by Staff Blogger | June 4th, 2019
Summer is here, and that means many Missouri residents will hit the state’s lakes and rivers on boats and other personal watercraft in the coming weeks and months. Like all vehicles, boats must be driven safely and carefully to avoid accidents. Some people underestimate the prevalence and severity of boat accidents, and it’s important to remember that watercraft can be extremely dangerous to occupants and other boaters when accidents occur.
If you or someone you love was recently injured in a boat accident, you may be facing expensive medical bills and lost wages due to injuries that put you out of work. Filing a compensation claim for a boat accident may be confusing, especially if you’re unsure of who caused it.
At Cofman Townsley, our St. Louis boat accident lawyers have many years of experience building boat accident claims, and we know which parties are often held liable, including:
- The negligent boat driver—Whether another boat crashed into the vessel you were on, or the boat you were on overturned or collided with another object, the liable party may be a boat operator. We can collect evidence that helps us determine which boater is responsible.
- An unruly passenger—Passengers can be held liable for boat accidents and injuries when their behavior distracts drivers or prevents them from driving their boats in a safe and controlled manner.
- The owner of the boat—Boat owners may be considered responsible for accidents if they loan their boats to unqualified drivers or allow inexperienced, intoxicated, or underaged people to drive their boats.
No matter who caused your boat accident, you need experienced legal representation on your side. Get the help you deserve today—call us for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | May 7th, 2019
From 2011 through 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 309 new medications to treat a variety of illnesses and health complications. While most of those drugs are safe for patients to take, some may be dangerous—and those dangers may not be publicized or discovered yet.
The FDA recalls medications every year, and some of those medications have been on the market for years before data or manufacturing errors reveal that they pose serious dangers to patients. At Cofman Townsley, our St. Louis drug injury lawyers are here to help people whose lives have been forever changed by dangerous medications sold by negligent drug manufacturers.
If you or someone you love was harmed by a prescription or over-the-counter drug, you may be facing big medical bills that you can’t afford, especially if your injuries or complications prevent you from working. Trying to get compensation after a drug injury can be intimidating, as going up against a billion-dollar pharmaceutical company may seem like a battle you just can’t win.
Our legal team isn’t afraid to stand up to big corporations, especially when it comes to working on behalf of injured victims like you. Don’t wait another day to get the experienced and dedicated legal representation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | April 2nd, 2019
Semi trucks weigh up to ten times more than passenger vehicles, and they can be 60 feet in length or longer. When big trucks are involved in accidents with cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs, they often cause significant damage and serious injuries because of the massive size and weight difference.
Truck accident victims often face expensive medical bills and long periods away from work. However, pursuing compensation isn’t always a cut-and-dry process after truck accidents. That’s because multiple parties can be tied to a single truck, and one or more of those parties’ negligence can contribute to a crash.
At Cofman Townsley, our St. Louis truck accident lawyers are dedicated to helping victims get the money they deserve after truck accidents, and that means investigating those crashes to find out who was responsible. Four parties whose negligence can contribute to crashes include:
- Truck drivers—Truck drivers not only must obey traffic laws, but they also must obey strict rest and time off requirements established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
- Truck companies—Companies that lease or use trucks to conduct business must ensure that they are used safely. That means avoiding improper loading procedures and violating weight limits.
- Truck owners—Whether they’re owned by companies or individuals, trucks must be well-maintained and on a regular service schedule to remain safe on Missouri’s roadways.
- Other drivers—Big trucks are difficult to maneuver and slow down. When other drivers are negligent, their actions can cause trucks to be involved in serious crashes.
If you or someone you love was injured in a truck accident, you deserve experienced legal representation. Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | March 4th, 2019
When you visited your doctor’s office or checked into the hospital, you expected to be treated with the utmost care, caution, and attention to detail. But now your health is worse than before. When people suffer poor outcomes after receiving medical treatment, there’s always a chance that they are victims of medical malpractice.
At Cofman Townsley, our St. Louis medical malpractice lawyers have assisted many people just like you who needed help with their illnesses or injuries, only to suffer new complications in the hours, days, or weeks after they received treatment. Whether it’s due to cost-saving measures, careless mistakes, or improper hospital protocol, many medical errors are caused by negligence. And when that happens, it’s our goal to help patients get maximum compensation.
Hospitals and health clinics are often well prepared for the possibility of medical malpractice claims from patients. That makes it extremely difficult for victims and their families to file claims on their own. Our legal team knows how to build strong claims that get results, and we aren’t afraid to stand up to big hospitals and their insurance companies.
If you or someone you love was harmed by a medical professional, you deserve compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let us get to work for you and your family.
by Staff Blogger | February 5th, 2019
The combination of expensive medical bills and weeks or even months away from work due to painful injuries can cause many auto accident victims to face financial crises.
If you or someone you love was recently hurt in a car crash, filing a personal injury claim may help you recover money for your injury-related expenses. However, the insurance company’s job is to pay you as little as possible—and that often means keeping you in the dark about what types of compensation you may be eligible to receive.
At Cofman Townsley, our St. Louis auto accident lawyers have one goal in mind when we take on car accident claims: helping victims like you get the money they deserve for everything they’ve gone through. That means getting compensation for every damage that victims incur, including:
- Present and future medical bills—Medical treatments for car accident-related injuries are often ongoing. Victims frequently need prolonged physical rehabilitation to regain movement and strength, and some may even require surgeries. Getting compensation for initial expenses is rarely sufficient to cover victims’ total medical expenses.
- Present and future lost wages—Missing even a few weeks of work can be devastating for auto accident victims. However, their injuries can be even more disruptive to their finances if their injuries fail to heal properly, resulting in long-term or even permanent disability. And even if they’re able to return to work, they may face difficulties advancing in their careers.
- Pain and suffering—In addition to debilitating physical pain, auto accident victims may also experience psychological trauma. Depression, anxiety, and even panic disorder are common complications that auto accident victims face after their crashes.
Don’t go it alone after the crash. Let us help you get the money you deserve for everything you’ve gone through. Call today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | January 1st, 2019
Dog-friendly offices, restaurants, and retail spaces are becoming the norm both in St. Louis and throughout Missouri. And while most dogs pose no threat to the people they encounter on a daily basis, some dogs can lash out and act aggressively—even when they have no history of such behavior.
Because of that, St. Louis requires that all dogs in public be leashed outside of specified dog parks. However, not all dog owners abide by that law. Even owners who leash their dogs don’t always keep them under control, and they may allow them to approach other people in public. In some circumstances, those negligent behaviors can lead to bites and serious injuries.
At Cofman Townsley, our St. Louis dog bite attorneys know that when dogs attack people, the consequences can be devastating. Regardless of dog breed or size, bites can cause serious injuries that result in permanent complications, including nerve damage and infection. In some cases, victims may even become disabled due to the effects of the dog bite injuries that they suffered.
If you or someone you love was bitten by a dog, we want to help you get the compensation you deserve. Whether the dog wasn’t properly leashed or wasn’t in an enclosure, there’s a good chance its owner violated a state law or ordinance, and that means he or she can be held liable for your injuries and bite-related expenses. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation—we’re ready to put our experience to work for you.
by Staff Blogger | December 4th, 2018
Dealing with the death of a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences in a person’s lifetime. But the grief and sense of loss can be compounded when the death was caused by another person’s or party’s negligence, carelessness, or malice.
People who were injured in accidents or incidents that were caused by others’ negligence are often eligible to file compensation claims for things like medical bills and lost wages. The same is true for surviving family members when their loved ones die due to preventable causes, including other people’s mistakes.
At Cofman Townsley, our St. Louis wrongful death attorneys have helped many grieving families get compensation for things like:
- Medical bills—Unfortunately, medical bills aren’t discharged when victims pass away. Instead, their bills are assigned to their loved ones, who may have difficulty paying them.
- Lost wages—Surviving family members lose support in a variety of ways when their loved ones die, including financial support. Wrongful death claims can help them recover some or all of their deceased loved ones’ wages.
- Funeral costs—Funeral and burial/cremation services are expensive, but they’re essential for many families after the death of loved ones. We can help you get compensation to help cover this important part of your family’s grieving process.
We know this is a difficult and sensitive time for your family, and you can count on us to treat you and your loved ones with the utmost respect and patience while you mourn your loss. Contact us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | November 6th, 2018
Almost all employers in Missouri are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to cover their workers if they get hurt or develop an illness on the job that puts them out of work. And while those benefits are designed to help workers keep up with their expenses while they’re recovering, they’re often out of reach for the people who need them the most.
At Cofman Townsley, our St. Louis workers’ compensation attorneys know that many victims are fighting an uphill battle on two fronts:
- Their employers may be reluctant to admit or acknowledge that their health problems occurred at work. That’s because documenting those claims can cost them money.
- The Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation has strict criteria for approving workers’ compensation claims, and small mistakes, oversights, or inaccuracies can result in claims being reduced or denied.
Complying with the demands of the workers’ compensation board while your employer is working against you can feel overwhelming—especially when you are trying to recover from a serious injury or illness. Our legal team knows what you’re going through, and we know how the system works.
When you choose us to handle your workers’ compensation claim, you’ll get our years of experience on your side—not to mention our negotiating skills and our dedication to making sure your chances of getting full compensation are maximized in every facet of your claim.
Don’t lose out on the money you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation.
by Staff Blogger | October 2nd, 2018
Auto accidents, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice—they all have one thing in common: other people’s negligence.
At Cofman Townsley, we believe that people who were harmed because of the negligence of others shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for their own injury-related expenses. The medical bills associated with many types of negligence-related injuries and illnesses can be enormous. Many families have difficulty paying for them and keeping up with their day-to-day living expenses, especially when the primary income earner is too sick or hurt to work.
Our St. Louis personal injury lawyers stand up for the rights of victims who were harmed through no fault of their own. We maximize victims’ chances of getting the compensation they deserve by collecting evidence that proves they weren’t liable. Then, we calculate how much money they should get based on their accident-related expenses. Finally, we negotiate with the insurance company to finalize a fair settlement.
Having a lawyer on your side makes the compensation process easier on you and your family. Instead of worrying about what to say when the insurance adjuster calls or stressing out over paperwork and deadlines, you can focus on getting better. It’s our job to deal with the big and small details while you spend time with your friends and family.
Call us today for a free consultation to find out how we may be able to help your family during this difficult time.
by Staff Blogger | September 4th, 2018
If you were hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you should be able to get compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. But insurance companies didn’t become billion-dollar corporations by giving money to every deserving victim.
In most cases, insurance companies play hardball with victims, and that means they often offer “lowball” settlements that are only enough to pay for a fraction of the initial accident-related expenses. But in other cases, insurers and their adjusters deny claims entirely—especially when victims make mistakes immediately after and in the weeks following their accidents.
Three of the most common mistakes victims make include:
- Admitting fault for the crash—Never admit fault prematurely for an accident, even if you think you might have been partially responsible for causing it. Admitting fault can make it difficult for you to get compensation, even if evidence later proves you had no liability for the crash.
- Lying about your injuries—Go to the hospital or visit a doctor right away after the accident to get evaluated and a diagnosis of your injuries. If the insurance company finds out that you exaggerated or downplayed the severity or number of your injuries, they may deny your claim.
- Waiting too long to get a St. Louis car accident lawyer—The clock is ticking after a car accident. Evidence can disappear and the statute of limitations can expire. In addition, insurance companies often view delayed claims with skepticism, and they may think your injuries are due to something other than the accident.
Call Cofman Townsley today for a free consultation. We’re here to help you get the money you deserve.
