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If you were injured in an accident in Kansas City, you have the right under Missouri law to seek payment for the harm caused by someone else’s actions. But what does that really mean for you and your family?
It means the person or company at fault can be held responsible for your medical bills, your lost income, and the ways the injury has rewritten your life. However, securing that payment involves deadlines, specific evidence, and negotiations with insurance companies that are built to protect their own financial interests.
Trying to manage a legal claim while recovering from an injury is a heavy weight to carry. A Kansas City, MO personal injury lawyer can take that burden from you. We handle the paperwork, the investigation, and the insurance adjusters, letting you focus completely on your health.
Walner Law has been representing injury victims for decades. If you’re unsure what to do next, we’re available to answer your questions. For a free, no-obligation consultation, call us at (312) 410-8496.
Since 1961, our firm has focused on one thing: helping people recover after an injury. That singular focus is the bedrock of the advice and representation we provide.
Though our offices are in Chicago, our work isn’t defined by city limits. We regularly manage cases for clients in Kansas City and across the region, applying the same determined approach that has built our firm’s reputation. Here’s what that means for your case:
Let our experience work for you. Schedule a free case review to discuss your Kansas City personal injury claim with our team.
After an injury, the bills start arriving almost immediately. Medical treatments, prescription costs, and the loss of a steady paycheck quickly create a financial strain. The purpose of a personal injury claim is to provide the funds to cover every loss the accident caused, both today and tomorrow.
Our work involves a detailed accounting of every cost and loss to ensure the demand we make reflects the true value of your claim. In Missouri, compensation, legally known as “damages,” is broken into a few categories:
These are the direct, verifiable financial losses you’ve incurred.
These damages compensate you for the intangible, but very real, human cost of an injury.
In some rare cases, Missouri law allows for a third category: punitive damages. Unlike the damages above, which are meant to compensate you, punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant for extreme or malicious behavior and deter others from similar conduct. To be awarded, we must prove by “clear and convincing evidence” that the defendant intentionally harmed you or acted with a flagrant disregard for the safety of others.
Missouri follows a legal doctrine called “pure comparative negligence.” This rule means you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident.
Your total compensation is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.
Because of this rule, the other party’s insurance company will conduct a thorough investigation to find any evidence that could be used to assign a percentage of fault to you. Our job is to build a strong case to counter these arguments and protect you from being assigned any unfair blame.
The actions you take in the minutes, hours, and days after an accident can have a significant impact on your health and any future legal claim. Here are the practical steps you should prioritize:
While an accident can occur anywhere, data shows that certain areas in Kansas City are hotspots for collisions. In one recent year, Kansas City saw 102 traffic-related fatalities, an increase from the previous year. A significant number of serious crashes happen on a handful of major roads and at complex intersections.
Analysis of crash data consistently points to several areas where drivers should use extra caution:
Local studies point to recurring themes in serious crashes, including aggressive driving, high speeds, and lane departure issues. Many of the city’s most dangerous roads are part of a “high injury network,” where street design, high traffic volume, and speeding contribute to a disproportionate number of severe incidents.
A personal injury claim is a civil action that allows you to seek compensation when you are harmed by another party’s carelessness. The legal concept at the center of these claims is negligence.
In simple terms, negligence means that someone had a responsibility to act with reasonable care, they failed to do so, and their failure caused your injury. To build a successful claim, we must demonstrate four elements:
Our firm manages a wide variety of injury claims, including:
This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. For most personal injury cases in Missouri, you have five years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. If you do not file within this window, the courts will almost certainly refuse to hear your case, and you will lose your right to pursue compensation forever.
Soon after an accident, you will likely hear from an insurance adjuster. They may be from your own insurance company or the at-fault party’s insurer.
It is helpful to remember that an insurance company is a business. Its responsibility is to its shareholders, which means it must balance paying claims with maintaining profitability. This creates a direct conflict with your goal of receiving full compensation. The adjuster’s job is to resolve your claim for the lowest amount possible. Their investigation will look for any evidence to argue that you were at fault or that your injuries are not as serious as you claim.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
If the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover your damages, you may still be able to get compensation. We would look to your own auto insurance policy for Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. This is a specific part of your policy designed for exactly these situations.
The majority of personal injury cases are resolved through a negotiated settlement without ever going to trial. However, as mentioned earlier, we prepare every case as if it will be decided by a jury. If the insurance company refuses to make a fair settlement offer, filing a lawsuit is the necessary next step to pursue the compensation you need.
Yes, but claims against government entities in Missouri are very different. They operate under a legal principle called sovereign immunity, which has strict rules and much shorter deadlines. Under state law, you generally must provide a formal written notice of your claim within 90 days of the injury. Because of this tight deadline, it is best to speak with an attorney immediately if your injury occurred on public property.
This is common, especially with soft-tissue injuries like whiplash. The five-year statute of limitations in Missouri generally starts on the date the injury occurred. However, the most important thing is to seek medical attention as soon as you feel pain. This creates a documented link between the accident and your injury, which is a key part of your claim.
You can request a copy of an accident report online from the Kansas City Police Department. There is a small fee for the report. As part of our investigation, our firm will obtain all official reports for you.
The time after an injury is often filled with questions and uncertainty. You do not have to find the answers on your own. Our team is here to provide the clear, straightforward advice you need to make the best decision for yourself and your family.
If you’ve been injured in Kansas City, let us help you secure the resources you need to heal and rebuild. Call Walner Law today for a free, confidential consultation at (312) 410-8496.
