A serious personal injury has wide-ranging repercussions. From physical limitations and pain rendering you unable to work or affecting your daily activities, to significant medical bills, to worry about whether you will ever be the same again, there is a lot for an injured person to deal with. The financial repercussions of a serious injury–i.e., worrying about paying your bills and providing for your family–often cause as much stress as the long road to physical recovery. And, in some cases, an accident can result in death, leaving family and loved ones to cope with the emotional and monetary loss.
Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke, LLP clients are not only from Rapid City, Pennington County, Meade County, and the Black Hills. Instead, we handle personal injury and other types of cases all across South Dakota, as well as in Wyoming, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Our attorneys are selective about the cases they choose to pursue, allowing us the ability to prepare extensively and represent our clients to the fullest.
For a FREE consultation, call our office at 605.640.6238 or use our contact form.
What Types of Personal Injury Claims Do We Handle?
No matter the nature of the injury, we have had success in getting clients compensated for their losses.
As part of our practice, we have represented clients in cases stemming from: Single and multiple motor vehicle accidents involving motorcycles, cars, 18-wheelers, and farm equipment, as well as defective products, including malfunctioning machinery resulting in serious injury, paralysis, and death.
Helping You Get the Compensation You Deserve
In the aftermath of a personal injury, your sole focus is—and should be—on your full recovery. While we work with our clients to determine the appropriate legal strategy—with the goal of getting them the compensation required to make them whole—we want our clients to be able to keep their focus on recovering and getting their life back to normal.
We are a litigation firm. We believe in effectively pursuing our clients’ claims, both in court and at the negotiation table.
No fee if we handle the case on a contingency fee basis
We represent most of our personal injury and wrongful death clients on a contingency fee basis. This means that there is only an attorney fee if we are able to successfully recover compensation for our client. We have represented many clients with extremely complex personal injury cases and have been able to achieve favorable results in even the most difficult of situations.
Your Local Resource for Personal Injury in Rapid City, SD
Navigating the aftermath of a personal injury can be overwhelming. Whether it was an auto accident on Interstate 90 (“I-90”), a wreck in the Black Hills, or a collision right in Rapid City, a personal injury can bring about a number of stressors.
While many accident victims have the benefit of health insurance to pay their medical bills, other individuals must rely upon Medicare or Medicaid (keeping in mind that each of these entities must be reimbursed if a recovery is made). However, even with the benefit of such resources to cover medical bills, the challenges in personal injury cases can often necessitate hiring an attorney.
Compassionate Guidance Through Personal Injury Claims
Whether you’re dealing with the stress of mounting medical bills or the uncertainty of your future, it’s crucial to know that you’re not alone. Our team at Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke, LLP can help you from the beginning to the end of the journey.
The emotional toll of an injury can be compounded by the need to work through the insurance claim and legal processes. Our team understands personal injury and wrongful death claims and can help you through every step of the way. We are committed to providing personalized support tailored to the unique needs of our clients.
As you focus on healing, let us handle the complexities of your personal injury claim. We are dedicated to advocating for your rights and helping you pursue the financial relief necessary to move forward.
Why Hire Thomas Braun Bernard & Burke, LLP?
The same seasoned approach is used whether we are helping someone injured in a motor vehicle accident, assisting a client in forming a business, handling an insurance dispute, or defending a professional.
- Exemplary Reputation - Our reputation for being relentless in fighting for our clients has led to many referrals from former clients and other lawyers.
- Results Focused - To ensure the best results, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. Your case can be transformed when you hire an experienced attorney.
- We Go The Extra Mile - We strive to go above and beyond for our clients. The goal is to secure the best possible outcome for our clients. To do that, no stone is left unturned.
- Client-Focused - Being selective in taking new cases allows us to focus our resources fully and zealously on getting our clients a favorable outcome.
To learn more about our firm and how our lawyers can be of assistance, call our office at 605.348.7516 or use our contact form.
Commonly Asked Questions
What should I do promptly after a personal injury?
After a personal injury, the first step should naturally be to seek medical treatment for your injuries–and then carefully follow your doctor’s orders to ensure that you have the best chance of a complete recovery. Assuming that law enforcement has already been notified, other steps include: securing photographs of the vehicles involved; documenting the scene (e.g., photographs and measurements, such as any skid marks on the roadway); obtaining witnesses’ contact information; and looking into the possibility of downloading any event data recorder (EDR)–which is somewhat like a “black box” in an airplane–which may have been in the vehicles involved. An EDR will typically contain crucial information about a vehicle during the seconds just prior to the collision, such as speed, acceleration, braking, etc. Contacting a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible can help secure this evidence, and will allow you to understand your rights and the next steps to be taken.
What types of compensation can I expect from a personal injury claim in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, depending upon the nature of your injuries and damages, you may be entitled to the following types of compensation for a personal injury: (i) medical bills incurred; (ii) pain and suffering; (iii) physical limitations/disabilities and disfigurement; (iv) lost earnings; (v) medical bills that will be incurred in the future (such as for medications or a surgery); (vi) and loss of earning capacity (i.e., an amount to compensate you for the fact that, going forward, you will not be able to earn as much). A personal injury lawyer can help you determine the full extent of your damages and fight for fair compensation.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Rapid City, SD?
Each state has its own laws which specify the time periods in which a person must commence a lawsuit (called “statutes of limitation”) and the time period differs depending upon the type of claim being asserted. For example, in South Dakota, there are statutes of limitation consisting of one year, two years, three years, four years, and six years. Which statute of limitation applies depends on the nature of the claim. Apart from statutes of limitation, certain claims require that written notice of the injury/claim be submitted within an even shorter period, and if that notice is not timely submitted the claim will be barred. As one example, in South Dakota, a statute (SDCL 3-21-2) provides that if the injury was caused by a public entity or one of its employees, such written notice must be submitted to specific persons within 180 days of the injury. It is important to consult with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to ensure that you do not miss a deadline that results in your claim being barred. In the meantime, prompt action can also help ensure that evidence is preserved and other steps are taken to ensure your rights are protected.
