Personal Injury Lawyer Lake of the Ozarks, MO

Personal injuries can happen at any time. They can result in severe physical pain, costly medical procedures, lost income, and emotional distress. When these injuries happen because of someone else’s carelessness, a personal injury lawyer from Lake of the Ozarks, MO, can help an injured party hold the responsible party accountable with a personal injury claim. You should not be responsible for the financial and psychological damages of such an injury.

These claims should be initiated soon after an accident, but this can be hard to do while you are recovering. Support from a personal injury lawyer is often crucial to the success of these claims and makes you more likely to get the maximum recovery possible for damages like medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

Why Choose Wendt Law Firm P.C.?

At Wendt Law Firm P.C., we offer comprehensive legal representation for injured individuals and their families. Our attorneys have over 50 collective years of experience working in complex personal injury cases, supporting our community in Missouri. When you bring a case to us, we help you understand your options and fight diligently for your personal and financial interests.

By entrusting your personal injury claim to our team, you can take crucial time to recover from your injuries, confident in our firm’s commitment to you. We have a record of success and focus on fighting for the most beneficial outcome available. Our experience is in negotiation and in litigation, allowing us to support you along each step of the process.

The Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle at Wendt Law Firm P.C.

When looking for a Lake of the Ozarks, MO, personal injury lawyer, you should find an attorney with relevant experience. There are many things to look for in an attorney, including how long they have been representing clients and what those clients say about them.

There are numerous types of personal injury claims, categorized by the cause of the accident, the location, or the injuries it results in. Different types of injuries may have different avenues of compensation and may require unique methods of investigation to prove fault.

By working with a firm with experience, you are more likely to have a more efficient and successful claim. Their experience can help with many aspects of the claim and means they will know more about what to expect upfront. At Wendt Law Firm P.C., we have experience in some of the following types of personal injury claims:

Automobile accidents. There are many types of automobile accidents, including collisions involving passenger cars, buses, commercial trucks, motorcycles, rideshare vehicles, and other vehicles. Motor vehicle accidents are one of the most frequent causes of personal injury and range from minor injuries to disabling and catastrophic harm.

These claims often require you to go through an insurance provider claim. An attorney can help you navigate this process and determine if a civil claim is needed in your situation.

Bicycle and pedestrian accidents. Bicycle and pedestrian accidents can involve motor vehicles, hazards on the road, and hazards on the sidewalk. Pedestrians and bicyclists are much more susceptible to serious injury, especially in car accidents. If you were injured because of a negligent driver or because a property owner or agency failed to maintain a sidewalk or road, you may be able to file a claim to recover your damages.
Boat accidents. Injuries on or because of a boat can be serious. Improperly maintained equipment, distracted operation, faulty equipment, and operating a boat under the influence are all potential causes of boat accidents that can point to negligence. An attorney can help you investigate the cause of the incident and potentially file a claim.
Premises liability injuries. Owners and managers of properties owe a level of care to legal visitors to their premises. This means they must keep their property reasonably free of hazards and address hazards that they are aware of.

Hazards could include spills, tripping hazards, broken railings, or electrical dangers. If a property owner does not address these hazards in a reasonable amount of time, and someone is injured, the property owner can be held liable for those damages.

Dog bites and attacks. Dog attacks and other animal attacks can cause serious injuries, from punctures and lacerations to crushing injuries and broken bones. Missouri holds dog owners strictly liable for damages their dogs do, assuming the injured party was legally on public or private premises and did not provoke the dog. The dog’s owner can be liable for the injuries caused by their pet.
Medical malpractice. Medical practitioners have a professional standard of care to uphold for those they agree to treat. When a provider is negligent in their care, it can cause serious and permanent damage to a patient. A claim can hold these professionals liable for their carelessness and improper care. These claims can be difficult, and are much easier with the help of a skilled attorney.
Nursing home abuse. Elderly residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities should be cared for by those in charge of the facility. Nursing home abuse and negligence can cause long-term harm and even death of residents. These cases may require significant investigation in order to file a claim against the parties engaging in this awful behavior.
Sexual abuse. Cases of sexual abuse and assault can lead to criminal charges, and victims can also file civil claims. While filing these cases may not be the first thing a victim of these crimes is thinking of, it is an option for seeking justice, and can be very beneficial in the long-term recovery process. An experienced personal injury attorney can help injured parties determine their options for a civil claim.

Asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure can damage the lungs and lead to a higher risk for respiratory illnesses and mesothelioma. If the materials asbestos is used in are broken, the particles can enter the air and the lungs.

This puts miners, construction employees, and demolition workers at a higher risk, as well as other employees who are exposed to asbestos frequently. If you were diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, an attorney can review the next steps to recover compensation.

Wrongful death. A wrongful death claim is filed when someone who would have had a viable personal injury claim is killed in the accident or later dies from their injuries. It can be difficult for family members to consider legal action during such an immense loss. The claim can provide a family with some financial support and hold the at-fault party responsible for their failures. An attorney can support your family in filing this claim.

Our attorneys can help with many other causes of personal injury claims. We know how frustrating an injury is, particularly when it should have been avoided. Our team helps you identify the at-fault party and gather evidence to prove them liable for your injuries.

What Are the Grounds for a Personal Injury Claim?

For a valid personal injury claim, another party must be at fault for your injuries and found legally liable. In most personal injury cases, this is based on the legal theory of negligence, although some cases may be based on intentional misconduct or reckless endangerment.

When a claim is based on negligence, the at-fault party does not have to have acted intentionally to be held liable. They may have made a mistake, and that mistake caused your injuries. These are some of the elements required to prove liability.

There are four main elements required to prove liability:

Duty of care. The other party owed you a duty of care, usually to act with reasonable thought to your safety, although different claims have different levels of duty.
Breach. The party breached their duty of care, such as by acting negligently.
Causation. The breach was what caused the accident and/or your injuries.
Actual damages. You suffered legally recognizable damages because of the accident and your injury.

Not all personal injury cases require all these elements to prove liability. If you were injured by a dangerous and defective product, the manufacturers or distributors of that product are often strictly liable.

If you are unsure whether you have grounds for a valid personal injury claim, speak with an attorney about your situation. They can review the specifics and give you crucial advice about whether you have a claim and how to effectively get the most compensation for your injuries.

What Damages Can You Recover in a Personal Injury Claim?

The damages you can recover in a personal injury claim will reflect the damages that you sustained as a direct result of your injury. A successful claim could recover the entirety of your economic and non-economic damages now and into the future, providing you with the financial certainty you need after a traumatic and stressful situation. Economic damages are set financial losses, including:

Medical expenses, including current bills, future and long-term care, and the costs of complications that are anticipated for the specific injury.
Property damage repair or replacement costs, such as damage to a vehicle or other personal property.
Lost wages if you were unable to work while injured.
Lost earning potential if you are disabled and unable to work full-time or return to work at all.
Funeral and burial or cremation expenses in wrongful death claims.

Non-economic damages are intangible losses, like emotional harm, which are assigned a financial value within the claim. This includes:

Physical pain.
Mental trauma.
Diminished enjoyment of life.
Loss of quality of life.
Disfigurement and loss of limbs.
Loss of consortium.

An experienced personal injury lawyer in Lake of the Ozarks, MO, can help you calculate all of the damages. Economic damages can largely be proven with receipts and invoices, but it can be more complicated to prove anticipated costs and long-term costs of medical needs.

Non-economic damages can be calculated in numerous ways, and can be used to fairly compensate you for your psychological damages and maximize the value of your claim. Unfortunately, because these do not have a set value, they are frequently disputed by the insurance adjuster. The support of an attorney is necessary to prevent this and ensure you are properly compensated.

Many injured parties underestimate these costs, but an attorney understands how to effectively calculate your losses.

How Does a Personal Injury Lawyer in Lake of the Ozarks, MO, Help?

A personal injury lawyer gives you the ability to rest and recover, assured that your claim is in good hands. Insurance adjusters will try to undermine your claim, but an attorney is aware of these tactics and will not allow them to deny a good faith claim.

If an adjuster will not accept a fair settlement amount, then an attorney can take the claim to court. Your claim is more likely to be successful with an attorney’s help, and it is likely that you will recover the maximum compensation possible for your unique claim.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Lake of the Ozarks, MO

It can be difficult to consider legal deadlines while you are mentally and physically recovering from an injury. However, there are small windows that you need to file claims by. Act quickly and discuss your case with the team at Wendt Law Firm P.C. so that we can begin the investigation and file before your claim expires. Contact us today.