Results

Nine day trial on behalf of a man who was beaten nearly to death at a fast food restaurant by eight customers. Theory of liability: negligent security & general negligence. 4thLargest Verdict in Missouri (Missouri Lawyers Weekly) and 82nd Nationally for 2013 (National Law Journal).

Our client was a passenger injured in a 2020 East St. Louis crash at an intersection. The driver and another passenger were also injured in the crash. For more than three years, the insurance company for the negligent driver argued that our client was not a passenger but was driving on an invalid license at the time of the crash. The insurance company further argued that its insured was not responsible for the crash and that our client was not injured as a result of the impact. The at-fault driver attempted to claim that there were witnesses to the crash even though those witnesses did not speak to the police officer. Our client had pre-existing spinal injuries that required surgery even prior to this crash. We filed suit on behalf of our client, investigated the at-fault driver, took her deposition under oath, and also deposed the other parties in the vehicle. Through litigation, we were able to secure a settlement for our client to help him with his incurred medical bills and pain and suffering.

We recently successfully argued to a trial court in McLean County, Illinois, that our client should be entitled to $7 million in bodily injury limits because there were seven different truck/trailers covered by the policy. Read more about the case here.

A Ballwin woman was sitting stationary on Manchester Road waiting to make a left turn when she was struck head on by a driver not paying attention. As a result of the impact, our client suffered a broken wrist requiring surgery. When the insurance company argued that the at-fault driver claimed to not know how the crash occurred, we followed up with the police officer and obtained proof that the driver was cited for improper lane usage. Immediately following our demand that the policy limits be paid for this loss,the at-fault insurance company caved and paid the policy limits to our client.

Our client underwent extensive physical therapy for disc herniations after he was rear-ended at a stop light by an inattentive driver. Sumner Law Group settled his car crash case for the policy limits. Learn more details here.

A worker injured during the partial collapse of an old building in St. Louis reached at least $6 million in combined settlements with help from Brent Sumner. Learn more about this case that was #21 in the State of Missouri for 2020.

A truck driver was not qualified to drive 18 wheelers and never received a post-a post-crash drug test after killing our client's son in a crash. Brent Sumner's client received a $6,000,000 Settlement for this negligence.

Our client had to be airlifted after he was struck while crossing an intersection. He suffered a brain injury, broken bones and more. Sumner Law Group investigated the incident thoroughly and aided by eyewitness testimony, proved that the at-fault driver had increased his speed to get ahead of closing railroad arms. Learn more details here.

Eight day trial on behalf of a truck driver who was injured while attempting to unload cargo from his trailer. The cargo was loaded improperly within the trailer and it tumbled down onto his head causing a brain injury and orthopedic injuries.

Our client was driving a tractor-trailer on a two lane state highway in Perry County, Missouri when an oncoming semi-truck pulling an empty box trailer was blown over by extremely high winds in the area and crashed head-on into our client. We made a claim for negligence and ultimately filed suit against the at-fault driver and his trucking company employer for his failure to pull over and wait for the high wind conditions in the area to abate. The truck crash caused catastrophic damage to both 18 wheelers and the trailers they were pulling. Additionally, the crash caused significant injuries to our client that were life-changing. As a result of the collision, our client sustained a punctured lung, a mild traumatic brain injury, a fractured scapula, multiple fractured ribs, and injuries to his neck and shoulder. Our client underwent a shoulder surgery and numerous pain injections following the crash, and his ability to work as a truck driver was permanently compromised.

Last summer, our client was traveling on Kingshighway in St. Louis City, Missouri, when a driver carelessly reversed his vehicle into the front passenger side of her vehicle. The at-fault driver tried to leave the scene but our client exited her vehicle and directed him to stay. As a result of the impact, she suffered injuries to her neck and left shoulder which caused her to present to a local pain management specialist and a chiropractor for treatment. Even though our client was retired at the time of the crash and therefore, suffered no lost wages and also had pre-existing injuries to her neck, we were able to secure the at-fault policy limits for her.

Three day jury trial on behalf of a man that was badly injured when the tractor trailer in front of him stopped suddenly. Our client suffered significant bodily injuries in the crash. We helped change how this trucking company inspects 18 wheelers for safety.

We filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the families of two men who were hit head on and killed by a drunk driver. The drunk driver had a blood alcohol content of .247 an hour after the crash. The drunk driver crossed the grass median on a highway and hit our clients head on at 96MPH.

Our client's 7 year old son was killed due to an employee of a construction company negligently parked a company truck and trailer unattended in the road which caused a motor vehicle crash.

A drunk driver caused a multi-vehicle car crash in Cape Girardeau resulting in serious and permanent injuries to several individuals. Specifically, the drunk driver entered Missouri from out of state after a night of drinking, swerved into a concrete median barrier, overcorrected, left the roadway, overcorrected again, and collided with the vehicle our client was a passenger in. Through quick investigation, we were able to secure video of the drunk driver stumbling and falling on the roadway after the crash and photographs of bottles of alcohol in his back seat. We worked closely with our client's medical providers to make sure that the medical records properly documented her injuries and the trauma she went through to try to recover from such injuries. Ultimately, the insurance company for the drunk driver agreed to pay the full policy limits available for this loss.

Three day jury trial on behalf of a motorcycle rider that was hit by a car that failed to yield and turned in front of him. The client broke several bones in his body and will not work again in his field.

We sued an American car manufacturer for negligent design and safety in a rollover vehicle crash. We also sued the tire manufacturer because the tire blew out and caused the crash.

Our client was injured in a motor vehicle crash in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on Kings highway that involved an O'Reilly Auto Parts truck. We mediated the case against the defendants and they agreed to pay $1,475,000 to settle the case.

Our client was caused to suffer severe back pain and headaches as a result of a crash on Forest Park Parkway in St. Louis City. The police did not prepare a report of the crash. Wisely, our client took a photograph of the front of the car and the license plate right after the impact. While the at-fault driver presented an insurance card, the card ended up being a fake. We were able to track down the proper insurance company but when we did, the at-fault driver then claimed he was out of town that day and could not have caused the crash. We were able to pull the meta-data from the photograph taken by our client and prove when and where the photograph was taken, thereby, placing the vehicle at the scene of the crash. We successfully obtained the at-fault limits for our client. When we then tried to collect our client's underinsured motorist coverage, her own insurance company claimed she was likely already hurt before the crash. We spoke with her treating physician and obtained a detailed report outlining how this crash hurt our client. Without litigation, we were then able to secure our client's underinsured limits as well.

Mr. Sumner represented a 46 year old man who was driving down Highway M in Scott County when another vehicle failed to yield the right of way and pulled out in front of oncoming traffic. Mr. Sumner's client slammed on his brakes and steered to the left, but he could not avoid the accident. Mr. Sumner's client T-Boned the passenger side of the truck that pulled out in front of him. Ambulance and police came to the scene of the crash and Mr. Sumner's client was transported by Ambulance to the hospital. Mr. Sumner sued the other driver and his insurance company for injuries. After a three day jury trial at the Scott County Circuit Court house in Benton, Missouri, the jury returned a verdict of $1,000,000 (One Million Dollar jury verdict) for the personal injuries suffered by Mr. Sumner's client.

In 2019, our client was severely injured when a truck started a U-turn on a busy road in St. Louis City, Missouri. While our client was safely operating his Harley Davidson motorcycle, he was unable to stop before striking the truck which was situated in the middle of the roadway. Thankfully, a local convenience store captured the incident on surveillance video. Due to the severity of the impact and his resulting concussion, our client was unable to recall the crash itself nor was he able to remember much of the treatment he received in the weeks following the crash. In addition to his head injury, our client suffered numerous other internal injuries and fractured bones requiring him to stay in the Intensive Care Unit for some time. While there were some facts associated with the case that may have been viewed negatively by a jury at trial, we successfully developed the evidence in a way that forced the defense to want to settle the case. Ultimately, the insurance company for the truck driver and his employer paid $900,000 to resolve the case.

We represented a 70-year-old woman that was badly injured in a car wreck. The defendant in the case ran a red light and T-boned our client's car. It was a bad car accident and our client was seriously injured.

We represented a 79 year old man that was hit and killed in a motor vehicle crash in the City of St. Louis. We filed suit on behalf of the family against the person that hit him and settled the case right before trial.

A local restaurant owner was injured in a multi-car crash in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. We were able to secure the policy limits from the insurance carrier for the at-fault driver. Our client had significant injuries requiring treatment that spanned over multiple years which made traveling to Thailand to visit family difficult and painful. Given the losses suffered from our client, we explored her underinsured motorist coverage and discovered a large policy through her restaurant ownership. We invited her insurance carrier to intervene into the local civil lawsuit and participate in the litigation. At mediation, we produced reports from our client's treating physicians clearly outlining her injuries and expected additional treatment. Our client's underinsurance carrier ultimately agreed to pay an additional $650,000 to resolve her claim.

We represented the family of a man that died when his treating doctor failed to diagnose lung cancer. A jury agreed that erring on the side of caution was always the best course of action. The family of the deceased was awarded $506,000 for the wrongful death.

We sued a local hospital and Emergency department doctor for negligence and deviation from the standard of care when the facility and doctor failed to treat a cyst on our client's foot that ultimately led to her foot being amputated as a result of them not treating her cyst.

We represented the family of a man that was hit and killed by a commercial driver. We filed a lawsuit on behalf of the deceased's wife and three kids against the company. The case settled for a confidential amount before trial. We were able to set up annuities for the wife and children to provide financial support for the rest of their lives.

Settlement was reached for a lady who was shot while attempting to leave her apartment complex. Our claim was that the apartment complex was negligent in the performance of it's security obligations.

Our client was rear-ended in a motor vehicle crash by a negligent driver who was not paying attention. We filed suit against the insurance company demanding the $300,000 policy of the negligent driver.

We recently had the pleasure of representing a gentleman who was injured when he was bitten on the hand while working on a home renovation project at a client's home. He sustained an injury to his pinky finger that caused him pain, soreness, and various physical limitations. Missouri's dog bite statute holds property owners strictly liable for injuries caused by dog bite incidents. However, this particular homeowner was insured by an out-of-town insurance company who did not understand Missouri law on the issue and originally denied our client's claim.

We filed suit, obtained critical legal admissions from the dog’s owners, and then elicited testimony from our client’s treating hand doctor who confirmed that our client’s symptoms would continue to bother him indefinitely and that surgical repair was not a realistic option. The court ordered the parties to mediate the case and that was not successful because the insurance company’s top offer was $30,000. We left the mediation and told the insurance company to prepare for trial. It was at that point that they finally got serious, and we were ultimately able to get the case resolved for $250,000.

What changed in the case to justify the insurance company making a huge jump in their settlement offer? Posture. We showed the insurance company that we were willing to walk away from mediation and take the case to trial. We believed in our evaluation of the case and what was fair for our client. We held strong to our number of $250,000 to settle the case. That is what the client wanted and deserved.

The choice of a personal injury lawyer is important and there is a big difference in personal injury lawyers and law firms. You want a law firm that regularly takes cases to trial. Trials are the only way to hold insurance companies accountable. Sumner Law Group has earned its reputation as a top litigation firm in St. Louis because we try cases and insurance companies are scared of us.

If you were injured through no fault of your own, schedule your free consultation today. Contact us online to get started!

After a head-on collision left our client dealing with multiple surgeries and permanent hardware in his leg, we secured $25,000 policy limits from the at-fault driver's policy and another $225,000 through an underinsured motorist (UIM) claim with our client's insurance company. Learn more details of the case here.

We represented a woman that slipped and fell at a grocery store and sued the store for negligent training of its employees and failing to train them on proper procedures when it comes to cleaning the floors.

An Illinois woman was injured on Interstate 64 when another driver attempted to change lanes when it was not safe to do so. Our client injured her neck and back as a result of the impact. Complicating the case was the fact that our client had been in a car crash just two months prior and was still treating for her injuries at the time of the crash at issue. Further, the at-fault driver claimed she was not even aware that there was an impact at all, let alone an impact that could have caused injury. We mediated the case with a retired Monroe County judge presiding. We were able to reach a settlement on behalf of our client for $70,000 which allowed her to pay off her medical bills and seek further treatment for her injuries. Regarding the first crash, which we argued caused the majority of our client's injuries, our client was rear-ended while driving on Greenmount Crossing Drive. After exchanging written discovery and taking the deposition of the at-fault driver, we resolved the case for $88,000. Our client, received $158,000 total for two crashes that occurred within two months of each other.

Our client was a passenger on a Cape County Transit Authority bus which was rear-ended at a stop sign by a Southeast Missouri University (SEMO) painter driving a cargo van. The SEMO employee admitted fault at the scene of the crash but then during his deposition, attempted to shift blame to the bus driver. We were able to use his statements immediately following the impact and the statements of the investigating police officer to build a solid case of liability. Despite the SEMO employee claiming the impact was simply a "bump", we developed evidence showing the property damage to both vehicles, which were quite heavy, was moderate. Our client suffered disc herniations requiring injections for several years. Although the defense tried to argue that our client must not have been too injured as he was able to continue his preaching duties at his church and go on road trips with his wife, we secured the opinions from his treating physicians and were able to demonstrate that our client was merely trying to move on with his life, despite his injuries. Ultimately, the defense agreed to pay our client $140,000 for what he suffered as a result of the crash.

Our client was struck by a driver who ran a red light while working for his employer. As a direct result of the crash, our client suffered a concussion which resulted in blurred vision for which she treated for many months. She also suffered a leg injury. The defense argued that her blurred vision and leg symptoms stemmed from uncontrolled diabetes, not the crash. The defense also argued that because many of plaintiff's medical bills were paid by Medicaid, the amount of bills presented to the jury would be greatly reduced at trial. Through legal research and discussion, we were successful in convincing opposing counsel that his position was legally incorrect. The case resolved for $117,500.

Motor vehicle crash that caused neck and right knee pain. The insurance company was unwilling to settle for fair money until after we filed a lawsuit. A settlement was immediately reached with the at-fault party's attorney after review of the lawsuit.

Our client was involved in a motor vehicle crash with a negligent driver that pulled out in front of her and she was injured in the crash. We demanded the insurance policy of $100,000 for the negligent driver.

After a driver turning left failed to appreciate oncoming traffic, our client was struck resulting in her suffering painful disc injuries and headaches. Sumner Law Group helped to recover full policy limits of $100,000. Learn more details of this case here.

As she slowed to make a right turn, our client was rear-ended on the highway. She instantly suffered injury to her head, neck, and knee. Our client treated aggressively for a few months following her car crash until she was told by a physician that there was really nothing further could be done to assist her pain. Over a year passed and she did not get additional treatment. However, at some point she did return to treatment, saw several different medical providers and ultimately underwent spinal injections which helped to improve her pain. The defense argued that plaintiff was "doctor shopping" -- going from doctor to doctor despite being discharged. The defense also argued that another injury, not the crash, likely occurred during the year she was not getting treatment. We mediated the case with a retired judge and ultimately, the at-fault adjuster agreed to pay $80,000 to compensate the Illinois woman for her injuries.

We were recently able to settle a case involving a rear-end motor vehicle collision for $60,000. Our client was sitting at a stop light, and she was hit from behind at a very low rate of speed, resulting in very little property damage to her truck. To further complicate matters, our client had a treatment history going back more than a decade that included surgery, injections, and pain medication on the exact same body part she injured in this collision. So often we deal with cases where a motor vehicle crash or other incident of trauma causes an exacerbation of a pre-existing injury. Insurance companies typically view these clients as "damaged goods," and do everything they can to avoid compensating them for the exacerbations these incidents cause. This settlement represented a 4-fold increase in the insurance company's pre-suit settlement offer that we were able to extract after taking their driver's deposition and establishing the nature and extent of our client's injuries.

We tried to settle the case without filing a lawsuit, but the insurance company offered little value because of the small amount of damage to the bumper and the prior medical history. We filed a lawsuit in order to show the insurance company that we were serious about this claim and representing our client. Please contact us if you are involved in a motor vehicle crash.

After being bitten on the face by a neighbor's dog, a young boy suffered facial scarring. Through the homeowners insurance policy of the dog owner, we helped resolve the claim for a $60,000 settlement payment. Learn more of this case’s details here.

After being struck by another vehicle, our client suffered back, arm, shoulder, and head pain. Sumner Law Group secured a settlement of $53,000 from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Learn more details here.

Our client was rear-ended by a vehicle that was rear-ended by a third vehicle. Sumner Law Group represented our injured client and the case was settled for the policy limits. Learn details from this case here.

While traveling westbound on I-44, our client encountered a military vehicle parked on the highway, blocking the lane of travel. To avoid impact, our client swerved to the left lane and slowed down, at which time he was rear-ended by a vehicle traveling in the fast lane who did not appreciate that traffic was stopped due to the military vehicle. Our client, right before impact, could see the driver behind him looking to the right, distracted by the military vehicles parked on the roadway.

Our client presented to the emergency room for neck, back, and head pain. He followed up with pain management and was subsequently diagnosed with several disc injuries in his low back, which eventually required surgery. We secured the policy limits from the at-fault driver which, unfortunately, were only $50,000. We then worked with our client’s medical providers to reduce his medical bills so that he could pocket some money as a result of this serious crash. This case is a great example of why it is so important for everyone to secure Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage so that you can be protected in situations like this where the at-fault driver is not carrying much insurance at the time of the crash.

We recently secured a $40,000 settlement for our client, injured while riding as a passenger in an Enterprise rental truck. Our client suffered injuries to his chest, neck, back, and head. Learn more details here.

A woman suffered minor injuries to her neck, back, and shoulder in a car accident. While operating her vehicle on a side street in St. Charles County, Missouri, our client's vehicle was hit on the driver's side when another vehicle driving in the same direction negligently entered her lane of travel and hit her. We filed a claim against the other driver's insurance company for negligently causing a crash.

Our client was stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Warson Road and Conway Road in St. Louis County, Missouri when she was rear-ended by a driver who was not paying attention. The force of the impact pushed our client's vehicle into the vehicle in front of her. After some investigation, we discovered that this at-fault driver was recently sued as a result of a separate car crash where he rear-ended another individual. Our client struck her face on the steering wheel at the time of impact causing a nose fracture. She also suffered pain in her neck and back for which she received treatment from a physical therapist. Thankfully, her nose healed without incident and the therapy greatly improved the pain in her neck and back. After she finished treating, we were able to recover $36,000 for her which easily covered her little medical treatment.

We settled a case today for a young lady that was hit in the middle of an intersection when another car failed to yield and made a left turn in front of her. The other driver denied it was his fault. The family hired us to investigate the crash and file an insurance claim against the other driver. We settled the case for $30,000 for the young lady.

The insurance company tried to deny the claim. The insurance company defended the claim and said it was not worth a lot of money. The insurance company offered $1,500 to settle the claim. According to the insurance company, the young lady only went to the emergency room and was placed in a walking boot so there is not a lot of value in the case besides her medical bills. We argued the case was worth a lot more because of the inconvenience of wearing a walking boot and using crutches for 4 weeks. The insurance company did everything they could to delay and keep from paying this claim. We filed suit in court in order to take a powerful position and show the insurance company we mean business. The case settled within a few months after filing suit for $30,000.

Our client was extremely happy with the result and wanted to settle. We fought for justice and held the insurance company accountable.

If you or a loved one was injured due to another driver’s negligence, contact us today for a free consultation. The Sumner Law Group is here to help!

A St. Louis City woman was injured in a crash by a driver who left the scene after impact. The at-fault driver ran a stop sign at a high rate of speed and struck our client's vehicle. While police were in the area at the time of the crash and followed the vehicle in an attempt to stop the driver and issue a citation, the police had to halt the pursuit. Because the other driver could not be found, we filed an uninsured motorist (UM) claim with our client's insurance carrier. Prior to the crash, our client was already on disability as a result of various medical conditions, including a pain disorder. Also, our client did not seek medical treatment for some time after the crash because she was fearful of COVID at the time. Despite these hurdles, we were able to secure the uninsured motorist limits of $25,000 for our client.

Our client was traveling on North Grand in St. Louis City when another vehicle traveled into his lane of travel. To avoid a head-on crash, our client swerved off the roadway and struck a street pole. The other driver left the scene. As a result of the impact with the street pole, our client experienced pain in his back and neck. He presented to the emergency room for treatment of his pain. We made an uninsured motorist (UM) claim with the client's insurance carrier. Because this gentleman had a prior history of back pain, the insurance carrier did not initially agree to pay for his ER visit and pain and suffering. Through negotiation, we were ultimately able to obtain a $12,000 settlement for our client.