Hazelwood sits along I-270 immediately adjacent to Lambert International Airport. The combination of airport-related commercial traffic, logistics and cargo vehicle operations, delivery services, and the general high volume of I-270 produces elevated accident rates. Drivers unfamiliar with local interchanges and exit patterns near the airport contribute to merge and exit ramp accidents. McDonnell Boulevard, which serves the Hazelwood industrial corridor, also generates commercial vehicle accidents.

Accidents within Hazelwood city limits are handled by the Hazelwood Police Department. Accidents on I-270 itself fall under Missouri State Highway Patrol jurisdiction. St Louis County Police may have jurisdiction in some unincorporated areas adjacent to Hazelwood. The responding agency matters because that is where the police report is filed and where you obtain a copy for your claim. If you are not sure which agency responded to your accident, we can help identify the right report.

Commercial vehicle accidents near airports often involve fleet vehicles operated by cargo carriers, delivery companies, or ground transportation services. These vehicles are typically owned by companies with commercial insurance policies, and the driver may be an employee or a contracted driver. That distinction matters for establishing liability. We also look at FMCSA compliance for vehicles that qualify as commercial motor vehicles, which includes many cargo and delivery vehicles operating near airports regardless of their size.

Nothing upfront. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. Our fee is a percentage of the compensation we recover for you, and it is only paid if we win. If we do not recover anything for you, you owe us nothing. There are no consultation fees, no retainer fees, and no hourly billing. The contingency arrangement means our interests are aligned with yours — we are motivated to recover as much as possible because our fee depends on it.

Missouri follows pure comparative fault, which means your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault but not eliminated entirely. If you were 40 percent at fault for an accident and your total damages are $100,000, you recover $60,000. Even a plaintiff found to be 99 percent at fault can theoretically recover one percent of their damages. Insurance companies understand this rule and routinely try to inflate your fault percentage during settlement negotiations. Having an attorney who can document the other party's fault accurately and completely makes a direct financial difference in what you recover.

Five years for most personal injury claims under RSMo 516.120. Medical malpractice is two years under RSMo 516.105. Wrongful death is three years under RSMo 537.100. Claims against government entities have separate notice requirements that are often as short as 90 days, which is completely separate from and in addition to the lawsuit filing deadline. Missing any of these deadlines almost always permanently bars your claim, regardless of how clear the negligence was.