pERSONAL iNJURY IT'S ALL ABOUT THE RIGHT CHOICE

Springfield, MO Personal Injury Lawyers

Helping You Seek the Maximum Compensation You Deserve

If you or someone you love was injured due to the careless, reckless, or wrongful conduct of another, you likely have grounds for a personal injury claim. Although nothing can undo the physical pain and emotional suffering you and your family have been through, a successful lawsuit can allow you to obtain critical monetary resources and the much-deserved sense of justice you need to heal.

At our Springfield, MO office, the Potts Law Firm team provides compassionate, client-focused representation to those injured by the negligence of others. Our personal injury lawyers have decades of combined experience and have helped numerous clients not only get back on their feet but also hold liable parties accountable for the harm they caused.

Reach out to our Springfield personal injury lawyers for a free consultation. You can reach us online or by phone at (417) 323-6752.

How to Prove Your Personal Injury Case

In a personal injury case, the person or party that brings the claim (known as the “plaintiff”) has the burden of proof. In other words, you have to prove your case against the defendant.

Most personal injury cases are based on negligence. To prove a negligence-based claim, you must prove each of the following elements:

  • You were injured, and your injuries led to measurable losses, known as “damages”
  • The other person or party, known as the “defendant,” owed you a duty of care
  • The defendant failed to uphold the duty of care, typically by acting negligently or wrongfully
  • The defendant’s breach of the duty of care was the proximate cause of your injuries

In Missouri, you could still have a case if you were partly—or even mostly—at fault for the incident that led to your injuries. Under the state’s pure comparative negligence rule, you can bring a claim against another party as long as they were at least 1% to blame. However, the amount you can recover in damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault. So, if you are found to be 30% at fault, you can only recover up to 70% of the total amount you are seeking in damages.

How Our Springfield, MO Personal Injury Team Can Help

At Potts Law Firm, we represent clients throughout Greene County and all of Missouri in all types of personal injury matters.

Our team handles cases involving:

  • Car accidents
  • Auto defects
  • Aviation accidents
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Boating accidents
  • Bus accidents
  • Catastrophic injuries
  • Construction accidents
  • Drunk driving accidents
  • Industrial accidents
  • Medical malpractice
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Nursing home abuse
  • Oilfield and offshore injuries
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Premises liability
  • Sports injuries
  • Truck accidents
  • Wrongful death

We understand the unique needs of our clients, which is why we approach every case with the care and attention it deserves. Our Springfield personal injury attorneys utilize cutting-edge legal technology and extensive resources to develop innovative strategies aimed at maximizing our clients’ recoveries.

When you choose Potts Law Firm, you get a team that will fight for you. Learn how our attorneys can help you seek fair compensation for your injury-related damages and help you on the path to recovery.

Contact us online or call (417) 323-6752 to request a free consultation today. Hablamos español.

It's All About Your Recovery

Hear From Our Past Client's
  • I had a wonderful experience with this law firm.

    “They were able to complete it in a timely manner and were great at keeping me up to date with communication throughout the entire process. I highly recommend using this law firm if the need arises.”

    - Stephen P.
  • I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him or any of the team at Potts.

    “Michael Bins has been extremely helpful in helping us to navigate a situation with an insurance claim on a commercial property. He’s gone above and beyond in moving our case toward a positive resolution that we’re satisfied with.”

    - Theo C.
  • The Potts Law Firm is a powerhouse of brilliant attorneys.

    “They know the law from every angle, dig deep, and will not accept anything less than what was asked in the original suit. The Potts team never backed down until the case was settled in full.”

    - Molly H.
  • I highly recommend Adam and Potts Law Firm

    “From the first meeting, Adam made me feel like he had my best interest at heart and took care of everything.  I can't say enough good things about how helpful, professional, and caring Adam was to me.”

    - Mary H.
  • I would recommend Potts Law Firm for any and all legal matters that come my way in the future!

    “The Potts Law Firm answered all of my numerous questions in layman’s terms which is what I needed. I was able to lie back & heal from my injuries knowing full well that my obligations were being handled appropriately.”

    - W. Gary

Types of Damages in Personal Injury Cases

Serious bodily injuries often lead to numerous physical, financial, and emotional hardships. By filing a personal injury claim, you can seek fair compensation for your injury-related damages.

Some examples of common damages in personal injury cases include:

  • Past, current, and future medical expenses
  • Past, current, and future financial losses
  • Lost income, wages, and employment benefits
  • Loss of future earnings due to reduced earning ability
  • Physical and mental pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Lost earning capacity caused by permanent injury or impairment
  • Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses

In certain cases, it may also be possible to seek punitive damages. Unlike the compensatory damages listed above, punitive damages do not compensate the plaintiff for specific economic and noneconomic losses. Instead, they serve as punishment for the defendant and are typically only awarded in cases involving gross negligence or willful/wanton misconduct.

it's all about your best possible result

Explore our past successes
  • Paraplegic Minor $12 Million

    Derek H. Potts and Timothy L. Sifers obtained a $12,100,000 verdict against Lisa Gard, M.D. for medical malpractice involving a minor. The jury found the Salina emergency room doctor to be negligent in her assessment of the minor upon presentation in the emergency room, failing to timely diagnose a rare spinal condition. The case was one of the largest verdicts in history in the State of Kansas.

  • Birth Injury $4.6 Million

    Derek H. Potts and Samuel Cullan were members of the plaintiff's trial team which obtained a $4,600,000 verdict for a minor delivered at Bethany Medical Center. Ariana Wilburn, the minor, suffered a spinal cord presentation after being born in the breech position.

  • Hypoxic-Ischemic Birth Injury $3.5 Million

    Partner Adam T. Funk secured a $3,500,000 settlement for a single mother whose infant suffered severe brain damage while being delivered in a New Mexico hospital. The mother, having no previous pregnancy or medical issues, began laboring and immediately went to a hospital. Despite the clear signs of fetal distress and hypoxia (lack of oxygen), the doctor and nurse did not order an emergency cesarean section.

  • Catastrophic Injuries $3.5 Million

    Derek H. Potts was co-lead counsel with Thomas Cartmell in representing John Novogradac of Kansas City whose health was neglected during his stay at two nursing home facilities. Mr. Novogradac developed bedsores on his body and had above-knee amputations on both legs after his wounds became severely infected with gangrenous and dead tissue.

  • Trucking Accident $1.05 Million

    Potts Law Firm served as lead counsel for the family of Kook Oh who was killed by an 18-wheeler in Alvarado, Texas. Mr. Dortch sued the driver of the 18-wheeler and his employer. Following a week-long jury trial, Micah’s client received a verdict awarding over one million dollars in damages and a finding of punitive liability on the part of each of the defendants. I

  • Pharmaceutical Birth Defect $1.05 Million

    Partner Adam T. Funk secured a $1,050,000 settlement for a mother whose infant suffered birth defects from a pharmaceutical drug that was taken during pregnancy. Though the migraine drug manufacturer knew the medication could cause a fetus to develop a cleft lip and/or cleft palate when consumed by the mother during the early stages of pregnancy, they failed to warn consumers about these dangers.

  • Sgroi vs. St. Louis University Hospital $1 Million

    St. Louis City District Court, 2009. Lead Plaintiffs Trial Counsel obtained a $1,004,421 verdict due to medical malpractice and successfully argued an appeal before Missouri Supreme Court upholding the verdict. Total fees and expenses of $525,702.04. See Sgroi vs SLUH, No. SC 89840.

  • Failure to Diagnose $825,000

    Derek H. Potts obtained an $825,000 jury verdict in St. Louis against the hospital and doctor for failing to diagnose a hip fracture.  It was appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court which affirmed the verdict, adding interest.

  • Wrongful Death $800,000

    Partner Adam T. Funk secured an $800,000 settlement on behalf of a family for the wrongful death of their father. The father of five from Las Vegas, New Mexico was wheelchair-bound.  While visiting his dentist’s office, the father maneuvered his electric wheelchair up a ramp.  The ramp did not have a curb or rails to prevent a fall. Despite being airlifted to a hospital, the father died of his injuries.

  • Foot Injury $750,000

    Partner Adam T. Funk secured a $750,000 settlement for an oil rig worker whose foot was severely injured after being caught in rig tongs. The oil rig company had failed to properly tag out and lock out the tongs after a power outage.  When the power returned to the rig, the tongs closed on the worker’s foot, crushing his bones.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Missouri?

The state of Missouri has a five-year statute of limitations on most personal injury cases (with some exceptions). This means that you usually have just five years to file your lawsuit. If you wait too long and the statute of limitations expires, you will most likely lose your right to sue for damages.

Certain factors may extend or condense the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit. For example, if an injury is not immediately discoverable, the victim may have five years from the date of discovery (the date on which the injury was discovered or reasonably could have been discovered) to bring a claim in court. In contrast, most claims against government entities are subject to shortened filing deadlines, as well as more stringent filing requirements.

In any case, it is always a good idea to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. As time goes on and evidence is lost, it can become much more difficult to prove your claim.

IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS

Work With an Award-Winning Legal Team
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