Mistakes

I spend most of my days in court or depositions for clients. Every time I depose a defendant, witness or doctor, my goal
is to win the case. I insist on a defendant admitting exactly what they did in a particular situation and how it injured
my client. It is important to connect with a defendant, even though we are suing them. As we get older in life we learn
that people are all the same. Most defendants (if you talk candidly with them) will admit basic rules for safety that we
as community citizens agree to: stop at red lights, don’t act reckless, make sure your property is safe for visitors,
and act as a good citizen to prevent needless injury to people in our community. When needless injuries happen, the
injury victim can suffer a lot – both in pain and monetary damages. It is not like the defendant did anything evil or
intentional most of the time; it is that they made a mistake.

We are human and all make mistakes. When we do, the better practice is to immediately recognize it, acknowledge it and
own it – then you make amends for what you have done wrong. It is only after this acknowledging of your mistake and
atoning that you and the person you have harmed can go on. Otherwise both of you carry around that unpaid debt forever.
This is a basic notion of justice that goes back thousands of years in every culture and religion in the world. The
ideas of justice and fair accounting for wrongful acts is a basic foundation of human nature and hence – civilization
and religion. So, in depositions and in trials I tap into that. Most defendants, if they are not playing games, will
acknowledge these basic rules for safety, how they violated those rules, and that my clients should get a fair recovery
and fair compensation for their transgression. To compensate is “to make amends,” and that is what I do for clients.

Gary Burger

Founder | Injury Attorney
Gary Burger has dedicated his career to standing up against bullies. The founder and principal attorney of Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer has helped hundreds of Missouri and Illinois individuals and families recover th …
Years of experience: 30 years
Location: St. Louis, MO

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