No.

It’s a simple word, but not always one you’ll hear from a St. Louis bankruptcy attorney–especially if they’re quoting you an absurdly cheap rate. But is it one that some attorneys should use a little more? Probably.

To be fair, I hate turning people away when they need help with their medical bills or just to even the playing field with their creditors. But with the high volume of calls we get from the average consumer and the large number of referrals we get from other lawyers, we’ve realized that the only way to maintain the highest standard of customer service and individual attention we’re known for is to be selective.

So under what circumstances should an experienced St. Louis bankruptcy attorney say “no?” There are two types of cases I normally don’t take.

Cases with no real debt

Uh, if you don’t have much debt, then why are you seeking bankruptcy protection?

Filing a bankruptcy case can be a long process. It’s an investment of my time. So if a person who comes to me doesn’t have very much debt, I usually point out another option for them. Bankruptcy fees are regulated by the courts. So if someone’s debt was similar to that amount, what would be the point of filing? It wouldn’t be worth upsetting a client if the fees they paid to handle a case started to approach the amount of debt they were trying to get rid of in the first place. And I’m not going to take a fee to encourage someone to file bankruptcy if it isn’t their best option.

Too many unsuccessful bankruptcy filings

I won’t take cases where the clients have filed too many bankruptcy cases that ended up dismissed. If you have filed for bankruptcy protection several times in the past, but your case was dismissed every time, the next time around is usually the same. For a judge to approve your case this time around is unlikely because you have shown you are not serious about completing a case from start to finish. When I file a case, I am putting everything on the line to stand behind that client 100% to get them to the finish line and when cases get dismissed, my professional reputation can take a hit. I am more than willing to help someone who wants to help themselves, but if you’re not serious about doing that, I can suggest many not-so-experienced bankruptcy attorneys who won’t care enough you can go to.

The majority of people we help are honest, hardworking people who have simply fallen on bad times. If you’re still not sure whether or not you meet my case acceptance criteria, I am more than happy to meet with you for free to see if I will consider your case. Or, you can request your free copy of my Missouri and Illinois debt relieft guide, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know.”

When you are involved in a St. Louis car accident, you are very likely to get a call from your insurance adjuster within the first few days. The questions many Missouri car accident victims have are: Should I talk to an insurance adjuster and can I refuse to talk to the adjuster? (more…)

The banks are lifting their foreclosure freeze and you are probably one of many wondering how to avoid foreclosure in St. Louis. There are a few steps you can definitely take to avoid foreclosure. The first step is to start researching immediately. You do not have time on your side. Remember, when you get that foreclosure notice, you only have 21 days until your home will be sold. It’s like a ticking time bomb. One way to minimize research time is by getting a copy of our Missouri bankruptcy book, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know.” It’s an easy read and a one-stop source for all the bankruptcy information you will need. (more…)

There’s nothing wrong with a free consultation. In fact, we offer them. However, when you are trying to wipe you slate clean — and trying to find the best St. Louis bankruptcy attorney to help you do so — it isn’t always the best to start with a free consultation.

A free consultation is really just a call to action. Once an attorney has gotten you in the door, it is much easier for you to just sign up with them, regardless of whether he or she is the best person for the job. Most attorneys know that and are consequently eager to get you in the door. (more…)

If the Police Report Says My Husband Wasn’t Wearing a Seat Belt, Is my Missouri Accident Case Over?

Not necessarily. It is not always clear what has truly happened after an accident. In some instances, it may look as if the driver was not wearing a seat belt. If the seat belt was defective, however, it may have come off during the accident, leading to the death of the driver.

An auto defect is usually the result of a manufacturing error within your car. It is important to remember that there are two parts to every accident. The first part of the accident has to do with the actual collision. The second part, however, is what happens inside the car during the collision. Often, it is this part of the accident where defects inside the car show themselves. If, for instance, the seat belt in the car had malfunctioned, the injuries sustained from the accident may be partly or totally the result of that defect.

You see haunting fatal car accident statistics everyday about the dangers of driving without a seat belt on-but it seems that the media has forgotten something just as newsworthy: the amount of car crash deaths attributed to a defective car.

That is why it is essential to keep the car for proper inspection after an accident. Not everything is as it seems when it comes to St. Louis car accident injuries. It is always best to contact a St. Louis car accident or accident claim attorney experienced in auto defects to truly understand what may have happened during an accident and how you can go about getting an accident settlement that will truly provide help with your medical bills, replace your lost wages, and help you get back on your feet.

Toyota’s latest ad campaign isn’t filled with pictures of fast cars on highways or clever jingles. Instead, they’ve focused their campaign on apologizing for the defects in the latest model of the Prius. First, reports came in on the sticky gas pedal, which is potentially responsible for some dismal fatal car accident statistics, including 19 car crash deaths. Now, it seems that the brakes in the Prius are also defective. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the defective brakes caused, “a momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over uneven road surfaces, bumps, or potholes.” Toyota has stated that the defect is a result of an error in software programming.

Though Toyota is now taking responsibility for the defect, why did it happen in the first place? What many people don’t know about the car companies is that, often, if there is a defect in the car, the company calculates how much it may cost to fix versus the anticipated lawsuits. If the amount they would have to pay out in law suits is less than the risk, they often won’t fix the defect. Scary, huh?

Now, on top of the everyday worries of driving, we must worry about the safety of the actual cars we buy. Plus, even thought Toyota has recalled the brakes and gas pedals, many St. Louis auto defect lawyers are wondering how the company will treat those already injured from the defects. How difficult will it be to get help with medical bills if you’ve already been in an accident in the Prius? How hard will negotiations be for the average driver?

The best course of action to take if you’ve been involved in an accident that could be the result of a defect is to contact a experienced St. Louis car accident or accident claim attorney immediately. The longer that you wait, the harder that it could be to avoid the common mistakes that people make that ruin their claim.

High winds and 5 to 8 inches of snow are predicted for this week-and caused the Missouri Department of Transportation to put out an alert asking motorists to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. There is no doubt that the number of accidents will increase, making it especially important for drivers to be careful. Car crash deaths due to snow and ice account for a sizeable number of traffic fatalities. After spending many years as a St. Louis car accident lawyer, I know that there are some important tips to driving safely and preventing any accidents that could leave you needing help with medical bills or talking to an insurance adjuster.

Any accident lawyer in Missouri would tell you to decrease your speed and increase the space between you and the car in front of you in snow and ice. In fact, you should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you. Most St. Louis auto accident lawyers would also tell you to turn on your lights, break gently, and to not use cruise control or overdrive. Most importantly, don’t think that your car is invincible. Many drivers out there assume that because they have rear-wheel or four-wheel drive that they cannot get into an accident. This is simply untrue.

If you are in an accident, it is important that you do not sign anything or speak with the adjuster before you contact an experienced personal accident lawyer. He or she can help you avoid making any mistakes that may ruin a possible car accident settlement from the insurance company.

Latin super star Shakira has seen unbelievable success. With several singles out right now and a long resume of international hits, it seems that she is one of the biggest stars of all time. In a recent interview with CNN, however, Shakira revealed that her roots are very modest. When she was only 8 years old and living in Barranquilla, Colombia, Shakira’s parents filed for bankruptcy. In the interview, Shakira explained that it was hard for her to understand what her family bankruptcy truly meant.

Her parents took it upon themselves to show Shakira what life could be like had they not filed bankruptcy. They showed her a park where families who had been turned out to the street after not getting protection from foreclosure or help with any of their debt. “They wanted to show me another reality that was much worse than mine to make me gain perspective on things,” said Shakira of the experience. And it was that very experience that inspired Shakira to be the success she is today. She has even started her own foundation to help poor children in Colombia get an education and became a UNICEF goodwill ambassador because of the experience.

What 8 year old Shakira didn’t see is that her parents knew when to file bankruptcy. They took responsibility for her and themselves by getting protection from foreclosure, credit card debt help, and relieving themselves from the stress of creditors. It is this brave act by her parents that showed Shakira the protection that bankruptcy can provide and the opportunity it can give you to be a great success.

Now, as a Missouri and Illinois bankruptcy attorney at a St. Louis law firm, I can tell you that the rules for bankruptcy are much different than they were years ago (and on another continent!) but the feeling of being in overwhelming debt remains the same. The protection for other families in this situation has only improved and many other famous people who have filed for bankruptcy will agree that their filing was only a beginning for their future successes.

Where can you find more information on bankruptcy and how it can help you? Many attorneys offer free consultations but the best offer all the free information you need before you even walk in the door. Make sure that any attorney that you are thinking or hiring to help you get out of crushing amounts of debt is prepared to offer you free articles, blogs, and publications full of the information you need to decide if bankruptcy is something to consider.

It might be easier to fix a leaky faucet or a flat tire by yourself but you may not want to treat your financial future the same way. There isn’t a kit for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 that you can fill in an hour-a bankruptcy is actually more complicated and time-consuming than that. Still, thousands of people every year try to file by themselves. Perhaps they think it would be less expensive or easier to do it on their own. Many people think that it would just be easier and cheaper to file bankruptcy by themselves. But, if you really research the process, I think you’ll find that there are a lot of errors that can be made that may cost you more money and keep you from actually getting any relief.

Paperwork usually causes problems for people attempting to file by themselves. Sure, it seems simple, but if you leave a creditor off or fill out the chapter 7 or chapter 13 forms wrong, you will still be held responsible for that debt even after your bankruptcy is finished. Bankruptcy will help you best if the court and the trustee have a true picture of your financial situation. If you leave a creditor off, you can still be held responsible for the debt, even after your case has been discharged. What does that mean? You could still be getting harassing creditor calls, wage garnishments and possibly in danger of foreclosure.

Also, do you know which debts can be discharged or which property needs to be included? If you make one simple error during the actual bankruptcy process, a judge can dismiss your case and leave you with a bankruptcy on your record-without the benefit of eliminating your debt. You’ll end up wasting all the money and time you spent trying to get your bankruptcy and possibly be in a worse situation than before.

Instead of asking if you can I afford bankruptcy, you may want to ask yourself if you can I afford to do it wrong the first time. You could end up spending just as much or more money than you would have if you had just found an experienced St. Louis law firm with a capable Missouri or Illinois bankruptcy attorney. So, before you decide you want to try and negotiate with your creditors and the court, attend hearings, and manage your debt alone, think, “Can I afford to risk it?”

It is important to use common sense in this situation. If you have been injured in an accident, you need to seek medical attention immediately in order to receive treatment for your injuries. If you think you may have been injured but are not showing any symptoms, you can get a medical assessment from a doctor to make sure. There are injuries whose symptoms will not appear until sometime after your accident. In fact, it is common for injuries to take 10 to 14 days to fully appear.

An insurance company may use the length and seriousness of your treatment to determine how much your claim is worth.  So, if you don’t go to a doctor, the insurance company may come to the conclusion that you don’t really need to be compensated for your injuries. It is important to seek medical treatment for any kind of injuries you sustain from an accident if you hope to get enough compensation in your settlement.

It isn’t always easy to know what information you need to write down, what injuries you need to be treated for, or of what medications you need to keep track. Because the aftermath of a Missouri or Illinois auto accident can be so confusing, I have started providing my clients with an accident notebook to keep track of all of the information needed to have a successful car accident claim. It includes pockets for receipts and photos, a detailed checklist for symptoms and injuries, and a place to record treatments. The notebook doesn’t cost any additional money; it is just a benefit of working with an experienced St. Louis accident lawyer. Before you decide to hire an accident attorney in Missouri or Illinois, you should make sure that they understand what information needs to be collected to make the best claim possible. If they don’t offer something like our accident notebook, they may not know all of the information that is needed to make your case a success.