St. Louis Wrongful Death Attorney

Missouri & Illinois Fatal Accident Lawyer

Wrongful death is the legal term for any case where the negligence, carelessness, or recklessness of another leads to a fatal accident.  in both Missouri and Illinois, different rules apply in a fatal injury case as opposed to any other injury case.  It does not matter if the death occurred from a car accident, trucking accident, medical malpractice, or nursing home abuse.  Many people are surprised to learn that Missouri and Illinois allow only certain family members to bring a claim.  There is a hierarchy of family members who may bring a wrongful death lawsuit. 

In addition to "who" can bring the claim, the laws also specify "what" they can recover.  Wrongful death lawyers distinguish between "economic" and "noneconomic" damages.  Economic damages include medical bills, funeral expenses, and lost income.  These are things that can be calculated to an exact number.  Generally, we will hire an expert economist to calculate these numbers and present them to the jury.  There is no cap on the amount of "economic" damages that can be awarded.

"Noneconomic" damages refer to the emotional losses.  The law calls this loss of companionship and loss of consortium.  But as an experienced Injury Trial Lawyer, Josh Myers knows that there are no words to really describe what a family goes through when a loved one unexpectedly dies.  We have handled many wrongful death cases and each one is is as heartwrenching as it is contentious. 

Because so much is at stake in these cases, the insurance companies fight extremely hard.  Fatal accident cases are not the ones to trust to an inexperienced lawyer.  We understand that there is more at issue in these cases than just the money.  In past cases, our clients have been searching for a recognition for their loved one and what their loss mean.  In others, our clients have been seeking a formal acknowledgement of responsibility.  Sometimes, we have even had defendants change some of their policies and practices as part of the settlement so that future families did not suffer the same loss.

The fact is, wrongful death cases are highly emotional, require many experts, and are very expensive.  The last thing you need is an incompetent wrongful death lawyer handling your case.  If you have lost a loved one in a fatal accident, feel free to make an appointment with Josh Myers.  It's always free to discuss a potential case and if we do accept the case, our fees are based on a percentage of the recovery.  There are never any hourly fees. 

Missouri Fatality Attorney

We handle wrongful death cases throughout the entire state of Missouri.  The vast majority of our cases are from the St. Louis Metro area.  However, we also routinely accept cases from St. Charles, St. Peters, O'Fallon, Columbia, Springfield, Joplin, Cape Girardeau, Lake of the Ozarks, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Independence, Blue Springs, Lee's Summit and other surrounding areas.  No matter where you live, if you've lost a loved one in a fatal accident and need a wrongful death lawyer, feel free to call St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney Josh Myers.  It's always free to talk about a potential case.     

Missouri Wrongful Death State of Limitations

The time limit to file your Missouri wrongful death case is three years.  This time limit starts running from the date of death.  After this time, you are forever barred from filing your lawsuit.

Illinois Fatality Attorney

Josh Myers is also licensed to handle fatal accident cases throughout the state of Illinois.  Most of the cases we accept are from Madison County, St. Clair County, and Monroe County.  This includes cities such as Alton, Wood River, Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Collinsville, Fairview Heights, Belleville, O'Fallon, Columbia, and East St. Louis.  However, we accept fatal semi-truck accident cases from all across Illinois.  If you need to speak with an Illinois wrongful death attorney, contact Personal Injury Lawyer Josh Myers.  It's always free to talk about a potential case. 

Illinois Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations

Wrongful death actions in Illinois must be filed within two years of the date of death.