St. Louis Legal Malpractice Attorney

Fighting for Victims of Malpractice Throughout Missouri

When you trust an attorney with a personal injury claim after a serious accident, you expect them to handle it with diligence, skill, and professionalism. You understandably believe your lawyer will fight for the full and fair compensation you are entitled to under the law. However, when your lawyer's negligence, error, or misconduct jeopardizes the outcome of your case, you deserve accountability and just compensation.

At Finney Law Office, we understand the devastating impact legal malpractice can have on your financial recovery and your trust in the legal system. We can help you understand your rights and options. Our firm is led by a former prosecutor who can thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your case and assess whether your former lawyer's actions fell below the professional standard of care. We are prepared to fight to hold negligent attorneys accountable and seek the damages you lost because of their malpractice. Because we intentionally limit the number of cases we take on, we can provide personalized attention and trial-focused representation that puts your needs first.

Schedule a free consultation with our St. Louis personal injury legal malpractice lawyer today by calling (314) 557-4049 or contacting us online. We are available to respond 24/7, and you owe our firm nothing unless we help you secure compensation.

What Is Considered Legal Malpractice in Personal Injury Representation?

Legal malpractice in a personal injury case occurs when an attorney's negligence or misconduct causes a client to suffer financial harm. This is not just an unfavorable case result but a significant error that another competent attorney would not have made.

While there are many ways a lawyer can be negligent, some of the most common types of legal malpractice in a personal injury context include:

• Failure to file within the statute of limitations. Every personal injury case has a specific deadline, called a statute of limitations, by which a lawsuit must be filed. If an attorney fails to file the claim before this deadline expires, the client permanently loses their right to sue, regardless of how strong their case was. A lawyer's failure to meet this critical deadline is almost always considered negligence. 
• Negligent investigation. A successful personal injury case depends on a comprehensive investigation. A lawyer has a duty to gather all relevant evidence to prove the defendant's liability and the extent of the client's damages. Legal malpractice can occur if an attorney fails to interview witnesses, collect crucial evidence, or respond to or conduct discovery. Negligently hiring an unqualified expert or failing to hire one when necessary can also sometimes constitute malpractice.
• Improper settlement advice. A lawyer must act in their client's best interest during settlement negotiations. Malpractice can occur if an attorney recommends or pressures a client to accept a settlement that is significantly below the reasonable value of their case (especially due to a lack of preparation or investigation), accepts a settlement offer without their client’s explicit authorization, or fails to communicate a settlement offer to their client.
• Failure to disclose conflicts of interest. An attorney has an ethical and professional duty to avoid conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest arises when a lawyer's representation of one client is directly adverse to another, or when their personal interests interfere with their professional judgment. For example, if a lawyer represents both the injured plaintiff and the at-fault party in a car accident case, that constitutes a clear conflict of interest and could be grounds for malpractice.
• Fraud or misappropriation of funds. While less common than negligence, intentional wrongdoing by an attorney is a severe form of legal malpractice. Examples include deliberately deceiving a client about the status of their case or settlement offers, or misusing or stealing a client’s settlement funds.