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If a car accident in Kansas City injured you, Missouri law gives you a direct path to seek payment for the harm caused by another driver’s negligence.
This means you have the right to demand compensation for your medical bills, your lost income, and the ways this injury has rewritten your daily life. The moments after a crash are jarring and confusing, but understanding your rights is the first step toward regaining control.
At Walner Law, we have spent years focused on car accident claims. We know that legal paperwork is the last thing you want to think about while you’re trying to heal. If you have questions, call us for a free consultation to understand your options. You can reach us at (312) 410-8496.
For decades, our firm has concentrated on personal injury cases, securing significant settlements for clients involved in serious collisions. We have a deep understanding of how to build a formidable case, anticipate insurance company tactics, and present compelling evidence.
We believe in direct, personal attention. When you work with us, you are not just another case file. We take the time to understand how the accident has affected your life, from the physical pain to the financial strain. Our purpose is to shoulder the legal burdens so you can focus completely on your recovery.
We handle cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing unless and until we secure compensation for you.
We provide a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your accident. This is an opportunity for you to get answers and understand the strength of your case.
After a crash, financial worries can mount quickly. Medical bills accumulate, you may be unable to work, and watching your savings dwindle only adds to the stress. The goal of a car accident claim is to secure compensation that makes you “whole” again by covering every loss the accident caused.
But what does that include? It is more than just the medical bills in your mailbox today. It includes the physical therapy you might need next year. It’s the lost future earnings if you cannot return to your job. Insurance companies sometimes make a quick offer that fails to account for these long-term costs, leaving you financially exposed later on.
Missouri law allows you to pursue compensation for a wide range of damages, which are generally divided into three categories. We work to identify and calculate every loss to ensure we are pursuing the maximum compensation available.
These are the tangible, verifiable financial losses you have incurred.
These losses are intangible but just as real. They compensate you for the personal, human cost of the accident.
In some cases, Missouri courts may award punitive damages. These are not meant to compensate you for a loss, but to punish the defendant for extreme misconduct and deter others from similar behavior. Punitive damages are reserved for cases where the at-fault party showed a deliberate and flagrant disregard for the safety of others, such as in some drunk driving or road rage incidents.
Missouri uses a legal concept called pure comparative fault. Simply put, this means you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident.
Your percentage of fault reduces your final compensation award. Insurance companies conduct thorough investigations, looking for any evidence to argue you were at fault. Our role is to keep them accountable and ensure no amount of blame is unjustly placed on you.
Kansas City unfortunately sees more car accidents than any other city in Missouri. In one recent year, the city recorded 102 traffic fatalities, continuing a troubling trend.
Police reports and traffic data consistently point to several high-risk areas. We frequently see accidents at:
Our role is to manage this process, making sure every detail is handled correctly and on time.
In Missouri, you generally have five years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is known as the statute of limitations.
While five years may seem like a long time, it is not a reason to delay. Evidence gets lost, witness memories fade, and building a strong case requires time. If you miss this deadline, you will almost certainly lose your right to pursue compensation forever.
For claims involving a wrongful death, the deadline is much shorter: three years from the date of death.
Shortly after the accident, you will almost certainly receive a call from the other driver’s insurance adjuster. It is important to understand their role.
The adjuster works for their company, which is a for-profit business. This means they must balance paying valid claims with protecting their company’s financial interests. Their objective is to resolve the claim for the lowest amount possible.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
While we manage the legal work, there are several things you can do to strengthen your claim and protect your right to fair compensation.
Yes. Because Missouri is a pure comparative fault state, you can pursue a claim even if you were partially to blame. The key is to ensure you are not assigned an unfair percentage of fault, which is a primary focus of our work.
Missouri law requires all drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. This coverage is part of your own auto insurance policy and is designed to pay for your injuries if you are hit by a driver with no insurance or a hit-and-run driver. If the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough to cover your damages, you may be able to use your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, if you have it.
It varies. A straightforward case might settle in a few months, while a complex case involving serious injuries could take a year or more, especially if a lawsuit is necessary. The timeline is tied to how long it takes for you to reach maximum medical improvement.
Most car accident cases are settled out of court through negotiations with the insurance company. Filing a lawsuit is a step in the process used to move negotiations forward, but it does not guarantee a trial. Our goal is always to secure a fair settlement without the need for a trial, but we prepare every case as if it will go before a jury.
Yes, you should use your health insurance for immediate medical treatment. Your health insurer may have a right to be reimbursed from your final settlement—a process called subrogation—which is something we manage for our clients.
The road to recovery after a car accident is challenging enough without the added stress of a legal claim.
Protect your rights and your future. If you have questions about your car accident, call Walner Law today for a free, confidential case review. We are here to help you understand the path forward.
Contact us now at (312) 410-8496.
