generic metoclopramide litigation are being filed by plaintiff's suffering with a movement disorder- Tardive Dyskinesia.  Reglan side effect claims continue to be filed in multiple jurisdictions.  States courts currently hearing the cases are Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California. The Supreme Court of the United States will decide later this year, if there is or is not federal preemption of the state law claims in torts for the generic drug manufacturer's warning labels.

Philadelphia is one of the first courts to decide to consolidate the increasing number of cases to conserve the judicial resources in hearings and trials. As the plaintiff's cases proceed with scheduled trial dates, there has been an emphasis on the due diligence of Reglan injury lawyers to execute these cases in a timely and efficient manner. The East and West coast states have followed Pennsylvania's protocol in consolidating the litigation. Reglan side effect claims are serious and the litigation will be time-consuming.

The United States Supreme Court will hear and decide later this year if there is preemption for generic drug manufacturers in regards to warnings on their labels. The legal issue is, "Are generic drug manufacturers equally liable to warn consumers of the side effects, no different than the name brand drug manufacturers?"  Although the defense of the generic drug manufacturer's is, the law currently prevents the generic prescription labels to be modified to read any different than those required by the FDA guidelines on the brand name manufacturer's warning labels.

Contact a Reglan drug claim lawyer today by calling (866) 840-3636 to discover more information on how to obtain compensation for a drug defect claim based upon Tardive Dyskinesia.

The over wrought judicial system consolidates DePuy cases being filed for plaintiff's as of January 2011. Numerous hip replacement lawsuits are being consolidated into a multidistrict litigation case (MDL) by Judge David A. Katz. The judge issued an order with specific assignments for counsel nationwide in various roles on a federal court level in Northern District Ohio. Needless to say, it will be captivating to follow those cases in the federal court. DePuy hip defect lawyers are being appointed to various positions on committees and sub-committees by Judge Katz.

A MDL case is like a class action in regards to the simplification of pre-trial proceedings for plaintiff's discovery. Unlike a class action, it allows each DePuy ASR implant injury case to be heard in court on their individual claims. The compensation in a class action suit is divided up proportionately amongst the numerous plaintiffs. The compensation in the MDL cases will be appropriated to the plaintiffs in regards to their individual claims, which will allow a more reasonable outcome for each plaintiff.

Over 90,000 plaintiffs are suffering with the effects of a "defective ASR device", used in the hip replacement procedure. DePuy hip recall lawyers are seeking damages for medical cost, lost earnings and pain/suffering through litigation. The company is making every attempt to replace the faulty device and just pay medical expenses. Did you have a hip replacement after July 2003, this recall may affect you?

The first step in finding out if you have a DePuy hip defect lawsuit is to contact our nationwide DePuy recall lawyers at (866) 840-3636.  These claims are very serious and must be handled by a skilled litigator who is familiar with defenses in a product liability/design defect case.

A common question that callers ask when contacting our St. Louis personal injury lawyers is: what do you charge for handling an injury claim?  The answer is nothing, unless our lawyers win your case.  This is a relief for most injury victims.  After all, most accidents cause financial stress on an unimaginable level.  The last thing that anyone in this position needs is a lawyer that charges a large up-front attorney retainer.  The attorneys fees that Schultz & Myers charges are contingency on the outcome of each case.  Therefore, our lawyers and clients share a common interest of reaching a successful outcome in each case.

There are many ways to contact an accident injury lawyer for advice on presenting an injury claim.  Some people use the internet.  The internet is a good resource for researching personal injury lawyers.  For example, using a search engine like Google or Yahoo and plugging in search terms such as "St. Louis car accident lawyer" will provide results that are a good starting point for choosing the best lawyer for your case.  It is wise to never choose an accident injury lawyer based upon how flashy a website is.  In fact, the Missouri ethical rules have made it a point to require lawyers to tell potential clients that decisions for legal representation should not be based solely upon advertisements. 

Choosing a lawyer based upon a referral from a friend or family member can also offer choices.  CAUTION:  Do not think that a lawyer referred by someone else is the right lawyer to handle a serious injury claim.  Traffic lawyers do not make good injury lawyers, and vice versa.  Would you seek a foot doctor if you had migraine headaches? No.  The same holds true with lawyers.  Yes, all lawyers have a general understanding of civil personal injury litigation.  The lawyers at Schultz & Myers would conceivably be able to assist a client with a Will, however, we would never do as good as a job as a lawyer who only does Wills.  Accident injury claims for compensation involve complex civil state statutory laws and civil court procedures.  Never take your serious injury case to a law firm that dabbles in all areas of law.  Chances are high that you will not receive all forms of compensation that you deserve.  

When choosing a personal injury lawyer, also bear in mind that going with the biggest law firm in town does not necessarily mean you are getting the best legal representation available.  It is important for all injury victims to get one-on-one personal service from a lawyer, especially in situations like these where the client is under a high degree of emotional and physical stress.  When selecting your lawyer, make sure that he or she plans on staying in touch with you personally on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

Do your homework before retaining any lawyer.  Personal injury claims require handling by an accident lawyer who has both experience and an aggressive strategy.  Without this, your claim can be drawn out for months or years while the lawyer does his best to feel his way through the complexities of these case types. 

It looks like St. Louis is in the making for a white Christmas and new years eve.  This may fulfill the wishes of residents within the state, but for authorities it creates problems.  With the increase in traffic and 'parties', the winter weather will only increase the potential risk for serious automobile accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, and other traffic incidents that may cause catastrophic injury or even death. 

AAA and other national travel safety organizations recommend that motorists be extra-prepared if they are traveling to visit family and friends for the holidays.  Recommended safety items include portable instant heat packs, flashlights, and extra batteries for your cell phone.  It is also recommended to have a good pair of gloves and boots in your car at all times when the weather is inclement.  The personal injury attorneys at Schultz & Myers will be traveling during the holidays as well, and we want everyone else to pay special attention to the dangers of slick and snowy roads. 

Remember, in the unfortunate event that you are involved in a serious accident, make sure to keep a good record of the incident itself, including witness contact information, police report numbers, and photographs of the position of the vehicles if possible.  If you are injured, seek treatment at a local hospital that same day.  Don't just assume that your injuries will "get better on their own".  Get the advice of a doctor and perhaps diagnostic imaging such as MRI, xrays, and CT scanning if the injuries warrant such.

If you are injured in a car accident, contact the St. Louis personal injury attorneys at Schultz & Myers by calling the emergency victim helpline at (866) 840-3636, or (314) 448-0934 locally.  You have rights.  Get them protected by a professional.