Kansas City has no shortage of car accident lawyers. However, if you want to get fair compensation for your damages, it will take an experienced and resourceful lawyer. Langdon & Emison has over 30 years of experience in protecting the rights of car accident victims in the Kansas City area.
Were you or a loved one involved in a car accident and aren’t sure where to turn? Contact the legal team at Langdon & Emison. We can answer your questions, guide you through the claims process, and stand up to insurance companies who try to avoid paying you what you’re owed.
Contact us today at (816) 793-8867.
Car Accident Facts About Car Accidents in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City is a wonderful place to live, visit, and work. However, like many other major metro areas, there is a steadily growing number of auto accidents.
Despite the fact that there were significantly fewer cars on the road due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an alarming spike in traffic fatalities. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, traffic fatalities increased by 12% in 2020.
Car accidents do not only affect drivers but also passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. In fact, the Kansas City Police Department reports that about 40% of traffic fatalities are not drivers.
Major causes of car accidents in the Kansas City area include:
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Excessive speeding
- Distracted driving
- Failure to obey traffic signs
- Reckless driving
- Failure to adjust driving in inclement weather
- Improper turns
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failure to adjust to nighttime driving
- Car Defects
The one thing that all of these causes of accidents have in common is that they could have been prevented had the driver been paying attention or appropriately adjusted their driving to match conditions on the road.
Car accidents are difficult enough as it is. On top of the trauma and mental suffering that may result from the accident, you also have to deal with costly recovery bills, a damaged vehicle, and a battle with the insurance company to be fairly compensated.
Common Types of Kansas City Car Accidents
Rear-End Accidents
When a rear-end collision occurs, it is often the fault of the driver who hit someone else’s vehicle from behind. The common reason for this is that the person driving behind was distracted and did not brake in time to prevent an accident.
However, there are occasions where the person who rear-ended someone is not at fault. This is often the case in multi-vehicle collisions.
Head-On Collisions
When one driver swerves into an oncoming lane, a head-on collision may result, which is one of the most deadly kinds of vehicle accidents. Distracted driving, drowsy driving, and drunk driving are all common contributors to these collisions.
Multi-Vehicle Collisions
On crowded, busy roads, interstates, highways, and other multi-lane thoroughfares, multi-vehicle accidents occur frequently. Weather conditions, distracted drivers, or imprecise stopping distances are all common causes.
It’s critical to find an outstanding automobile accident lawyer if you’re involved in a multiple-vehicle car accident. Accidents that involve several vehicles may be tough to untangle, so make sure you have competent representation on your side.
T-Bone Accidents
In a side-impact collision, the front of one vehicle impacts another’s side. Side-impact collisions occur in a variety of traffic situations. A T-bone accident may cause significant damage to both vehicles and passengers inside if someone blows through a yellow or red light, disregards regulations at a stop sign, or simply isn’t paying attention.
Hit-And-Run Accidents
Hit-and-run accidents occur when a driver leaves the scene of an accident that they were involved in. These accidents are dangerous to both parties involved, but it is even more dangerous to the individual who was hit by a car and left on the side of the road without any assistance.
Vehicle Rollover
When a motorist rolls their vehicle over, it’s typically because of one of several reasons. Overcorrection, slippery road conditions, and miscalculating turns are all known causes of vehicle rollovers.
If your accident happened on a road that had inadequate signage or wasn’t in good condition, contact our automobile accident lawyers. Together, we can fight for the compensation you deserve and prevent more accidents from happening due to improper maintenance or signage.
Sideswipe Collision
When one vehicle swerves into the next lane and collides with another car traveling in the same direction, it is known as a sideswipe collision. This type of damage might be minor scratches and dents, but it can also result in a car being driven off the road, colliding with an object, or even causing a vehicle rollover.
Single-Car Accidents
These kinds of accidents occur when a driver loses control of a car or is otherwise unable to maneuver, and the car crashes into something – another vehicle, a wall, an animal, or a tree.
When the cause of the accident is something out of your control, contact a car accident attorney in Kansas City to hold the negligent party responsible.
Why Should I Work with a Kansas City Car Accident Lawyer?
As the victim of an accident, you should be able to focus your time and energy on healing. When you work with Langdon & Emison, we can assure you that we will handle the details of the aftermath of your accident so you can give your recovery the attention it deserves and needs.
Some people choose to move forward after a car accident without a lawyer on their side. However, we strongly recommend at least speaking with a car accident lawyer following a crash. Not only can a lawyer inform you of all of your options but they can also protect your legal right to sue and have the experience necessary to prove liability in your case.
Your car accident lawyer will also help ensure your case moves forward on time and that it follows the state’s statute of limitations.
What is the Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Cases in Kansas City?
The statute of limitations for car accident cases in Kansas City follows the statewide statute, which is stated in Missouri Revised Statutes § 516.120. Car accident victims have five years following the date of the accident to take action and seek recovery for their losses.
Even though you may feel like you have enough time following the accident to take action against the negligent driver, you shouldn’t delay progress in your case. Five years can go by quickly, especially when you’re dealing with recovery efforts and the aftermath of a traumatic crash.
Working with an experienced Kansas City car accident lawyer will ensure your case stays on track well within the statute of limitations. Furthermore, the sooner you start working with a car accident lawyer, the sooner they’ll be able to investigate the cause of your accident, gather evidence, and build a strong foundation for your case.
Proving Liability in an Auto Accident Case
One of the most critical aspects of any car accident case is establishing liability and proving negligence. Langdon & Emison is highly skilled in their ability to do this on behalf of their clients.
Our team has handled hundreds of car accident cases and treated each one with the individual attention and time needed to establish a solid case and recover compensation for the victim.
To establish liability, our legal team will prove the following elements:
Duty of Care
Your lawyer will establish the other driver’s legal duty owed to you, the plaintiff. When it comes to car accidents, the legal duty of care owed to others on the road is to drive with reasonable care and to obey all traffic laws.
Breach of Duty
Once a duty has been established, your lawyer will then lay the groundwork for how exactly the other driver breached their duty of care. Whether the at-fault driver was speeding, texting while driving, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or driving recklessly, your lawyer will gather any available evidence that proves the breach of duty.
Causation
Next, your lawyer will prove that the at-fault driver’s actions directly led to your injuries.
Damages
Finally, you and your lawyer must be able to show that you were injured as a result of the at-fault driver’s breach of duty.
Recoverable Damages in Car Accidents
Car accidents are at best inconvenient and at worst, life-altering events. Depending on the type of collision you were involved in, you could rack up serious hospital bills and face a lengthy and ongoing recovery period.
As the victim of a car accident, you can recover economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages, which aim to help restore a person’s measurable losses and can usually be substantiated by bills or invoices, often include:
- Hospital bills
- Physical therapy costs
- Ambulance fees
- Cognitive therapy costs
- Chiropractic treatments
- Permanent disability
- Counseling
- Surgery
- Car repairs or vehicle replacement
- Rental car fees
- Personal property lost or damaged in the accident
- Income lost due to missed work
- Loss of future earning potential
- Diminished earning capacity
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, compensate victims for subjective losses and can include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish or distress
- Mental trauma
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Sexual dysfunction
- Severe scarring or disfigurement
- Physical impairment
- Depression
- Anxiety
Our Car Accident Attorneys in Kansas City are Here for You Every Step of the Way.
A car accident can be an extremely frightening and traumatizing experience. However, the aftermath of a car accident can also add a great deal of stress. Instead of fighting on your own and taking on insurance companies who have no interest in helping you move on with your life, turn to the trusted lawyers at Langdon & Emison.
Over the last 30 years, our legal team has recovered nearly $1 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of car accident victims and their families. Let us do the same for you. With a proven track record of getting things done the right way, we look forward to helping you recover and move on with your life.
Send us a message online or call us at (816) 793-8867 to schedule your no-obligation, risk-free case evaluation. Our team is standing by to help you navigate this challenging time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Should I Hire a Kansas City Car Accident Lawyer?
If you or a loved one have been in a car accident in Kansas City, you know the devastating effects that can follow in the aftermath of a crash. Crushing hospital and recovery bills, trauma and PTSD, lost time from work—all unfortunate side effects of being involved in a crash caused by a negligent driver.
With an experienced lawyer on your side, you have a fighting chance of recovering compensation to cover your damages and losses. Our legal team provides top-notch service and representation to Kansas City car accident claimants and will do everything in its power to get you the justice you deserve.
The Other Driver’s Insurance Company is Contacting Me and Requesting a Recorded Statement. What Should I Do?
After any car accident, it’s key that you remember that insurance companies are not on your side. No matter how friendly and empathetic the claims representative seems, keep in mind that insurance companies have one goal: to increase their bottom line. They do this by reducing the amount they pay out in claims.
After a car accident, an insurance company rep will likely contact you to get your side of the story. They’ll often request a recorded statement. While you can and should remain calm, you are in no way required to provide a recorded statement, explanations of your injuries, or any sort of statement regarding the accident.
In fact, it’s more beneficial to you to opt to speak to a car accident lawyer first before telling your side of the story.
When Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
The sooner you hire a car accident lawyer, the sooner you will be able to fight for the compensation you need to recover. The car accident lawyers at Langdon & Emison have the experience, determination, and skill level needed to represent you.
It’s also crucial to hire a lawyer as soon as possible because there is the possibility that your case will need to go to trial. This is often the result if insurance companies are not willing to negotiate in good faith. You need a lawyer who has the skills needed to fight for justice on your behalf out of and in the courtroom if necessary.
Should I Still Seek Medical Attention Even if I’m Not Seriously Injured?
Even if you were in an accident and don’t appear at first glance to be seriously injured, you should still see a doctor and receive a full medical examination. Often, people are given a false sense of security due to the high levels of adrenaline that come with an intense experience such as an accident. However, it can take anywhere from a few hours or days, or even longer, for the full extent of the injuries to become apparent.
Don’t wait any longer than you have to to see a doctor; delayed injuries after a car accident are more common than you think. Otherwise, an insurance company will surely use this as evidence to deny or reduce your claim.
If you have additional questions, browse our Car Accident FAQs for more information.
