Our St. Louis personal injury attorney at The Gogel Law Firm knows that filing a successful claim against a liable party — or combination of parties — in Missouri requires the initial step of identifying that he, she, or they had a duty of care.
Before you file a personal injury claim in Missouri, it is important to know exactly what that means, so you can make informed decisions about the direction of your case.
What is Duty of Care and What Does It Mean to My Missouri Personal Injury Claim?
A duty of care describes the legal responsibility individuals hold to maintain the health and well-being of others. This includes drivers having the duty of care to safely operate their vehicles to avoid harming others during a collision, property owners keeping their premises safe from hazards that will harm visitors, and medical professionals providing a standard of care that is expected from other professionals in their field, so they avoid medical malpractice injuries or fatalities.
In personal injury claims, a breach of duty of care — using the same examples as above — may include an impaired driver getting behind the wheel and causing a crash, a property owner failing to repair a dangerous condition even though they know (or should have known) it exists, or a surgeon leaving an object inside of a patient during a procedure.
All personal injury claims in Missouri hinge on the following facts being true:
- You were owed a reasonable duty of care by a party.
- The responsible party breached their lawful duty of care.
- Their actions directly caused your injuries and losses.
- You sustained economic damages due to their negligence.
When we can prove each of those factors is true, you may be eligible to pursue compensatory damages for the physical, emotional, and financial suffering they caused.
Contact Us Now
Contact our St. Louis personal injury attorney today to review your case by calling (314) 370-8173 or online to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your legal rights and options to pursue the best outcome for your unique case.
