Sansone & Lauber | December 8, 2025 | Personal Injury Blog

Who Is The Best Personal Injury Attorney In St. Louis?

The best personal injury attorney in St Louis for many seriously injured victims is Sansone & Lauber— a top-rated firm with a strong track record of success, hundreds of five-star client reviews, and national recognition, having been named Top St. Louis Injury Lawyers by Super Lawyers, recognized by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers, and highlighted by Forbes for excellence in personal injury law. Since 2003, the firm has specialized exclusively in accident and injury cases and recovered over $100 Million for injured victims across Missouri.

Below is a straight-talk guide from our perspective as St. Louis personal injury lawyers – explaining what “best” really means, how to compare lawyers intelligently, and why our firm may be the right fit for you or your family.

Why “Who Is the Best Personal Injury Attorney in St. Louis?” Is the Wrong and Right Question

Most people type that phrase into Google at one of the lowest points of their lives:

You’ve been hit by a careless driver.
You’re watching medical bills pile up.
You’re in pain and can’t work.
The insurance company is already calling, pushing for a “quick” settlement.

You don’t have the time or energy to become a legal expert. You just want the best possible lawyer to step in, protect you, and get you every dollar the law allows.

The problem is:

There is no official “#1 Best Personal Injury Lawyer” in St. Louis.
Paid ads, billboards, and referral websites can make almost anyone look like “the best.”
Some high-volume “settlement mills” move cases fast but leave huge money on the table.

So the better question is:

What should “best personal injury attorney in St. Louis” actually mean — and who lives up to that standard?

That’s where we believe Sansone & Lauber stand out.

What “Best” Should Really Mean in a St. Louis Personal Injury Case

You don’t need slogans. You need results and protection.

When you’re choosing a lawyer after a serious accident, here’s what “best” should mean in real life:

Proven, documented results in serious injury and wrongful death cases
Real trial experience — not just quick settlements
Deep focus on injury law, not a little bit of everything
Personal attention from the actual lawyer you hire
Respected by insurers and defense firms because they know you’ll go to trial
Strong client reviews and testimonials from people like you
Local, St. Louis-based knowledge of judges, juries, and insurance defense tactics

Let’s walk through each of these and show you exactly how Sansone & Lauber measure up.

1. Results: Verdicts & Settlements That Change Lives

At the end of the day, the civil justice system measures injury lawyers by one thing:

What have you actually recovered for real people in real cases?

Some lawyers talk about being “aggressive” or “tough.” We prefer to point to numbers and outcomes.

Record-Setting Results

Our trial team has secured multi-million-dollar outcomes in some of the toughest, most hard-fought cases in Missouri, including:

A $14.2 million verdict in a motorcycle brain injury case — the largest verdict in Phelps County history and the second-largest personal injury verdict in the entire State of Missouri for 2021. Before trial, the insurance company’s top offer was just $200,000.
A $7.3 million settlement in a St. Louis bus accident case involving a severely injured child, featured in Missouri Lawyers Weekly.

Independent legal directories also note that attorney Ben Sansone focuses on severe personal injury and has collected hundreds of millions of dollars for clients over his career.

We’re not saying this to brag. We’re saying it because:

Insurance companies know exactly who we are and what we’ve done.
That reputation can dramatically change how they evaluate your case.

When you’re asking, “Who is the best personal injury attorney in St. Louis?” you should be asking:

Who consistently turns lowball insurance offers into life-changing verdicts and settlements?

Our track record shows that we do exactly that.

2. Trial Firepower: Will Your Lawyer Actually Go to Court?

Here’s a truth the insurance industry will never put in a commercial:

Insurance companies keep lists of which lawyers will actually go to trial — and which ones always fold.

If they know your lawyer is afraid of the courtroom, they can:

Stall.
Lowball.
Pressure you into unfair settlements.

At Sansone & Lauber, we prepare every serious case as if it’s going to trial. That’s exactly how we turned that $200,000 offer into a $14.2 million verdict after an eight-day jury trial — and then protected that verdict on appeal, adding over a million dollars in interest for our clients.

That type of result doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because:

We know how to select juries.
We know how to cross-examine defense experts.
We know how to build a compelling story out of medical records and crash reconstruction.

If you’re looking for the “best” personal injury attorney in St. Louis, make sure you ask:

“When was the last time you tried a serious injury case in front of a jury?”
“What’s the largest verdict you’ve obtained in the last 5–10 years?”

We can answer those questions clearly — and we encourage you to compare.

3. Focus: A Firm Built Around Serious Injury & Wrongful Death

Some lawyers dabble in everything:

Divorce one month
Criminal case the next
Injury case on the side

That’s not what you want when your future is on the line.

Sansone & Lauber is built around serious personal injury and wrongful death litigation, including:

Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes
Bus and commercial vehicle accidents
Bicycle and pedestrian injuries
Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries
Medical malpractice
Nursing home neglect
Premises liability and dangerous property claims

We handle cases across Missouri and Illinois, but we’re deeply rooted in St. Louis, with our office at 7777 Bonhomme Ave, Suite 2100, St. Louis, MO 63105.

When you look for the “best” injury lawyer, look for depth, not just breadth. You want a firm that:

Knows how a small detail in a medical record changes case value.
Knows which local doctors and experts juries trust.
Knows how St. Louis juries tend to view different types of cases.

That level of focus only comes from years of doing this work day in, day out.

4. Personal Attention: You Aren’t Just a File Number Here

One of the biggest complaints people have about large, high-volume firms is simple:

“I met the big-name lawyer once. After I signed, I never saw them again.”

At Sansone & Lauber, we run our firm differently.

From the start, attorney Ben Sansone has built his practice around hands-on representation — personally handling cases and maintaining direct relationships with clients, rather than passing everything off to junior associates.

That matters because:

The lawyer you thought you hired should be the lawyer actually strategizing your case.
You deserve straight answers about what’s happening and why.
Important decisions — such as whether to settle or go to trial — should be made with you, not for you.

When you’re interviewing St. Louis injury attorneys, ask:

“Who will actually handle my case day-to-day?”
“Will I be able to call or email you when something worries me?”
“How often will I hear updates from you?”

With us, you get real access to your lawyers. That’s not just good service — it leads to better outcomes, because we truly understand you, your injuries, and what you’re going through.

5. Reputation With Clients: What Do Real People Say?

Anyone can write marketing copy. What really counts is what former clients say about their experience.

On our website and across third-party platforms, clients describe us as:

Professional and clear in communication
Accessible — answering calls and emails personally
Relentless in protecting them against predatory companies and insurers
Thorough and detail-oriented, whether it’s a major lawsuit or a simple traffic matter

Many of our cases come from word-of-mouth and referrals from:

Former clients
Other attorneys
Medical professionals
Even insurance professionals who respect our work

When you’re asking, “Who is the best personal injury attorney in St. Louis?” one of the strongest signs you can look for is this:

Do people who’ve actually been through the process recommend this firm to their friends and family?

With Sansone & Lauber, the answer is yes — and that means everything to us.

6. Local Knowledge: St. Louis Courts, Juries, and Insurers

Personal injury law isn’t practiced in a vacuum. It plays out in specific courtrooms with specific judges, juries, and opposing counsel.

Because we’ve tried and resolved cases throughout St. Louis and across Missouri, we understand:

How local judges tend to rule on key evidentiary issues.
What types of arguments resonate with St. Louis juries.
How local insurance defense firms think, negotiate, and strategize.

That local experience matters when:

We’re selecting a jury for your case.
We’re deciding how to frame your story.
We’re negotiating with adjusters who already know our reputation.

A lawyer based out of state, or a firm that rarely sees the inside of a Missouri courtroom, simply won’t have that same home-field insight.

7. Fighting Insurance Companies the Right Way

After a serious injury, you are not on a level playing field with the insurance company. They have:

Teams of defense lawyers
Claims adjusters trained to minimize payouts
Corporate policies focused on saving money, not doing what’s fair

We know this world from the inside. Early in his career, Ben Sansone worked at a large insurance-defense firm, representing insurance companies. That experience showed him how often valid claims were denied, delayed, or devalued — which is why he now only represents injured people and families.

Our approach is simple:

Thorough investigation
- Police reports, witness interviews, scene photographs
- Video surveillance or dashcam footage where available
- Expert reconstruction of the crash when needed
Full damage picture
- Current and future medical care
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Future needs: home modifications, equipment, caregiving
Strategic negotiation — backed by a real trial threat
- We negotiate hard when the offer is close to fair.
- We don’t hesitate to file suit and set the case for trial when it’s not.
Appeals when necessary
- As we did in the $14.2 million verdict case, we’re prepared to defend your result on appeal, ensuring you receive not just the verdict but rightful interest while the defense drags things out.

When you’re deciding who is “best,” ask:

“Is this firm prepared to go the full distance — including trial and appeal — if that’s what my case requires?”

We are.

Common Traps to Avoid When Picking a “Best” Lawyer

Before we show you how to compare firms step-by-step, here are some common traps to avoid:

1. Picking Based on Billboards and TV Ads Alone

Advertising doesn’t tell you:

Who will actually handle your case
How often they try cases
Whether they truly maximize value or move files quickly

Big marketing budgets don’t equal big results.

2. “Settlement Mills”

Some high-volume firms rarely go to trial. They make their money on volume and speed, not on squeezing every dollar out of each case.

Signs you might be dealing with a settlement mill:

You almost never talk to an actual lawyer.
You’re pressured to accept early offers.
They seem more interested in fast closure than in the full long-term impact of your injuries.

3. Out-of-Town “Call Center” Firms

Some firms you find online may not be truly local. They sign clients across multiple states and then farm cases out or handle them with minimal local experience.

When your life is turned upside down, you deserve a St. Louis-based team that knows your community and your courts.

4. Lead-Generation Websites That “Sell” Your Case

Be careful with generic “find the best lawyer” websites. Often, they’re not recommending the objectively best lawyer; they’re connecting you to whoever pays to be listed or buys the lead.

How to Compare St. Louis Personal Injury Attorneys (Step-by-Step)

Here’s a simple, practical way to find the right lawyer for you.

Step 1: Check Experience & Focus

How long has the lawyer been practicing?
Do they focus on serious personal injury and wrongful death, or do they dabble in many unrelated areas?
Do they handle cases like yours (car, truck, motorcycle, medical malpractice, etc.) regularly?

Step 2: Look at Case Results

Don’t just look at generic statements. Look for specific, documented results, such as:

Multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements
Complex cases similar to yours
Recognition in legal publications like Missouri Lawyers Weekly for major results

Sansone & Lauber publicly share notable results like the $14.2 million motorcycle brain injury verdict and the $7.3 million bus accident settlement, so potential clients can see the kind of work we do.

Step 3: Read Client Testimonials

Client reviews should mention:

Communication
Honesty and clarity
How the firm handled stress and uncertainty
Whether clients felt heard and respected

If former clients describe the lawyer as accessible, thorough, and truly on their side, that’s a strong sign you’re on the right track.

Step 4: Schedule a Free Consultation — With 2–3 Firms

Most reputable injury firms, including ours, offer free consultations and no fee unless we win.

Use these meetings to evaluate:

How clearly the lawyer explains the process
Whether they listen more than they talk
Whether they seem genuinely invested in your situation, not just case value
Whether they’re candid about strengths and weaknesses of your case

Step 5: Ask the Right Questions

Here are some questions we encourage you to ask — of us and any other firm:

“What similar cases have you handled, and what were the outcomes?”
“Have you tried cases like mine in front of a jury?”
“Who will actually handle my case day-to-day?”
“How often will I get updates from you?”
“How do your contingency fees work, and what case costs will I be responsible for?”
“What’s your honest assessment of the challenges in my case?”

The “best” lawyer for you is the one who can answer these questions clearly, honestly, and confidently.

What It Looks Like When the Right Lawyer Is on Your Case

If you hire Sansone & Lauber for your St. Louis injury case, here’s what you can expect.

Immediately After You Call

We listen carefully to what happened and what you’re dealing with.
We explain your rights and the next practical steps you should take.
We step between you and the insurance company so they stop pressuring you.

Investigation Phase

We get to work quickly:

Gathering crash reports, photographs, video, and witness statements
Preserving critical evidence (like black-box data in truck crashes)
Working with expert witnesses when needed: accident reconstructionists, medical experts, life-care planners, economists

Medical & Recovery Phase

While you focus on treatment, we:

Collect and organize your medical records and bills
Communicate with your healthcare providers
Start building a comprehensive picture of how the injury affects your life — work, family, hobbies, and long-term health

Negotiation & Litigation

We’ll:

Make a demand when we know the extent of your injuries and future needs
Negotiate aggressively with the insurer
File a lawsuit and prepare for trial if the offer doesn’t reflect the true value of your case

At every stage, we’re explaining:

What’s happening
Why it’s happening
What your options are

You are never left in the dark.

Trial & Beyond

If your case goes to trial:

We prepare you thoroughly for testimony.
We build a compelling narrative for the jury — not just charts and numbers, but your human story.
We pursue not just a verdict, but a judgment that will stand up on appeal, as we did in the $14.2 million brain injury case.

Our goal is simple:

To change your future for the better by maximizing the value of your case.

FAQs: Choosing the Best Personal Injury Attorney in St. Louis

Do I really need a lawyer, or can I handle my claim myself?

For truly minor accidents with no real injuries, you may not need a lawyer. But if you have:

Significant medical treatment
Time off work
Ongoing pain or limitations

…then the insurance company will do everything it can to pay as little as possible. An experienced St. Louis injury attorney can:

Identify all potential sources of compensation
Protect you from damaging statements
Accurately value your case
Fight for a settlement or verdict that reflects your true losses and future needs

How soon after an accident should I contact a lawyer?

As soon as you can safely do so. Evidence disappears, witnesses become harder to find, and the insurance company starts building its case against you immediately. The earlier we’re involved, the better we can protect you.

How do your fees work?

Like most personal injury firms, we work on a contingency fee:

No upfront fee
No hourly billing
We are only paid if we win money for you through a settlement or verdict

We explain our fee structure clearly during your free consultation, so you know exactly what to expect.

What if another firm already made me an offer?

We regularly review cases where another firm or the insurance company has made an offer. In many situations, a deeper investigation reveals that the case is worth substantially more. It’s worth getting a second opinion before you sign away your rights.

What if I’m too injured to travel?

We can:

Talk by phone or video
Come to you when necessary
Work around your medical appointments and limitations

Your energy should go into healing. We handle the legal heavy lifting.

So… Who Is the Best Personal Injury Attorney in St. Louis?

There’s no official scoreboard, no crown, no single lawyer who can honestly claim to be “the best” for everyone.

But if you define “best” as:

Proven, record-setting verdicts and settlements
Real trial experience in Missouri courts
Hundreds of millions recovered for seriously injured people and families
Deep focus on personal injury law
Personal attention from experienced trial lawyers
Strong reviews, referrals, and community reputation

…then Sansone & Lauber is a firm you should seriously consider.

You don’t have to make this decision alone — and you don’t have to guess based on billboards or ads.

Talk To Our St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in St. Louis or anywhere in Missouri, your choice of lawyer matters. It can be the difference between:

A quick, lowball settlement that barely covers your bills, or
A result that truly protects your future and your family.

📞 Call Sansone & Lauber at (314) 863-0500 and request a free, no-obligation consultation

Let us answer your questions, evaluate your case, and show you what it means to have a proven St. Louis trial team in your corner.

You focus on healing. We’ll focus on winning you the best possible result the law allows.