St. Louis Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

(314) 626-9033

We Know How Insurance Companies Operate

Our founder, E. Ryan Bradley, started his career representing insurance companies, so we know firsthand their tactics to minimize payouts. This insider knowledge means we can anticipate insurers’ defense moves and can counter them effectively. Insurance companies in Missouri know our reputation, and they know we don’t back down or advise our clients to take a “last best offer” if it’s less than they truly deserve.

Skilled Trial Lawyers Ready for Court

Bradley Law has a reputation for taking on tough cases. We dig in deep because that’s what our clients need: lawyers who represent their best interests, who aren’t afraid of hard work or a tough battle in court. While many law firms settle quickly to avoid trial, we’re prepared to take your case all the way if that’s what it takes to get you justice and fair compensation.

And sometimes, we step in where others give up: when seven St. Louis lawyers told our client there was only $250,000 in available insurance, E. Ryan Bradley didn’t take no for an answer and called in experts who uncovered several additional liable parties. The result: a record-breaking multi-million settlement for our client.

You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

We understand that you’re already dealing with medical bills, lost income, and other expenses. The last thing you need is upfront legal fees. We handle catastrophic injury cases on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing unless (and until) we recover compensation for you.

The time to file a lawsuit for a catastrophic injury is limited. To give yourself the best chance of success, act quickly and contact Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers now for a free consultation to discuss your legal options and the next best steps.

Get A Free Case Review

What You Need to Know About Catastrophic Injuries in St. Louis

Key Takeaways:

• Catastrophic injuries often require lifelong care. Brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and amputations permanently change your ability to live independently and work. These injuries can cost millions in medical care and other expenses over a lifetime.
• Missouri law protects injury victims. Missouri law allows you to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, and lifetime care needs. You have five years to file a lawsuit, but quick action and evidence preservation can be vital to maximize your recovery.
• St. Louis catastrophic injury attorneys fight for you. Insurers often try to minimize payouts, but with experienced legal representation by your side, you can counter their tactics and aim for a fair settlement.

You were just trying to get home after picking up groceries on Delmar or heading back from work on I-64. Then someone else’s split-second bad decision, whether it was texting while driving or running a red light, changed your entire life. Next thing you know, you’re in the hospital and can’t feel your legs: your entire future now hangs in the balance.

Bradley Law’s St. Louis catastrophic injury lawyers have guided families through these situations across Missouri. We know that behind every case number is a person whose world just got turned upside down and who needs compassionate and tenacious legal representation.

Learn what Missouri law considers a catastrophic injury, your legal rights, the types of compensation available, and how our St. Louis severe injury lawyers can protect your future.

What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury in Missouri?

Missouri courts define catastrophic injuries as those resulting in permanent, life-altering consequences that change a person’s ability to work, live independently, or enjoy life as they did before. These injuries typically don’t heal over time and may require lifelong medical care and lifestyle changes. Under Missouri law (RSMo § 538.205), catastrophic injuries typically include:

• Severe traumatic brain injuries can result in cognitive impairment, memory loss, or personality changes. Such injuries are common in car accidents, and can occur in high-speed crashes on I-64 or I-70.
• Spinal cord injuries leading to paralysis. Whether you suffered an injury in a motor vehicle accident or a construction accident downtown, spinal cord damage can result in paraplegia or quadriplegia. A spinal cord injury lawyer in St. Louis understands the lifetime costs of paralysis and can help you get justice.
• Amputations or severe crushing injuries that require surgical removal of limbs. Accidents in St. Louis’s manufacturing district or severe collisions can cause injuries so extensive that amputation becomes necessary.
• Third-degree burns covering significant portions of the body. Such injuries occur in workplace explosions or house fires and may require skin grafts and several rounds of reconstructive surgery.
• Multiple organ damage or failure resulting from trauma. High-impact accidents can cause internal injuries so severe that multiple organs are damaged, potentially requiring transplants or lifelong medical intervention.
• Severe vision or hearing loss that permanently affects a person’s ability to navigate the world independently.

Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in St. Louis

Living and working in St. Louis means facing risks other places may not have. Whether you’re stuck in heavy highway traffic, working at a manufacturing plant, or dealing with construction zones, everyday activities can quickly turn dangerous. Here are some common causes resulting in catastrophic injury claims in Missouri.

St. Louis Motor Vehicle Accidents

The intersection of major highways like I-64, I-70, and I-270 can create some of Missouri’s most dangerous driving conditions. Drivers are trying to merge while huge semis barrel past at 70 mph, and construction suddenly narrows lanes. The high speeds and heavy commercial traffic turn what might be fender-benders elsewhere into serious crashes with catastrophic car accident injuries and fatalities.

Construction and Industrial Accidents

Walk through downtown St. Louis and you’ll see cranes everywhere. The city’s growth brings constant construction, and with it, constant risk for workers and passers-by. Workers scale sky-high scaffolding while traffic rushes below. Along the Mississippi River corridor, massive manufacturing plants operate heavy machinery around the clock.

When something goes wrong, workers often pay the price with injuries that can end careers. Industrial accidents in St. Louis’s manufacturing district can cause injuries so extensive that amputation becomes necessary. Our St. Louis amputation injury attorneys help victims understand their rights when workplace safety failures lead to limb loss.

Medical Malpractice

St. Louis has some of the best healthcare facilities in the state, such as the Barnes-Jewish Hospital, which is nationally ranked in several specialties. But medical negligence can occur even in the best hospitals. Patients may be dealing with preventable injuries like anesthesia errors, wrong-side or wrong-organ surgery, birth injuries, or missed diagnoses that should have been caught earlier.

If medical malpractice leads to a permanent or disabling injury, working with a St. Louis severe injury lawyer is vital. Medical malpractice claims can be challenging to litigate, as you may be up against powerful hospitals and providers and their teams of lawyers.

Premises Liability Incidents – Slips and Falls

Slip and fall accidents sound like they’re no big deal, but when people fall from significant heights on construction sites or a senior suffers a severe fall on an icy sidewalk, the results can be catastrophic. Severe falls can lead to brain injuries, serious fractures, reduced function and mobility, and other issues.

Victims can hold property owners accountable if their fall happened due to a lack of maintenance, such as missing lights in stairwells, or a hazardous property condition.

Product Defects and Dangerous Drugs

You trust that your prescription drugs have been thoroughly tested and that the car you drive won’t suddenly have malfunctioning brakes or burst into flames. But when pharmaceutical companies rush drugs to the market while keeping known side effects from customers, or automakers delay recalls, the results can be life-changing for victims.

When manufacturers put profits before safety and consumer protection, Missouri residents pay the price with severe burns and other catastrophic injuries. A burn injury lawyer in St. Louis can help victims pursue claims against product manufacturers.

Speak With An Attorney About Your Case

The Life-Changing Impact of Catastrophic Injuries

Nothing is the same after a catastrophic injury. What was once your normal daily routine, like simply getting dressed and driving to work, is now impossible or requires assistance and significant effort. And in addition to physical challenges, the psychological toll may be even more devastating. Depression and anxiety are common when victims are negotiating their new, more limited lives.

Then there’s the financial burden beyond the initial medical bills. A catastrophic injury can result in a lifetime of added expenses. A severe spinal cord injury can require wheelchair-accessible vehicles, home modifications, and personal attendants; all with a price tag that could reach millions over a lifetime.

This is why working with an experienced attorney in St. Louis is critical. They can calculate the true lifetime cost of your injury, if needed, with economic experts, and pursue adequate compensation.

Your Rights Under Missouri Law

If you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury in Missouri, you have more legal rights than you might realize. But while the state’s laws protect you, a catastrophic injury case isn’t like a routine car accident claim. It involves specific legal standards, higher damage awards, and strategies specifically designed for life-changing injuries.

• Missouri’s Pure Comparative Fault Standard. Missouri follows a pure comparative fault rule, meaning you can recover damages even if you’re partially responsible for your accident. However, your compensation will be reduced by your degree of fault.
• No Damage Caps for Most Cases. Missouri doesn’t cap damages in most catastrophic injury cases, meaning you can generally recover full compensation, including economic losses, pain and suffering, future care needs, and more. The exception is medical malpractice, where non-economic damages such as pain and suffering are capped under RSMo § 538.210.
• Statute of Limitations. The time to file a personal injury lawsuit in Missouri is limited to five years from the date of injury, according to the Missouri Statute of Limitations. That said, severe injury lawyers in St. Louis recommend filing claims as soon as you understand the full scope of your injury and damages.
• Family Member Rights. Catastrophic injuries don’t just affect the victims, but entire families. Missouri law under RSMo § 537.090 allows spouses to recover damages for loss of consortium, encompassing the companionship and affection they’ve lost due to their partner’s injury. Children may also recover for loss of parental support.

Damages You Can Recover

You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s mistake. Knowing what you’re entitled to helps you avoid settling for less. Here’s a rundown of damages recoverable in a Missouri catastrophic injury claim:

• Medical expenses (past, current, and projected lifetime medical costs)
• Lost wages and earning capacity
• Future care costs (personal care attendants and home health nursing)
• Home and vehicle modifications
• Adaptive equipment and technology (wheelchairs, prosthetics, and emerging assistive technologies)
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of life enjoyment
• Loss of consortium (compensation for spouses)
• Disfigurement and scarring damages

The worth of your Missouri catastrophic injury claim will depend on several factors, including the injury severity, your age, career potential, and how the injury affects your daily life.

How Our St. Louis Catastrophic Injury Attorneys Help

When you’re facing a catastrophic injury, you need lawyers who have your back and look out for your best interests every step of the way. The first few days after your accident are critical, so the sooner you contact our St. Louis severe injury lawyers, the better. Evidence disappears fast, and insurance companies start building their defense immediately.

We get to work as soon as possible to retain time-sensitive evidence and work with industry experts who understand even complex fault scenarios. Our legal team can also liaise directly with your doctors to ensure your injuries are documented properly, which gives you the best chance of recovering the full value of your claim.

Unfortunately, some insurance companies treat catastrophic injury claims like war and try to cheat you out of your claim by bringing in the “big guns,” like teams of adjusters, medical providers, and lawyers who fight tooth and nail to pay as little as possible. They may even claim your injuries aren’t that serious or that you can still work when you’re clearly unable to.

We counter their tactics with expert witnesses who can prove fault and medical specialists who document the true severity of your injuries. Insurance companies know Bradley Law is prepared to take cases to trial if they won’t offer fair compensation.

FAQs – Ask a St. Louis Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

What is my St. Louis catastrophic injury case worth?

Catastrophic injury cases typically have much higher values than routine personal injury claims due to the victim’s permanent disabilities and (often lifelong) care needs. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), the average lifetime costs for severe spinal injuries, including paralysis, range from $3 million to over $6 million. To determine what your case is worth, schedule a free consultation with our severe injury lawyers in St. Louis.

Do I need a catastrophic injury lawyer if I already have health insurance?

Health insurance typically won’t cover the full scope of catastrophic injury costs like home modifications and specialized equipment. Missouri law allows you to recover these expenses from the responsible party. An attorney can identify all available avenues for compensation and file a claim to help you recover what you deserve.

Can I still get compensation if the person who injured me doesn’t have enough insurance?

Yes, you can still get compensation. Many Missouri drivers carry only the state minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person, which won’t cover catastrophic injury costs. And some, unfortunately, drive without any insurance at all. But that’s when your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage steps in to provide additional compensation (Missouri requires minimum UM coverage of $25,000).

How long will my St. Louis catastrophic injury claim take?

Catastrophic injury cases typically take over a year to resolve, though some settle within months if liability is clear and insurance companies cooperate. Attorneys typically suggest waiting to accept a settlement until doctors understand your permanent disabilities. Rushing could mean losing out on significant compensation. Complex cases with disputed fault or multiple defendants can take several years.

What experience should I look for in a St. Louis brain injury attorney?

Traumatic brain injury cases involve complex neurological and legal issues. They require a deep understanding of neurological damage, cognitive assessments, and lifetime care planning that general personal injury lawyers usually lack. Look for a lawyer with comprehensive brain injury experience and a successful track record in getting results for clients, like Bradley Law.

Speak With a St. Louis Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Today

Catastrophic injuries can change your life in an instant and impact your entire family. There’s no denying that the road ahead is tough, but you don’t have to face it alone. The decisions you make now determine whether you’ll be able to manage your new life with the financial resources needed for a lifetime of care. Don’t let an insurance company pressure you into a quick, lowball settlement offer that won’t even begin to cover your future needs.

At Bradley Law, we know catastrophic injury cases inside and out. Whether it’s handling insurance company tactics or working with medical experts who can explain your injuries and their impacts clearly to a jury. We want you to win.

Get started now with a free, no-obligation case review to clarify your options.

Get A Free Case Review