Columbia sits at the intersection of I-70 and Route 63 — two of Missouri's busiest corridors — with thousands of daily commuters, University of Missouri traffic, and commercial freight all sharing the same roads through Boone County. The crashes that happen here are real, and so are the insurance adjusters who show up fast with lowball offers before you've had a chance to understand how badly you're hurt. Whether it was a low-speed car crash on Providence Road or a serious auto accident on the interstate, what you do next shapes your recovery.
Bur Oak Injury Law is based in Columbia. Chris Miller has represented car accident victims across Boone, Callaway, Cole, and the surrounding counties since 2012 — one attorney, your case, handled personally from the first call through resolution.
When you've been injured in a car accident, you need an attorney who personally handles your case from start to finish. Chris Miller has represented car accident victims in Columbia and central Missouri since becoming licensed in 2012, bringing unique insight from his former experience as a government attorney for the State of Missouri.
Unlike larger firms where your case gets passed off to junior associates or paralegals, Bur Oak Injury Law gives every client direct access to Chris Miller. He manages your case from the free consultation through settlement or verdict — gathering evidence, dealing with insurance companies, and fighting for the full compensation you deserve. That is what personal legal representation looks like: one attorney who knows your file, not a legal team of rotating case managers.
If you've been injured in a crash in Boone County or anywhere across central Missouri, call (573) 499-0200 or reach out online for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
Missouri roads remain dangerous. Understanding the scope of the problem helps injured victims recognize that their situation is not unique — and that the legal system exists to hold at-fault drivers accountable.
Sources: MoDOT Statewide Traffic Data · NHTSA FARS Database
Car accidents take many forms. Bur Oak Injury Law represents injury victims across a full range of collision types throughout Columbia, Missouri and surrounding counties.
Rear-end accidents are among the most common crashes in Columbia. Whether caused by distracted driving, tailgating, or sudden braking, these collisions frequently cause whiplash, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries that may not be immediately apparent. Neck injuries are among the most common injuries in a rear-end car wreck, and back and neck injuries that feel minor at the scene often worsen in the days that follow. Don't accept a quick settlement before understanding the full extent of your injuries.
Failure to yield, running red lights, and improper turns are leading causes of intersection crashes in Boone County. These accidents often result in T-bone collisions that cause serious injuries to drivers and passengers alike. Establishing fault at intersections requires prompt evidence-gathering, including traffic camera footage and witness statements. Crucial evidence fades fast, and determining fault often comes down to proving what the negligent driver did in the seconds before impact.
Complex multi-vehicle accidents and commercial trucking crashes involve additional layers of liability — including employer responsibility, federal safety regulations, and multiple insurance policies. These cases require the kind of thorough investigation and legal knowledge that comes from years of experience handling Missouri injury claims. With several motor vehicle policies in play and many factors involved, these car collisions demand early, organized work.
Distracted driving — including texting, phone use, and other in-vehicle distractions — is a leading cause of preventable accidents on Missouri roads. When another driver's inattention causes your injury, you have the right to seek full compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Phone records, witness accounts, and crash reconstruction are how you prove negligence in a distracted-driving personal injury claim — careless drivers rarely admit fault on their own.
Missouri's winter ice storms, heavy rain, and foggy conditions contribute to hundreds of crashes each year in central Missouri. Even in bad weather, drivers have a legal duty to operate their vehicles safely. When a driver fails to adjust for conditions and causes a collision, they may be liable for the resulting injuries. A driver who slides across the center line on an icy bridge was still driving too fast for the conditions.
Being hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver doesn't leave you without options. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage under your own policy may provide compensation. Bur Oak Injury Law helps clients navigate these situations and pursue every available source of recovery under Missouri law. When the accident caused serious harm through another person's negligence and the negligent parties cannot be found, your own coverage often becomes the path forward.
Drunk driving accidents are among the most devastating crashes on central Missouri roads — a traumatic event that too often leaves victims with life altering injuries, including spinal cord injuries and knee injuries that require surgery and long rehabilitation. Missouri law allows punitive damages against intoxicated drivers in appropriate cases. Learn more about drunk driving accident claims →
Missouri law allows injured car accident victims to seek compensation for the full range of losses caused by the crash. Under Missouri's pure comparative fault system, you may recover damages even if you were partially at fault — your award is simply reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, and future medical treatment related to your injuries — the medical bills that stack up while you recover.
Income lost during recovery, plus loss of future earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term. Lost income today and diminished earning power tomorrow both count.
Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, and the overall impact of the injury on your quality of life.
Repair or replacement costs for your vehicle and any other personal property damaged in the collision.
When a car accident claims a life, surviving family members may pursue compensation for funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship under §537.080 RSMo.
In rare cases involving egregious conduct — such as drunk driving — punitive damages may be available to punish the wrongdoer beyond actual losses.
From the first call to the final outcome, Chris Miller personally handles every step of your car accident claim. Here is what the process looks like.
Missouri car accident claims are governed by a pure comparative fault system under Missouri Revised Statutes §537.765, which means injured drivers can recover compensation even when they share partial responsibility for a crash — their damages are simply reduced by their percentage of fault. Personal injury lawsuits arising from car accidents must generally be filed within five years of the crash date under the statute of limitations at §516.120 RSMo. Wrongful death claims carry a shorter three-year window. Cases in Columbia are heard in Boone County Circuit Court. Missouri also requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance under §303.025 RSMo — currently $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury. When the at-fault driver is underinsured or uninsured, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage becomes critically important, and an experienced car accident attorney can help maximize recovery from all available sources.
After a car accident, insurance adjusters often contact victims quickly — sometimes within hours — with settlement offers. These early offers are almost always far below the full value of the claim, made before the full extent of injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, or soft tissue injuries is known. Recorded statements requested by adjusters can be used to reduce or deny your claim. Accepting a settlement and signing a release extinguishes your right to seek additional compensation, even if new medical complications emerge later. At Bur Oak Injury Law, we handle all communications with insurance companies on your behalf, reject inadequate offers, and build a complete picture of your damages — including future medical expenses and non-economic losses — before any settlement is discussed. Call (573) 499-0200 for a free consultation.
From I-70 pileups to a car crash on Highway 63 south of town, Chris Miller has spent years handling auto accident claims within a few miles of the Boone County courthouse. As a car accident lawyer in Columbia, MO, he serves injured people from Columbia to Jefferson City, Fulton, Boonville, and Moberly. Many personal injury lawyers and personal injury attorneys in mid-Missouri will tell you they fight insurers; ask who actually negotiates when the adjuster calls.
Bur Oak Injury Law is not a general practice juggling family law and business disputes. The work is injury law — car accident claims, workers' compensation, and the personal injury cases that follow when a negligent driver changes someone's life. If you were hurt in an auto accident anywhere in central Missouri, schedule your free case evaluation today.
No fee unless we win. Serving clients across Columbia, MO and central Missouri.