Personal injury lawyer in Cole County, MO. Burger Law fights on behalf of those who are injured because of negligent and reckless actions. When accidents happen, getting the right medical attention immediately following the accident is extremely important. After that, you require a personal injury lawyer to push back against the rule breakers and secure you the maximum compensation you are owed. Call Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.

To find out the value of your personal injury claim in Cole County, or anywhere in Missouri, use our free personal injury calculator.

Those who hurt you are financially and legally responsible for taking care of your injuries and paying you 100 percent of what you are owed, but they will not do it willingly. Burger Law's personal injury lawyer team fights hard for the injured against anyone who is trying to keep them from the money they deserve. We handle a litany of cases, including making claims against drunk drivers, holding negligent physicians, product manufacturers, business owners responsible, suing City Hall, to securing justice and financial security for a family after the wrongful death of a family member. If you would like to discuss the merits of your case further, what compensation you are owed or other questions regarding personal injury claims, speak to one of our personal injury lawyers in Cole County, MO as soon as possible at (314) 500-HURT.

Why Choose Burger Law's Cole County, MO Personal Injury Lawyers For Your Claim

It can be difficult to know how to choose the right personal injury lawyer for you. You want someone who has won your type of case before and who you know will not back down from a fight. In order to have a good understanding of the abilities of a law firm, you need to look at the cases they have won, and what their clients and other lawyers say about them:

Acclaimed Cole County, MO Personal Injury Lawyers

The numerous awards and honors Burger Law has received from other attorneys include:

• Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a significant achievement awarded to not more than 5 percent of all attorneys nationwide
• Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Honor — Members of the Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an honor only given to 1 percent of attorneys in the United States.
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers Honor — Selected to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only award that is made up of the most qualified lawyers in each state.
• Board Certified By the National Board of Trial Advocacy — Board certified in Civil Trial Advocacy and Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Less than 4 percent of all practicing lawyers are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.

Personal Injury Lawyer Cole County, MO - Cases We Have Won

Our Cole County, MO personal injury lawyers fight for the full rights and recoveries of our clients. We take on all who harm our clients, and we fight for a full recovery every time. Our attorneys are devoted to providing our clients the highest standard of legal representation, and we have tremendous pride in our hard-fought victories. Check out some of our case results in personal injury claims below:

It is important to remember that every case is unique, and what you may be eligible to recover is going to be based entirely upon the circumstances of your claim. We fight for you so that we get the maximum amount of compensation possible.

Burger Law Client Testimonials

In addition to the videos below, you can check out more client testimonials here.

What Is a Personal Injury Claim in Cole County, MO?

A personal injury claim is your right under Missouri law to get monetary reimbursement for the harm another person caused, and to hold the rule breakers accountable. The purpose of insurance settlements and civil litigation is to make one whole. The idea is to put you in the same position you were in before sustained the damages caused by another's negligence.

Sometimes, no attorney or financial award can fully "put back" all the things you lost in an injury. While we can get compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other financial losses, other damages cannot truly be expressed through dollar signs. If you lost a loved one, you are permanently disabled, are permanently scarred or will have to receive medical treatment for the rest of your life, no legal process can make that go away. What compassionate and skilled personal injury lawyers like those at Burger Law are able to do is secure you fair compensation in order to provide a sense of justice and acknowledgment, and to provide you with financial security as it relates to your accident.

Is it Worth Hiring Personal Injury Lawyer in Cole County, MO?

While some cases can be successfully navigated without a lawyer, most of the time you will need one to ensure no money is left on the table in Cole County, MO. The thing to ask yourself is, can they add value to my claim? If your injuries were minor, you have minimal lost wages and the other party's fault is clearly established, you may not need an attorney. But, you will need a lawyer in Cole County, MO if the following is true about your claim:

• There is a dispute about liability, or you are being blamed for your injuries
• The insurance company or liable party's offer is substantially below what you are owed
• Your injuries are serious and require extensive care
• There more than one party at fault
• Your damages exceed an insurance company's policy limits

We offer consultations for free, and we will always be honest with you about how much value we can add your claim. Our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you only pay after you have received the full compensation you are owed, and we have no reason to accept you as a client if we do not think we can significantly increase your final payout.

Do I Have a Personal Injury Claim in Cole County, MO?

While civil law can be confusing, whether or not you have a claim generally depends on one essential question: were you injured because someone else was negligent? From a legal standpoint, you need to prove the five elements of negligence:

1. Duty of care — You first need to show that the liable party had an obligation to keep you safe. Sometimes, a duty of care is assumed, as Cole County, MO driver owe everyone else on the roads a duty of care, or store owners need their properties to be reasonable safe for anyone who legally enters. In other cases, a particular relationship must have formed, for instance a doctor-patient relationship or a vendor-buyer relationship.
2. Breach of duty — Did the other party fail in that obligation? Did a driver crash into you you while they were looking at their phone? Did a doctor misdiagnose a condition? Did a dog owner let their dog roam unleashed?
3. Cause-in-fact — You must demonstrate how the breach of duty led to your injuries. For example, you received road rash after being thrown off your bicycle, or had bad side effects from a prescription drug.
4. Proximate cause — This determines who ultimately is to blame. If you were injured in an auto accident, the liable party is usually the driver that hit you. But if the tires were faulty, a manufacturer or mechanic may be the one who is ultimately liable.
5. Damages — Finally, you need to demonstrate that the incident caused economic harm. In personal injury cases, this is usually medical expenses and lost wages. If you keep solid records of your medical expenses, this last part will be fairly easy to prove with the help of an attorney. Once we establish financial losses, we can also pursue a financial recovery for the other ways your injuries have affected you.

If you have any doubts about whether or not you have a case, speak to a lawyer in Cole County, MO who has won a similar claim before. Call a personal injury lawyer today at (314) 500-HURT.

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What Are Common Personal Injury Lawsuits in Cole County, MO?

Practicing injury law in Cole County, MO requires that you know how negligence laws apply to a wide range of cases. Knowing the difference between a car accident case and a truck accident case seems simple, but there are many different regulations and statutes concerning truck accidents that can be the deciding factor in whether or not the case is successful. A lawyer who only knows how to deal with car insurance companies may not be the best choice to get you full compensation in a different claim. At Burger Law, we know how to get great results no matter the circumstances. Cases we take on in Cole County and throughout Missouri include:

• Auto accidents, including:
  • Car accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents
• Slip and falls
• Medical malpractice
• Product liability
• Workers' compensation
• Dog bites
• Construction accidents
• Wrongful death

Burger Law's personal injury lawyers know how to get great results whenever a rule breaker injured someone else. One of the great parts of choosing a Burger Law Cole County, MO personal injury lawyer is that we are not limited to any one type of claim, and this actually gives our lawyers exceptional experience that they can use towards their clients' advantage. We understand that case types often overlap, and having experience with each type of claim gives our team the perfect understanding of how to fight for our clients' rights and recoveries.

How Does the Personal Injury Claims Process Work in Cole County, MO?

The path to getting a financial settlement or verdict for your injuries starts the second you are injured. While some accidents and injuries settle fairly early, others go completely through to a jury trial. In total, the personal injury claims process consists of:

• Getting Medical Treatment — Get medical attention immediately after an injury, and follow your doctor's treatment plans to a "T." The insurance company will be harder to deal with if you wait, and not getting the full treatment will reduce your final payout. Our personal injury lawyers know trustworthy Cole County, MO health professionals who can help you in your recovery.
• Speaking With an Attorney — Even if you do not know if you need an attorney, you need to consult with one as soon as possible so they can become familiar with your case. A good lawyer will be straightforward with you about whether or not their services are needed.
• Investigation and Documentation — Once you have legal representation, your personal injury lawyer will perform a comprehensive investigation into your claim, ascertain every liable party and gather the evidence they need to get you maximum compensation. You should also keep detailed records of your expenses related to your injuries, and how keeping a journal detailing how your injuries have affected your life.
• Settlement Demand and Negotiations — Once we know how much your claim is worth, we will send a settlement demand package to those who are liable for compensating you. In the package we will include how we calculated your damages, and insist that nothing but the full amount will be agreed to. Usually, the insurance company will counter our offer with a lower number, and there will be several back-and-forths until they agree to pay for 100 percent of your damages.
• Filing a Lawsuit — If the insurance company will not be fair in negotiations, we will file a lawsuit in court, which begins the formal process of your claim going to trial. While the case is being litigated, we will continue negotiating in an effort to avoid a trial.
• Mediation — If a settlement agreement still has not been reached, your personal injury lawyer and the liable party will likely pursue mediation. In mediation, an unbiased third party listens to arguments from both sides and tries to break the stalemate.
• Pre-Trial — If mediation still does not result in a fair settlement, the "discovery" phase begins. In discovery, we will speak to eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, gather more evidence and both parties will share with the other what they plan to bring up at trial.
• Trial — Most personal injury claims are settled before trial. In fact, many times we have gotten a fair settlement offer just before trial begins. However, if the insurance company refuses to do the right thing, the case will go in front of a judge and jury. Trial consists of:
  • Voir dire
  • Opening statements
  • Testimony and cross-examination
  • Closing arguments
  • Jury instruction
  • Jury deliberation and verdict

Most of our Cole County, MO clients have never been through the personal injury claims process before, and do not know what to expect. Burger Law will be by your side from our initial consultation to full compensation, keep you up to date on the status of your claim and oversee all the legal aspects of your case so you can spend your energy on your physical recovery.

What Compensation Can I Get In My Cole County, MO Personal Injury Claim?

Typically, there are two types of compensation available in a personal injury claim: economic damages and non-economic damages:

• Economic damages compensate you for the economic harm resulting from your injuries, for instance:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential if your injuries result in permanent disability
  • Medical expenses, past and future
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
• Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that are harder to put a dollar figure on, such as:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of ability to enjoy life
  • Disfigurement
  • Inconvenience
  • Disability
  • Loss of consortium

In some cases, we may also be able to pursue punitive damages if the negligent party's conduct was purposefully harmful or grossly negligent. Examples can include a drunk driver, or a doctor who performs surgery after drinking. While punitive damages are rarely awarded, your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will pursue every legal avenue We can to maximize your compensation.

What If I Was Partially Responsible For My Injuries?

Trying to completely or partially blame you for your injuries is a frequent trick insurance companies employ to devalue your claim. If you were in fact partially at fault, you are still eligible for a recovery. According to Missouri Revised Statute §537.060 and Missouri Revised Statute §537.765, the state has implemented "pure comparative negligence." Meaning, if you were partially at fault, your compensation will be lowered by the percentage of fault you bear.

For example, say your damages come out to $100,000, but you were 10 percent at fault for your injuries, under comparative negligence, you would be eligible for a $90,000 financial recovery.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost in Cole County, MO?

As we charge a contingency fee, you do not need to pay us anything upfront. We receive a percentage of your recovery, but only after we win and after you have your settlement check in hand. The benefits of this for you are twofold:

1. You can get experienced legal representation, no matter if you are trying to make up for medical bills and lost wages
2. We have no reason to take on your case unless we truly we can add value to it, and will do everything possible to maximize your compensation

At Burger Law, we know that an unexpected injury can put a dent in your back account. You still have a right to justice and a full financial recovery.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Personal Injury Claim in Cole County, MO?

In Missouri, the statute of limitations is five years for most personal injury claims, pursuant to Missouri Revised Statute §516.120. There are four basic exceptions:

1. If you has not reached your 21st birthday or "mentally incapacitated" when you discovered your injuries, you have five years from your 21st birthday or the day your disability ends to make a claim, pursuant to Missouri Revised Statute §516.170.
2. If the person or corporation who is responsible for your injuries is a resident of Missouri but leaves the state for a period of time, their time out of state is not included in the five years, under Missouri Revised Statute §516.200.
3. Medical malpractice cases has a significantly shorter statute of limitations two years of the injury or the discovery of the injury, according to Missouri Revised Statute § 516.105.
4. Any lawsuit against a public organization in Missouri must be filed within 90 days with the Missouri Office of Administration's Risk Management Division.

While five years may seem like a long time, you do not want to delay in contacting an attorney. Investigation and communication by your personal injury lawyer at Burger Law is time-consuming. It is not worth taking the time to wonder whether or not you have a case, or if it is worth pursuing. Get in touch with a Burger Law Cole County, MO personal injury lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT.

Other types of claims we win in Cole County, MO include:

• Truck Crash Lawyers in Missouri
• Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Missouri

Burger Law's Cole County, MO personal injury lawyers fiercely believe in zealous representation. That means we get started on your case the moment you hire us, investigate your case thoroughly, stand up to insurance companies on your behalf and do not let down until you are awarded the full recovery you are owed. We only give our clients the highest standard of legal representation; all of our advice will be sincere and in your best interest, but we always leave the ultimate decisions on your claim to you and your Cole County, MO family. You do not have to pay for someone else's careless actions. To start on your road to true recovery, call a Burger Law Cole County, MO personal injury lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.