Kansas City Truck Accident Attorney
Truck drivers are required to adhere to strict federal regulations designed to protect road users. Legal obligations such as restricted driving time, taking plenty of breaks, and being in good health, are often ignored. As a result, there are large numbers of accidents involving trucks every year, and that number has increased by more than 50% since 2009!
Truck accident statistics are shocking. Kansas sees over 3,800 truck accidents each year, and Missouri sees more than 2ooo. Truck accidents are incredibly serious and can often result in severe injuries and even the tragic loss of life. Therefore, negligent parties must be held accountable for their actions.
At Wendt Law, we are committed to making the roads of Kansas City a safer place to be.
However, our top priority is our clients. Following a truck accident, it is essential that you have time to rest and recover, we will take over the legal battle for you, and fight tirelessly for the compensation you deserve.
Often Kansas city truck accidents leave victims with physical, mental, and financial challenges that can affect them for the rest of their lives. We can help you seek compensation for not only your medical bills and lost wages, but also your emotional suffering, and any ongoing costs as a result of the accident.
Considering the devastating aftermath of traffic accidents it is essential that you have a trucking accident lawyer who has the skills, experience, and resources to handle your case with the dedication it deserves.
At Wendt Law, our award-winning Kansas City truck accident lawyers have over 50 years of combined experience, including numerous trucking accident claims. We are also proud to be spearheaded by one of the Top 50 Super Lawyers in Kansas City, Samuel Wendt. When you obtain representation from us, you can rest easy knowing that everything possible is being done for your case.
We believe that everyone should have access to legal aid, which is why we work on a contingency basis. This means we only take payment if your case is successful. We also offer a free consultation, so anyone can seek immediate legal advice when they need it.
Call us now at 816-542-6734.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Kansas City
Some of the most common causes 0f truck accidents include:
- Overloaded commercial trucks.
- Passenger vehicles tailgate and drive too close to the truck.
- Distracted driving such as texting and driving.
- Driver fatigue.
- Transporting hazardous materials without proper precautions.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Shifting loads inhibits the driver’s ability to drive the vehicle safely.
- Aggressive driving behaviors.
- Mechanical failures
- Inadequate training
- Tire blowouts.
Failing to Adhere to Federal Legislation
Truck driver negligence is one of the most common causes of truck accidents, however, trucking companies are often at fault. Trucking companies regularly put extra pressure on their staff to drive for long hours, and to avoid taking breaks.
When a driver or trucking company fails to adhere to federal legislation, fatal accidents are often the result. Drivers of large trucks are required to:
- Limit their time on the road to 11 hours maximum.
- Take at least a 30-minute break for every 8 hours of driving.
However, when there is a lot of traffic, and truck drivers have deadlines and quotas to meet, it is not uncommon for them to ignore these laws. If a truck driver remains on the road for 3 or more hours over these limits, they can face civil penalties.
Truck drivers are also required to undergo medical exams by professionals registered with the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners to ensure they do not suffer from any health problems that may impact their driving abilities.
Trucking companies must also maintain vehicles and keep logbooks for driver hours. Trucking companies deal with car accidents all the time and know-how to limit their responsibility. They may rush vehicle repairs and even produce fraudulent logbooks, to negate the evidence against them. Experienced Kansas City truck accident attorneys will not stand for this, and will know how to uncover evidence.
Ask an Accident Lawyer: Who is Liable For Truck Accidents in Kansas City, MO?
Many truck accident cases involve catastrophic injuries that significantly impact a person’s quality of life. Truck accident fatalities are also far too common, and their families deserve to seek justice.
Truck accident victims are entitled to compensation for both their financial and emotional suffering, however, in order to successfully claim compensation, the first step is to determine who was at fault for the accident. Truck accident lawyers in Kansas City can help you to determine, and evidence, who the at-fault party was, and who therefore is liable to pay your damages.
Trucking Companies
Trucking companies are often at fault for truck crashes and can be found liable if they:
- Cut corners when hiring staff, failing to ensure that the people they hire are safe to drive a commercial vehicle.
- Inadequately train staff.
- Encourage drivers to work for long hours, or take insufficient breaks.
- Fail to ensure that vehicles are safe for use.
- Overload vehicles in order to try and make more money.
Truck Driver Liability
Truck drivers are also frequently liable for truck crashes. They may act recklessly, or negligently while operating a vehicle. All drivers are expected to act in a reasonable manner to keep those around them safe. This means following the rules of the road and making decisions as a reasonable person would. Due to the nature of commercial vehicles and their potential to cause catastrophic injuries, drivers should take extra care. If they don’t then they should be held responsible.
Manufacturers or Mechanics
Regardless of whether someone is driving a motorbike, car, or truck, vehicle safety is paramount. Too many accidents are caused by brake failure, tire blowout, or jammed accelerators. In these situations, it could be the manufacturer or retailer who installed faulty parts. It could also be a mechanic who failed to service, diagnose, or repair a fault due to their own negligence.
The Cargo Company
Loading trucks is a careful process. Trucks will have very strict specifications regarding the size and weight that can be loaded onto them. They must also be secured carefully. If a trailer or a truck is improperly loaded then it can cause them to tip over, leading to serious accidents.
The Owner of the Truck
Owners of commercial vehicles are expected to know who is driving their trucks. If they fail to check that someone is licensed and qualified to drive their vehicle then they could be found liable.
Government
Sometimes damaged roadways or road debris can cause trucking accidents. In these situations, it could be a government body responsible for maintaining the road that is to blame.
Damages For Truck Accident Injuries in Kansas City, MO
If you or someone you love has suffered severe injuries in a truck accident, then you deserve compensation and our Kansas city personal injury lawyers can help. Victims are often left with broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or even life-threatening injuries that can inflict a long road to recovery.
The physical battle is only half the story, the emotional trauma of both the accident itself, the injuries that incur, and the changes that victims must make in their lives must also be considered when fighting for a fair settlement.
At Wendt Law, our truck accident attorneys in Kansas City know how to maximize potential compensation.
Large insurance companies and trucking companies will have plenty of experience limiting liability and restricting how much they pay out in compensation. This makes it important for you to level the playing field. You can do this by securing your own, experienced representation.
In a free consultation, we can give you an idea of what your case could be worth.
The damages you can fight for include:
Medical Costs
A car accident involving large trucks often leaves victims with severe injuries that lead to long hospital stays. Costs quickly mount up, and you deserve to be compensated.
Future Medical Bills
If you have suffered injuries that are going to require ongoing treatment, physiotherapy, or home adjustments, then all of this should be reflected in your settlement. Our team will consult with medical professionals to evidence your claim and determine what your future medical costs could look like.
Lost Wages
Hospital stays and follow-up appointments inevitably lead to lost wages, which could make paying medical bills even more stressful if you are not properly compensated.
Future Earning Potential
Following an accident with a commercial truck, you could be left with injuries that prevent you from continuing with the same work as before. Our team can help you to calculate the cost of future lost earnings.
Lost Benefits
If your job came with benefits such as medical coverage and retirement plans, then losing your job is more costly than just your wages. A skilled truck accident attorney in Kansas City will fight for a settlement that properly reflects your struggles.
Property Damage
Truck accident cases involve property damage. Cars and other vehicles are often completely written off in the incident. We will also help you recover property damage, including any items in your vehicle that could have been damaged such as your phone.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering damages are designed to compensate you for your emotional suffering. These types of damages can be very challenging to quantify. Unlike, medical bills they don’t have a clear number attached to them.
A Kansas City truck accident attorney at Wendt Law has the skills and experience necessary to recover compensation, taking into account factors like your non-economic damages, such as:
Loss of Consortium
Kansas City truck accidents impact a lot of people, not only the people who are directly involved, but also their families. Sometimes families may have to become carers, or victims may be unable to carry out the same duties or provide the same level of care and support for their loved ones. This is known as loss of consortium.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Truck accident cases often have long-lasting consequences that can affect victims’ quality of life. Serious injuries may prevent people from enjoying activities, engaging in sports, returning to work, or attending certain social events.
Mental Anguish
Truck crashes are incredibly traumatic and can lead to ongoing emotional suffering including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are designed to punish an at-fault party who acts with gross negligence. They are not always awarded, but some examples include commercial truck accidents caused by someone driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or a trucking company that failed to fix a known fault with a vehicle.
Wrongful Death
If you have lost a loved one in a truck crash, then you deserve fair compensation that takes into account aspects such as funeral costs, loss of consortium, and loss of income to a family household.
What Our Truck Accident Attorneys in Kansas City Can Do For You
In Kansas City, depending on what side of the border you are on, you could be dealing with Kansas or Missouri trucking laws. Navigating the legal system in either state is incredibly complex, and can cause people a lot of stress when they should be focused on their recovery.
At Wendt Law, we offer everyone a free consultation. In this meeting, you can speak to a Kansas City truck accident lawyer and ask any questions you need to ask before you agree to representation.
We also work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that if we do not win your claim, you will not pay anything. That is how confident we are that we are the right people to handle your case.
Our personal injury attorneys have the skills, experience, and resources necessary to fight for maximum compensation.
Filing Court Documents
If you fail to file court documents correctly and on time then it could cost you extra time and money, it could even result in your case being unsuccessful. We will make sure that everything is filed correctly and in line with legislation.
Providing Evidence
Your Kansas City truck accident attorney will dedicate themselves to collecting strong evidence, and therefore maximizing your compensation. Evidence will include photos from the scene, surveillance footage, police reports, witness statements, medical records, trucking company records, and expert testimony from accident reconstruction specialists and medical professionals.
Following trucking accidents, trucking companies may act quickly to eliminate evidence. They may have the truck repaired quickly, or even manipulate logbooks. Therefore, you should contact a truck accident lawyer in Kansas City as soon as possible, so that they can protect the evidence.
Determining The Value of Your Truck Accident Case
The amount you receive in compensation is determined by both your economic and non-economic damages. However, a skilled Kansas City truck accident lawyer will understand how to maximize your claim.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
Insurance companies did not get to be as big as they are by paying out large amounts in compensation. In Kansas City, trucking accidents incur big bills, but if you say anything to an insurance company that they can use against you, it could hinder your ability to claim compensation.
Fortunately, when you agree to representation from us, we will handle all communication with insurance companies. We will not settle for less than what you deserve.
We always recommend contacting a truck accident attorney in Kansas City before you call your insurance company. However, if you do contact them, stick to the facts of the case, do not admit fault, and if they push you for information simply tell them that your lawyer will be in touch.
Maintaining Communication
The attorney-client relationship is of the utmost importance to us. We will maintain communication throughout the process and will always be on hand to answer your questions, and offer support and guidance when you need it.
Skilled Representation in Court
Wherever we can, we will negotiate truck accident claims outside of court, to avoid court costs However, if the defendant refuses to accept a fair settlement, then we will be prepared to fight your case in court.
Contact The Truck Accident Lawyers at Wendt Law in Kansas City Today!
Wendt Law is prepared to handle your truck accident case in Kansas City. We know that the aftermath of a truck crash can be incredibly stressful, and the emotional pain can be worsened by the financial consequences. Negligent parties must be held accountable, and you deserve fair and just compensation.
Considering the life-altering effects of truck accident injuries, it is essential that you do everything you can to protect your future. Once you agree to a settlement, you will be unable to negotiate for a higher amount. If you have ongoing medical expenses and lost wages, then this could make life unnecessarily difficult.
Contact Wendt Law today for a free case evaluation about your trucking accident claim. At the very least you will have a better understanding of your case, and in the best-case scenario, you will secure quality representation from a law firm that has your best interests at heart.
Contact us today at 816-542-6734.