Jeffrey A. Burns

Jeff Burns is one of the preeminent truck crash attorneys in the country. Over the span of his career he has not only tirelessly fought for justice for his clients, but more importantly, has worked on a national level to reform and change the trucking industry to be safer. He has spent almost as much time in Washington D.C. as Kansas City educating the public and working for rule changes, stronger laws and stricter enforcement. Jeff’s goal is to help trucking companies realize there is a return on investment when they institute or strengthen safety programs. There is less litigation, and drivers stay with companies longer when they see stronger safety rules as a genuine commitment to help protect them. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Jeffrey A. Burns included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Best Lawyers in America , 2010 - 2021 Super Lawyers, Top 100 in Missouri & Kansas/Top 50 in Kansas City, 2005 - 2021 The National Trial Lawyer’s – Top 25 Motor Vehicle Attorneys in Missouri, 2012 - 2019 The National Trial Lawyer’s – Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Attorneys in Missouri, 2009 - 2019 American Trial Lawyers Association – Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America , 2008 - 2016 National Registry of the Who's Who - Lifetime Member Truck Safety Coalition - Distinguished Service Award, 2005 P.A.T.T. - Lifesaver Award, 1998 Missouri Lawyers Weekly - Unsung Hero Award, 1996 Other Sources of Feedback About Jeffrey A. Burns Included on the 2025Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2024 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2023 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2022 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2021 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2020 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2019 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2018 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2017 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2016 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2015 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2014 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2013 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2012 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2011 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2010 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2009 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2008 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2007 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2006 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list 2005 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list

• Shook, Hardy & Bacon, P.C., Attorney, 1985 - 2005
• Honorable Elmo B. Hunter, U.S. District Judge, Western District of Missouri, Law Clerk
• Languages
• English
• Spanish

• Litigating Truck Collision Cases, American Association of Justice - Advanced Trial Advocacy College, 2009 - 2015
• Truck Safety in a Changing World, Truck Safety Coalition Sorrow to Strength Conference, 2013 - Present
• Perspectives From the Plaintiff’s Lawyer’s Playbook, USLAW , 2013 - Present
• Maximizing the Impact in a Truck Accident Case, Ohio Association for Justice Education Foundation, 2012 - Present
• Essentials for Proving Spoliation in Trucking Cases, American Association of Justice , 2012 - Present
• Driver Fatigue: the Company’s Responsibility , APITLA - National Interstate Trucking Super Summit, 2011 - Present
• Trucking Litigation Exposed – Bad Weather Collision Cases; Presenting Driver Training/Safe Driving Experts; Understanding Fatigue Cases - Beyond Hours of Service, 360 Advocacy Institute , 2011 - Present
• Using Investigation, Regulations and Discovery to Disprove Defenses, American Association Of Justice, 2011 - Present
• Regulatory and Statutory Update: CSA, EOBRs, HOS, Insurance, Size & Weight, American Association of Justice , 2011 - Present
• CSA 2010: Not Your Father’s Safe-Stat, American Association Of Justice, 2011 - Present
• Developing the Rules in a Trucking Case; Selection, Preparation & Direct Examination of the Accident Reconstruction Expert; Punitive Damages & Vicarious Liability, Trial Advocacy College , 2009 - Present
• Last Chance for Safety: The Truck Driver, Safety Presentation for EARP Distribution , 2009 - Present
• Beyond Auditing Logs - The Trucking Company's Obligation to Provide Fatigue Training, Fatigued Truckers: From Crash to Closing Argument, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2009 - Present
• The Three Rs: Rules, Regs & Reptiles, South Carolina Association for Justice Annual Convention, 2009 - Present
• Driver Fatigue, ITLG Members Only Trucking Litigation Seminar, 2008 - Present
• Discovery & Proof of Driver Fatigue, Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association , 2007 - Present
• Fatigue and the Law, Wake Up Michigan Symposium , 2007 - Present
• Discovery & Proof of Driver Fatigue, Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers, 2007 - Present
• The Truck Safety Crisis - A National Outrage, Sorrow to Strength Truck Crash Victims' Conference, 2007 - Present
• Truck Litigation and D.O.T. Regulations, Kansas City. Missouri, 2006 - 2007
• Why Comprehensive Discovery is Reasonable and Necessary in a Truck Crash Case, ABA Transportation Megaconference VII, 2005 - Present
• Debunking Industry Myths - The Status of Truck Safety, Sorrow to Strength Truck Crash Victims' Conference, 2005 - Present
• The Trucking Industry's Capacity Crisis, Driver Shortage and Hours of Service - An Outside View, Freight Transportation Capacity Crisis Productivity Summit, The Logistics Institute at Georgia Tech, 2004 - Present
• Legal Developments Regarding Drowsy Driving, National Summit to Prevent Drowsy Driving, National Academy of Sciences, 2002 - Present
• How to Prepare A Truck Crash Case for Trial, Phoenix, Arizona, 2001 - Present
• ABCs of Highway Safety, Sorrow to Strength Truck Crash Victims' Conference, 1999 - Present
• Hours of Service Reform and Potential Shipper Responsibility, Roundtable of the Counsel of Logistics Management , 1999 - Present
• Cutting-Edge Truck Safety Issues, Sorrow to Strength Truck Crash Victims' Conference, 1998 - Present
• Hot Topics in Truck Crash Litigation - Fatigue and Blind Spots, Kansas City, Missouri, 1997 - Present
• Problem Areas in Truck Crash Litigation, Sorrow to Strength Truck Crash Victims' Conference, 1997 - Present
• Obtaining Justice: Criminal vs. Civil Legal Systems, Sorrow to Strength Truck Crash Victims' Conference, 1996 - Present
• Fatigue as a Cause of Truck Crashes, Fatigue and Highway Safety Conference - Vancouver, Washington, 1995 - Present
• Sleep Deprivation: America's Hidden Nightmare, Symposium on Fatigue - San Francisco, California, 1994 - Present
• Developing Areas in Premises Liability - Effective Motion Practice, Practical Skills Course, Praparing Accurate Settlement Documentation, Settlement of Minors' Claims, 1987 - 1996

• Missouri, 1983

• Transportation Research Board ( Current Member and Former Friend of the Board)
• Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association's Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section ( Vice-Chair)
• Truck Ligation Group for the American Association for Justice (Current Member, and Former Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary)
• National Freight Advisory Committee (Former Member)
• Alliance for Safe Highways, Missouri/Kansas (Former Director )
• Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH) (Board Member)
• Parents Against Tired Truckers (PATT) (Board Member)
• Center for Truck Safety (C.T.S.) (Former Director)
• The Brain Injury Association of Kansas City and Greater Kansas City (Former Director)
• National Registry of Who's Who
• The Missouri Bar (Member)
• American Bar Association (Member)
• Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (Member)
• American Association for Justice (Member)
• Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (Member)