As a St. Louis, Missouri personal injury attorney, I often hear people say that they don’t want to pursue a claim or file an injury lawsuit because they don’t want people to think they are “sue happy”. In other words, nobody wants to be known as the professional plaintiff. I have had people, seriously injured people, tell me that they have decided not to pursue their claim because of the social stigma of litigation. This is what “tort reform” has done – instead of weeding out the frivolous cases, it has made people scared to sue.
I try to explain to people that hiring a lawyer is just like hiring another professional. If you need help filing your taxes, you hire an accountant. If you are ill, you see your doctor. You do this because you understand that those professionals are trained to know things that you just don’t know. It is the same with the law. I am trained to know what to do to fight for your rights. You don’t feel bad when you need to hire an accountant or your doctor, so why feel bad hiring an attorney? If you or someone you know were injured at the hands of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, it is your right to be compensated for your injuries. In fact, you aren’t just entitled to pursue your claim, you should do just that.
So no, it is not wrong to sue if you are involved in a Missouri car accident. Oftentimes, an actual lawsuit is not necessary as many cases are resolved out of court. But if the insurance company is not being fair with you, you should absolutely file suit and try the case to a jury of your peers if necessary. No one would fault you for hiring a doctor or accountant. Likewise, you should not ever prevent yourself from protecting your legal rights.