Car Accident Lawyer Independence, MO

They broke the rules of the road, and now you are left to pick up the pieces. You should not have to pay because another person was irresponsible. Call a Burger Law Independence, MO car accident lawyer right away at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a free case review and to start on your road to recovery.

The damage that unthinking and irresponsible drivers can cause is often cataclysmic, and they need to be held responsible for their actions. Every Burger Law car accident lawyer has committed their career to fighting back against bullies and defending the rights of the vulnerable in Independence, MO to get them the financial recovery they need to move forward and return to the life they know. If you were harmed by an irresponsible driver, we know you are outraged — that is merited. You are also probably concerned about the economic implications of medical expenses and lost pay, to say nothing of the physical and emotional anguish that accompanies your injuries. The law provides you with a path to reparation; our Independence, MO car accident lawyer team is here to guide you across it and fight by your side until there is nothing more to fight and you are wholly compensated for the destruction another person’s irresponsible actions caused. You do not have to wait another instant to begin on your road to recovery. We charge no fees until you recover the compensation you are owed.

In more than three decades of practice, our car accident lawyer team has delivered upwards of $175 million in verdicts and settlements for our Missouri clients. If you were harmed because another driver broke the rules of the road, learn how much your claim may be worth by filling out our complimentary personal injury calculator.

Car Accident Statistics in Missouri

In Missouri, car accident deaths went up by 12% between 2019 and 2020, despite the fact that there were fewer people on the road due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2018 study found that Missouri ranked 12th in the nation in deadly traffic collisions, with 58 percent of those fatalities occurring on country roads. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 36,033 motor vehicle collisions that caused personal injury and 923 deadly motor vehicle accidents.

If you were one of the many in Independence or anywhere in Missouri who was injured on the road because of someone else’s negligent behavior, reach out to a car accident lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT.

How a Car Accident Lawyer in Independence, MO Can Help

With some standard fender-benders, you may be able to be fully compensated without legal representation. But when you are injured in an accident, you generally require a car accident lawyer to fight by your side and ensure that you get the best results in your claim. When you hire a Burger Law Independence, MO car accident lawyer, we will:

• Investigate your case and acquire evidence, for example:
  • Photographs
  • Surveillance video
  • Police reports
  • Official eyewitness statements
  • Your medical records
• Make certain you get the full medical treatment you need
• Provide you with wise and individualized legal guidance
• Use our network of Independence, MO experts to help develop a legal strategy
• Handle all communication, documentation, litigation and negotiations
• Insist that you are given a fair settlement offer
• Take your case to court when the insurance company will not give you a fair offer

You can depend on a Burger Law car accident lawyer in Independence, MO to forcefully and fervently demand justice in your case. We have committed our lives to helping the injured in Independence, MO in their recovery and in being made whole again. Our consultation and preliminary investigation do no cost anything, so there is no risk in speaking with us. Get in touch with a car accident lawyer today at (314) 500-HURT to go over your case.

Have a look at some of the following links to see the great results Burger Law’s Independence, MO car accident lawyer team has won for our clients:

• $2 million Multi-Vehicle Collision Settlement
• $765,000 Wrongful Death Car Accident Settlement Against Fire Department
• $327,000 Settlement for Rear-End Collision
• $250,000 Settlement for Crash After A Driver Ran a Red Light
• $205,000 Settlement After Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign
• $125,000 Settlement After Rear-End Collision at a Stop Light
• $100,000 Settlement for Distracted Driving
• $100,000 Settlement for Head-On Collision
• $90,000 Settlement for an Injured Passenger

Independence, MO Car Accident Lawyer: Frequently Asked Questions

The bulk of our Independence, MO clients have never had to hire a car accident lawyer before, and as expected have many questions about their rights and the legal process. Below are a few of the most common questions we get in relation to car accident claims:

Who Is Liable in My Car Accident?

That hinges on the specifics of your case. Some of the most common reasons our car accident lawyer team sees for claims in Independence, MO are:

• Drunk Driving or Drug Impaired Driving
• Distracted Driving, such as Texting and Driving Accidents
• Hit and Run Accidents
• Intersection Accidents
• Speeding Accidents
• Multi-Car Accidents
• Carpoool and Rideshare Accidents

Every car accident lawyer at Burger Law has seen every kind of crash imaginable, and we know how to demonstrate negligence and win every type of motor vehicle case.

How Do I Win a Car Accident Case?

In order to prove your claim, your car accident lawyer must demonstrate the five elements of negligence found in tort law:

1. Duty of Care: Missouri Revised Statute §304.120 specifies that motorists are “to exercise highest degree of care.” So any person who in control of a vehicle automatically owes you a duty of care.
2. Breach of Duty: The driver is in violation of a statute or otherwise did not operate the vehicle safely.
3. Cause in Fact: Also referred to as “causation,” you have to demonstrate that the driver’s breach of duty directly caused your injuries.
4. Proximate Cause: This is what ultimately determines liability and refers to the underlying cause of your injuries. A drunk driver is plainly negligent, but if a vehicle’s brakes do not function correctly, the proximate cause is defective parts and the driver may not automatically be at fault.
5. Damages: That your injuries resulted in some sort of loss, for instance damage to your car, medical costs and/or lost wages.

Can I Still Receive Compensation If I Was Partially to Blame?

Yes. Missouri is a pure comparative fault state. What that means is that if you are found to be partially culpable for your wreck, your compensation will be lessened by the portion of culpability you are responsible for. For instance, if a jury grants you $100,000 for a collision, but establishes that you were 30 percent to blame, the final amount you receive would be $70,000.

How Much is My Car Accident Claim Worth?

That depends on the severity of your injuries, how they have affected your life and the talent of your car accident lawyer. With the help of your lawyer, you will be able to be awarded compensation for:

• Economic damages, for example:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential
  • Medical expenses, for instance:
    • Emergency room visits
    • Subsequent doctors appointments
    • Surgeries
    • Physical rehabilitation
    • Medication bills
    • In-home medical treatment
    • Assistive devices such as crutches or required upgrades to your house
    • Future estimated medical bills, like further physical rehabilitation or medication, or replacement costs for assistive devices
  • Transportation costs to and from medical care
  • Damage to your car
• Noneconomic damages, which the state of Missouri defines as:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Inconvenience
  • Physical impairment
  • Disfigurement
  • Loss of capacity to enjoy life
  • Loss of consortium

In infrequent cases in Independence, MO, for example drunk driving crashes, your car accident lawyer may be able to help you receive punitive damages.

How Are Noneconomic Damages Calculated?

It is hard to put a dollar amount on intangible reverberations of a collision like loss of capacity to enjoy life. Noneconomic damages are usually calculated through one of two formulas:

1. The Per Diem Method: “Per diem” means “per day” in Latin. In this method, you are awarded a daily amount for every day you suffered. The daily amount is usually equal to your daily wage, the idea being that a day of pain or emotional agony is at least worth a day’s work. This method is not used for permanent injuries as there is no way to know how long your injury will affect you.
2. The Multiplier Method: In this method, your economic damages are multiplied by a number, often between 1.5 and 5, and the final number will be your complete financial recovery. Three is the most common multiplier, and four and five are usually saved for cases that lead to disability or permanent impairment.

Your Burger Law car accident lawyer in Independence, MO will ensure that an insurance company or jury realizes every way that your injuries have affected you and compensate you for all of it.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Independence, MO?

Generally, pursuant to Missouri Revised Statute §516.120, you have five years from the day your injury occurred to file your personal injury claim in Independence or anywhere in Missouri. If you were under 21 at the time of the wreck, you have five years from the day you turn 21. That may appear a long time, but it is critical to get in touch with a car accident lawyer right away for the best results in your case.

What Mistakes Can Hurt My Claim?

Independence, MO residents who have not talked to a car accident lawyer could mistakenly do or say things that hurt their claim. Some common mistakes your car accident lawyer in Independence, MO sees are:

• Not Calling the Police: Following Missouri Revised Statute §300.110, you need to report an accident to the police “as soon as reasonably possible” if it causes injury. Police know how to determine liability in accidents and their police report will be critical in your case.
• Not Documenting the Scene: Take pictures of both vehicles and the surrounding area and obtain witness contact information. This will also be incredibly helpful in your case.
• Not Seeking Medical Treatment: In order to be totally compensated for your injuries, you need to have records of them and have them treated. Always be 100 percent truthful with your physician about any pains you have.
• Trusting the Insurance Company: Insurance adjusters use a lot of deceptive tactics to pay you as little as they can; that is how they make money. Do not trust anything they say or make any recorded statements until you have talked to a lawyer.
• Taking the First Settlement Offer: If you need the money quickly, it may be tempting to take what you can get immediately. It is far better when all is said and done to wait for the full financial recovery you are owed.
• Not Hiring a Burger Law Car Accident Lawyer: Every Burger Law car accident lawyer has committed their career to pursuing justice for the injured in Independence, MO. When someone declines to admit culpability or the insurance company is not being fair, we step in and insist that you are treated fairly and get the fair compensation you deserve.

How to Avoid Auto Accidents | Independence, MO Car Accident Lawyer

More than three quarters of people who perish in auto collisions are drivers. Every Burger Law car accident lawyer has seen personally the devastation that a reckless driver can cause. While you cannot always control what other people do, there are numerous actions you can take to ensure your own safety as well as the safety of others on the Independence, MO roadways.

• Always wear a seatbelt. In 2017, seatbelts saved approximately 14,955 people from death. More than four-fifths of drivers and passengers who are completely thrown out of the vehicle die, and the majority of the rest experienced serious, life-changing injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that wearing a seatbelt reduces the chances of death by almost half and moderate to critical injury by 50 percent.
• Know the rules of the road. The Missouri Department of Revenue has published a Driver Guide for anyone on the Independence, MO roads. Basic suggestions like driving slower and increasing following distance in poor weather not only go a long way in keeping you and everyone else on the road safe, but they also shield you from liability or being partially blamed for a collision if you do find yourself in one.
• If you are a motorcyclist, wear a helmet. While Independence, MO does not have laws requiring motorcycle drivers to use helmets, they can save your life. In 2017, helmets saved 1,872 lives.
• Put away your cell phone. While you can always text somebody later, you can never take back the effects of an auto wreck. Pull over safely if you need to make an urgent call. If you use your phone for directions, put the volume on high and turn the radio off so you can clearly hear the directions and do not have to look down at your phone.
• Have the right attitude. The road is for everyone, and we all should be respectful to other drivers, passengers and pedestrians. Recognize that you are controlling thousands of pounds of metal moving at high speeds. Safety needs to be your priority. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, almost a quarter of auto deaths are people under the age of 25. A less cautious attitude is probably a contributing factor.
• Drive with both hands on the wheel. Only driving with one hand can considerably diminish your control of the vehicle. Quickly changing the A/C settings is probably OK, but both hands should be on the wheel the majority of the time.
• Call a taxi or ridesharing service if you have been drinking. Not only does alcohol considerably impair your ability to drive safely, but it also raises your confidence and makes you feel more powerful, so you might think driving while drunk will be fine. Your brain may deceive you into believing you can drive home safely, but it is never true.

You can take every possible precaution when driving, but regrettably the negligent actions of irresponsible drivers can still hurt you. When you get hurt because another person broke the rules of the road, you are owed the best possible compensation for all of your damages. Every Independence, MO car accident lawyer at Burger Law takes on and wins the tough cases, and knows how to attain great results.

Car Accident Lawyer Independence, MO

You just have one chance for a complete financial recovery. Do not let it slip. Our Independence, MO car accident lawyer team stands up to bullies like resistant insurance companies and careless drivers who do not want to take responsibility for their actions. We know the economic hardships of being injured are unexpected and severe. That is why we have dedicated our lives to seeing the injured and vulnerable in Independence, MO restituted and made whole again. You do not have to go through these traumatic times by yourself. To protect you and your family’s future, call a Burger Law car accident lawyer in Independence, MO straight away at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.