Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users — without a protective enclosure, injuries in even moderate-speed crashes can be severe and permanently life-altering. Road rash, broken bones, spinal cord damage, and traumatic brain injury are among the most common outcomes. Bur Oak Injury Law handles motorcycle accident injury claims across Columbia and central Missouri, pursuing full compensation for the real cost of these injuries. Attorney Chris Miller handles every case personally.
Insurance companies routinely underestimate long-term injury costs. We document the full economic and human impact — including future medical care, lost earning capacity, and the lasting effects on your daily life — before settling. Call (573) 499-0200 for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.
Columbia sits at the junction of I-70 and Route 63 — two of central Missouri's highest-traffic corridors. Motorcycle crashes on these roads and throughout Boone, Callaway, Cole, and surrounding counties can cause catastrophic harm. At Bur Oak Injury Law, attorney Chris Miller personally handles every motorcycle accident injury claim from the first call through final resolution. There are no handoffs to associates or paralegals.
Insurance companies move fast after a crash. They will contact you before you have a full picture of your injuries, offer settlements designed to close the claim cheaply, and use recorded statements against you. Chris Miller counters that dynamic — gathering evidence, working with medical experts to document your full injury picture, and refusing inadequate offers. His job is to make sure the full cost of your injuries is documented before any settlement is considered.
Motorcycle crashes produce injuries at a far higher rate than car accidents. Without a steel frame, airbags, or seatbelts, a rider's body absorbs impact directly — against the road, other vehicles, barriers, or all three. Even crashes at moderate speeds can result in injuries that require surgery, extended rehabilitation, and long-term medical care. In Missouri, the roads through Boone County and surrounding areas see serious motorcycle crashes every year, many involving riders who were doing nothing wrong.
The long-term costs of serious motorcycle injuries are frequently underestimated in early settlement offers. A spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or severe fracture can mean years of physical therapy, ongoing medication, adaptive equipment, and lost earning capacity. Settling before the full extent of your injuries is known locks in a number that may be far below the actual lifetime cost. Bur Oak Injury Law works with medical experts to document the complete picture before negotiating a single dollar.
Sources: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) · CDC WISQARS Injury Data · §516.120 RSMo
Every motorcycle crash is different, but the injuries riders suffer tend to follow recognizable patterns. Bur Oak Injury Law handles the full range of motorcycle accident injuries — from road rash requiring skin grafts to catastrophic spinal cord damage. Each injury type carries its own long-term costs, and all of them deserve full documentation before settlement.
Abrasion injuries from sliding on pavement. Can range from surface wounds to deep tissue damage requiring skin grafts and long rehabilitation. Scarring and nerve damage may be permanent.
Wrist, collarbone, leg, and rib fractures are common. Some require surgery, hardware implantation, and months of recovery. Complex fractures can cause lasting impairment.
From concussion to severe TBI, brain injuries can affect cognition, memory, personality, and motor function — sometimes permanently. Helmets reduce but do not eliminate the risk.
Damage to the spinal cord can cause partial or complete paralysis. These are among the costliest and most life-altering injuries possible, often requiring lifetime care.
Blunt trauma in a crash can rupture organs, cause internal bleeding, and require emergency surgery even when external injuries appear minor at first.
ACL tears, meniscus damage, and joint dislocations from impact or the body's position during a crash. These often require surgery and extended physical therapy.
From hot engine parts or fuel ignition. Severe burns require specialized treatment and may cause permanent scarring and nerve damage that affects quality of life long-term.
When crash injuries are fatal, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim under Missouri's §537.080 RSMo.
Missouri's pure comparative fault system under §537.765 RSMo allows you to recover damages even if you share some fault for the crash — your award is simply reduced by your percentage of responsibility. Motorcycle accident claims can involve multiple liable parties: the driver who caused the crash, vehicle manufacturers if defective equipment played a role, or government entities if road conditions contributed.
The most common mistake in motorcycle injury claims is settling before the full extent of injuries is known. A TBI that appears minor on initial imaging may produce symptoms for years. A spinal injury may worsen over time. Future medical care, long-term rehabilitation, and lost earning capacity should all be calculated before any settlement is signed — because once you sign a release, you cannot go back for more.
Past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, rehabilitation costs, adaptive equipment, home modification costs, and other out-of-pocket expenses directly caused by the crash and your injuries.
Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent disfigurement, and disability. In severe injury cases — TBI, spinal cord injury, amputation — these damages can be substantial.
When a motorcycle crash causes death, Missouri's wrongful death statute (§537.080 RSMo) allows surviving family members to recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of consortium. The three-year deadline under §537.100 RSMo applies to these claims.
In cases involving drunk driving, extreme recklessness, or intentional conduct, Missouri courts may award punitive damages beyond compensatory amounts. These are designed to punish egregious conduct and deter future behavior.
Chris Miller personally handles every step — from the first call through final resolution. No handoffs to associates or paralegals. For motorcycle injury claims, the most critical phase is thorough medical documentation before any settlement discussion begins.
Personal injury lawsuits arising from motorcycle accidents in Missouri must generally be filed within five years of the date of injury under §516.120 RSMo. Wrongful death claims carry a shorter three-year window under §537.100 RSMo. Missing these deadlines permanently extinguishes your right to compensation. While five years may seem like ample time, acting early preserves evidence and witness memory — both of which fade quickly after a crash.
Missouri follows a pure comparative fault rule under §537.765 RSMo. This means your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover even if you were partially responsible for the crash. Insurance companies aggressively argue comparative fault in motorcycle cases — claiming a rider was speeding, lane-splitting, or not wearing appropriate safety gear — to reduce what they have to pay. Having an attorney who understands Missouri's comparative fault framework matters.
One of the most important rules in any serious motorcycle injury claim: do not settle before reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI). MMI is the point at which your condition has stabilized enough that doctors can assess your long-term prognosis. Accepting a settlement before MMI means you may be giving up your right to compensation for future complications, additional surgeries, or ongoing care costs that emerge later. At Bur Oak Injury Law, we counsel clients on timing and do not push for premature settlement. Call (573) 499-0200 for a free consultation.
No fee unless we win. One attorney handles your case from the first call through resolution.