Category: Blog

Whether it’s a workplace injury, medical malpractice or a car accident, a personal injury can affect your life for years. Finding a good lawyer to handle your personal injury claim will help you receive the compensation you deserve quickly while you focus on your recovery. However, it can be daunting to try and find a lawyer that suits your needs. If you’ve struggled to find a reputable personal injury lawyer that can provide you with the legal experience and professionalism you need, then you’ve come to the right place.

Here are a few reasons why the team at Lanzotti and Rau are the best personal injury lawyers for you.

Why We Should Be Your Personal Injury Lawyers

When researching reputable personal injury lawyers in your area, you’ll find that the team at Lanzotti and Rau are your top choice because:

• We Are Highly Recommended – Our personal injury lawyers have a proven track record of delivering justice in the form of generous settlements for our past personal injury clients. If a loved one or friend has dealt with a personal injury in the Southeastern Missouri area, chances are they’ve had experience with a member of our team. Ask about their experiences, how their case went, and if they can give a recommendation.
• We Are Experienced – Our staff of highly experienced personal injury attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience practicing law. There are several areas on our website to help you check our credentials and verify our bonafides, specialty areas, awards, and expertise. The Missouri state bar association also lists our personal injury lawyer qualifications.
• We Are Local – A big factor when deciding on a personal injury lawyer is their locality. An attorney with ties to your community will be able to relate to your story and work hard to get your case settled. Local personal injury lawyers will also have a longstanding rapport with local officials, prosecutors, and judges, so settlements can be reached and cases can be closed faster and with fewer complications.

Contact Our Local Personal Injury Lawyers

With decades of experience in successfully handling personal injury cases, the legal team at Lanzotti & Rau are ready to help you pursue legal action for your personal injury. If you can’t find the answers you’re looking for online, get to know our practice by contacting us by phone and scheduling a visit to our offices. By doing so, you’ll get a better understanding about our law firm’s size and staff, how we handle our personal injury cases, and why we work on a contingency fee basis.

To learn more about our personal injury legal services, call us today at 573-335-9300 and schedule your free consultation.

Work-related injuries are an unfortunate but serious possibility. If you get injured while on the job, it’s important to know your rights and entitlements to benefits. Many who get injured at work assume that a personal injury and workers’ compensation claim are the same. While the two situations are similar, there are some important distinctions between the two – especially when it comes to compensation. Here’s a breakdown on workers’ compensation vs. personal injury and how it applies to your work injury.

Proving Workers’ Compensation vs. Personal Injury Cases

The main difference between workers’ compensation and personal injury claims is the proof needed to validate the claim. In a Missouri workers’ compensation claim, you don’t need to prove any form of negligence as you’re entitled to those benefits. You’ll be asked how the injury took place and simple questions about the incident such as the name of your employer, job title, and job responsibilities.

In a personal injury claim, proving fault based on physical evidence is core to the case. You must be able to prove fault or liability based on your injuries, expert testimony, and witness statements. Personal injury cases are usually tried in civil court, while workers’ compensation cases are heard before an administrative law judge with no jury.

Receiving Workers’ Compensation vs. Personal Injury Benefits

Another difference between worker’s compensation vs. personal injury is their respective payouts. Personal injury claims will not be paid until the case is settled, which can sometimes be months or even years after the injury takes place. Workers’ compensation insurance, however, pays out quickly. Instead of having to wait to be paid, you’ll receive a weekly payment until a lump sum settlement is reached. However, some circumstances will allow you to receive benefits from both workers’ compensation and a personal injury claim, though it’s usually not very common.

If you’re injured at work but your injury isn’t caused by someone related to your work, there’s a potential to claim workers’ compensation and personal injury benefits. The most common scenario where this happens is in an automobile accident. If you’re driving a car or truck as part of your work and another driver causes a collision, you’re able to file a claim against both parties. This is known as a third-party liability claim, which you won’t receive until your settlement is reached. Additionally, workers’ compensation insurance will want what they’ve given you from your third-party insurance claim repaid.

Contact Your Missouri’s Workers’ Compensation Legal Experts

Workers’ compensation claims can be a trickly legal battle to navigate on your own. If you’ve been injured on the job, you’ll want a legal professional on your side to help you determine how to maximize your benefits and receive them quickly.

The lawyers at Lanzotti & Rau have years of legal experience to help you pursue your deserved workers’ compensation. To learn more about our legal services, call us today at 573-335-9300 and schedule your free consultation.

Personal injury cases require skillful, knowledgeable and committed legal experts who will collect evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and put in long hours to fight for your due compensation. Attempting to navigate a personal injury claim on your own can add emotional and physical stress at a time when you should be focused on healing from your personal injury damages. Fortunately, the lawyers at Lanzotti & Rau will commit to your personal injury case to help you receive the benefits you deserve.

Our Commitment to Our Personal Injury Clients

At Lanzotti & Rau, our team of legal experts have years of experience in dealing with personal injury cases of all types. By partnering with us, you’re guaranteeing the following:

• Personal injury law expertise:

  Our firm specializes in personal injury law, meaning we have experienced professionals who know the ins and outs of the field. We know how the legal process works to help you maximize your compensation.

• Well-managed legal process:

  During your personal injury, your focus should be on recovering from your injury. Lanzotti & Rau will handle the legal intricacies of your claim by collecting, handling, and filing all necessary paperwork.

• Impartial advice and guidance:

  Dealing with a personal injury can be emotionally overwhelming. By hiring legal experts, you’re seeking counsel from an objective point of view to help you make the best-informed decisions for yourself and your case.

• Thorough claim investigation to seek maximum compensation:

  As experienced personal injury lawyers, our team will do a deep dive into your claim to collect as much evidence as possible, including medical records, witness statements and expert testimonies. By knowing your case inside and out, we’ll be able to identify all potential damages to maximize your claim and fearlessly negotiate for a just settlement.

• Streamlined process for fast results:

  By trusting us to gather evidence, file your paperwork and talk to the insurance companies on your behalf, we’ll streamline your process to make it as smooth as possible. Instead of slowing things down by trying to navigate the claim yourself, trust your attorneys to ensure a speedy process that gets you your benefits fast.

• Contingency fee basis:

  Many people avoid hiring a personal injury attorney because they think it is unaffordable. However, that’s never the case at Lanzotti & Rau. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t get paid unless you get paid. Our fees are paid through a percentage of your settlement, aligning our interests with yours and strengthening our commitment to your case.

Your Personal Injury Legal Experts

To expedite your personal injury case and settle fast, rely on the lawyers at Lanzotti & Rau. To learn more about our personal injury services and how we handle our cases, call us today at 573-335-9300 to schedule a free consultation.

Negotiating your personal injury settlement is, perhaps, the most important part of your case. During negotiations, you’ll mediate with big insurance companies who often don’t want to give you the benefits you deserve. Here are some tips to help you negotiate with insurance so you get your full compensation.

How to Negotiate with Insurance

There are several things to keep in mind when discussing your personal injury case with an insurance company:

• Remember their bottom line: Regardless of who you’re negotiating with, insurance companies will protect their bottom line and put their interests over your own when negotiating a settlement. It’s important to understand where they’re coming from, so you stay alert.
• Begin your claim quickly: The sooner you file your personal injury claim, the more time you have to gather evidence and build your case.
• Don’t speculate: When you negotiate with insurance companies, never give your opinion on the case. Stick to only providing information you can back up instead of accidentally providing contradicting statements.
• Know your claim’s worth: The longer negotiations last, the more important it is to know your claim’s rough value. It’s possible the insurance company will assume you don’t know what you should receive, so they’ll likely give you a lower offer.
• Stay patient: You’ll never see the best offer at the start. It’s important to be patient and go through a few rounds of negotiations in order to get your full compensation.
• Write everything down: Document as much of the negotiation as possible in writing. It helps eliminate confusion when talking to insurance companies and gives you proof that you can refer to later during continued negotiations.
• Hire a personal injury attorney: A successful personal injury case requires skillful negotiations with insurance companies. To ensure your negotiation is successful, it’s best to hire an experienced personal injury attorney.

Trust Your Missouri Personal Injury Attorneys at Lanzotti & Rau

Licensed and experienced attorneys at Lanzotti & Rau have the skills to effectively negotiate with insurance companies. Our legal professionals will know exactly what to say to get you the best settlement possible. To learn more about our personal injury legal services and how we handle our cases, call us today at 573-335-9300 and schedule a free consultation.

Facing a long-term disability can be mentally, physically, and financially devastating. Fortunately, long-term disability insurance can help you get through such a difficult time and keep you financially stable. If you’re dealing with a serious illness or medical condition, you may be wondering if you qualify for benefits. Here’s how to find out if you’re eligible.

Qualifying for Long-Term Disability

To qualify for long-term disability, the impact of your illness or injury matters more than a specific diagnosis. While your medical records will help support your claim, it may not be enough to secure your insurance alone. To qualify for long-term disability, you must be able to prove you’re unable to work because of your condition and expect to remain that way for 20 weeks or more. It may also be necessary to get an expert’s opinion to receive long-term disability.

Conditions Qualifying for Long-Term Disability

Oftentimes, recipients of long-term disability insurance are experiencing a combination of several conditions affecting their ability to work. If you’ve been diagnosed with one or several of the following, you may qualify for long-term disability:

• Cardiovascular Issues – aneurysms, arrhythmia, heart disease or heart attack
• Blood Disorders – anemia, sickle cell disease or hemophilia
• Cancers – malignant tumors affecting any part of the body
• Cognitive Impairments – mood disorders, sleep disorders or addiction
• Digestive System Issues – organ failure, Crohn’s disease or hernias
• Endocrine Disorders – diabetes, Hashimoto’s or Cushing’s disease
• Immune System Impairments – severe allergic reactions or immune deficiencies
• Musculoskeletal Issues – arthritis, bone fractures and burns
• Respiratory Impairments – cystic fibrosis, chronic lung infections and asthma
• Sensory Impairments – loss of speech, vision loss and hearing loss

Assistance Receiving Long-Term Disability in Missouri

You’ll want an experienced lawyer on your side to help you successfully file for long-term Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits. While you can file your claim yourself, most SSDI claims are denied initially because they’re filed incorrectly or incompletely. An attorney will ensure your claim is filed fast and on time. For help compiling, submitting, and appealing your SSDI claim, trust the legal experts at Lanzotti & Rau.

Long-Term Disability Lawyers Near You

The team of experienced long-term disability lawyers at Lanzotti & Rau are ready to take legal action to help you receive compensation for your disability. To learn more about our SSDI legal services, call us today at 573-335-9300 to schedule a free consultation.

An early but crucial step in all personal injury cases, a deposition is a recorded interview that details your account of the events surrounding your personal injury. Your deposition allows your lawyers to get the facts straight about your injury and who’s responsible. If you’ve completed your deposition, you may be wondering what comes next. Here’s how your personal injury case will play out after your deposition.

The Steps of a Personal Injury Case

The general flow of a personal injury case after deposition includes:

• Mediation and Settlement Negotiations: Mediation is a type of dispute resolution that can help lead to a settlement. Instead of taking your case to court, a neutral third party will assist you and the other party in negotiating a resolution. Settlement negotiations will begin after your attorney sends the demand letter for compensation, which is drawn up based on the deposition.
• Trial Preparation: If you can’t reach a settlement through mediation, it may be necessary to prepare for trial. During the discovery phase of a trial, you may have another deposition. Your lawyer will provide all the necessary information to the judge.
• Settlement: Whether you reach an agreement through negotiations or receive a verdict at trial, the last phase of a personal injury case is the settlement, which will outline the compensation you’ll receive.

How Long Personal Injury Cases Take

There isn’t a specific timeline for mediation. It depends on the outcome of your deposition and if any other parties need to provide one. It will also take both parties time to collect all the information and review it for accuracy. There will likely be several rounds of negotiations, depending on the complexity of the case. A personal injury case can take months or even years to settle. To expedite the process, you’ll want an experienced personal injury attorney on your side to help you build, negotiate, and settle your personal injury case.

Missouri Personal Injury Attorneys On Your Side

If you’ve been the victim of personal injury in Missouri and want to settle your case quickly and successfully, rely on the attorneys at Lanzotti & Rau. Our team has years of experience across all types of personal injury cases, and we’re ready to use our experience to get you justice. To schedule your free consultation, call us today at 573-335-9300.

If you’ve been the victim of a personal injury, you want to get back on your feet as quickly as possible. Stacking medical bills and lost wages only prolongs your stress and recovery time. If you’ve filed for compensation, you may be wondering why so long to settle a case? Here’s a breakdown of why personal injury settlements take time.

Reasons Why So Long to Settle a Case

Personal injury cases are complex, and no two cases are alike. To ensure you receive the maximum amount of benefits, your lawyer needs to collect a lot of information. Unfortunately, this can take a long time and impact your settlement date. Some factors that slow down the settlement process include:

• Medical treatment: You can’t receive your benefits until you’re finished receiving treatment and know the full extent of your injuries. If you try and settle before you’re done recovering, you might not be able to recover the cost of your medical bills or lost wages.
• Medical records: Your lawyer needs access to your medical records, which must be purchased and certified. It can take time for your medical provider to copy the records and have them authenticated and sent to your legal team.
• Other involved parties: When you file your personal injury case, the other party needs time to review and respond. It’s possible the other side is dragging their feet or even ignoring your lawyer’s communication.

It takes an average of one year from the date you file to settle your personal injury claim, but a more complex injury can slow down that process. While you may think it’s taking too long to settle a case, you may be moving along at exactly the right pace.

Trusted and Timely Missouri Personal Injury Lawyers

The more experience your lawyer has, the quicker your case will move through court. Therefore, if you’ve been injured in the Southern Missouri area, you’ll want the lawyers at Lanzotti and Rau on your side. Our team is ready to help you pursue legal action to quickly receive compensation for your personal injury. Schedule a free consultation to learn more by calling us at 573-335-9300.

A slip and fall accident can lead to serious injuries. If your injury occurs because of the negligence of another, there may be grounds for you to receive a settlement. However, the other party may try to dissuade you from seeking compensation if your injuries do not require surgery.

Here is what you should know about slip and fall settlements and how you can receive compensation even if your injuries are non-surgical.

How Slip and Fall Settlements Work

The biggest factor affecting whether you can file for a slip and fall settlement is liability. If another party’s negligence led to your injury, then you are able to seek out compensation under the legal theory of premises liability. This is true regardless of how severe your injuries are. That means you can file for a slip and fall settlement even if you aren’t required to have surgery.

What Is Premises Liability?

Premises liability is a legal concept that holds property owners and occupiers responsible for accidents and injuries that occur on their property. Property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe and free of hazards, and they can be held legally liable if they fail to do so and someone is injured as a result. In addition to slip and fall accidents, premises liability also covers dog bites, inadequate security that leads to criminal activity, or other dangerous conditions on the property that can cause harm to visitors or tenants.

What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident

Even if you don’t require surgical treatment, you’ll need to demonstrate how the other party was negligent and didn’t take reasonable care to prevent your injury. This includes establishing inadequacies in the property’s safety and showing what should have been done to ensure your safety. You’ll also need to keep track of any damages you incur, such as medical bills, lost wages, as well as your pain and suffering. This will help determine how much you’re entitled to receive in your slip and fall settlement.

How Legal Help Can Secure Slip and Fall Settlements

No matter your degree of injury, filing for a slip and fall settlement can be overwhelming. Keeping track of your health while fighting a legal battle can take a toll on your recovery time. Thankfully, there’s no need for you to do it alone. A personal injury attorney can help you through the slip and fall settlement process and ensure you get your maximum benefits as quickly as possible.

If you’ve been the victim of a personal injury in Missouri, rely on the experts at Lanzotti and Rau.

Trusted Personal Injury Lawyers On Your Side

The lawyers at Lanzotti and Rau can help you pursue legal action to receive compensation for your slip and fall accident. To learn more about our personal injury legal services and how we handle our cases, call us today at 573-335-9300 to schedule a free consultation.

Car accidents can be scary experiences that leave you scarred physically and emotionally. That emotional toll can grow, however, if you learn you’re being accused of causing the other party’s injuries. Being sued for personal injury adds another layer of stress on top of an already overwhelming experience. Here’s what to do if you get served with a personal injury lawsuit.

Being Sued for Personal Injury in Missouri

If you’re being sued for personal injury in Missouri, it’s important to understand the state’s laws regarding liability. Missouri follows pure negligence laws and is an “at-fault” state, meaning injured parties can still receive damages even if they’re considered negligent. However, their compensation will be reduced depending on their shared percentage of fault.

This is crucial if you’re being sued for personal injury because it means you have the chance to prove the accident is not entirely your fault. If you can show that the other party was also negligent, their settlement can be reduced or potentially thrown out. It also opens the door for you to be able to recover damages.

The Benefits of Hiring Personal Injury Attorneys

Before trying to prove fault in court, the first thing you’ll want to do when being sued for personal injury is to consult a lawyer. Trying to navigate the process alone can be overwhelming without knowing the law, your rights, and how the legal process works. An attorney will be able to look at your case and tell you what you can expect throughout the entire lawsuit. They’ll examine each party’s damages and build your case to show the other party’s percentage of fault. When it comes time to provide evidence and file paperwork, your personal injury lawyer will ensure you never miss a deadline.

Experienced and Dedicated Personal Injury Attorneys Near You

Hiring a personal injury lawyer can drastically change the outcome of your case. That’s why if you’re being sued for personal injury in Missouri, consult the legal team at Lanzotti and Rau rather than trying to prove your case on your own.

The lawyers at Lanzotti and Rau will pursue legal action to help your personal injury case and fight on your behalf to receive your deserved compensation. To learn more about our personal injury law experience or to schedule a free consultation, call us today at 573-335-9300.

Someone else’s negligent actions can cause you a lifetime of pain and suffering. However, if your injuries aren’t physical, you may think you’re unable to pursue legal action . Fortunately, that’s not always the case as there are ways to sue for negligence even if you seem physically unharmed.

Suing for Negligence Without Physical Injuries

The most common types of personal injury cases in Missouri involve suing for negligence due to suffering bodily harm or some degree of sustained visible injury. However, it’s not the only type of personal injury that you can receive compensation for. Mental and emotional distress is also recognized as a valid type of personal injury.

Types of Mental and Emotional Distress Injuries

Several conditions can result from mental and emotional distress such as anguish, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other serious mental health conditions. Such distress can be one of the factors of your personal injury and, compounded with physical harm, can be the main cause of your claim. Either way, mental and emotional distress is a valid reason for suing for negligence.

The Anguish of Suing for Negligence on Your Own

If you’re suing for negligence, chances are you’re already under some degree of mental or emotional distress. Trying to handle your case by yourself without legal representation will only prolong your pain and suffering. Personal injury claims can drag on in court and require a lot of time and effort to build a strong case. No one should have to face that alone.

Consult with an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

Hiring a strong personal injury attorney will benefit your case. Not only will you have more time to focus on your recovery, but your lawyers will be dedicated to making your case as strong as possible.

If you’ve been the victim of a personal injury in Missouri, the attorneys at Lanzotti & Rau are here to pursue legal action to help you receive the compensation and benefits you deserve. If you want to learn more about our legal services or how we handle our personal injury cases, call us today at 573-335-9300 and schedule your free consultation.