Personal Injury FAQ

Answers from a St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer

At Fox Goldblatt & Singer, we recognize that is usually considerable questions in regards to personal injury claims. For many people, they have never dealt with something of this nature and do not have the necessary experience to truly understanding what they are getting into. For this reason, we have compiled the following questions and provided answers – to help our clients with the most commonly asked questions. If you read through this and still have questions about what you're facing, please contact us as soon as possible.

Common Questions About Personal Injury Claims

Do I have a time limit on how long I have to file a claim?
Actually, yes, you do – it's called the "statute of limitations" and it varies by state. In the state of Missouri, for example, there is a five year statute of limitations on personal injury claims involving negligence although the discovery rule does come into play. For wrongful death, it is a three year limitations and for medical malpractice, it is two years with the discovery rule. So what does this mean? It means that there is a very limited window of opportunity in which you have to act – and it is important that you do not hesitate to take advantage of the time that you have available to fighting for your just outcome.

How is behavior deemed to be negligent?
Generally speaking, something can be determined to be negligent if it is not how a reasonable person would act. If a person does not behave in the way of an "ordinary reasonable person" and does not meet what is considered to be acceptable behavior by society, it could be deemed to be negligent. It will likely be the responsibility of the jury during a trial to determine what this behavior is and whether the actions of the defendant met these standards.

Do I need an attorney?
It is important to seek legal representation and assistance from an attorney with a proven record of recovering high value settlements for serious injuries. A skilled and knowledgeable injury attorney can protect your right to compensation, as insurance companies often use tactics to reduce or deny valid claims. Our legal team at Fox Goldblatt & Singer has been serving the St. Louis community since 1949, and has the experience you need if you have suffered a serious injury.

What if I am offered a settlement?
If you receive a settlement offer soon after an accident by the insurance company directly, you can assume that it will be far lower than you could recover with the help of a St. Louis personal injury lawyer from our firm. We can help by evaluating your claim, and it we advise that you do not accept any settlement without this evaluation from our firm.

Should I allow access to my medical records?
Never allow an insurance company to directly access your medical records, or engage in interviews with them until you have legal representation. These actions can result in a lower settlement. We carefully preserve your rights throughout the claims process.

How long does a claim take to resolve?
Some claims are clear-cut with regard to liability, and may take several months to conclude with a settlement. Others are more complex, and the liable party could move forward with efforts to avoid paying a claim. They often engage the services of high powered law firms to try to defend against a large claim, such as in cases of medical malpractice or product liability claims. It is important that you have legal counsel that is familiar with such cases and has a proven record in litigating serious injury claims. Our firm maintains recognition with an AV peer rating for ethical standards and case results, are members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and "SuperLawyers." We have been representing clients in serious injury cases since 1949, and our years of experience are an important factor with regard to final settlements. A litigated case could involve a long wait for resolution, but our case preparation and aggressive approach can speed the process. We move our cases forward as quickly as possible.

Contact a St. Louis personal injury lawyer from our firm for answers to get your questions about your injury case and receive advice about eligibility for monetary compensation for injuries and suffering.