Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need a lawyer?  Dealing with Insurance Companies.

In most cases the individuals and corporations responsible for our clients’ injuries are covered by some type of insurance policy. Automobile insurance covers individuals while operating a car or motorcycle. Homeowners policies cover the owners of animals that bite or dangerous defects in their property. Sometimes an umbrella policy may provide additional coverage to an individual as well. Doctors, hospitals and nursing homes are covered by medical malpractice policies. Premises or general liability policies cover stores and business owners for dangerous premises and other types of negligence claims. Trucking companies are covered by fleet policies. Workers’ Compensation insurance covers workplace injuries.

In all of the above examples, the insurance company in your case has trained representatives whose job it is to minimize what the insurance company pays on your claim. No matter how friendly or cooperative he or she may seem, the claims adjuster is not on your side. An adjuster will employ various methods to reduce the amount the insurance company must pay to resolve a claim, or avoid liability altogether. Things that may seem harmless to you, such as giving a recorded statement, filling out forms and signing medical releases are all designed to reduce the value of your claim or deny it outright. An adjuster will try to get you to trust him or her so that you will not think you need to contact an experienced attorney who will know the true value of your case, is aware of the ins and outs of the claims process and the law, and who will do what it takes to ensure you receive the full value of your claim.

It is best to contact an attorney at The Miller/Salsbury Law Firm as soon as possible after you have been injured so that we can help you protect your rights and provide prompt and early advice on how to best handle your case. Once you are represented by an attorney the insurance adjuster can no longer communicate with you directly—we become your voice. If you have been discussing your case with an insurance adjuster or claims representative and decide that you may want to consult an attorney, stop talking to the claims adjuster immediately and contact us and we will promptly review and evaluate your case.

What happens at an inital consultation?

As one might expect, most people are a little nervous about meeting with an attorney the first time.  A person who has never needed a lawyer before or someone who has suffered a catastrophic injury often has so many questions it's hard for that person or family to know what questions to ask or where to begin.

At an initial consultation, one of Miller/Salsbury's experienced injury attorneys will sit down with you and have a detailed conversation about what happened.  We will ask you to bring any documents, photographs, records, reports or notes with you to the meeting for us to review as we go over the facts together.  Our compassionate, capable attorneys will work through your questions until you are satisfied that we understand your situation.

How can I afford an injury attorney?

For all injury cases, Miller/Salsbury is paid on a contingency fee basis.  This means we do not charge a fee until we obtain a settlement or jury reward on your behalf.

Working the case.  What happens next?

Once we have accepted your case, we will perform an in-depth investigation into the trucking accident, car accident, nursing home negligence workers’ compensation accident, or whatever else may have occurred to you or your loved one.

One of Miller/Salsbury’s attorneys, Michael Connon was a police officer for nearly 20 years and his training in examining and reviewing evidence in car accident and trucking accident cases is invaluable. When necessary, we engage outside experts from our network of accident reconstructionists, engineers, investigators and medical professionals to assist us in our investigation.

It is important to meet with an attorney soon after your accident. Witnesses can move or change their phone number, vehicles can be repaired, and evidence can be lost, altered or destroyed. We want to take advantage of the opportunity to take steps to preserve evidence, investigate and begin developing our theories and building your case as soon as possible.

If you have experienced an injury or the wrongful death of a loved one, please contact our attorneys to find out whether you have a case so we can begin working for you as soon as possible. Call us at 636-938-9877 to schedule a free initial consultation. Our attorneys are licensed in both Missouri and Illinois.