Wilkins Schneller Law, LLC

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

Today, we pause to honor the men and women who gave everything so we could live freely.To every Gold Star family, every ...
05/25/2026

Today, we pause to honor the men and women who gave everything so we could live freely.

To every Gold Star family, every veteran, and every service member who carries the weight of that sacrifice with them, thank you. We see you, and we are grateful.

From all of us at Wilkins Schneller Law, we wish the St. Louis community a meaningful and reflective Memorial Day.

May is Bicycle Safety Month, and we think it's worth saying the quiet part out loud.Most bicycle crashes are not acciden...
05/21/2026

May is Bicycle Safety Month, and we think it's worth saying the quiet part out loud.

Most bicycle crashes are not accidents. They are the result of a driver who was distracted, speeding, failed to yield, or simply did not respect the fact that a cyclist has every right to be on that road.

Over 1,160 cyclists were killed in traffic crashes in the United States last year. Thousands more were seriously injured. In the majority of those cases, someone made a choice that put another person's life at risk.

Cyclists, ride smart. Stay visible, follow the rules of the road, and never assume a driver sees you.

Drivers, slow down. Check your mirrors before opening your door. Look before you turn. A moment of inattention behind the wheel can change someone's life forever.

If you or someone you love was hurt in a bicycle crash, you have rights, and you deserve answers. Insurance companies will work fast to minimize what they owe you. We work harder to make sure that does not happen.

Call us at 314-588-8000 for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.

Wilkins Schneller Law. Trial Lawyers. We don't back down.

Missouri Wrongful Death Law: Who can file a claim, and what can be recovered?Losing a family member due to someone else'...
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

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

Missouri Law Lesson: Just because you fell on someone else's property doesn't automatically mean they owe you compensati...
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.

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

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 fede...
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.

Did you know Missouri is a "pure comparative fault" state?Here's what that means for you after a car accident:In Missour...
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.

When the odds are stacked against you, you need lawyers who aren't afraid to fight.At Wilkins Schneller Law, we've built...
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

That Toy, Tool, or Gadget You're Buying Could Be Dangerous And Manufacturers Know ItMillions of products are sold during...
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.

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

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Wilkins Schneller Law, LLC posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category