Death in the Workplace: Workers’ Compensation Survivor Benefits
Most employers take careful steps to prevent workplace accidents whenever possible. Despite those
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According to statistics from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there were 32,012 total traffic crashes in St. Louis County, Missouri in 2019. Getting injured in a traffic collision can be an emotional and difficult experience. Fortunately, Missouri car accident laws were established to hold the responsible party accountable and ensure car accident victims receive fair financial compensation for their injuries, property damage, or loss.
If you or a family member was involved in a traffic crash, hiring a knowledgeable Missouri personal injury attorney is important to help protect your rights. At Jett Legal, we have the resources and experience to assist and represent clients in their personal injury claims. Our team will evaluate and investigate all of the facts of your situation and help you understand your legal options to recover damages. We will fight to protect your rights and help you seek fair financial compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, future medical expenses, or pain and suffering.
At Jett Legal, we are proud to represent car accident victims and their families across St. Louis, Missouri, and from Jefferson County to Charles County. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.
Car Accident Liability in Missouri
Missouri is an “at-fault” state. This means that the driver responsible for the car accident (the at-fault party) will bear financial liability for injuries and damage suffered by the injury victims. To recover personal injury compensation, the car accident victims can do the following:
- File a claim with their own insurance company
- File a third-party claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier
- File a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver
Missouri Insurance Requirements
In Missouri, drivers are required to have liability insurance with coverage limits of:
- $25,000 in liability coverage for bodily injury per person in a single accident
- $50,000 in total liability bodily injury coverage in a single accident
- $10,000 in liability coverage for property damage per accident
- Uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person or $50,000 total per accident
State Laws Regarding Personal Injury Claims
Here are some Missouri state laws addressing liability in personal injury claims:
Statute of Limitations
According to Missouri Revised Statutes Section 516.120, any legal action seeking a remedy for a personal injury must be commenced within five years of discovering the injury.
Comparative Fault
Missouri operates under a “pure comparative fault” system. Under this principle, your involvement in a car accident doesn’t bar you from collecting damages, but the amount of compensation you can recover will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
For instance, assume that the jury awards a total compensation amount of $60,000 for injuries and damage, but you are found to have been 30% at fault for the accident. Your compensation amount will be reduced by $18,000, and you will only be able to collect $42,000. Under Missouri’s pure comparative fault system, plaintiffs may still recover damages even if they were up to 99% at fault for their accident.
Filing a Wrongful Death Claim
Wrongful death can be described as an avoidable death caused by the negligent or wrongful actions of another party. According to Missouri Revised Statutes Section 537.080, a wrongful death claim may be filed against a person or entity whose negligent or intentional actions results in another person’s demise. By filing a wrongful death claim, the plaintiff can hold the responsible party accountable for a preventable accident that results in a loss of life.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
The following people may file a wrongful death claim in Missouri:
- First in line, the decedent’s surviving spouse, parents, children, or children’s descendants
- Next, the decedent’s surviving siblings or their descendants
- Next, a “plaintiff ad litem” appointed by the Missouri court to handle the claim
Under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 537.100, a wrongful death action must be brought within three years of the date of the death.
Work with An Experienced Attorney
Whether you suffered minor or major injuries from a traffic collision, such an accident can affect your physical, emotional, and financial well-being. Thankfully, you don’t have to face these challenges on your own. If you were involved in a car accident, hiring an experienced personal injury attorney is paramount to protect your rights.
At Jett Legal, our team is dedicated to offering comprehensive legal guidance and compassionate representation to car accident victims and their loved ones. As your legal counsel, we can:
- Review every detail of your case and carry out an in-depth, private investigation
- Obtain relevant information, evidence, and documentation
- Work to prove fault and establish liability
- Determine the full extent of your injuries and estimate case-value
- Handle all communication and negotiate with insurers
- File a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, if necessary
We will work to hold the responsible parties accountable. We will continue fighting to protect your rights and represent your best interests throughout the process of your car accident claim.
CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY SERVING ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
If you or someone close to you was injured in a car accident, contact us at Jett Legal today to schedule a one-on-one consultation. Our experienced team can offer you the detailed legal guidance, support, and representation you need to pursue compensation for your injuries. We proudly serve clients in St. Louis, Jefferson County, and Charles County, Missouri.
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Serving victims of personal injury - one person at a time
I can not recommend Matt enough. I wish I could give him 10 stars instead of 5. He is truly the best. I remember calling Matt in a panic on a Sunday afternoon and he returned my call immediately (Mind you this was a Sunday, I was not expecting to hear back right away) He gave me so much comfort in knowing I could get my unfortunate situation resolved. I had so...
Hillary Macias
Matt and Lynsey were great to work with! Very responsive and helpful in answering my questions. I will definitely be using them in the future for my legal needs!
Nicole Schepers
I've hired about five different attorneys in my lifetime, and Matt Jett is the first one that I could tell genuinely cared about me and my case. He was very easy to work with and handled my case in a professional manner, while at the same time, speaking to me in ways that I could understand, not using a lot of legal jargon. If I ever find myself in need of a lawyer again, I will definitely give Matt a call.
Kevin Czechorski
Absolutely wonderful firm to work with I spoke to Matt himself all the time & when I did speak to the people in his office they were more than professional & very helpful. I would strongly recommend this firm.
Tisha Pinson
I had a great experience with the Jett Legal team! They are very educated on what they do from both the legal side and medical. They really cared about me and kept me in the loop every step of the way. Having Jett Legal by my side made things way less stressful and have peace of mind. I would recommend him to anyone who needs a lawyer after a car accident for sure!
Katie Garcia
I've hired about five different attorneys in my lifetime, and Matt Jett is the first one that I could tell genuinely cared about me and my case. He was very easy to work with and handled my case in a professional manner, while at the same time, speaking to me in ways that I could understand, not using a lot of legal jargon. If I ever find myself in need of a lawyer again, I will definitely give Matt a call.
Kevin Czechorski
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Serving The Injured Near St. Louis
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