Accidents happen when we least expect them, leaving us vulnerable to physical and emotional harm. Whether it’s a car collision on 25, a slip and fall at Dollar General, or any other unforeseen incident, the consequences of a personal injury can be life-altering. Coping with such an event can overwhelm you, especially when you’re dealing with medical treatments, financial strain, and emotional distress.

Personal injuries aren’t just legal matters but deeply human experiences. At Cook, Barkett, Ponder & Wolz, our Bloomfield personal injury lawyers recognize the emotional toll these incidents can take on victims and their families. We provide compassionate and skilled legal representation to assist those navigating through the aftermath of such events.

If you or a loved one suffered severe injuries and you believe someone else was to blame, never wait to seek help from our legal team.

Bloomfield Personal Injury Guide

• Why Choose Our Firm
• Personal Injury Compensation
• Where Do Personal Injury Accidents or Incidents Occur in Bloomfield
• Fighting the Insurance Company
• Contact the Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys at Cook, Barkett, Ponder & Wolz Today

Why Choose Our Firm

When you hire the personal injury attorneys at Cook, Barkett, Ponder & Wolz, you get over 100 years of combined trial experience. Our attorneys have the experience and resources to obtain maximum compensation for your claim, and we’ve recovered millions of dollars for our clients. In fact, we are so confident we can help our personal injury clients that you won’t pay any fees unless we win – guaranteed.

Some of our recent successes include:

• • • $20 million verdict in a train collision wrongful death case
    • $4 million verdict industrial exposure case
    • $3.55 million settlement in an industrial brain injury case
    • $2.3 million verdict in a chemical exposure case
    • $2 million settlement in an auto injury case
    • $1.7 million verdict in an auto injury case involving a police car
    • $1.1 million settlement for products liability and road design case

Our attorneys have the knowledge and skills to help those facing a personal injury resulting from:

• • • Car, truck, motorcycle, or train accidents
    • Pedestrian accidents
    • Slip and fall incidents
    • Premises liability accidents
    • Nursing home abuse
    • Catastrophic construction accidents
    • Medical malpractice

Our Bloomfield office is conveniently less than a block away from the Bloomfield Library. The Bloomfield Police Department stands behind our building, and the Stoddard County Public Administration Building is across from it.

Our address is:

208 South Prairie Street

Bloomfield, MO 63825

Personal Injury Compensation

You may wonder how much your claim might recover if you recently sustained a personal injury. Unfortunately, no answer fits every case, so you’ll need to speak with one of our seasoned personal injury attorneys.

Key elements that typically contribute to the value of a personal injury claim include:

• • • Your medical expenses – The total cost of medical treatment for your injuries, including hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, prescription medications, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care.
    • Lost income – If you missed work due to your injuries or medical appointments, you may be entitled to compensation for the income lost during your recovery period.
    • Future earning capacity – If your injuries result in a long-term or permanent disability that affects your ability to work and earn a living, you may be entitled to compensation for the impact on your future earning capacity.
    • Pain and suffering – Non-economic damages, such as physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life, are challenging to quantify but are considered when assessing the value of your claim.
    • Property damage – If your personal property, such as your car or belongings, was damaged in the incident that caused your injuries, you may recover compensation for repair or replacement.
    • Insurance policy limits – The available insurance coverage of the at-fault party or parties involved in the incident will also play a role in determining the potential value of your claim. However, in some personal injury cases, there may be multiple insurance policies to draw from. Your attorney can research the compensation available to you.

Always consult a Bloomfield personal injury attorney to accurately assess your case. They can help you understand the potential value of your claim based on your unique circumstances, gather evidence to support your case, and negotiate with insurance companies to seek fair compensation on your behalf.

Where Do Personal Injury Accidents or Incidents Occur in Bloomfield

Personal injury accidents or incidents can happen anywhere in and around Bloomfield.

For example, they can happen:

• • • At Bloomfield City Park
    • On Bloomfield Road
    • On U.S. Route 60 or 114
    • On Route TT
    • At Holly Ridge Conservation area
    • At the Stoddard County Courthouse
    • At the National Stars and Stripes Museum and Library
    • At the Bloomfield Public Library
    • Any restaurant or grocery store

Personal Injuries

Under Missouri law, a personal injury harms or damages an individual’s body, mind, or emotions. Personal injuries can arise from accidents, negligence, intentional acts, or strict liability.

Types of Personal Injury Accidents

Personal injury accidents can occur in various settings and circumstances. These accidents result in physical or psychological harm to individuals, often due to the negligence or misconduct of others.

Here are some common types of personal injury accidents:

• • • Car accidents: One of the most prevalent types of personal injury accidents, car accidents occur when vehicles collide. These accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, from minor cuts and bruises to severe injuries such as fractures, spinal cord injuries (SCI), and traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
    • Slip and fall accidents: Slip and fall accidents happen when individuals trip, slip, or fall on someone else’s property due to hazardous conditions such as wet floors, uneven surfaces, or poorly maintained walkways. These accidents can lead to broken bones, sprains, and head injuries.
    • Nursing home abuse and neglect: Injuries sustained in nursing homes or long-term care (LTC) facilities arising from. Elderly residents may suffer from physical, emotional, or financial abuse.
    • Medical malpractice: Medical malpractice refers to injuries caused by the negligence or errors of healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or hospitals. Medical malpractice cases can include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication mistakes, and birth injuries.
    • Product liability accidents: These accidents occur when defective or dangerous products injure individuals. Product liability cases may involve faulty machinery, defective pharmaceuticals, or harmful consumer products.

Personal Injuries: The Elements of Negligence

Missouri law recognizes personal injury claims as part of civil law, allowing injured individuals (plaintiffs) to seek compensation from the responsible party (defendant) for their harm.

To have a valid personal injury claim in Missouri, the plaintiff must establish:

• • • Duty of care – The defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff. Duty of care refers to the legal obligation to act responsibly and avoid causing harm to others in specific circumstances. For instance, drivers have a duty of care to follow traffic laws and drive safely to avoid accidents.
    • Breach of duty – The plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant breached their duty of care by acting negligently, recklessly, or with intentional misconduct. For example, property owners who fail to maintain safe premises breach their duty of care to visitors.
    • Causation – The plaintiff must establish a direct link between the defendant’s breach of duty and the injuries suffered. They must show that the defendant’s actions (or failure to act) directly caused the harm they experienced.
    • Damages – The plaintiff must show that they suffered actual damages due to the injuries. Damages in a personal injury case usually refer to medical expenses, lost income, pain, suffering, and any other financial or non-financial losses.

Fighting the Insurance Company

Dealing with insurance companies after a personal injury can be challenging for several reasons. While insurance companies should provide coverage and financial support to policyholders and those they might injure, they are still profit-driven businesses in times of need.

As a result, they often employ tactics to minimize their liability and pay out as little as possible in claims.

Lowball Offers

Insurance adjusters may offer quick settlement amounts far below the claim’s actual value. They hope injured individuals will accept these inadequate offers out of desperation or lack of understanding of the full extent of their damages. If they accept it, the insurance company keeps more money for their profit.

Delay Tactics

Insurance companies may intentionally prolong the claims process, hoping injured individuals will become frustrated and settle for less to resolve the matter quickly.

Denial of Claims

Insurance companies may deny valid claims, citing various reasons such as lack of coverage, alleged policy violations, or questioning the severity of the injuries.

Recorded Statements: Insurance adjusters may request recorded statements from injured individuals shortly after the accident. Insurance companies might use these statements against the claimant later if they discover any inconsistencies. Injured parties should be aware that they don’t have to provide recorded statements and should have their Bloomfield personal injury attorney speak to the adjuster instead.

Pressure to Settle Early

Insurance companies may pressure injured individuals to settle quickly before they fully understand the extent of their injuries and damages. Injured parties with bills to pay may want to settle early but won’t know they deserve far more.

Due to these challenges, individuals with personal injury cases should seek legal representation from our experienced Bloomfield personal injury attorneys. Our lawyers can advocate on your behalf, handle all communication with the insurance company, gather necessary evidence, accurately assess the claim’s value, and negotiate for a fair settlement or, if necessary, pursue the case in court.

What to Do After Suffering a Personal Injury

Experiencing a personal injury can be a traumatic and overwhelming event. Taking the right steps after a personal injury can significantly affect your well-being and ability to pursue a successful claim if necessary.

Here are the essential steps to take after suffering a personal injury:

Seek Medical Attention

Make your health and safety your top priority. If you suffered an injury, seek medical diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible, even if you think your injuries are minor. Prompt medical evaluation can identify hidden injuries and ensure proper treatment.

Report the Incident

If the injury occurred at a business, public place, or workplace, report the incident to the property owner, manager, or supervisor. Ensure management documents the incident, and ask for a copy of the incident report if possible.

Preserve Evidence

Preserve any physical evidence of the accident, such as damaged property or torn clothing. This evidence may establish liability.

Keep Detailed Records

Maintain a record of all medical treatments received, prescriptions, doctor visits, and any expenses related to your injury. Additionally, keep track of any missed workdays and lost income. Keep a journal detailing your injuries, symptoms, and anything you can’t do right now because of your injuries. Keep a file for all receipts for your injury-related expenses. Prepared to take all this information to our Bloomfield personal injury attorneys.

Consult Our Personal Injury Attorneys

Meet with our skilled personal injury attorneys as soon as possible after the injury. We can explain your legal rights and guide you through seeking financial recovery for your injuries and losses.

Be Mindful of Time Limits

The Missouri statute of limitations imposes a five-year deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit. Speak with your attorney to ensure you meet all necessary deadlines, as sometimes different ones apply.

Contact the Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys at Cook, Barkett, Ponder & Wolz Today

If you or someone you love recently suffered a personal injury, don’t hesitate to contact the skilled personal injury attorneys at Cook, Barkett, Ponder & Wolz. We offer complimentary case consultations to injured victims. Contact us online or call our office today at (573) 891-1440 for yours.

Bloomfield Office

208 South Prairie Street
Bloomfield, MO 63825
Phone: (573) 891-1440