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Independence Personal Injury Attorneys
The Midwest's Most Effective Injury Law Firm
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
- Last Modified:
- August 11, 2025
When you’re hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault, it can be overwhelming — physically, emotionally, and financially. Our experienced attorneys at Brown & Crouppen have been fighting for injury victims for more than 40 years, helping clients in Independence, Missouri, secure the justice and compensation they deserve.
Whether you’ve been injured in a car crash, slip and fall, or workplace accident, our personal injury attorneys are ready to help. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs or legal fees. You only pay us if you win.
Call us at 816-670-4701 or request a free consultation to get started.
- Our Independence, MO, Personal Injury Lawyers Get Results
- What Our Clients Say
- How Our Independence Accident & Injury Attorneys Can Help
- Damages Available in an Independence Personal Injury Claim
- What if I’m Partly at Fault for My Injuries?
- Types of Cases We Handle in Independence, MO
- Statute of Limitations for Missouri Personal Injury Lawsuits
- Get Started With Your Independence Personal Injury Case
- Frequently Asked Questions
Our Independence Personal Injury Lawyers Get Results
Since 1979, Brown & Crouppen has recovered over $1 billion for injury victims across Missouri. As one of the largest law firms in the Midwest, our team has the size, skill, and resources to take on tough cases and win. Our case results have earned us top recognition from various respected legal organizations, including:
- Martindale Hubbell (AV Rated)
- Top Trial Lawyers in America by the Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Top 100 Lawyers by National Trial Lawyers
- Winningest Plaintiff Attorney by Missouri Lawyers Media
Our co-founder, Terry Crouppen, started our firm to get justice for those injured in accidents due to someone else’s negligence. He, along with respected managing partners Andy Crouppen and Ed Herman, continually fosters our team-oriented, client-centric philosophy. From the moment you call, we’ll fight for you.
To us, success extends beyond securing fair financial outcomes. At our firm, practicing law is about kindness, respect, and our commitment to the communities in which we live and serve. That commitment shows in everything we do, from courtroom advocacy to client support. It’s about more than giving back—we want to know our neighbors and their needs, because it motivates us to work that much harder on their behalf.
What Our Clients Say
We have a long history of securing positive results for our clients. But the true measure of our success lies in the trust of our satisfied clients, who confidently refer their loved ones to our experienced personal injury attorneys, knowing we’ll provide the same exceptional care and commitment.
We prioritize responsiveness, clear communication, and results that make a real difference. Our team can meet wherever is most convenient to you—at home or in the hospital. When you partner with our award-winning attorneys, you can rest easy knowing that you have compassionate, supportive, and successful advocates by your side.
How Our Independence Accident & Injury Attorneys Can Help
Our Kansas City injury attorneys serve Independence, Missouri, and surrounding areas. With a team of over 250 individuals, we provide vital support throughout the entire legal process, guiding clients through each stage to maximize compensation. Here’s how our lawyers help throughout the process of a personal injury case.
- Initial Consultation and Case Evaluation: The lawyer reviews the details of the case to determine its merits, assess potential damages, and decide if there’s a viable claim. They explain legal rights, possible outcomes, and next steps to the client, providing clarity on whether pursuing a claim is worthwhile.
- Investigation and Gathering Evidence: The lawyer gathers key evidence, such as medical records, accident reports, witness statements, photos, and expert opinions, to establish liability. This ensures that the client’s case is well-supported with solid evidence, which is critical for negotiations or trial.
- Filing the Claim: After collecting the necessary information, the lawyer drafts and files the personal injury claim with the appropriate court or insurance company. They ensure the claim meets all legal requirements and deadlines, preventing any procedural errors that could jeopardize the case.
- Handling Insurance Company Communications: The lawyer negotiates with insurance companies on the client’s behalf, protecting the client from accepting low settlement offers. They understand insurance tactics and work to secure the highest possible settlement by emphasizing the strength of the evidence and the full extent of damages.
- Settlement Negotiations: The lawyer presents the demand for compensation based on medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. They use their negotiation skills to advocate for a fair settlement, often achieving better results than a client could alone due to their experience and understanding of the law.
- Filing a Lawsuit (if needed): If negotiations fail, the lawyer files a formal lawsuit. They handle all aspects of litigation, including preparing legal documents, managing deadlines, and representing the client during pre-trial hearings. This step is essential if the case is complex or the opposing party refuses to settle.
- Discovery Process: During discovery, both parties exchange evidence and information. The lawyer submits requests for documents, conducts depositions, and reviews the defense’s evidence. This process helps to further strengthen the client’s case or identify weaknesses in the opposition’s arguments.
- Pre-Trial Motions and Settlement Discussions: The lawyer may file motions to dismiss certain aspects of the case or resolve legal disputes before trial. They may also continue settlement discussions, leveraging the evidence and their trial readiness to push for a favorable agreement before entering the courtroom.
- Trial: If the case proceeds to trial, the lawyer presents the client’s case before a judge or jury. They argue the case, cross-examine witnesses, and make compelling closing arguments to demonstrate why the client deserves compensation. Trial skills and experience are crucial at this stage.
- Post-Trial and Collection of Judgment: If the trial is successful, the lawyer assists in collecting the judgment or negotiating post-trial settlements. They also manage any appeals or post-trial motions that may arise, ensuring the client receives the compensation they are entitled to.
- Case Closure: Once the judgment is received or a settlement is reached, the lawyer ensures the client receives their compensation and handles any necessary paperwork. They also provide advice on how to proceed with future legal or medical matters if needed.
Throughout each step, our personal injury lawyers play a crucial role in building a strong case, negotiating with insurers, navigating legal procedures, and representing the client in court if necessary. Our expertise helps clients secure the best possible outcome with minimal stress, allowing them to focus on recovery.
“I think one thing that people don't understand because insurance adjusters are trained to be nice and good on the phone and and lull you into a false sense of security like they're on your side they are not they are paid to make sure that they pay you as little as possible and there are psychological ways that they make you feel like they're doing everything for you but they are not they will lose their job if they are doing everything for you they are not your lawyer they are not your advocate they are there to save the insurance company money that's why it is vital especially the more seriously you are injured to hire a lawyer who knows what they are doing who knows how to deal with insurance companies who knows that they are not on your side they have lawyers on their side you want one
- Andy Crouppen, Attorney
Damages Available in an Independence Personal Injury Claim
In a personal injury claim, you can seek economic and non-economic damages for your injuries. Economic damages are a recovery of your financial losses, while non-economic damages compensate you for emotional and personal harm.
Damages you can seek include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and emotional trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral costs and other damages in a wrongful death claim
The amount your claim is worth is based on factors such as the severity of your injuries, their long-term impact, and available insurance policies. Our personal injury lawyers have significant experience calculating damages and recovering damages for clients, with results including:
- A $6 million policy limit settlement for a client with severe, life-altering injuries after a truck accident.
- A $750,000 premises liability settlement for a client who broke her neck after falling backward off a bench with no back in a public venue.
- A $250,000 settlement for a client with fractured ribs and other injuries after a car accident.
FREE CASE EVALUATION
What if I'm Partly at Fault for My Injuries?
Under Missouri’s pure comparative fault system, you can still collect damages if you aren’t wholly responsible for your accident. However, under RSMo Section 537.765, the percentage of liability you hold diminishes your damages proportionately.
Take an instance in which you suffer a slip and fall on a poorly maintained property in Independence and have $100,000 in damages. If you are found to be 10 percent at fault for your injuries, you are entitled to $90,000 in damages.
Types of Cases We Handle in Independence, MO
Personal injury cases arise when an individual suffers harm due to someone else’s negligence or intentional actions, resulting in physical, emotional, or financial damages. Plaintiffs seek to hold the responsible parties accountable and receive compensation for their harm.
For example, people in Independence and the surrounding area are too often the victims of motor vehicle accidents involving negligent drivers. In 2023, there were 2,308 crashes in Independence, 934 people injured, and 23 fatalities. In Jackson County, there were 19,747 crashes, 5,848 of which led to injuries and 116 fatalities.
There are several types of personal injury cases, each with unique circumstances and legal considerations. Our skilled attorneys offer legal representation in the practice areas, including:
- Car accident
- Truck accident
- Motorcycle accident
- Pedestrian accident
- Uber accident
- Bus accident
- Bicycle accident
- Uninsured driver
- DUI accident
- Rear-end collision
- Work injury
- Slip and fall
- Wrongful death
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
- Birth injury
- Product liability
- Dangerous drugs
- Mesothelioma
- Disability claims
- Attorney referrals
Personal Injury Case Highlight
Our client suffered a rotator cuff injury requiring surgery after a Missouri car crash. The insurer offered a reduced settlement of only $45,000, citing preexisting conditions. Our experienced attorneys, Tom Davis and Deborah Doak, knew that the injury assessment and settlement amount were unfair.
They received a letter from the surgeon stating that the car accident caused the injury, and stood fast in settlement negotiations. Given the solid case our team presented and their unrelenting advocacy for our client, the insurance company agreed to settle for the policy limit of $100,000.
Statute of Limitations for Missouri Personal Injury Lawsuits
In most Missouri personal injury cases, you have five years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit, as per RSMo Section 516.120. If you fail to file your case on time, a judge will likely dismiss it, and you will lose your chance to seek compensation.
The legislature created different statutes of limitations for specific types of personal injury claims. For example, RSMo Section 516.105 gives you two years to file a medical malpractice claim, and RSMo Section 537.100 gives you three years to file a wrongful death claim.
Some factors pause the statute of limitations, such as when the plaintiff is a minor or the defendant leaves the state. However, in the vast majority of cases, missing the deadline by even one day leads to a dismissal.
Waiting too long can mean losing your right to recover. Partner with our respected Independence personal injury law firm quickly so we can answer any questions you have about the time limits and file your claim before evidence disappears or the statute expires.
Get Started With Your Independence Personal Injury Case
Our Independence personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t pay any legal fees unless we win your case. If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, reach out to the injury attorneys at Brown & Crouppen for assistance.
Starting your claim is simple. Call (816) 670-4701 or request a free case evaluation online. We’ll determine if you’re eligible to seek compensation and help you build a strong case to recover damages. Our law office serves the following areas in the great Kansas City metro area:
- Birmingham
- Blue Springs
- Blue Summit
- Claycomo
- Gladstone
- Independence
- Hyde Park
- Lee’s Summit
- Lenexa
- Liberty
- North Kansas City
- Northeast Kansas City
- Olathe
- Overland Park
- Pendleton Heights
- Platte City
- Raytown
- River Bend
- Riverside
- South Kansas City
- Sugar Creek
Frequently Asked Questions
In most Missouri personal injury cases, you have five years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. However, certain types of cases have shorter time limits:
- Medical malpractice: 2 years
- Wrongful death: 3 years
- Claims against a government entity: As little as 90 days for notice
Most personal injury claims settle within one year, but more complex cases or those that go to trial could take two to five years to conclude. The timeline depends on the severity of injuries and the specifics of the claim.
When you hire a personal injury lawyer, you get professional guidance throughout the entire legal process without any upfront costs or legal fees. A lawyer and supporting legal team can help you maximize your settlement from the insurance company by collecting supporting evidence and negotiating with the insurance company.
The average personal injury settlement amount exceeds $50,000, but settlements typically range between $20,000 and $100,000, depending on factors like the severity of injuries.
Most personal injury cases do not go to trial. Typically, personal injury lawsuits are resolved through out-of-court settlement negotiations. However, if we can’t reach a fair settlement through negotiation, we are prepared to take your case to court and advocate for you before a judge. Our team will ensure you are thoroughly prepared before you step foot in the courtroom, alleviating as much stress and anxiety as possible in the event you are called to testify.
The accident and injury lawyers at Brown & Crouppen Law Firm all have a common goal to help, and act in the best interest of our clients to ensure that they recover compensation that is fair and just. However, not all cases will be a good fit for our law firm. If that’s the case, we have an extensive network and we can help you hire the right personal injury lawyer for your case.
Meet Our St. Louis Attorneys
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OUR OFFICE
Brown & Crouppen Law Firm
Address: 4900 Daggett Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110
Phone: (314) 501-9510
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