If you were hit by a car while walking in Columbia or anywhere across central Missouri, you may have the right to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses caused by a negligent driver. Chris Miller handles pedestrian accident cases personally — no handoffs to associates, no passing you off to a paralegal.
Insurance companies move fast after a pedestrian accident. They take statements, assign blame, and make early lowball offers — often before you know the full extent of your injuries. Bur Oak Injury Law handles all communications with insurers and rejects inadequate offers so you can focus on recovery.
Columbia sits at the crossroads of I-70 and US-63 — one of the busiest traffic corridors in central Missouri. Pedestrian accidents happen at intersections on Providence Road, Broadway, Stadium Boulevard, and on the routes connecting the University of Missouri campus to surrounding neighborhoods. When a driver fails to yield, runs a red light, or simply isn't paying attention, the consequences for a pedestrian can be catastrophic.
Chris Miller represents injured pedestrians and their families throughout Boone County, Cole County, Callaway County, and the surrounding region. He has argued before the Missouri Supreme Court and won a case that expanded the rights of working Missourians statewide. He brings that same commitment to every pedestrian injury claim he takes — your case is handled by Chris from the first call through resolution.
Insurance adjusters often contact injured pedestrians within hours of an accident, before the full extent of injuries is known. Accepting an early offer and signing a release extinguishes your right to future compensation even if new medical complications arise. Do not speak with the driver's insurer before consulting an attorney. Call (573) 499-0200 first.
Pedestrian accidents are disproportionately deadly in Boone County compared to the rest of Missouri. Between 2019 and 2023, Boone County accounted for 3.1% of Missouri's pedestrian fatal crashes — and 20.4% of all fatal crashes in Boone County involved a pedestrian. The City of Columbia alone represented 2.6% of all pedestrian fatalities statewide during that same period, and roughly 32% of fatal crashes in Columbia involved pedestrians.
These numbers reflect a real danger on Columbia's streets. Pedestrians have no protection against a vehicle impact — broken bones, traumatic brain injury, internal bleeding, and spinal cord damage are common outcomes. Many of these cases qualify as catastrophic injuries with lifelong consequences. In the worst cases, pedestrian accidents cause wrongful death. When a driver's negligence is the cause, Missouri law gives injured pedestrians — and surviving family members — the right to pursue full compensation.
Not all pedestrian accident cases are alike. The cause of the crash, the location, and who is at fault all affect how a case is built and what compensation is available. Chris Miller handles the full range of pedestrian injury claims across central Missouri.
Drivers who fail to yield in marked or unmarked crosswalks, run red lights, or turn through intersections without watching for pedestrians. Missouri law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks — violations can establish clear liability.
Cell phone use, intoxication, and other driver impairments are leading causes of pedestrian accidents. A distracted or drunk driver may never see a pedestrian before impact. These cases often support punitive damage claims in addition to compensatory damages.
Higher speeds reduce reaction time and dramatically increase injury severity. Speeding is especially dangerous in high-pedestrian areas near the MU campus, downtown Columbia, and residential neighborhoods. Failure to yield at crosswalks remains one of the most common causes of pedestrian deaths.
Pedestrian accidents also happen in parking lots, driveways, and near sidewalks. Drivers backing out, turning across sidewalks, or failing to look before moving can cause severe injuries. These cases may involve a negligent driver, a property owner, or a business depending on where the accident occurred.
Darkness, rain, snow, fog, and inadequate street lighting are major factors in pedestrian accidents. Drivers have a duty to adjust speed and vigilance to conditions — failure to do so can establish negligence.
When a pedestrian accident is fatal, surviving family members may pursue wrongful death compensation under §537.080 RSMo. Chris Miller handles these cases with the care and directness that families need during the most difficult time.
Missouri's pure comparative fault system under §537.765 RSMo means you can recover damages even if you share partial fault for the accident — your award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies routinely try to inflate a pedestrian's share of blame to minimize payouts. An experienced pedestrian accident attorney challenges those assignments and fights for the full compensation you deserve.
Past and future medical expenses, hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and other out-of-pocket costs directly caused by the accident. Pedestrian injuries — traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal injuries — often qualify as catastrophic injuries requiring long-term care whose costs must be fully accounted for.
Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and — in cases of severe permanent injury — disfigurement or permanent disability. These damages are real, even if they don't appear on a medical bill, and they are recoverable under Missouri law.
When a pedestrian accident causes death, Missouri's wrongful death statute allows surviving family members to recover funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, loss of consortium, and compensation for the grief and suffering of surviving family members. The three-year filing deadline under §537.100 RSMo makes it important to act quickly.
In cases involving drunk driving, extreme recklessness, or willful disregard for pedestrian safety, Missouri courts may award punitive damages designed to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct. Chris evaluates every case for punitive damage potential.
Chris Miller personally handles every step of your case — from the first phone call through settlement or trial. No handoffs to associates or paralegals. Your case stays with Chris.
Missouri law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks. Pedestrians generally have the right of way at intersections, and drivers who fail to obey traffic control signals, fail to yield, or operate a vehicle while impaired can be held liable for the full extent of a pedestrian's injuries — subject to comparative fault analysis.
Personal injury lawsuits arising from pedestrian accidents 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.
Insurance companies frequently contact pedestrian accident victims within hours of the crash — sometimes before the victim has left the hospital — with settlement offers designed to resolve the claim before the full extent of injuries is known. Signing a release extinguishes all future claims, even if serious complications emerge later. Bur Oak Injury Law handles all insurer communications so you never have to negotiate alone. Call (573) 499-0200 or contact us online for a free consultation before speaking with any insurance adjuster.
No fee unless we win. One attorney handles your case from the first call through resolution. Serving clients across central Missouri.