Missouri state law requires all motorists in Springfield, Missouri, to watch the road and drive safely to avoid preventable collisions. The problem is that too many people ignore those duties and cause wrecks that leave others with serious injuries.
If you or someone close to you has been injured in a crash, our experienced Springfield car accident lawyers can help you recover significant compensation.
Our law firm has been handling auto accident cases for more than 35 years, and we know how to guide clients through the legal process while fighting for the best possible outcome.
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Do you need legal assistance after a car accident injury? Our skilled car accident attorneys in Springfield, Missouri, can help. Call (417) 788-6366 for a free consultation with our award-winning legal team!
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How Our Attorneys Help With Your Springfield Car Accident Claim
After a crash, your focus should be on getting better. We handle every legal detail of your case from start to finish, allowing you to concentrate on your recovery while we fight for your rights.
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, our legal team is dedicated to helping injured drivers and has developed the knowledge and skills needed to handle cases against insurance companies. Attorneys Paul Beck and John Beck will personally handle your case and keep you informed every step of the way.
Investigate the Accident and Preserve Evidence
We move quickly to investigate your accident and preserve crucial evidence before it disappears. Time matters because witnesses forget details, video footage gets deleted, and physical evidence can be lost.
Our team gathers all the facts to build the strongest case possible:
- Police reports: We obtain the official report to establish the initial facts of the crash
- Witness statements: Our investigators speak with anyone who saw the accident while memories are fresh
- Scene photos: We document vehicle damage, road conditions, and traffic signals
- Video footage: We secure available video from dashcams, security systems, and traffic cameras
- Medical records: We use your medical records to directly link your injuries to the accident
Determine Fault and Build Your Case
We analyze the evidence to prove the other driver was negligent and caused your injuries. Negligence is when someone fails to drive safely and causes harm to others.
When necessary, our Springfield car accident lawyers work with accident reconstruction experts to provide a scientific analysis of how the crash occurred. These experts can recreate the accident using physics and engineering to show exactly what happened.
Calculate the Value of Your Claim
Your losses go far beyond your initial medical bills. We carefully calculate the full value of your claim, including current and future medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and your pain and suffering.
Insurance companies often try to settle quickly for far less than your case is worth. We make sure you don’t accept a settlement that leaves you paying for expenses the other driver should cover.
Handle Insurance Companies and Protect Your Rights
Insurance companies are businesses that profit by paying as little as possible on claims. We know their tactics and take over all communication, protecting you from adjusters who may try to get you to settle for less than you deserve.
Because we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, our attorneys negotiate from a position of strength. Insurance companies know we’re not afraid to go to court if they won’t offer fair compensation.
How Car Accidents Happen
Springfield’s busy roads see numerous accidents every year. The city has several dangerous intersections and highways where crashes happen regularly.
Most accidents are caused by driver negligence. This means one driver did something careless or broke a traffic law that led to the crash.
| Common Accident Locations | Why They’re Dangerous |
| Kansas Expressway & Sunshine | Heavy traffic and complex intersection design |
| I-44 & US-65 Interchange | High speeds and merging traffic |
| Campbell & Battlefield | Major retail area with frequent stops and turns |
| Glenstone Avenue | Multiple lanes with heavy commercial traffic |
Speeding, Distraction, and Impaired Driving
The top three causes of serious accidents are speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence. Each of these behaviors violates Missouri law and creates clear evidence of fault.
Right-of-Way Violations, Tailgating, and Unsafe Lane Changes
Many crashes happen when drivers fail to follow basic traffic rules. Right-of-way violations, following too closely, and improper lane changes are three common reasons accidents occur.
Weather, Road Conditions, and Animal Collisions
Missouri weather can change quickly, creating hazardous driving conditions. Driving too fast for conditions can create liability even if you’re under the speed limit.
Springfield’s location means deer and other animals often cross roads, especially at dawn and dusk. Rural areas around Springfield see frequent vehicle-deer collisions that can cause serious damage and injuries.
The Long-Term Impact of Car Accidents
Springfield car accidents can devastate lives long after the crash scene is cleared. While some victims recover from minor injuries within weeks, many Springfield residents we represent face life-altering consequences that persist for decades or even permanently.
These lasting injuries often include traumatic brain injuries that affect cognition and memory, spinal cord damage causing partial or complete paralysis, disfiguring burns requiring multiple surgeries, and psychological conditions like PTSD that can be just as debilitating as physical trauma.
The chronic pain and physical limitations from these serious injuries frequently require ongoing medical intervention – from repeated surgeries and specialized rehabilitation to lifetime medication regimens.
The medical expenses continue mounting year after year, creating a financial burden that can overwhelm Springfield families already struggling with reduced income.
Additional Long-Term Financial Impacts Include:
- Career and Income Losses: Beyond missing work during recovery, many Springfield accident victims face permanent reductions in earning capacity. Our experienced Springfield car accident attorneys have represented construction workers forced into sedentary roles at lower pay, healthcare professionals unable to perform clinical duties, and business owners who couldn’t maintain their companies after serious injuries.
- Accessibility Modifications: Serious injuries often necessitate expensive adaptations to homes and vehicles. Installing wheelchair ramps, widening doorways for mobility equipment, lowering countertops, or adding stair lifts can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Similarly, specialized vehicles with hand controls or wheelchair lifts represent major expenses rarely covered fully by insurance.
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we work tirelessly to ensure your compensation reflects not just your current needs, but the full scope of how this crash will affect your life for years to come.
Damages You Can You Recover
After a car accident in Springfield, Missouri, injured victims have the right to pursue several types of compensation. These typically include:
- Medical expenses: This covers far more than just emergency room visits. Springfield accident victims can recover costs for surgeries, specialist consultations, prescription medications, mental health treatment, physical therapy, rehabilitation programs, and necessary medical devices like wheelchairs, braces, or prosthetics.
- Lost income and earning capacity: This compensation is calculated based on your pre-accident earnings, how your injuries affect your ability to perform your job duties, and any long-term impact on your career trajectory. Many Springfield residents we represent recover not just for missed paychecks but for diminished future earning potential.
- Property damage: Beyond repairing or replacing your vehicle, this includes compensation for any personal belongings damaged in your Springfield crash, such as electronics, clothing, or other valuable items.
- Pain and suffering: These non-economic damages acknowledge the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your accident. While harder to quantify than medical bills, documenting your mental health changes, therapy needs, and how your injuries affect daily life helps establish fair compensation.
- Permanent disability or disfigurement: Serious Springfield accidents can result in life-changing injuries. While financial compensation cannot undo these permanent conditions, it provides critical resources to help you adapt to your new circumstances and maintain the best possible quality of life.
Establishing Negligence in a Car Accident Claim
To recover damages after a car accident, you must show that the at-fault driver was negligent. Proving that they specifically had a duty to operate their vehicle safely, that duty was broken, and the violation directly caused the injuries suffered.
Missouri follows a pure comparative negligence system that protects Springfield accident victims even when they share some responsibility. Your compensation will be proportionally reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover damages regardless of how much fault you share.
For instance, say a driver caused a side-impact collision by making an unsafe lane change but you were distracted for a moment and might have avoided the crash with more defensive driving. The court could place 40% of the responsibility on you, yet you would still collect the remaining 60% of your damages.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Missouri?
The deadline for filing a personal injury case after a Missouri car accident is typically limited to five years. It is crucial to make sure your claim is filed within this deadline, because if you miss it, you will not be able to recover any compensation.
Our experienced Springfield personal injury lawyers can help ensure all paperwork is filed on time and handle all negotiations on your behalf.
Having skilled legal representation benefits you because insurance companies tend to respond differently when they know an attorney is involved from the beginning.
This is because it shows that you are prepared to take the case to court if a fair settlement is not offered, and that leverage often improves negotiations.
Factors That Affect Your Car Accident Settlement
Every car accident case is unique, and several factors determine how much compensation you can recover. We evaluate all aspects of your case to determine its full value.
The severity of your injuries has the biggest impact on your settlement amount. More serious injuries that require extensive treatment or cause permanent disabilities, including catastrophic injuries, result in higher compensation.
Key factors that influence your compensation:
- Injury severity: Permanent injuries and disabilities increase case value significantly
- Medical costs: Both current bills and estimated future treatment expenses
- Lost income: Wages missed due to your injuries and reduced future earning ability
- Recovery timeline: Longer recovery periods typically mean higher settlements
- Available insurance: The at-fault driver’s policy limits can sometimes cap recovery
- Strength of evidence: Clear proof of the other driver’s fault supports higher settlements
Our attorneys also consider how your injuries affect your daily life. If you can’t participate in activities you enjoyed before the accident, that impacts your compensation.
The same applies if your injuries strain your relationships with family members.
Consult With Our Auto Accident Law Firm in Springfield, Missouri
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we’ve been helping car accident victims throughout Missouri since 1990. We’re a family firm, and we treat every client with the personal attention and respect they deserve.
We make the legal process as convenient as possible for injured Springfield residents – offering weekend and evening appointments, and if your injuries prevent travel, we’ll come to your home or hospital room for your consultation.
Our knowledgeable attorneys have successfully assisted injured victims in cities near Springfield including O’Fallon, Jefferson City, St. Louis, Kansas City, Cape Girardeau, Independence, Joplin, and more.
