Kansas City Car Accident Attorney

Kansas City Car Accident AttorneyA car accident can change your life in an instant, leaving you with significant harm and financial uncertainty.  However, if you were injured in a car accident in the Kansas City, Missouri area, you are not alone.  At Dickerson Oxton, LLC., our Kansas City car accident attorneys can help.  We have dedicated our practice to helping accident victims and have recovered millions of dollars in car accident cases.

Our law office offers a free and confidential case review where we will listen to your story, thoroughly explain your legal options, and let you know how our attorneys can help. Call us today at (816) 268-1960 to speak with our team.

 

 

Notable Results in Motor Vehicle Collision Cases

  • $1,000,000 Car Accident Involving a Commercial Truck:
    Settlement for a client who suffered severe arm and facial injuries after a truck collision.
  • $850,000 Wrongful Death in a Car Collision:
    Cumulative settlement for the death of a mother and her unborn child for a guardrail that was not timely repaired on a highway.
  • $500,000 Car Accident Involving a Commercial Truck:
    Settlement for a client who suffered severe leg and knee injuries after a truck collision.
  • $350,000 Motor Vehicle Collision in a Construction Zone
    Settlement for an innocent passenger whose driver ran off the road in a construction zone and broke her ankle and wrist.

How Can Dickerson Oxton help You After a Minor Car Accident in Kansas City?

How Can Dickerson Oxton help You After a Minor Car Accident in Kansas City?Many people say to themselves, “I don’t want to pay for a lawyer, I’ll just deal with the claim myself.” Why not just handle the insurance entity directly? Well, without a lawyer, the insurance company may very well try to get you to take compensation that is not very fair to you.

 

Our experienced car accident attorneys can handle the claims process and take on the legwork of negotiating an insurance settlement, which can allow you to focus on recovering.

 

Bills for current and future medical treatment and lost wages due to missed work can be easily calculated, but it’s more difficult to place a monetary value on the loss of quality of life. Crashes that cause permanent or long-term disabilities can place a strain on relationships, hinder you ability to work, and keep you from enjoying life. This is where hiring a Kansas City personal injury lawyer can be crucial, because they will fight for your rights and just compensation not just for the personal injuries themselves, but for the pain they caused. Whether you are recovering at home or in the hospital, our law office is here to work with you and offer support.

Should You Hire an Accident Attorney for a Minor Accident?

Should You Hire an Accident Attorney for a Minor Accident?A lawyer is not necessary after every crash in Kansas City. If you were in a minor car crash, you may be able to settle your case without representation from an attorney. Contacting an injury attorney, however, could help you determine whether hiring one is right for you. Our experienced lawyers offer free, zero-obligation vehicle accident claims consultations, so accident victims can get answers to questions without paying a dime.

 

You can discuss your accident with attorneys for free. A Kansas City personal injury attorney should hold insurance companies accountable for the current and future medical expenses resulting from your, or a loved one, suffering injuries and medical expenses without fault.

 

No law in Kansas City or Missouri states that you are required to hire attorneys after a minor accident. Claimants involved in minor wrecks can often settle their cases successfully with insurance companies without legal intervention. If, however, your case involves a dispute, such as a disagreement regarding liability, a lawyer could help you resolve the dispute while protecting your rights and best interests. A lawyer could also help your case if you notice more serious issues later, such as the symptoms of whiplash a few days later.

 

It is common to hire a car accident lawyer for a collision if an insurance institution questions liability, makes a request for more information and evidence or takes a case to trial. If you cannot settle for a reasonable amount with the insurance entity alone, hiring an experienced lawyer could help you negotiate or take the case to trial in pursuit of better compensation. This gives you the opportunity to rest at home and heal while your lawyer advocates for your rights. Renegotiating with an insurance company or another defendant is easier with qualified attorneys.

 

Is it Worth it To Seek Legal Counsel if an Uninsured Motorist Hit You?

Is it Worth it To Seek Legal Counsel if an Uninsured Motorist Hit You?It is against the law to drive a vehicle in both Missouri and Kansas without the required adequate car insurance. Having little or no insurance could lead to difficult questions of liability after a crash. If the driver that is responsible for your accident does not have enough insurance to cover your losses – or any insurance at all – your claim will take a different direction.

 

You will seek reimbursement from your insurance provider instead of the other driver’s. While this is already the case under Kansas’ no-fault laws, in Missouri you would typically pursue compensation from the other driver’s insurer first.

 

In both states, the law requires drivers to carry $25,000 in uninsured motorist insurance per person and $50,000 per accident. Uninsured motorist insurance protects you if an uninsured or underinsured motorist causes it. Call your insurance provider to report the crash if you find out a driver does not have insurance. Explain to your insurance agent that you will need to file a claim since the other driver is uninsured, and follow the agent’s instructions for filing. If you encounter any issues, it may be worthwhile to hire an attorney to help with the process.

 

Hiring an attorney may be appropriate after an uninsured motorist accident if you suffered serious or catastrophic injuries or lost a loved one. It may also be a good choice if your insurance provider tries to deal with you unfairly. Denying your claim without a valid reason or unfairly delaying your payout could require assistance from an accident lawyer to force the insurance company to treat you fairly. Car accident attorneys can make sure no one takes advantage of you during your uninsured motorist claim.

 

We understand that you may be worried about the cost of hiring a Kansas City auto accident lawyer. The lawyers at Dickerson Oxton, LLC practice law on a contingency fee basis. They do not charge anything unless they secure compensation for their clients. You will never have to pay for your accident lawyer’s services out of pocket. Instead, any legal fees will come directly out of the financial award your lawyer obtained for you. You will pay $0 upfront and $0 if we lose.

 

What Compensation Can Victims Recover After a Car Accident Case?

What Compensation Can Victims Recover After a Car Accident Case?If you are curious what your case could be worth and ready to get started, contact our office online 24 hours a day or by phone to ask an attorney for an in-depth review. Each claim is unique and will lead to different results. The value of your case will depend on the types and severity of your damages. In general, you may be able to receive the full compensation you deserve for losses such as medical bills, property damages, nursing assistance, lost wages, emotional distress and wrongful death.

 

There is no average auto accident case value. Your case could be worth $10,000, $50,000 or over $1 million depending on your specific losses. If you require long-term nursing assistance and are unable to work, your case may be valued higher. In general, the more catastrophic your losses, the more your case will be worth. The actions of the defendant could also determine award amounts such as punitive damages. Our lawyers can help you gather information and calculate your specific economic and non-economic accident losses during a free consultation.

Can I Receive Financial Compensation for Pain and Suffering After a Car Accident?

Can I Receive Financial Compensation for Pain and Suffering After a Car Accident?Pain and suffering is a non-economic damage award that may become part of your case if you or your loved one suffered physical pain, emotional harm, psychological damages, lost quality of life, shortened lifespan, loss of consortium and/or grief. If a jury rules in your favor during a car accident lawsuit, the jury may award these damages through one of two ways: the multiplier method or the per diem method.

The multiplier method is used in cases involving long-term or permanent disabilities. A jury will multiply the plaintiff’s compensatory damage by a number that signifies the severity of the injury, typically between one and five. The per diem method is more common in short-term injury claims, where the plaintiff will most likely recover. It awards an amount per day for the duration of the injury or disability.

How Can An Attorney Help Prove Negligence in a Car Accident Lawsuit?

In order for someone to be proven negligent in an accident in which an injury occurs, five things would have to be true.

  1. Duty – The other person, a.k.a the defendant, owed a duty of care to you, the plaintiff. This is true every time someone drives a car. A duty is owed to all the other drivers that you drive as safely as possible.
  2. Breach of Duty – By failing to exercise reasonable care, the defendant put you in jeopardy. If the defendant was speeding, inattentive or under the influence, these would all qualify as actions which breached the duty of care.
  3. Cause in Fact – The actions of the defendant directly caused harm to you and/or your property, and would not have happened otherwise if the defendant wasn’t caring less.
  4. Proximate Cause – This means that the potential harm caused by the plaintiff should have been foreseeable, which may be the most difficult aspect to prove, depending on the situation.

All four of these things would have to be true in a negligence case stemming from an injury accident. Deciding how much they were at fault may be another issue.

Missouri operates under the comparative fault rule, which means that fault is determined as a percentage. For example, if you are awarded $10,000 in damages from an accident, but were found to be 25 percent at fault, you would only receive $7,500 of that based on your level of fault. Things that may change your percentage of fault depend on vital information, including whether you were wearing a seat belt or whether you disobeyed any rules of the road. Kansas has a modified comparative fault rule, which means that if you are found to be 50 percent or more at fault, you won’t receive any compensation at all.

Determining Who Is At Fault

Under state law, the Kansas City automobile accident fault is determined by the law of negligence. Drivers commuting on public and private roads have what is known as a “Duty of Care” to people sharing the road with them. This duty was created to ensure the safety of people around the driver and extends to pedestrians and cyclists alike. When a driver breaches this duty, thus acting negligently, then that driver is said to be “at fault” or the “causation of” a given accident. Negligence by definition is conduct that someone engages in which is culpable in that it falls short of what a reasonable person would or would not do in a given situation.

 

What Are Common Injuries From Car Accidents?

In The United States, the average individual files a car accident claim once every 17.9 years. For the average person, that means they will be involved in 3-4 accidents in their lifetime.

We understand that the injuries that are sustained in a car accident can vary drastically. From bumps and bruises to life-altering injuries. In the most extreme scenarios, accidents can be fatal.

Below are commonly occurring injuries that can occur after a car accident:

  • Concussions & Traumatic Brain Injuries – Concussions and traumatic brain injuries are commonly involved in auto accidents. When a car suddenly comes to a halt, or experiences a quick change of direction, occupants of the vehicle can experience sudden and irregular movements. This can lead to neck and muscle strains. In certain instances, an individual’s head can come into contact with objects in the interior of the vehicle or windows that can cause a brain injury.
  • Bruising & Contusions – Bruising and contusions can occur from blunt trauma in a car accident. Symptoms of bruises include stiffness, swelling, tenderness around the area, and restricted mobility. Bruises can be alleviated by implementing rest, ice, compression and elevate (RICE).
  • WhiplashWhiplash occurs when one’s head moves back and then abruptly front with significant amounts of force. Whiplash injuries are commonly sustained during crashes.
  • Broken Bones – Broken bones or fractures, can range from a small crack in the bone to a complete break of the bone. Many fractures occur when a bone is impacted by great amounts of external forces that the bone cannot handle. The two main types are closed fractures – where the fracture does not penetrate through the skin – and an open fracture, also called a compound fracture – when the bone penetrates through the skin. Compound fractures are more serious and increases the possibility of infection from a break.
  • Emotional SufferingEmotional suffering and PTSD can occur after an individual experiences a traumatic event like a car accident. PTSD symptoms can include frequent flashbacks of the accident, social isolation, phobias, panic and anxiety and an inability to focus.

It’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible after a person is involved in an accident. Not only can a doctor diagnose and address the medical ailments, the medical report will also be critical in any potential lawsuit. If you or a family member have suffered injury after a car accident in Kansas or Missouri and are ready to pursue justice, contact our office online or by phone to request a free consultation.

 

What Are Kansas City’s Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections?

Although traffic accidents can occur throughout Kansas City, specific areas within the city are prone to experiencing higher rates of collisions than the rest.
The KCPD’s latest 2021 crash data highlighted the top 10 areas where the most crashes occur, including the following:

  1. 1-435 & Holmes Rd. Lane
  2. 1-70 & 1-435
  3. 75th St. & Bruce Watkins Dr
  4. Bannister Rd. & 1-435
  5. 1-470 & Blue Ridge Blvd.
  6. 55th St. & Bruce Watkins Dr.
  7. Front St. & 1-435
  8. Front St. & 1-35
  9. Red Bridge Rd. & 71 Hwy
  10. 1-435 & Woman Rd.

To completely avoid these intersections may not be feasible. However, it’s possible to lessen the accident risk by exercising added caution while maneuvering through them. The KCPD outlined that lane merging, rear ends, inattention, and lane violations as the main preventable causes of Kansas City accidents.

What Is The Statute Of Limitations To File an Accident Claim in Kansas City, MO?

In Kansas, the statute of limitations to file an injury lawsuit is two years. In Missouri, it’s five years. In both states, the clock starts from when the incident first occurred that caused the injury or damage, as opposed to when the injury was discovered. These limitations only apply to the deadline for filing a case in court; the deadlines and process for filing an insurance claim may very well be different.

The statute of limitation laws are why it’s crucial to get medical attention as soon as possible after an accident. Because neither state operates under the discovery rule, it doesn’t matter when an injury is discovered. However, if you do not go to a doctor as soon as possible, the defendant’s insurance may try to deny the full compensation you deserve by saying that your injuries must not have been bad enough to require extensive care.

What Are Common Causes of Car Accidents?

Car accidents can be caused by several different components. From distractions, fatigue, and driving under the influence. Any activity that results in an operator focusing on something else can lead to dangerous conditions and potentially dire consequences.

While many different behaviors and acts can constitute negligent driving, several stand out as the root for a majority of Kansas City car accidents. Below are some of the most common causes of auto accidents in the United States.

  • Distracted Driving – Distracted driving can include cell phone use and adjusting music or entertainment systems. Distracted driving is dangerous behavior. In 2019, 3142 lives were lost as a result of distracted driving.
  • Drowsy Driving – Drowsy driving is both dangerous and preventable. In 2019, 697 deaths occurred from drowsy driving. If you are tired, pull over to a hotel or rest stop and rest.
  • Dunk & Drugged Driving – Drunk and drugged driving is incredibly dangerous. Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can result in serious criminal consequences and catastrophic injuries.
  • Speeding – In 2019, 9478 individuals lost their lives as a result of speeding. When drivers speed, they often lose control. Speeding was a variable in 26% of traffic fatalities.
  • Slick Conditions – Driving in weather is different from driving during a clear day. Precipitation on a windshield can impact a driver’s visibility. Additionally, a vehicle’s brake time is slower when the roads are wet compared to when the roads are dry. When conditions are poor, ensure to reduce speed and provide ample space for the car in front of you to help reduce the possibility of car accidents.

 

Get in Touch With the Best Kansas City Car Accident Lawyers

Find out whether you have grounds for a case and what it could be worth during a free consultation at Dickerson Oxton, LLC.  Get answers to your questions today. You can reach one of our knowledgeable Kansas City car accident lawyers at (816) 268-1960 or you can fill out our free case evaluation form on our website and our office will get back to you promptly.

What our Kansas City Clients have to say

I recently completed a case with Chelsea. My experience was great. I never once felt uninformed or like I couldn’t ask questions. I always felt things were in great hands. They make it so easy to move forward through hard experiences. I would recommend the firm to any of my friends or family.

– Allyssa Kays
⭐⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  

Highly-Rated Auto Repair Shops in Kansas City

  • KC AutoWorx – 505 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108
  • Casey Automotive – 1020 W 24 St, Kansas City, MO 64108
  • Autobahn Motorwerks Inc – 216 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108

*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.