1. Strong Law, P.C.
Focus Area: Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Medical Malpractice, Nursing Home Abuse, Wrongful Death, Product Liability, Premises Liability, Commercial Litigation
Background: Established in 1976 with over 45 years of experience serving Southwest Missouri. The firm has recovered over $7 billion for clients and handled more than 500 personal injury and business litigation cases. Attorneys are admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States and all Missouri courts. Firm attorneys have received recognition including Super Lawyers designation and inclusion in The Power List by Missouri Lawyers Media.
Location: 901 E. St. Louis Street, Suite 1800, Springfield, MO 65806
Contact: (417) 887-4300 | https://www.stronglaw.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation. Contingency fee basis with no fees unless recovery is obtained.
2. Aaron Sachs & Associates, P.C.
Focus Area: Personal Injury and Disability Claims
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Crashes, Slip and Fall, Workplace Injuries, Social Security Disability, Workers Compensation, Wrongful Death
Background: Founded in 1991 with over 200 years of combined legal experience across the firm. Operates from three Missouri locations including Springfield, Joplin, and Columbia. Licensed to practice in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Arkansas. The firm actively participates in community service initiatives throughout the region.
Location: 1524 E. Primrose Street, Suite A, Springfield, MO 65804
Contact: (417) 869-9500 | https://www.autoinjury.com
Consultation: Free, no-obligation consultation. Contingency fee structure with no upfront costs.
3. Larson & Miller Law Firm
Focus Area: Personal Injury Representation
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Motorcycle Crashes, Truck Collisions, Pedestrian Accidents, Slip and Fall, Wrongful Death, Premises Liability
Background: Over 100 years of combined experience in personal injury law serving Springfield and Southwest Missouri. The firm has tried and settled thousands of cases involving serious injuries or wrongful death. Attorneys focus exclusively on representing individuals and families who have suffered injuries due to negligence.
Location: 1217 E. Sunshine Street, Springfield, MO 65804
Contact: (417) 889-8900 | https://larsonlaw.com
Consultation: Free case review available. No fees charged unless compensation is recovered.
4. Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC
Focus Area: Personal Injury and Civil Litigation
Practice Areas: Vehicle Accidents, Motorcycle Crashes, Truck Accidents, Defective Products, Slip and Fall, Medical Negligence, Wrongful Death, Insurance Disputes
Background: Serving the Springfield community and Southwest Missouri since 1975. The firm handles cases involving negligence, product liability, and insurance disputes. Attorneys are experienced in both negotiation and courtroom litigation when settlements cannot be reached.
Location: 901 E. St. Louis Street, Suite 1000, Springfield, MO 65806
Contact: (417) 557-3407 | https://www.lowtherjohnson.com
Consultation: Free initial case evaluation. Contingency fee arrangement available.
5. Monsees & Mayer, P.C.
Focus Area: Personal Injury Litigation
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Slip and Falls, Wrongful Death, Trucking Accidents, Medical Malpractice, Premises Liability, Catastrophic Injuries
Background: Over 75 years of combined experience with attorneys who have successfully handled over 2,800 personal injury cases. The firm serves clients throughout Missouri and Kansas with offices in multiple locations. Attorneys possess extensive knowledge of Missouri’s legal landscape and insurance practices.
Location: 3443 S. Campbell Avenue, Springfield, MO 65807
Contact: (417) 319-2279 | https://monseesmayer.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation. Contingency fee basis with no payment unless recovery is made.
Personal Injury Laws in Missouri
Statute of Limitations
Missouri allows five years from the date of injury to file most personal injury lawsuits under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 516.120(4). This applies to car accidents, slip and falls, product liability, and premises liability cases. Medical malpractice claims have a shorter two-year deadline under Section 516.105.1. Wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within three years from the date of death.
Negligence Rules
Missouri follows a pure comparative negligence system as established in Gustafson v. Benda (1983). Under this rule, an injured party can recover damages even if partially at fault for the accident. The compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to the plaintiff. For example, if a plaintiff is found 30% responsible for an accident and suffers $100,000 in damages, recovery would be reduced to $70,000. This applies even if the plaintiff bears 99% of the fault.
Damage Caps
Missouri does not cap economic damages such as medical expenses and lost wages in personal injury cases. Non-economic damages like pain and suffering are generally uncapped except in medical malpractice cases. For medical malpractice, non-economic damages are capped at approximately $450,098 for non-catastrophic injuries and around $787,671 for catastrophic injuries as of 2024 under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 538.210. Punitive damages are capped at the greater of $500,000 or five times the compensatory damages under Section 510.265.1. Claims against government entities are limited to $300,000 per claim and $2,000,000 per occurrence under Section 537.610.2.
Auto Insurance Requirements
Missouri is an at-fault state requiring drivers to carry liability insurance with minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This includes $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Missouri also requires uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury. Drivers must maintain proof of insurance in their vehicles at all times and present it when registering or renewing vehicle registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of accidents commonly lead to personal injury claims in Springfield?
Motor vehicle collisions on major corridors like Highway 65, Interstate 44, and Battlefield Road represent a significant portion of personal injury cases in Springfield. The city also sees claims arising from slip and fall incidents at retail locations, workplace injuries at manufacturing facilities, and accidents involving commercial trucks traveling through the region. Medical malpractice claims from area healthcare providers and nursing home negligence cases are also handled by local attorneys.
How does Missouri’s pure comparative negligence rule affect settlement negotiations?
Insurance adjusters in Missouri routinely attempt to assign partial fault to injured parties to reduce settlement values. Even if an adjuster claims you bear some responsibility for an accident, Missouri law still allows recovery of damages minus your percentage of fault. This differs from states with modified comparative negligence where fault exceeding 50% bars recovery entirely. Understanding this distinction is important when evaluating settlement offers from insurance companies.
What should I do if the at-fault driver in my accident has no insurance?
Missouri requires uninsured motorist coverage as part of all auto policies, providing protection when another driver lacks insurance. You can file a claim with your own insurance company under this coverage to recover damages for bodily injury. Missouri also has a Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law that imposes penalties on uninsured drivers, though this does not directly help injury victims. Consulting with an attorney can help identify all available sources of compensation.
Are there special requirements for claims involving government vehicles or property in Missouri?
Claims against Missouri government entities require compliance with specific notice requirements and are subject to damage caps. The Missouri government’s liability is limited to $300,000 per claim and $2,000,000 for all claims arising from a single occurrence. Sovereign immunity provisions may protect certain government actions, making these cases more complex than claims against private parties.
How long do personal injury cases typically take to resolve in Springfield?
Settlement timelines vary significantly based on case complexity, injury severity, and insurance company responsiveness. Straightforward car accident cases with clear liability may settle within several months after maximum medical improvement is reached. Complex cases involving catastrophic injuries, multiple parties, or disputed liability can take one to three years or longer if litigation becomes necessary. Missouri’s five-year statute of limitations provides time for thorough case preparation, but delaying medical treatment or evidence collection can harm case outcomes.