Auto Accident Lawyers in Kansas City, Missouri
Did another driver’s reckless behavior cause you injury? Even low-speed collisions can leave drivers and passengers with severe injuries and property damage. Following a car accident, you may find yourself overwhelmed and worry about how you will pay for your medical bills and other expenses from the crash.
If your injuries have left you unable to work, you might be tempted to accept whatever settlement offer the other driver’s insurance company proposes. However, despite how alluring the idea of receiving a settlement offer right away may be, don’t accept it until you have discussed your situation with a Kansas City car accident lawyer at Holman Schiavone, LLC.
Find a Car Accident Lawyer in Kansas City
Our Kansas City car accident attorneys are familiar with the stressors car accident victims experience. We are ready to offer you the guidance and support you need to get the best possible outcome from this challenging situation. Let us seek fair compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider on your behalf and prevent a car accident from harming your financial future.
Contact Local Car Accident Lawyers
You don’t want to navigate the aftermath of a car accident alone. So whether you’re seeking justice for yourself or on behalf of a loved one who suffered a wrongful death, you’ll want a Kansas City car accident lawyer on your side.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Kansas City
Both straightforward and complicated car crash claims can benefit from the guidance of a car accident attorney. During this stressful time, you need the help of a trustworthy law firm that will treat your case with the care it deserves. At Holman Schiavone, LLC, our knowledgeable car accident attorneys use their expertise and years of experience to help car accident victims who are dealing with the fallout of all kinds of collisions, including the following:
Auto Accident Lawsuits
Auto accidents can lead to a number of severe hardships for accident victims and their families. Victims may suffer severe injuries to the brain and spinal cord. These and other severe injuries have lifelong consequences. For those who have lost loved ones in auto accidents, they must contend with the emotional and financial devastation of a wrongful death.
We handle a wide range of motor vehicle accident lawsuits, including:
If you have been injured in an auto accident, it is likely the negligent driver’s insurance provider will try to limit, delay or outright deny your claim. It is very important to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer before talking to an insurance representative. The insurance company may try to get you to make statements that damage your legal prospects. We know how to deal with insurance companies because we handle auto accident lawsuits every day. We have the knowledge to determine how much your claim is worth and will fight for every penny.
Find a Car Accident Lawyer in Kansas City
Our Kansas City car accident attorneys are familiar with the stressors car accident victims experience. We are ready to offer you the guidance and support you need to get the best possible outcome from this challenging situation. Let us seek fair compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider on your behalf and prevent a car accident from harming your financial future.
Contact Local Car Accident Lawyers
You don’t want to navigate the aftermath of a car accident alone. So whether you’re seeking justice for yourself or on behalf of a loved one who suffered a wrongful death, you’ll want a Kansas City car accident lawyer on your side.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Kansas City
Both straightforward and complicated car crash claims can benefit from the guidance of a car accident attorney. During this stressful time, you need the help of a trustworthy law firm that will treat your case with the care it deserves. At Holman Schiavone, LLC, our knowledgeable car accident attorneys use their expertise and years of experience to help car accident victims who are dealing with the fallout of all kinds of collisions, including the following:
Drunk Driving Accidents
When an individual chooses to drive drunk, they aren’t only putting themselves at risk; they are a danger to everyone on the road. This behavior is reckless, and drunk drivers should be held responsible for the damage caused by their choices.
If a drunk driver injures you, schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys. Your attorney can advise you on the best course of action for your situation, and, should you choose to pursue legal action, they will devote themselves to getting you the most favorable outcome.
Once you hire one of our auto accident attorneys, they will begin collecting evidence proving the other driver’s fault. They will also calculate your medical bills, lost wages, and property damage to assess how much the injury has cost and do everything they can to secure the compensation you need.
An Unfortunate Reality
If you’re a responsible driver who would never consider climbing behind the wheel after drinking, you may be shocked to learn that intoxicated driving isn’t a rare occurrence. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly one-third of traffic fatalities involve an intoxicated driver.
Unfortunately, drivers who drive drunk often do it more than once. If the driver who injured you has previously been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or has had their license suspended, your attorney will find out and use this information to help prove the validity of your case.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on car collisions can have devastating consequences. When vehicles are in head-on collisions, they may flip or roll during the crash, making this type of accident one of the most dangerous for drivers and passengers. Since both vehicles are typically traveling toward each other, a significant amount of force is produced on impact. Some injuries frequently resulting from head-on crashes include:
- Back injuries
- Blunt force trauma
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Internal bleeding
- Neck injuries
- Scarring
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash
If a head-on car accident caused by someone else has left you injured, contact a Kansas City car accident lawyer immediately to begin pursuing compensation.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Hit-and-run accidents are incredibly frustrating for victims. Even when witnesses are present and police arrive quickly, the at-fault driver isn’t always found. If the driver can’t be located, you will have to recover compensation for the injuries received in the accident through an uninsured or underinsured motorist auto policy.
You’ll need to entrust your case to a lawyer to increase your odds of filing a successful claim. In order to receive compensation for the damage you suffered, you will have to prove the accident was not your fault and that the expenses you claim are accurate and caused by the collision.
Our lawyers will negotiate with your insurance provider and gather evidence to prove they are accountable for compensating you for your losses. As long as you carry the amount of uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance required in Missouri, your insurance provider is responsible for covering your medical expenses and property damage. However, for them to do that, you’ll have to prove your claim is valid.
Motorcycle Collisions
When you legally operate a motorcycle, you have the same rights as any other vehicle on the road. Sometimes drivers violate these rights by intentionally driving recklessly. Drivers can also collide with motorcyclists because they don’t see them when maneuvering through traffic.
Tragically, fatalities are common in traffic accidents involving motorcycles and cars. Motorcycles don’t provide structural protection to the rider, and helmets and other protective apparel are no match for a vehicle in a crash. In multi-vehicle crashes involving a motorcycle, the odds that the rider will be killed or severely injured are even higher. Injured victims who are seeking restitution for their losses or family members looking to file wrongful death claims should reach out to personal injury lawyers. A lawyer will help them build a strong case against the at-fault party.
Rollover Car Accidents
Rollover accidents can be disastrous. Certain types of vehicles are more vulnerable to rolling over during a collision or under certain road conditions, such as vans and SUVs. If manufacturers of these vehicles fail to implement adequate safety measures to protect passengers during a crash, manufacturers should be held accountable for their negligence.
Taking on an automobile manufacturer will require you to hire a seasoned legal team since manufacturers have their own legal representation looking out for their best interests. In addition, experienced personal injury lawyers will help you determine if you have a product liability case to bring against the automotive manufacturer alongside a car accident case against the at-fault driver.
T-Bone Car Accidents
T-bone auto accidents, also called side-impact accidents, can occur when a driver fails to yield appropriately at intersections or when traffic signals fail and multiple automobiles cross an intersection simultaneously. If a t-bone accident happened because of improper street signage or faulty traffic signals, accident victims might be able to seek compensation from the entity or person responsible for maintaining the signage or signals in addition to the other driver.
However, proving negligence in these situations can be challenging, so contacting a Kansas City personal injury attorney should be the first thing you do after you seek medical attention. You’ll want your legal team to investigate the circumstances surrounding your auto accident while you’re focusing on recovering from the accident.
Schedule a Consultation at Holman Schiavone, LLC
When you’re injured in an accident, your main priority should be recovering from your injuries. We know that dealing with a car accident claim while you are in physical pain from your injuries is a stressful experience.
Dealing with the other driver’s insurance adjuster can leave you feeling frustrated. You may be tempted to accept a lower settlement offer than you deserve just to be done with the situation. The insurance adjuster knows this, and they may pester you more, hoping you will accept an absurdly low settlement. During this vulnerable time, you need someone to fight for you.
The compassionate car accident attorneys in our law firm understand the financial, emotional, and physical strain you are under right now and want to do everything they can to alleviate your stress and secure the compensation you deserve. Schedule a free consultation to discuss the details of your situation, and let our lawyers manage your car collision claim so you can focus your energy on healing.
What Will a Car Accident Lawyer in Kansas City Do for Me?
Car accident attorneys build personal injury cases and pursue compensation for harm caused by at-fault drivers. Since car accidents can leave you with catastrophic injuries that prevent you from working or cause you to require ongoing medical care for the rest of your life, having an auto accident attorney defend your rights can be the difference between struggling financially and having your medical expenses compensated.
Ensure You Understand Your Rights
If you’re like most drivers, you aren’t familiar with personal injury law and how it refers to car accidents. This unfamiliarity makes it impossible for you to protect your rights adequately. The other driver’s insurance company will be working to compensate you as little as possible, so you can’t rely on them to treat you fairly or offer a reasonable settlement.
Unfortunately, unrepresented drivers can often be manipulated into doing or saying things that hurt your claim by the insurance adjuster. When a car accident attorney represents you, they will manage communication with the insurance company about the car wreck.
Having an attorney serve as a go-between prevents the insurance company from exploiting your inexperience. Adjusters know that unrepresented drivers are more likely to accept a meager settlement than one who is working with an attorney or that they might accidentally say something that makes it easy to blame them for the accident.
Don’t take the blame
Since the state of Missouri follows an at-fault system for determining which party must pay for the damage caused, admitting you hold responsibility for the car crash could cost you your ability to file an accident claim. The insurance company may attempt to get you to take back your original statement about how the accident occurred so that they can shift the blame from their driver to you.
A skilled car accident lawyer will keep the insurance company from pressuring you and serve as a defense against their attempts to manipulate you. No matter what the other party’s insurance company tries to tell you, you do have legal options for seeking justice. Working with a lawyer ensures you take advantage of these avenues and don’t lose your opportunity to seek compensation.
Provide Legal Advice
Following a car crash, you’ll likely be overwhelmed, wondering what actions you need to take to protect yourself and file a car accident claim. Unfortunately, crowd-sourcing your loved ones won’t work because if you ask your friends and family what you should do following a car accident, you’ll likely get a variety of answers. And while there’s plenty of information accessible on the internet, you’ll have to discern which sources are trustworthy and which aren’t, which can be tricky and time-consuming.
Both of these methods require you to do enormous amounts of research and legwork and still don’t guarantee that you’ll arrive at a satisfactory conclusion. The last thing you need during this stressful time is to be spending your time trying to decipher which laws apply to Kansas City car accidents.
Look for a lawyer who specializes in car accidents
Working with a personal injury law firm that specializes in Kansas City car accident claims allows you to receive professional advice directly from a trusted source. Your lawyer will educate you on all the legal options available and help you make choices that increase the likelihood that you’ll recover compensation successfully.
Car accident lawyers have years of education and experience in their field, making them well-prepared to handle your case. They will look into the details of your case and help you build the strongest possible case to pursue your claim.
Handle Settlement Negotiation
Going back and forth with the insurance adjuster while you’re healing from car accident injuries isn’t a winning recipe for receiving maximum compensation for the harm you experienced. The adjuster knows this, and they will push you to accept their settlement offer while you aren’t at your best, physically or mentally.
They will also want you to quickly agree to a settlement so that the extent of your injuries hasn’t become apparent. If they can get you to agree to a settlement when you believe your injury is temporary, they can avoid being held responsible for long-term issues caused by the car accident.
Don’t Settle for a subpar settlement
A Kansas City car accident lawyer will keep the insurance adjuster from pressuring you into an insultingly low settlement or one that doesn’t consider your future medical bills. Instead of giving in to the adjuster, they will use evidence such as medical records and bills to prove that the settlement you are being offered is unreasonably low and negotiate to try to get you the maximum compensation possible for your injury claim.
Represent You in Court if Necessary
Most insurance companies prefer to work out your car accident claim without going to court. However, in the event that your situation cannot be resolved, a car accident lawyer in Kansas City will represent you in the courtroom. They will present your car accident case and the evidence showing that you are not the at-fault party.
Your medical bills and documentation of lost wages will be used to prove that the settlement you are asking for is fair for the damage you suffered. Also, your lawyer may detail the physical and emotional damage you experienced because of the accident or use your medical records to prove your injuries were caused in the car crash.
Let a Car Accident Attorney Prove Your Case
In multi-vehicle accidents or collisions where which driver is at fault is questionable, working with a personal injury attorney specializing in auto accidents is essential to getting a favorable outcome for your case. Our legal team will dissect every aspect of your situation to confirm the cause of the car wreck and the at-fault driver. Vehicle accidents are often caused by preventable reasons, such as distracted driving or drunk driving, and the negligent driver should be held responsible.
To receive the maximum compensation for your losses, you must be able to demonstrate how drastically the accident has changed your life. A Kansas City personal injury attorney may contact individuals who witnessed the auto accident or consult experts such as accident scene reconstructionists to form a strong case. The best car accident lawyers know how to prove your losses to the insurance provider and, if necessary, the court.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Cases in Kansas City?
Every state has its own laws regarding how long an accident victim has to pursue a car accident lawsuit. A law referring to how long a victim has to bring a suit to court is called the statute of limitations. In addition, whether the accident caused property damage, personal injury, or death will determine how long the victim has to file a lawsuit.
Missouri’s statute of limitations states that anyone injured in an auto accident, whether a driver, passenger, cyclist, or pedestrian, has five years to file their lawsuit. Car accidents causing property damage are held to the same deadline, and the countdown starts on the date of the accident.
Watch the clock
However, accidents with fatalities have different statutes of limitations. If the victim’s family wants to bring a lawsuit against the responsible party, they must do so within three years of the date of the victim’s death.
Trying to bring a lawsuit against the other driver outside the statute of limitations will most likely result in the responsible party (defendant) filing a motion to dismiss your lawsuit. The court will grant their request unless some unusual circumstance applies to your case.
Should I Hire a Kansas City Car Accident Lawyer After a Minor Crash?
Many drivers feel they don’t need to hire a lawyer to handle their insurance claim if they were in a minor collision. While you can choose to deal with insurance adjusters directly instead of hiring a car accident lawyer in Kansas City, working with a lawyer offers you the greatest chance of maximizing your car accident settlement.
A car accident attorney knows all the intricacies of personal injury law and has experience investigating the various elements that contribute to car crashes. They are also familiar with the negotiation process and willing to go back and forth with the insurance provider until the provider offers you a fair car accident settlement.
Insurance adjusters are also more likely to offer a fair settlement for your car accident case when you work with a Kansas City, MO, lawyer. When a law firm represents you, insurance providers know that you are serious about getting the compensation you are owed. It sends the message that you aren’t going to be intimidated, and insurers know your lawyer won’t let your rights be infringed upon.
Look for a Lawyer Who Works on a Contingency Fee Basis
If you are hesitant to hire a car accident lawyer because you are worried about paying for their services, ask the lawyer you are considering working with about their payment options. For example, many car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means that they receive their fee out of the settlement.
They do not charge for their services if they cannot secure a successful settlement. Keep in mind that although this is a common payment structure, you’ll always want to confirm with your lawyer before entering a contract with them.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents?
Even the most careful drivers can find themselves involved in a car accident. Whether the accident is the sole fault of the other party or parties, or you hold partial responsibility, being in a car accident is a nerve-wracking experience.
Approximately six million car collisions occur in the United States annually, ranging in severity from bumper bumps to multi-vehicle pileups. The following are some of the most common reasons for a car collision resulting in an auto accident case.
Distracted Driving
If you’ve ever told yourself you’ll “just take a quick look” at a text message or taken your eyes off the road to type in the name of a song you want to listen to, you understand how easy it is to be distracted while driving. Somewhat unsurprisingly, distracted driving is the most common type of driver error.
Your reaction time is diminished when you’re distracted, whether by a conversation, a text message, or trying to find a radio station. That means if a car pulls out in front of you, you may not be able to react in time to avoid the crash.
Likewise, trying to do multiple things at once results in doing both of them poorly, and trying to multitask while driving can cause you to migrate from your lane, run stop signs, and break the speed limit because you aren’t focusing your full attention on the road.
Driver Fatigue
Driver fatigue can cause delayed reaction times that lead to traffic fatalities, just like distracted driving and driving under the influence. When you climb behind the wheel while exhausted, you increase the likelihood of missing stop signs and traffic signals, swerving from your lane, and failing to respond quickly to traffic movement around you. Driving while fatigued also puts you at risk of falling asleep at the wheel, which can have horrific consequences for you and those around you.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving while intoxicated isn’t just irresponsible; it’s dangerous, putting everyone on the road with the drunk driver in peril. Alcohol and other mind-altering substances slow reaction time, decrease the driver’s ability to make intelligent decisions and affects aspects of vision such as depth perception.
Driver Inexperience
The more time you spend behind the wheel, the better you will get at predicting and dodging potential hazards. You will also become more relaxed driving in various conditions.
Although even experienced drivers can find themselves in an accident due to another person’s negligent or reckless behavior, they are less likely to get in an accident than inexperienced drivers. Experienced drivers are more comfortable handling a vehicle and have been exposed to more situations on the road than new drivers, allowing them to anticipate and avoid accidents a novice driver might not see coming.
Road or Weather Conditions
When most people think of road conditions, they think of weather-related factors, such as the asphalt being slippery from ice or rain. Although the weather can cause dangerous road conditions, sometimes the road itself is the source of the issue.
Roads that are poorly maintained can contribute to car accidents. For example, streets that are pitted with potholes and dips can make it easy to lose control, and roads with surface damage can make stopping quickly difficult.
Mechanical Failure
Sometimes accidents are caused directly by a mechanical malfunction. When an accident occurs because part of your vehicle was faulty, you may be able to pursue compensation from the manufacturer.
However, just because something on your vehicle broke and contributed to an accident, that doesn’t mean you automatically have a right to compensation from the manufacturer. You will need to discuss your case with your lawyer to determine whether your vehicle’s issue qualifies as a manufacturer defect.
Talk to a Kansas City Car Accident Lawyer
A life-changing accident can happen in an instant, throwing your world into turmoil. Reckless or negligent drivers can cause collisions that leave victims struggling with the weight of medical bills while trying to recover from their injuries. Victims may be unable to return to their job immediately or at all, jeopardizing their financial stability.
If another driver’s poor decision has injured you, don’t count on their insurance provider to look out for your needs. Their provider’s goal is to provide you with the lowest amount of compensation possible, and they are not concerned with whether you can pay your existing medical bills or for future care you may need due to your injuries.
Schedule a Free Consultation Today
Have you or a loved one received serious injuries in an automobile accident? Do you need help pursuing the compensation you deserve, or are you tired of fielding calls from pushy insurance adjusters?
The professional car accident lawyers at our Kansas City law office are ready to fight for every dollar you deserve. Contact Holman Schiavone, LLC, online or at 816-399-5149 to schedule a free consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers serving the Kansas City area today.
