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Wilkins Schneller Law, LLC

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Wilkins Schneller Law, LLC

Wilkins Schneller Law practices in Illinois, Missouri, and U.S. Federal Courts throughout the country

At Wilkins Schneller Law, we represent individuals and families who have been seriously injured or killed by the carelessness of others. Our practice areas include: Railroad injuries (FELA), Maritime/Jones Act injuries, Auto Accidents, Workers' Compensation, Unsafe Products, Bad Drugs/Medical Devices, and Medical Malpractice. For more information, please visit our website at www.midwesttriallawyers.com

03/30/2026

Missouri Wrongful Death Law: Who can file a claim, and what can be recovered?

Losing a family member due to someone else's negligence is devastating. Missouri law allows surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim, but there are important rules about who can file and when.

Who can file in Missouri? Missouri has a specific hierarchy. A spouse, children, or grandchildren have the first right to file. If none exist, parents or siblings may file. If none of the above, a plaintiff ad litem appointed by the court may bring the claim.

One critical detail: only one lawsuit can be filed per death. All eligible family members must be included in a single case. This is why family communication early on is so important.

What damages can be recovered? Eligible damages include medical expenses before death, funeral and burial expenses, the deceased's lost future earnings, the survivors' loss of companionship and comfort, and the survivors' grief and bereavement.

The clock is ticking. Missouri's wrongful death statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of death. Missing that deadline almost always means losing your right to file permanently.

No family should have to navigate this alone while grieving. If you've lost someone due to negligence, understanding your rights costs you nothing.

Call 314-588-8000 for a free consultation. midwesttriallawyers.com

03/26/2026

Missouri medical malpractice law is complex, and deliberately so. Here's what patients need to know.

Missouri requires medical malpractice plaintiffs to clear several hurdles that don't exist in other personal injury cases.

Affidavit of Merit: Before your case can even move forward, a qualified medical expert must review your records and sign off that your claim has merit. This requirement is designed to filter out weak cases, but it also means you need experienced legal help from day one.

The "Reasonable Care" Standard: You must prove the healthcare provider failed to meet the standard of care that a reasonably competent medical professional in the same field would have provided. This is not simply "the doctor made a mistake." Medicine involves judgment calls. The question is whether they fell below an accepted standard.

Damages Cap: Missouri caps non-economic damages like pain and suffering in medical malpractice cases. The cap is tied to inflation and adjusts over time. Economic damages including medical bills and lost wages are not capped.

Statute of Limitations: In Missouri, you generally have 2 years from when you discovered the injury, or should have discovered it, but there is an absolute 10-year outer limit.

Medical malpractice cases require expert witnesses, significant resources, and lawyers who aren't afraid to take on hospitals and healthcare systems.

Wilkins Schneller Law offers free consultations with no obligation. Call 314-588-8000.

03/24/2026

Missouri Law Lesson: Just because you fell on someone else's property doesn't automatically mean they owe you compensation, but here's when they do.

Missouri premises liability law requires you to prove a few key things to win a slip and fall case:

The property owner knew, or should have known, about the dangerous condition.
They failed to fix it or warn you about it.
That failure directly caused your injury.

One important Missouri distinction: the law looks at whether you were an "invitee" (like a customer in a store), a "licensee" (like a social guest), or a "trespasser." Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees, meaning businesses have a legal obligation to actively inspect and maintain safe conditions.

If you're injured on someone's property, do these things immediately:

Report the incident and get a written copy of the report.
Take photos of the exact hazard before it's cleaned up or fixed.
Get the names of any witnesses.
Seek medical care right away. Gaps in treatment are used against you.

Missouri's statute of limitations for premises liability claims is 5 years, but evidence disappears fast. Surveillance footage gets erased. Witnesses forget. Don't wait.

Wilkins Schneller Law handles serious premises liability cases. Call 314-588-8000.

03/20/2026

Railroad workers: You are not covered by standard workers' compensation, and that's actually a good thing.

Here's something most people don't know. Railroad workers are covered under a separate federal law called the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), not state workers' comp.

Why does that matter?

Workers' comp typically pays a fixed, limited benefit. FELA allows injured railroad workers to sue their employer directly in court and recover full medical expenses, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.

The trade-off? You have to prove the railroad was at least partially negligent. But under FELA, the negligence standard is significantly lower than in standard personal injury cases. Even a small contribution by the railroad to your injury is enough.

One important Missouri-specific note: FELA claims can be filed in either federal or Missouri state court, and the choice of venue can significantly affect your case outcome.

Also critical: FELA has a 3-year statute of limitations. Waiting too long can cost you everything.

If you're a railroad worker who's been hurt on the job, don't assume your employer is handling it fairly.

Call 314-588-8000 for a free consultation. midwesttriallawyers.com

03/16/2026

If you work on the water, this federal law may be one of the most important things you ever read.

The Jones Act is a federal law that gives injured maritime workers, including deckhands, engineers, and river workers, the right to sue their employer for negligence.

Here's what makes the Jones Act different from a typical workers' comp claim:

You can recover for pain and suffering. Workers' comp generally does not allow this.
The negligence standard is very low. Your employer only needs to have contributed even slightly to your injury.

You may also have a claim for "unseaworthiness" if the vessel or its equipment wasn't reasonably safe.
You may be entitled to "maintenance and cure," meaning your employer must pay your living expenses and medical bills while you recover, regardless of fault.

The catch? Jones Act cases are heavily contested. Barge companies and their insurers fight these claims hard, and the statute of limitations in Missouri is just 3 years, so timing matters.

Know your rights before you need them.

Wilkins Schneller Law specializes in Jones Act cases. Call 314-588-8000 or visit midwesttriallawyers.com.

03/12/2026

Did you know Missouri is a "pure comparative fault" state?

Here's what that means for you after a car accident:

In Missouri, you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the crash. If a jury determines you were 30% responsible and the other driver was 70% responsible, you can still recover, but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault.

This is a big deal because insurance companies will often try to pin as much blame on YOU as possible to reduce what they have to pay. They know how comparative fault works and they use it as a negotiating weapon.

A few things to remember:

Never admit fault at the scene. Even saying "I'm sorry" can be used against you.
Get the police report and gather witness information.
Seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel okay.
Don't give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance without legal advice first.

Missouri law is on your side, but only if you know how to use it.

Questions about a recent accident? Wilkins Schneller Law offers free consultations. Call 314-588-8000.

03/09/2026

When the odds are stacked against you, you need lawyers who aren't afraid to fight.

At Wilkins Schneller Law, we've built our entire practice around one purpose: protecting the rights of the seriously injured and their families. Kevin Wilkins, Gerard Schneller, & Jim Gehrs bring over 30 years of combined experience and they've taken on some of the biggest insurance companies, railroads, and corporations in the country.

We don't just negotiate. We litigate.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured, you deserve attorneys who will go to the mat for you. Call us today for a FREE consultation.

📞 314-588-8000
🌐 midwesttriallawyers.com

12/29/2025

That Toy, Tool, or Gadget You're Buying Could Be Dangerous And Manufacturers Know It

Millions of products are sold during the holiday season. Most are safe. Some aren't.

When manufacturers, designers, and retailers put profits over safety, people get hurt:
🎁 Toys with choking hazards or toxic materials
🎁 Electronics that overheat and cause fires
🎁 Power tools with inadequate safety guards
🎁 Appliances with defective wiring
🎁 Children's furniture that tips over
🎁 Products with inadequate warnings or instructions

Product liability law holds companies accountable when:
A product has a design defect (dangerous by design)
A product has a manufacturing defect (made incorrectly)
A product lacks adequate warnings about known dangers

Recent defective product cases we've handled include:
✓ Dangerous pharmaceuticals with undisclosed side effects
✓ Medical devices that failed catastrophically
✓ Defective vehicle components
✓ Industrial equipment without proper safety features

These cases are complex.
You're not suing the store where you bought it—you're suing the manufacturer, which could be a multinational corporation with unlimited legal resources. They will:

Blame the victim for misusing the product
Claim the danger was "obvious"
Hide internal documents showing they knew about the defect
Hire experts to defend their design decisions

That's why product liability cases require trial lawyers who:
✓ Have experience with complex litigation against major corporations
✓ Can afford to hire engineering experts and conduct testing
✓ Know how to obtain internal company communications through discovery
✓ Aren't intimidated by aggressive defense tactics

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured by a defective product:

Keep the product and all packaging
Keep receipts and documentation
Photograph injuries and the product
Seek immediate medical attention
Contact an experienced attorney before the manufacturer's lawyers contact you

Wilkins Schneller Law has successfully litigated product liability cases against pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and other corporate defendants.

Free consultation for serious injury cases: 314-588-8000

This holiday season, check recall lists before you buy. And if a defective product has harmed you or someone you love, don't let the manufacturer escape accountability.

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas!

After a year of fighting powerful corporations, aggressive insurance companies, and defense attorneys who get paid by the hour to drag things out...

we're taking a few days to do what really matters: Eat too much. Spend time with family. Maybe actually relax for once.

We hope you're doing the same.

Thanks to everyone who trusted us to stand in your corner this year. It's been an honor.

Now go enjoy the holiday. We'll be back to fighting the good fight soon enough.

12/22/2025

Property Owners Have a Legal Duty to Keep You Safe, Even in Winter

Ice, snow, and freezing rain create hazardous conditions this time of year. But "it was icy" doesn't automatically excuse property owners from liability when someone is seriously injured.

Under Missouri premises liability law, property owners must:
Inspect their property for dangerous conditions
Remove ice and snow within a reasonable time
Apply salt, sand, or other de-icing materials
Warn visitors of known hazards
Ensure adequate lighting in parking lots and walkways
Maintain drainage systems to prevent ice buildup

When property owners fail to do this, they're liable for serious injuries:
❄️ Slip and falls on icy parking lots (grocery stores, shopping centers, apartments)
❄️ Falls on unsalted stairs or walkways
❄️ Injuries from falling icicles or roof collapses
❄️ Accidents in poorly lit areas where ice isn't visible
Not all falls result in legal claims—but some result in catastrophic injuries:

Traumatic brain injuries from hitting pavement
Hip fractures requiring surgery (especially dangerous for seniors)
Spinal cord injuries
Broken bones, torn ligaments, permanent disability

Insurance companies will argue:
"The condition was open and obvious"
"We salted the lot that morning"
"The victim was walking too fast"
"They were on their phone and not paying attention"

These defenses work against people without experienced attorneys. They don't work when you have trial lawyers who know how to prove negligence through:
✓ Weather records and timing analysis
✓ Maintenance logs and employee testimony
✓ Surveillance footage
✓ Expert testimony on industry standards
✓ Evidence of prior complaints or incidents

If you've been seriously injured on someone else's property this winter, act quickly.
Snow melts. Footage gets deleted. Witnesses forget. Evidence disappears.

Wilkins Schneller Law handles catastrophic injury cases where negligent property owners failed to keep people safe.

Free consultation: 314-588-8000

Be careful out there—and if a property owner failed to keep you safe, don't let them escape accountability.

12/19/2025

Holiday Parties and Drunk Driving: What You Need to Know About Liability

December brings office parties, family gatherings, and celebrations and unfortunately, a spike in impaired driving accidents.

Missouri Dram Shop Law:
Did you know that bars, restaurants, and even private party hosts can be held liable if they serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated people who then cause accidents?

If a drunk driver seriously injured you or killed someone you love, you may have claims against:

The impaired driver (obviously)
The bar or restaurant that over-served them
The social host who provided alcohol knowing the person was intoxicated
Their employer (if company vehicle or company event involved)

These cases are complicated.

Defense attorneys for bars and insurance companies will argue:
❌ "The person didn't appear intoxicated"
❌ "We stopped serving them"
❌ "The driver's actions, not our client, caused the accident"

That's why these cases require attorneys who know how to:
✓ Obtain surveillance footage before it's deleted
✓ Interview staff and witnesses immediately
✓ Subpoena credit card receipts and POS system records
✓ Work with accident reconstruction experts
✓ Prove visible intoxication through witness testimony

The holidays should bring joy, not tragedy.

If your life has been shattered by a drunk driver, you deserve more than just a criminal prosecution—you deserve full compensation for your losses and accountability for everyone who contributed to the tragedy.

Wilkins Schneller Law represents victims of catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.

Free consultation: 314-588-8000 | midwesttriallawyers.com

Please celebrate responsibly. If you're drinking, arrange for a sober ride home.

Address

1926 Chouteau Avenue
St. Louis, MO
63103

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13145888000

Website

http://www.midwesttriallawyers.com/

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