Frequently Asked Questions

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden physical assault on the head causes damage to the brain. A closed injury occurs when the head suddenly and violently hits an object, but the object does not break through the skull. A penetrating injury occurs when an object pierces the skull and enters the brain tissue. Brain injury can happen in a car, fall or motorcycle accident. This type of injury most often occurs when sudden impact with a dashboard, window, a severe fall or outside object at high speed happens.

Two commonly injured ligaments in the knee often caused by car accidents, motorcycle accidents or trip and falls are the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). The ACL is most often stretched or torn (or both) by a sudden twisting motion. The PCL is usually injured by a direct impact, such as in an automobile accident or football tackle.

The medial and lateral collateral ligaments are usually injured by a blow to the outer side of the knee. This can stretch and tear a ligament.

Ligament injuries are treated with:

• Ice packs (right after the injury) to reduce swelling
• Exercises to strengthen muscles
• A brace
• Surgery (for more severe injuries).

If someone you love has been killed in Missouri as the result of someone else's negligence, you may be eligible for compensation in a wrongful death claim. However, there are specific rules on who is eligible to make a wrongful death claim in Missouri. If you have questions on whether or not you can make a claim, you can get the advice of a wrongful death attorney.

The only person who can make a wrongful death claim is the deceased's personal representative. This representative must make the claim on behalf of the deceased's estate, and on behalf of each individual survivor. In this case, survivors may include:

• the deceased's spouse,
• the deceased's children;
• the deceased's parents;
• the deceased's blood relatives; and
• in some cases, their adoptive relatives.

Under Missouri statutes, survivorship is to be determined at the time of the deceased's death. Furthermore, statutes specify what type of damages each type of survivor may recover. In a Missouri wrongful death claim, damages may include the deceased's medical expenses, their funeral and burial costs, and specific losses that were suffered by the survivors.

If you want to file a wrongful death claim or want to know more about who can act as a deceased's personal representative, call us for a FREE case review at 314.344.0800.

You have already been in an accident, sustained serious injuries, and may be unable to work. Now your credit could also be damaged because you can’t pay your medical bills.

If you have sustained injuries in any kind of accident, then you are bound to have thousands of dollars in unpaid medical bills. But the fact is, no matter who was at fault, you are still accountable for your medical bills. If your bills go unpaid, your credit could be damaged.

If you have health insurance, then you need to ensure that your bills are paid through that policy, as health insurance companies receive a discounted rate on services provided. Your insurance company will then be reimbursed from your settlement, leaving more money for you.

If you do not have health insurance, then you need to contact a St. Louis accident attorney at Castle Law Office-314.344.0800. These situations can be very complicated, and you don’t want to be stuck with medical bills that should be paid by the negligent party.

A: If you have been injured on your head, don't assume that you do not have a head injury just because you do not see any physical lacerations. It is very possible that you may have sustained a closed head injury without even realizing it.

If you have sustained a blow to the head, whether in a Missouri workplace injury, car crash, or any other accident, you need to be sure to watch for the following symptoms:

• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Personality change
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Seizure
• Drop in blood pressure
• Memory loss
• Restlessness
• Slurred speech
• Blurred vision

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should consult a health professional immediately.

A: Missouri and Illinois workers' compensation attorneys' fees are capped at a certain percentage, so if an attorney is quoting you a super-low price, beware. Chances are, he or she doesn't have the experience to know better, or he doesn't plan on doing that much work for you.

A: NO! Missouri law specifically prohibits this. Not only can they not fire you for this reason, they also can't demote you in any way.

A: Absolutely!!

If you have been injured in a St. Louis car crash, you can be reimbursed for your time off of work due to medical restrictions or doctor's appointments. You should not have to use your sick time or vacation days to pay for the pain someone else has caused you. In order to make the best case possible, be sure to keep good records of all time off and the cause of this inability to work. Keep all doctors' appointment slips and medical documentation from your doctor that states you are were unable to work. Also obtain a report from your workplace that shows your lost time, days marked off, and anything else that shows you have lost wages.

A: Different states have different time limits on how long after an accident you can pursue your claim. An experienced injury attorney can help you make sure you file a claim in time, so you receive the treatment and care you deserve.