Best Lawyers Near You in Independence, Missouri for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
A native of St. Louis, Bill received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Missouri. He has fought hard for personal injury victims for 33 years, spending many sleepless nights worried about his clients and thinking of new and creative ways to litigate their cases. Bill is passionate about helping his clients receive the best medical care and the best results on their cases, whether by trial or settlement. In fact, he has successfully collected well over $250 Million for hi...
Brian F. McCallister is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Legal Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Brian F., who practices law in Kansas City, Missouri, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Insurance companies, hospitals, and corporations have teams of lawyers working to protect their interests. Individuals who have been injured deserve legal representation focused on protecting theirs. Michael T. Yonke is the founding partner of Yonke Law LLC and a trial attorney based in Kansas City, Missouri. For more than 25 years, he has represented individuals and families harmed by negligence, focusing his practice on personal injury litigation for plaintiffs. His work centers on advocati...
Robert Langdon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs and Railroad Law. Robert, who practices law in North Kansas City, Missouri, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Todd A. Scharnhorst is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants. Todd A., who practices law in Kansas City, Missouri, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Todd A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kansas City personal injury attorney Kirk Presley brings over four decades of legal experience to clients confronting the complexities of plaintiff’s personal injury cases. He handles situations involving trucking, aviation, and automobile accidents, alongside premises and product liability matters. Kirk Presley’s litigation practice is dedicated to advocating for clients while addressing industries with histories of wrongful or negligent actions. Kirk has in-depth knowledge in co...
Scott S. Bethune is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Scott S., who practices law in Kansas City, Missouri, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Scott S. is held by other top lawyers in the sa...
David M. Mayer is the managing shareholder of Monsees & Mayer, P.C., based in Kansas City, Missouri. His practice focuses on Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, representing individuals harmed by negligence and unsafe conditions. David regularly advocates for victims of sexual abuse , motor vehicle accidents , and premises liability incidents. As a Kansas City native, he is committed to helping clients, particularly children a...
Jill Kanatzar is one of the most respected plaintiff attorneys in the region. Her deep experience in cases related to sexual abuse, child injury and wrongful death, nursing home abuse and medical malpractice spans more than 25 years. Jill’s entire career has been dedicated to helping people who often cannot help themselves. From small children to disabled adults to our elders, she has stood next to and fought for people’s rights. She has also been appointed special prosecutor acro...
Attorney Jill Presley, a lifelong resident of Kansas City, Missouri, has devoted her legal career to supporting those seeking personal injury representation. Her deep connections to the community provide her with a unique perspective and genuine empathy, helping her build trust and rapport with her clients. As a Partner and Co-Founder of Presley & Presley LLC, Jill Presley focuses her practice on addressing catastrophic personal injury cases such as semi-truck and auto crashes, sexual abu...
Michael Serra is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Michael, who practices law in North Kansas City, Missouri, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Tom Hershewe is one of the Midwest’s leading bad faith insurance litigators. Tom represents insureds who have had their insurance companies abandoned them after another person sued them. Even in cases where the insurance company defends its insured, Tom often serves as the insured’s personal counsel to ensure that the insurance company takes the correct steps to resolve the case. During his time at Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe, Tom has recovered more than $130 million agai...
Mr. Robb has obtained numerous record-breaking results on behalf of past clients, including the two highest jury verdicts in U.S. history for helicopter crash wrongful death, $350 million and $70 million , and the largest pre-trial settlement for an injury in a helicopter crash, $100 million which is also the largest pretrial settlement in U.S. history for a single plaintiff in a personal injury case. Mr. Robb is past President of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA). Mr. Robb h...
Donovan Dodrill is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Donovan, who practices law in Kansas City, Missouri, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Donovan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lauren Dollar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Lauren, who practices law in Kansas City, Missouri, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lauren is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
J.J. Burns has a national reputation as a go-to-expert on truck crash litigation. Through both jury verdicts and negotiated settlements, he helps truck crash victims and their families hold truck drivers, motor carries and freight brokers accountable for their negligence. Additionally, he works continuously to introduce safer practices and more demanding safety rules in numerous states and across the country. He is currently the Editor of the Journal of Trucking Litigation, and has also serve...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.