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Your Hannibal Personal Injury Attorney
The short answer. In Missouri an injury to the person that no other section covers must be filed within five years (R.S.Mo. § 516.120). The trial court for Marion County sits in Palmyra, at 100 S. Main, Palmyra, MO 63461. To talk it through, send the form on this page and we will work to connect you with an attorney in our network.
Nobody plans for the call that follows an accident. Whether you were hurt in a crash, a fall or something else in Hannibal, the weeks afterward bring decisions that feel bigger than they should. Here is what Missouri law says, in plain terms, so you can ask better questions.
We match people with attorneys; we do not advise on cases. Treat what follows as a plain language guide to Missouri law drawn from the statutes. When you want to talk to an attorney, the form at the top of this page is the way to start.
Before You Hire: Questions For A Hannibal Attorney
A short list of questions can sort out who is right for you:
- The deadline. Ask for the specific last day to file, and which Missouri limit applies to your kind of claim. Five years is the general period for an injury to the person, and a wrongful death action has three years (RSMo § 516.120, RSMo § 537.100).
- Punitive damages. Ask whether the facts could support them. A Missouri award may not exceed the greater of $500,000 or five times the net judgment awarded to the plaintiff against the defendant (RSMo § 510.265).
- Who owes what. Ask how percentages of fault would apply to each person who may share the blame. In a Missouri tort action, a defendant found 51 percent or more at fault is jointly and severally liable, and a defendant found less at fault answers only for that percentage (RSMo § 537.067).
- The people. Ask who will be in touch with you and how quickly they return calls.
- The money terms. Ask how fees are calculated and which costs come out of a recovery.
Injury Claims People Ask About
Vehicle crashes
Whether the collision was minor or serious, the same early steps help: get checked by a doctor, photograph the vehicles and the scene, exchange insurance information and keep any repair estimates.
Pedestrian and bicycle injuries
Walkers and cyclists hurt by a vehicle should write down the location, the time of day, the lighting and the signals as soon as they can. Witnesses who stopped are valuable, so ask for their contact details before they leave.
Falls and unsafe property
Falls on someone else’s property usually depend on what the owner knew or should have known about the hazard. Photograph the spot before it changes, report the fall in writing, and keep the shoes you were wearing.
Wrongful death
If someone you love died because another person was careless or at fault, the law treats it separately. Missouri’s wrongful death statute lets the spouse, children or parents of the person who died sue when the death results from an act or circumstance that would have entitled that person to recover had death not ensued, and the time to sue is three years (RSMo § 537.080, RSMo § 537.100). This is a hard moment to decide anything, and an attorney can walk you through the steps without hurrying you.
Injured in Hannibal? Get matched with an attorney now.
How Percentages Of Fault Are Used
Missouri’s tort statute turns on percentages. When a jury finds fault, a defendant who bears 51 percent or more is jointly and severally liable for the amount of the judgment. A defendant found less than 51 percent at fault is responsible only for the percentage the jury assigns (RSMo § 537.067).
There are exceptions. A party is also responsible for the fault of another defendant who was acting as that party’s employee (RSMo § 537.067). Ask an attorney how those percentages could play out against each person who may share the blame.
Extra Damages And Government Claims
If a city, county, school district or other public body may be responsible, special rules apply. Missouri waives sovereign immunity for injuries directly resulting from the negligent operation of motor vehicles by public employees and for injuries caused by the dangerous condition of a public entity’s property (RSMo § 537.600), and to the extent of the liability insurance the public body buys (RSMo § 537.610).
Recovery is limited. The statute sets $2,000,000 for all claims from a single accident or occurrence and $300,000 for any one person, adjusts those amounts each January, and does not allow punitive damages against a public entity (RSMo § 537.610).
How Long You Have To File
Time limits decide many injury cases. The usual Missouri rule for an injury to a person is five years (RSMo § 516.120), and a wrongful death action has three years (RSMo § 537.100). Missing the date usually ends the case.
Service has its own deadline in a wrongful death case. If the three years have run, service on a defendant must be made within 180 days of filing the petition, or the court dismisses the action (RSMo § 537.100).
What Auto Policies Must Cover
The other driver’s policy may be smaller than your bills. Under RSMo § 303.190, the limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury or death, and $25,000 for property of others.
When your losses are larger, look at your own coverage. A policy delivered in Missouri must provide uninsured motorist coverage, and an insured vehicle counts as uninsured when its insurer cannot pay because of insolvency (RSMo § 379.203).
Local Courts in Hannibal
The Census Bureau lists Hannibal in more than one county: Marion County and Ralls County. The Missouri court directory lists the 10th circuit court for Marion County in Palmyra, at 100 S. Main, Palmyra, MO 63461. The Missouri court directory lists the 10th circuit court for Ralls County in New London, at 311 South Main Street, New London, MO 63459.
Keep copies of everything the hospital or clinic gives you, ask for an itemized bill, and note each appointment as it happens. If you moved between facilities, collect the records from each one.
How To Get Matched With An Attorney In Hannibal
Use the form at the top of the page to tell us what happened. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in Missouri. There is no charge to submit it, and submitting it does not hire anyone.
While you wait, write down what happened and when, who saw it, what treatment you have received and how many days of work you missed. Put bills, letters and insurance messages in one folder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover punitive damages in an injury case?
Sometimes. They are limited to the greater of $500,000 or five times the net judgment (RSMo § 510.265), and a defendant is only severally liable for the percentage of punitive damages attributed to it (RSMo § 537.067).
What are Missouri’s minimum auto insurance limits?
At least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury or death, and $25,000 for property of others (RSMo § 303.190).
What documents should I keep after an injury?
Medical records and bills, photographs, the police or incident report number, pay stubs showing missed work, repair estimates and every letter or email from an insurer.
Can I talk to the other side’s insurance company?
You can, but you do not have to give a recorded statement right away. It is fair to say you are getting advice first.
Are there special rules for claims against the government?
There are. Immunity is waived for motor vehicles and dangerous property conditions (RSMo § 537.600) and to the extent of liability insurance the body buys (RSMo § 537.610), and no award may include punitive damages against a public entity (RSMo § 537.610).
How long does an injury settlement take?
It varies with the injury and the insurer. Many claims wait until treatment has finished so the full cost is known, which can take months, and a lawsuit takes longer.
How long do I have to file an injury lawsuit in Missouri?
Generally five years (RSMo § 516.120). Assault, battery and false imprisonment have two years (RSMo § 516.140), and a wrongful death action has three years (RSMo § 537.100).
Can I still recover if the accident was partly my fault?
Possibly. A product liability claim allows recovery reduced by your share (RSMo § 537.765). For other claims, an attorney has to tell you which rule applies, and percentages of fault among defendants are used under RSMo § 537.067.
Injury Attorney Pages For Other Missouri Communities
The directory lists every Missouri community that has a page.
