St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers – Former Insurance Defense Attorneys Fighting for You
We know how insurance companies think, because we used to work for them. At Sotiriou Wilmowski Injury Law, our team of former insurance defense attorneys now fights exclusively for injury victims.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident in anywhere in Missouri or Illinois, you deserve attorneys who know the playbook insurance companies use to delay, deny, and devalue claims. We bring insider knowledge, real trial experience, and a relentless commitment to getting you the compensation you deserve.
Whether you were injured in a car crash downtown, struck by a negligent truck driver on the highway, or hurt while simply crossing the street in your own neighborhood, we’re here to level the playing field. We treat every client like family, and we don’t get paid unless you win.
Our team includes an experienced personal injury lawyer and personal injury attorney for nearly every kind of accident case. As a personal injury law firm, we’re proud to serve as the personal injury lawyer St. Louis families call first, the personal injury lawyer Missouri clients trust statewide, and the personal injury lawyer Illinois residents rely on across the river.

Why Choose Sotiriou Wilmowski?

The Sotiriou Wilmowski Insider Advantage™
We didn’t just study how insurance companies operate: we defended them. We know how claims are evaluated, what makes them nervous, and which tactics they use to minimize payouts. Today, we use that knowledge against them to fight for you.
Built on Real Trial Experience
Your case won’t be passed to a junior associate. At our firm, experienced trial attorneys handle your claim from start to finish. We’ve stood in courtrooms across Missouri and Illinois, taking on insurers and corporations that thought they could outspend injury victims.
Clear, Honest Communication
We believe trust is built on transparency. You’ll always know what’s happening in your case. We answer the phone, return calls, and explain things in plain English. With us, there are no surprises, just clear, honest updates every step of the way.
No Fee Unless We Win
You shouldn’t have to worry about the cost of quality representation. At Sotiriou Wilmowski, you pay nothing unless we recover money for you. Our fee comes directly from your settlement or verdict, not your pocket.
Respected. Trusted. Proven.
We’ve recovered millions of dollars for clients in Missouri and Illinois. Insurance companies know our names, and they know we don’t back down. That respect translates into faster negotiations and stronger results for our clients.
Local Expertise and Knowledge
We’re proud to be a locally owned law firm. We live and work here, and we’re committed to helping our neighbors across Missouri and Illinois get justice when they’re hurt.
FAQ
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Yes. We’re based in St. Louis and represent injury victims across Missouri and Illinois.
Get checked by a doctor even if you think you can shrug it off, because a gap between the injury and your first treatment is the first thing an insurer uses to argue you were never really hurt. Report the crash to your own insurance company. Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries, and get the name of anyone who saw what happened. Then talk to a lawyer before you sign anything, including a medical authorization for the other driver’s insurer.
The general deadline is five years in Missouri and two years in Illinois, measured from the date of the injury. Wrongful death is shorter in both states, three years in Missouri and generally two in Illinois. Claims involving a city, county, school district, or other public entity can be far shorter, sometimes a single year, and some require formal written notice within months of the injury. The exceptions matter more than the general rule here, so please do not assume the deadline is far off. Call and let us check the one that actually applies to your case.
Not before you talk to a lawyer. You generally do need to cooperate with your own insurer, but you are not required to give a recorded statement to the other side, and that statement is taken to find language they can use against you later. We spent years on the insurance side of these files and we know exactly how those recordings get used. Let us handle that conversation.
Anyone who quotes you a number before reading your medical records is guessing. Value comes down to the injury and the treatment it required, how clearly the other side is at fault, how much the injury has changed your work and your daily life, and how much insurance coverage is actually available to pay it. We would rather give you a realistic range early and explain what could move it than promise you a figure we cannot support.
You may still have a claim. Missouri follows pure comparative fault, so your recovery is reduced by your share of the blame but it is not erased by it. Illinois uses a 51 percent rule, which means you can recover if you are 50 percent or less at fault and nothing above that. Insurance companies routinely assign injured people more fault than the evidence supports, so their first assessment of blame is not the last word.
Your own policy may cover the shortfall through uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, and people often carry more of it than they realize. There can also be other policies in play, for example a commercial policy if the driver was working at the time. Send us your declarations page and we will read the coverage for you at no charge.
Mostly that depends on your medical treatment, because a claim cannot be valued properly until treatment is finished or your doctors can say what your long term condition will be. After that point a straightforward claim can resolve in a matter of months, while a case that has to be filed in court often takes a year or more. We would rather explain a delay to you than rush you into a settlement that leaves next year’s medical bills unpaid.
Probably not. The large majority of injury claims settle without a trial. Filing a lawsuit is sometimes the only way to make an insurer take a case seriously, and even then most cases resolve before a jury ever hears them. If yours is a case that should be tried, we will tell you so directly instead of steering you toward the fastest settlement.
It can be both. In Missouri, workers’ compensation covers medical treatment and part of your lost wages regardless of who was at fault, and the deadline to file a claim with the Division is generally two years from the injury or from the last payment made on it, which is much shorter than the deadline for an injury lawsuit. If someone other than your employer caused the harm, such as another driver while you were on the clock, you may also have a claim against that person. The two fit together, and handling one badly can cost you the other.
Car, truck, and motorcycle collisions, pedestrian injuries, slip and fall and other unsafe property cases, dog bites, workers’ compensation, wrongful death, and disputes with insurance companies over claims they should have paid. If you are not sure whether your situation fits, ask us. We will tell you honestly if you do not have a case, or if someone else is better suited to it.

Insurance Companies Know Our Track Record
At Sotiriou Wilmowski, we’ve helped clients recover millions in compensation for serious injuries. Our background defending insurance companies gives us a unique perspective: we know what arguments they’ll use, and we prepare cases to beat them at their own game.
Insurance companies often settle faster and for more money when they see our names attached to a case, because they know we’re prepared to go to trial if necessary.
$2 Million
Truck Accident, Jefferson County, Missouri
Our client was struck by a tractor‑trailer and required multiple spinal surgeries. We resolved the case for $2 million before even filing suit.
$1.5 Million
Truck Accident, St. Louis County, Missouri
A tractor‑trailer rear‑ended our client on I‑270 after the hood flew up and obstructed the driver’s view. Our client underwent spinal surgery.
$1.5 Million
Pedestrian Accident, St. Louis County, Missouri
We represented the family of a man struck and killed while in a crosswalk. We pursued the employer of the driver and secured $1.5 million.
$1.377 Million
Box Truck Accident, St. Clair County, Illinois
Our client was rear‑ended at a red light by a box truck driver who tried to blame him. We uncovered video proving the truth and settled after depositions.
$1.1 Million
Car Accident, Jefferson County, Missouri
After a DUI crash hospitalized our client for weeks, we held the impaired driver accountable.
$1 Million
Work Van Accident, Clay County, Missouri
Our client was hit by a work van and underwent two spinal surgeries. We resolved the case at mediation.
Award-Winning and Nationally Recognized
At Sotiriou Wilmowski, we’re not just award-winning injury lawyers: we’re former insurance defense attorneys who know exactly how the other side thinks. That experience gives us a strategic edge, and the results speak for themselves.
We’ve been recognized by Best Lawyers and The National Trial Lawyers and accredited by the Better Business Bureau, honors that reflect our success both in and out of the courtroom. Our lawyers are members of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and have been honored by Marquis Who’s Who.
When you work with us, you’re getting attorneys with insider knowledge, national recognition, and a relentless drive to win for people, not corporations.
Best Law Firms 2026
Recognized by Best Lawyers
BBB Accredited, A Rating










Cases We Handle
We don’t dabble. We focus 100% on personal injury law. From car crashes to catastrophic injuries, we fight for clients across Missouri and Illinois.
Truck Accidents
Deme worked for one of the largest trucking insurers in the country. Tom holds a Class A CDL and knows trucking regulations inside and out. Together, we bring unmatched insight into how to win truck accident cases.
Car Accidents
We defended negligent drivers and their insurers. Now we use that same playbook against them to secure justice for victims.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are often unfairly blamed. We know the defense tactics insurers use to shift fault, and how to stop them.
Dog Bites & Attacks
Dog owners and their insurers deny, deflect, and delay. We’ve seen every trick, and we know how to hold them accountable.
Slip/Trip and Fall Injuries
We used to defend property owners. Now we expose unsafe conditions that cause serious injuries.
Wrongful Death
We understand how insurers value these high‑stakes cases, and we make sure families get the full value their loved one deserves.
Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Insurance Claims (UM/UIM)
We help clients navigate their own policies when the at‑fault driver doesn’t have enough coverage.
Don’t See Your Case Type Listed?
We handle a wide range of all personal injury cases. Call us to see if we can help.
What Real Clients Say About Working With Us
Here’s what our clients say about working with our team, and why they recommend us to friends and family.





After a year went by, I was connected with Tom. He kept me informed, answered all of my frantic emails, boosted me up but also kept my feet on the ground. I feel very comfortable with this firm, and that's a LOT from an ADHD person; my brain was everywhere, but they made it all make sense.
We went to mediation and it seemed all so easy. I'm so grateful my case didn't end up in court, and I have this team to thank for it.


They fought to make sure I was treated fairly. I honestly ended up receiving more compensation than I expected, which gave me a lot of peace of mind after such a stressful situation.
If you want someone who is knowledgeable, and willing to go the extra mile to help you recover both physically and financially, I would absolutely recommend them, especially Deme.

She and her team are the best at what they do and I would highly recommend them.






What really impressed me was how hard Tom fought on my behalf. He left no stone unturned, and his attention to detail and persistence truly paid off. Thanks to his expertise and determination, we reached a settlement that far exceeded my expectations.
Beyond his skill as an attorney, Tom genuinely cares about his clients. He treated me like more than just another case to work—he treated me like a person going through a difficult time, and that made all the difference.
If you are ever in need of an amazingly skulled attorney, backed by an equally amazing team, I wholeheartedly recommend Tom Wilmowski. He is knowledgeable, tireless, and will go above and beyond to get you the best possible result.


You won't regret it - choose him to represent you!


Their attention to detail, thorough preparation, and confident representation gave me peace of mind during a stressful time. It was clear they genuinely cared about getting the best outcome for me — and they delivered. I’m incredibly grateful for their expertise and would highly recommend using their services.

Tom’s skill in guiding us through the legal process and setting expectations for probable outcomes was spot on. He took on an at-fault accident case, advocated fiercely, and we won. Our daughter endured a tremendous recovery, and thanks to Tom’s advocacy, she received a settlement that truly reflects what she went through and deserves.
What truly set Tom apart was the compassion he showed during an incredibly difficult time—when my husband unexpectedly passed away during the case. Tom and his team reached out with heartfelt condolences and even sent flowers to the funeral home. That personal care meant so much to our family.
Tom puts his heart into every case because he genuinely believes in advocacy and justice. We are beyond grateful and highly recommend Tom Wilmowski to anyone in need of a personal injury attorney.



They have attention to detail, constant communication, and genuinely care. What impresses me most is their ability to combine expertise with empathy. I have admiration for them.
If you are looking for an injury law firm that treats you like a human and not a case number, look no further than Sotiriou Wilmowski. I'm incredibly grateful, I Highly Recommend!




Free Case Review by Former Insurance Attorneys
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Deme Sotiriou
Partner
Talk with Deme and Tom Today
Want a lawyer who used to work for the insurance company? Now you’ve got two.

Tom Wilmowski
Partner

Deme Sotiriou
Partner

Tom Wilmowski
Partner
Talk with Deme and Tom Today
Want a lawyer who used to work for the insurance company? Now you’ve got two.



