Dr. Bradshaw and Personal Injury Litigation: Dr. Bradshaw law offices have experienced successes in numerous types of personal injury cases. Personal injury covers many types of injuries caused by many different types of negligence. Semi-truck wrecks, auto wrecks, medical malpractice, workers' compensation, premises liability, products liability, wrongful death, burns, explosions, and numerous other types of injury to the person.

This page is designed to be a general guideline to personal injury. If there is a specific page in this website devoted to the type of injury you have suffered, please see that page for more specific information relating to that type of claim.  Also, the personal injury or "tort" laws have changed dramatically, effective August 28, 2005.  Click here to see the August 28, 2005 changes.

What To Consider Doing If You Have A Claim: There are several guidelines which should be considered anytime you have been injured as a result of someone else's negligence. 

·         Always seek all necessary medical attention from a qualified physician or emergency room as soon as needed for any injury you may have suffered.  Often claims are denied on the basis that medical attention was not timely sought after the alleged injury.

·         Keep all medical appointment unless there is a valid reason you have documented for not attending the appointment.  Insurance companies sometimes try to reduce compensation and claims because of failures to attend appointments, called "failing to mitigate damages".

·         Document the events as precisely as possible. If the injury is a result of something like an auto wreck, contact the police and be sure a report of the incident is filed. If not, write down the sequence of events that led up to your injury and what happened afterwards.

·         Keep track of your losses. Keep copies of all medical bills, prescription receipts, receipts for incidental expenses and documentation of any lost wages.

·         Get the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of anyone involved in the incident, as well as any witnesses.

·         Document your injuries with photographs, include still pictures as well as videotape. Also document the area where the injuries occurred including any vehicles, products or other items that were involved in the injury.

·         Do not sign any documents, releases or checks without consulting an attorney.

·         Contact an attorney as soon as possible after the injury to get qualified, competent assistance in protecting your rights.

Compensation and Recovery for Losses: If you have been injured, there are many different types of recovery to which you may be entitled. Please keep in mind that many of these types of recovery do not apply to every case.

• Hospitalization

• Rehabilitation

• Transportation

• Out Patient Treatments

• Emergency Care

• Prescriptions

• Assistive Devices

• Medical Supplies

• Lost Wages

• Home Alterations

• Vehicle Alterations

•  Home Health Care - Nursing and Medical

• Pain

• Loss of Life's Enjoyments

• Future Medical Needs

• Future Lost Earnings

• Cover Costs (Paying someone to do tasks for you while unable to work)

• Consortium (Spouse's losses)

Venue: Venue refers to the place where a lawsuit may be brought into court.  In Missouri, in many injury (tort) cases, venue is often determined to be the county where the first injury occurred.

Time Limits: Time limits are often called "Statute of Limitations."  This means that after you are injured, you only have a certain amount of time in which to file a claim. However, statutes of limitations are highly technical and there are exceptions.  Each state sets out their own statutes of limitations under the types of claims. Just as importantly, defendants may move and become difficult to find. If you have a potential action, seek out a qualified attorney as soon as possible.

Research and Resource Links: For further information and links to valuable research and resources, please check out our Research and Resources page by clicking here.