St. Louis Wrongful Death Attorney – Wrongful Death Lawyer St Louis
While monetary compensation cannot replace a loved one, it can help alleviate many of the day-to-day problems confronted by families of wrongful death victims.
Nothing affects a family more than the unexpected death of a father, mother, child, or other relative. The void left by this sudden death can seem impossible to fill. If one of your family members was killed in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, you deserve compensation for your emotional and financial losses.
While compensation from a wrongful death lawsuit cannot replace what you have lost, it can provide you with a much-needed sense of justice and alleviate some of your family’s financial worries.
This attorney is very smart, very experienced, returns phone calls and knows the answers when asked. One call and I knew this was a great law firm for auto accidents.
Response from the owner: Our law firm appreciates this. This is a comment we get from so many people who call…”none of the lawyers we called told me all the things that you did.” Whether we take a car accident case or not, helping people is a good thing.
5 Star Lawyer for sure! Best you will find in Saint Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks for the 5 Star Rating. Reviews like this are great. Injury victims quickly figure out the TV advertisers are not good. We work hard at being the best we can be and it reflects in our representation of car accident victims.
Watch this lawyer in action. Was way better than all the others. Get this lawyer for an automobile accident for sure.
Response from the owner: Thanks for the recommendation. Besides doing cases, our attorneys train for this. Hard work, case knowledge and technique is key to success in car accident litigation.
Very pleased with The Hoffmann Law Firm. Lawyers are attentive, friendly and go the distance to force the settlement you want. The TV lawyers recommend low offers. This law firm gets the maximum.
Response from the owner: We get calls from car accident victims that had to fire the TV lawyers that they hired. They give the same two reasons: 1) they never spoke to a lawyer at the Big TV law firms, only a paralegal, and 2) the paralegal recommended they accept a low offer. At our law firm, you only talk to the lawyer and if an offer is low we tell you to sue. Thanks!
You will love this car accident lawyer.
Response from the owner: You are the best! Thanks for the review. Our attorneys work hard but it all starts with a great client.
Several lawyers said to call this lawyer because he is the best. You will appreciate this law firm. Helped with the injury and property claims. Attentive and knowledgeable. Great reputation in St Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks Lexi. Our #1 source of cases is other lawyers referring us cases that are too big for them to handle.
Would use this accident law firm. Best in Saint Louis. Highly rated and it shows. After one phone call, you just know this attorney is better. 5 Stars!!
Response from the owner: Thanks for recommending our lawyers in St Louis. There is a major difference in lawyers as you well know.
Great law firm thanks Leah for the referral
Response from the owner: Appreciate you recommending our law firm. Car accident litigation is all we do and specializing allows us to focus.
Car accident lawyers on tv are not good . Get this attorney ! He is a pro !!
Response from the owner: Thanks Nathan. TV lawyers market for car accidents, use paralegals instead of lawyers and give their employees settlement quotas hence forcing cheap settlements. At our law firm, you get a lawyer who keeps pushing forward for more.
A+ attorney. Smart. Helpful. Great for automobile accident cases. Located in saint louis, missouri. Use him!
Response from the owner: Thanks. Car accident cases are difficult without the right attorney and great clients. Much appreciated.
Quality lawyer. Best law firm for a car accident. Advice was way better than other lawyers I called in St. Louis. Helped with property and injury.
Response from the owner: Thanks. The TV lawyer advertisers are just car accident settlement mills. As soon as people call a real attorney, they always tell us how much better and more helpful we were. Appreciate this.
Get this lawyer if you have an automobile accident. Simply the best!
Response from the owner: Thanks Lizzy. Recommendations from other is the best way to find a car accident attorney.
This lawyer is big time. Smooth. The other lawyers on the other side were not nearly as good as this attorney. I recommend friends in St Louis to him for accident injuries and they all say the same thing…”that lawyer is great.”
Response from the owner: Very nice of you to say. Our lawyers work hard on auto accident cases.
Family used this car accident attorney after a crash. Located in St Louis. This lawyer answers the phone and will walk you through the process. Knows his stuff!
Response from the owner: Taking calls, going over the car accident injury and property process is important. Clients that call always say we are the only lawyers that explained everything. Much appreciated.
Tried the lawyers on TV. They were not good. Hired this car accident lawyer instead because he had great reviews. The reviews are correct. This attorney is as good as they get. He does big injury cases that need to be litigated.
Response from the owner: Car accident lawyers on TV do not litigate cases. It is mass production. They have quotas. Local attorneys are best on auto accidents.
Very very good at injury claims for car wrecks. Use this St Louis attorney. Two thumbs up!
Response from the owner: Thanks for the review! All we do is accidents. When you specialize, your knowledge base and practice skills grow. Thanks!
Used this attorney for an auto accident. Highly recommend this lawyer in St. Louis. Communicates well.
Response from the owner: Communicating with clients is essential. Taking the client though the car accident claims process is important otherwise major mistakes can occur. It is an effort that we make. Thanks!
Best for car accidents in St Louis. Use this attorney.
Response from the owner: Thanks. Great clients make for great cases!
This lawyer is great for car accident injury claims. Did an uninsured motorist case. Very good attorney.
Response from the owner: Car accidents can be insured or uninsured. The claims are much different. Thanks for the review.
Great lawyer if you are in an auto accident. I recommend this attorneys office.
Response from the owner: Thanks J. Glad we got your auto accident case completed and that for telling others about our lawyers.
Very good car accident attorney. Did my and my relatives claims and paperwork. Highly recommend.
Response from the owner: Thanks for recommending our law firm on car accident cases.
Fantastic law firm, I would recommend! Received free consultation related to an auto accident when my parked car was damaged by a baseball. Very supportive advice, these guys are good!
Response from the owner: Thank you!
Recommend this attorney for auto accidents.
Response from the owner: Thanks for recommending our attorneys for an automobile accident.
Best St Louis lawyer for car accidents.
Response from the owner: Thanks Tana. Appreciate this!
Great Lawyer!!
Response from the owner: Thank you
I was in a car accident in St.Louis and hired Chris as my lawyer. He was amazing!!! He helped me every step of the way and was able to get me a great settlement!!!Highly, highly, highly recommend him!
Response from the owner: Each step is important in a car accident. Thanks for recommending us for car accidents injury claims.
If you have an auto accident and need an attorney in St Louis, I recommend Mr Hoffmann.
Response from the owner: Appreciate this James and you did great as well. Car accident claims always start with a good client.
Great car accident lawyer. Did a very good job on my injury case. Thanks!
Response from the owner: Thanks. Appreciate the compliment. All we do is car accident litigation.
Very accomplished accident attorney in Saint Louis. 5 stars for sure!
Response from the owner: Thanks
A car accident lawyer I would recommend to anyone.
Response from the owner: Thanks. That is great of you to say about our lawyers.
Great car accident attorney!!
Response from the owner: Thanks
When I had my accident he was very professional, honest and caring to me and my family it wasn't about the money it was about the care, he made sure me and my kids were took care of and I really appreciate it this is a gexcellant law firm also his secretary is the best,so I would like to say thank you chris for everything melinda .
Response from the owner: Thank you
Great car accident lawyer in St. Louis. This is a very good car accident lawyer in St. Lious. Takes phone calls. Listens. Experienced in injury litigation.
Response from the owner: Thanks Maddie. Our law firm brings experience to the table on car accident cases.
Great people, helped me through a situation over the phone. His words and advice eventually helped me in my case.
Response from the owner: Glad to hear!
Although Mr. Hoffman did not represent me in my case he was willing to take the time to get me in touch with someone who specializes in the type of incident I needed legal representation with. Attorney's such as Mr. Hoffman are difficult to find. He took personal time to keep in touch with me and give me sound legal advice and guidance. I highly recommend speaking with Mr. Hoffman if you require his services. I truly believe he is the type of person who cares and will make sure the job gets done RIGHT. Do not hesitate to contact him
Response from the owner: Anytime!
In an auto accident in St. Louis, the other car pulled out and hit us. The collision was very bad. We were all injured and used this attorney. He is very experienced in handling injury claims and got a great settlement after filing a lawsuit for us. 5 Stars!
Response from the owner: Thanks Ms. Santoni. Side impact car accidents are some of the worst our lawyers see. We have to file lawsuits on nearly every case because insurance companies deny almost every claim, but I am glad we got yours resolved. I appreciate you recommending our lawyers and giving us a 5 Star rating.
My daughter and I were in an car accident. We for both injured badly. After I finally got out of the hospital, I started looking for lawyers in Saint Louis and found this attorney who does accident and injury claims. It said their attorney would answer 24 hours a day. I called their law firm at 10 p.m. and a injury lawyer answered. He was polite, knowledgeable, and advised me of what needed to be done for myself and my daughter regarding the car accident. I hired them to do or auto accident case. They kept me well informed during the car accident case in Saint Louis County Court. I was well prepared for depositions. He help with everything. I got a good settlement as did my daughter for our injuries. Although the car accident was scary, it was bearable having a good helpful attorney on our side. I highly recommend this Saint Louis car accident law firm. Their attorneys and lawyers are great. Highly recommended
Response from the owner: Happy to help.
The Chris Hoffman law firm takesgreat care of all my legal needs. They are caring and personal and will fight for what you need. I highly recommend them. You will be very satisfied and know he got you the best deal available.
Response from the owner: Great cleints are the start to pursuing any legal case and you are the best! Thanks for the recommendation Barbara!
A true professional in terms of car accident cases. I definitely recommend this lawyer for any injury after a St. Louis accident. Very good at what these attorneys do!
Response from the owner: Thank you very much for such a great review. Our attorneys work hard at providing great service. Car accident cases are fought by insurance companies from the property damage through the personal injury claim. This forces people to get local lawyers to do their claims. Missouri and Saint Louis, in particular, is known for accident claim denial even against your own insurance carrier. Thanks again!
You will not find better attorneys for a car accident in St. Louis. Very experienced. These attorneys know all the facets of an accident case and have great advice when problems come up during the injury claim.
Response from the owner: Thanks Jack. Our attorneys appreciate a great review like this. It helps car accident victims know who are the real lawyers in St. Louis who do this work versus the mere advertisers who refer victims to lawyers they have never met for a kickback. Much appreciated!
Thanks for helping with my car accident case. These lawyers are best in St. Louis.
Response from the owner: You are welcome and thanks for the review! A lot of car accident victims read these and find it helpful in choosing a lawyer for their case. Great cases always start with great clients!
great lawyer for auto accident cases . I thought this law firm did great work .Very happy with their services. I would recommend them to others.
Response from the owner: It was very nice of you to leave a review. Thanks Brenda! A good case always starts with a great client. We appreciated the recommendation. It is good to hear back from clients and have them refer us to other injury victims after a car accident. Wish you well!
This is the best choice for a car accident attorney. These lawyers get great settlements.I was recommended to them from some people I know and was happy to get a great recommendation.
Response from the owner: Our attorneys appreciate the compliment! It is great to hear we are doing well. It means a lot when you recommend our lawyers to other car accident victims. Thanks again!
Glad I switched to this auto accident lawyer. These lawyers fight hard for their injury clients. I highly recommend these lawyers.
Response from the owner: We are happy you switched as well. Good clients are the basis for a good case. Fighting to protect your rights after an accidental injury is our sole focus. Your recommendation means a lot. Thanks again for the review.
If you are injured in a car accident you should hire this attorney. This is the best legal representation. These attorneys are very professional.
Response from the owner: Thank you for reviewing our law firm and recommending our lawyers. Attorneys appreciate feedback on whether they are doing well on cases and reviews are one of the best means for this.
ST.LOUIS AUTO ACCIDENT? I RECOMMEND THIS LAWYER FOR ANY ACCIDENT CASE INVOLVING INJURIES. VERY GOOD LAWYERS!
Response from the owner: Appreciate the Good Words! SInce our law firm started focusing exclusively on car and auto accidents, the focus had increased our knowledge and the learning curve has greatly benefited out settlement results. Specializing is key for any lawyers! All benefit from this. Thanks again for the review!
Wrongful Death
The term “wrongful death” is used to refer to the death of a person as a result of someone’s misconduct or negligence. Each state has a statute that governs wrongful death claims. In the state of Missouri, “wrongful death” is defined as “the death of a person resulting from any conduct, act, transaction, occurrence, or circumstance which, if death had not ensued, would have entitled the person to recover damages in respect thereof.”
Types of Wrongful Death Cases
Wrongful death is when a person’s negligent, reckless, or careless actions cause the death of another. This responsible party may be liable for the financial losses of the victim’s family. Some of the common types of wrongful death cases include:
Some of the damages that may be able to be recovered in a wrongful death case include expenses related to the death, loss of earnings the person would have provided their family, loss of benefits they would have received, and possibly punitive damages.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
Like all other US states, Missouri has specific laws about who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court. The individuals who are the first in line to bring a claim to court include:
- The spouse of the deceased person
- The children or grandchildren of the deceased person
- The parents of the deceased person. This is the most common situation if the claim involves the death of a child.
A sibling may bring the case to court if a deceased individual has no living spouse, parents, children, or grandchildren. If there are no siblings, the “personal representative” of the deceased person’s estate will be allowed to file the claim.
Finally, the court can appoint a “plaintiff ad litem” if none of the above situations apply. This person may pursue the case as requested by someone “entitled to share in the proceeds” of a wrongful death claim. For example, this could be a cousin or other extended familial relative named in the will of the deceased but may not be able to bring a claim to court under Missouri law.
What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Wrongful Death Suit?
The purpose of a wrongful death claim is to obtain financial compensation for the losses incurred due to someone’s death. A few different factors affect the damages that you and your family can recover if you file a wrongful death suit after a car accident.
Generally, the following damages can often be recovered:
- medical bills related to the deceased person’s injury or illness
- funeral and burial expenses
- pain and suffering experienced by the deceased
- value of wages or benefits the deceased person would likely have earned
- “reasonable value of the services, companionship, consortium, instruction, comfort, guidance, training, counsel, and support” the deceased person provided to the family members
Each case is different, so it’s important to work closely with a team of experienced St. Louis wrongful death lawyers to pursue full and fair compensation and ensure the best possible outcome for your wrongful death suit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Claims
What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
A wrongful death lawsuit is a legal action brought when the negligence or misconduct of another party causes someone’s death. In Missouri, these claims allow the deceased’s loved ones to seek compensation for their loss, including funeral expenses, loss of income, and emotional distress.
What Constitutes Wrongful Death?
Wrongful death can occur in many scenarios, including car accidents, medical malpractice, and workplace accidents, where the death is a result of someone else’s negligent, reckless, or intentional actions.
How Long Does a Wrongful Death Lawsuit Take?
The duration of a wrongful death lawsuit can vary greatly depending on the case’s complexity, the amount of evidence, and the legal processes involved. While some cases may settle quickly, others can take years to resolve.
How is a Wrongful Death Settlement Divided?
In Missouri, a wrongful death settlement is divided among the statutory beneficiaries, which can include the deceased’s spouse, children, parents, or siblings, based on the court’s determination of each beneficiary’s losses from the death.
Who Gets the Money in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
As outlined by Missouri law, compensation from a wrongful death lawsuit is distributed to the deceased’s legal beneficiaries. These typically include immediate family members like spouses and children but can also extend to parents and siblings without a spouse or children.
Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!
Four Common Mistakes When Filing a Wrongful Death Suit
1. Failing to Act Quickly
Like every other state, Missouri imposes a “statute of limitations” for filing a wrongful death claim. This means that there is a deadline for filing a claim. The statute of limitations for wrongful death within Missouri’s territorial jurisdiction is three years from the date of the death.
While it’s understandable to want to take some time to grieve, don’t let the clock run out on your opportunity to recover damages. If you wait too long, evidence may disappear, and witness memories may fade, making it difficult to prove your case. Don’t let this happen — take action now to protect your rights.
2. Attempting to Represent Yourself
No matter how strong you think your evidence or your communication or negotiation skills are, representing yourself in a Missouri wrongful death claim is not recommended for several reasons.
- First, the other driver and their Insurer will most likely have an experienced attorney. This attorney will work hard to poke holes in your case and, if possible, get the case dismissed entirely.
- Second, wrongful death laws can be complicated. Hiring an attorney who understands these laws can help you navigate the process and protect your rights.
- Third, without the right knowledge and experience, you may miss important evidence or underestimate the claim’s value.
- Finally, even if you can build a strong claim, the Insurer may use legal loopholes or dirty tactics to discredit your case or devalue your claim.
3. Failing to Keep Good Records
After losing a loved one in a car crash, you may not think clearly or be able to cope with everything that needs to be done. As a result, you may fail to keep good records of the accident and related damages. This can be a problem when it comes time to pursue a wrongful death claim. The Insurer will require clear evidence of the accident and the damages before they agree to pay out any money. If you don’t have good records, you may find it difficult to prove your case and recover the compensation you deserve.
4. Filing Against the Wrong Party
This is especially common in “chain reaction” car accidents, where it may not be immediately clear who is at fault. However, it’s important to take the time to investigate the accident and determine who was responsible before filing a claim. Otherwise, you may waste time and resources pursuing a case against the wrong person.
More common mistakes include:
- Filing in the wrong court
- Failing to gather evidence
- Relying on insurance companies and their adjusters
- Accepting the first settlement offer
These are only a few mistakes people make when filing a wrongful death claim in Missouri. If you have lost a loved one in a car accident, it’s important to seek experienced legal help as soon as possible to avoid making these or other mistakes that could jeopardize your case.
Contact a Wrongful Death Attorney
Attorney Christopher Hoffmann has been helping people recover compensation for wrongful deaths caused by car, truck, and other motor vehicle accidents for 25 years. By focusing exclusively on motor vehicle accident cases, he has developed a solid understanding of how insurance companies handle such cases and the true value of these claims. He also understands insurance companies’ tactics to limit their liability in personal injury and wrongful death cases, including offering families only a portion of what their case is worth.
At The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C., we aim to ensure that you receive maximum financial compensation for your losses. Mr. Hoffmann will thoroughly investigate all avenues of compensation for your family following a fatal car accident. In hit-and-run accidents, that may include your own car insurance policy for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
Insurance companies and defense lawyers know about Christopher Hoffmann’s willingness to go to trial and his reputation as an effective trial lawyer. They also know that he does not quickly settle cases for less than their true value and works hard to obtain significant results in all wrongful death cases. You can rely on him to protect your rights and your family’s future during these difficult times.
Contact us at (314) 361-4242 for a free and private consultation. St. Louis auto accident attorney Chris Hoffmann will speak with you personally. You never pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!
