How Much Do Personal Injury Attorneys Charge In Missouri?

Sansone & Lauber | | Personal Injury Blog

When you’ve been injured in an accident in Missouri—whether it’s a car crash on I-70, a motorcycle wreck on Highway 40, a workplace injury, or a devastating slip and fall—one of the first questions on your mind is:

“How much is it going to cost me to hire a personal injury lawyer?”

At Sansone & Lauber, we hear this every single day. And our answer is simple, powerful, and direct:

👉 You don’t pay us a single dime upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.

This is called a contingency fee agreement, and it levels the playing field against powerful insurance companies and corporations who would otherwise bury you in legal bills and deny you fair compensation.

In this blog, we’ll break down everything you need to know about personal injury attorney fees in Missouri, including:

  • How contingency fees work in personal injury cases

  • What percentage most accident lawyers charge

  • Why hiring a lawyer actually puts more money in your pocket than going it alone

  • The hidden traps insurance companies set if you don’t have a lawyer

  • What Missouri law says about attorney fees

  • Real-world examples of how fees work in big settlements and verdicts

  • Why Sansone & Lauber has recovered millions for injured victims—and never charges unless we win

Why Personal Injury Lawyers Use Contingency Fees

Unlike criminal defense lawyers or corporate attorneys who charge by the hour, personal injury lawyers in Missouri almost always work on a contingency fee basis.

That means:

  • No hourly billing

  • No retainer fees

  • No upfront costs

We front the costs of litigation, investigation, medical experts, depositions, accident reconstruction, and trial preparation. If we win, our fee is a percentage of the recovery. If we don’t win—you owe us nothing.

This system is designed to make sure ordinary Missourians—not just the wealthy—can go toe-to-toe with billion-dollar insurance companies.

Without contingency fees, accident victims would be forced to pay hundreds of dollars per hour out of pocket just to fight back. Most families couldn’t afford it. Contingency fees put justice within reach for everyone.

What Percentage Do Personal Injury Lawyers Charge in Missouri?

In Missouri, most personal injury attorneys—including car accident lawyers, truck accident attorneys, motorcycle crash lawyers, and slip-and-fall injury attorneys—charge between:

  • 33% and 40% of the settlement or verdict.

This percentage may vary depending on the case:

  • One-third (33⅓%) for cases resolved quickly, often before filing a lawsuit

  • Up to 40% if the case goes into litigation, requires depositions, trials, or appeals

At Sansone & Lauber, we are fully transparent with our clients. You’ll know exactly what percentage applies before we move forward.

We also advance all case expenses—meaning we pay for court filings, expert witnesses, accident reconstructions, medical record retrieval, and trial exhibits. Those costs are reimbursed only if we win.

Why Paying a Lawyer Actually Gets You MORE Money

Insurance companies love when injured people try to handle their own cases.

Here’s why:

  • Studies show that accident victims who hire a lawyer recover up to 3x more compensation than those who go it alone.

  • Insurance adjusters are trained to lowball unrepresented victims.

  • Without a lawyer, victims often accept quick settlements that don’t cover long-term medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering.

So yes—you will pay a percentage to your lawyer. But after factoring in the higher settlement value, you’ll almost always end up with significantly more money in your pocket than if you try to negotiate alone.

Example:

  • Insurance offers you $20,000 without a lawyer.

  • With a lawyer, the case settles for $90,000.

  • Attorney fee at 33% = $30,000.

  • You still take home $60,000—3 times more than the insurer wanted to pay you directly.

What Missouri Law Says About Attorney Fees

Missouri does not cap contingency fees in personal injury cases, but lawyers must follow strict ethical rules:

  • Fees must be reasonable.

  • Clients must receive a written fee agreement.

  • Lawyers must explain how expenses are deducted.

At Sansone & Lauber, we take compliance seriously. Every client receives a clear, written agreement before representation begins. No surprises. No hidden fees. Full transparency from day one.

Hidden Costs You Avoid With a Contingency Fee Lawyer

When you hire us, we cover the upfront litigation expenses that can cripple victims trying to fight alone, such as:

  • Expert witness testimony (medical, accident reconstruction)

  • Filing fees and court costs

  • Investigation and discovery expenses

  • Trial exhibits and technology

  • Medical record retrieval and analysis

These costs often run tens of thousands of dollars. Most families cannot afford them. We put our firm’s resources behind you—because we don’t get paid unless you do.

Why Insurance Companies Fear Lawyers Like Us

Insurance adjusters know exactly who the trial lawyers are in Missouri that actually take cases to court and win big verdicts.

At Sansone & Lauber, we’ve secured millions for our clients, including a $14.2 million motorcycle accident verdict—one of the largest in Missouri history.

When insurance companies see our name on a case, they know:

  • We will not settle for pennies.

  • We are fully prepared to go to trial.

  • We have the track record to back it up.

That leverage often leads to faster, larger settlements—which means more money in your pocket.

Case Example: How Fees Work in Real Life

Imagine you’re hit by a distracted driver in St. Louis:

  • Your medical bills: $150,000

  • Lost wages: $50,000

  • Pain and suffering: $300,000

Total case value: $500,000

  • Without a lawyer, insurance offers $75,000.

  • With Sansone & Lauber, we fight and win $500,000.

  • Fee at 33%: $165,000

  • You take home $335,000 after fees and costs—over four times what you would’ve gotten without a lawyer.

Common Questions About Personal Injury Attorney Fees in Missouri

Do I have to pay if we lose?

No. You owe nothing. We take the risk, not you.

What if the case settles quickly?

Our fee is typically one-third of the settlement.

Do you charge for consultations?

Never. Case reviews are 100% free.

Will I still have to pay medical bills?

Yes, but we fight to have medical providers and insurance companies reduce their liens—so you keep more of the settlement.

Can you take my case if I can’t afford court costs?

Absolutely. We advance all costs.

Why Hiring Sansone & Lauber Is the Smartest Financial Decision You Can Make

At the end of the day, here’s the truth:

  • Hiring an injury attorney doesn’t cost you money—it makes you money.

  • Contingency fees align your lawyer’s interests with yours: we only win if you win.

  • Our aggressive representation often results in settlements and verdicts far higher than victims could achieve on their own.

We’ve recovered millions for Missouri accident victims in car crashes, trucking accidents, motorcycle wrecks, slip-and-falls, workplace injuries, and wrongful death cases.

And we never, ever charge a dime unless we win.

Final Word: How Much Do Personal Injury Attorneys Charge?

The real question isn’t “How Much Do Personal Injury Attorneys Charge In Missouri?”

The real question is: “How much is it going to cost me if I DON’T hire one?”

Insurance companies have teams of adjusters, investigators, and lawyers whose sole job is to pay you as little as possible.

You deserve a powerful, aggressive legal team in your corner—one with a proven record of multi-million dollar results.

At Sansone & Lauber, we fight for maximum recovery. No excuses. No delays. Just results.

📞 Call us today for a free consultation at 314-863-0500. You pay nothing unless we win.