If you suffered an injury in a truck accident that wasn’t your fault, you don’t deserve to deal with the expenses on your own. Speak with our Kansas City truck accident lawyers from The Bruning Law Firm as soon as possible to get the money you deserve.
Contact us today to schedule a free case consultation.
Kansas City Truck Accident Guide
- Why Turn to Our Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyers?
- How Much Is Your Kansas City Truck Accident Case Worth?
- Hotspots for Kansas City Truck Accidents
- Horrible Truck Accidents Lead to Devastating Injuries
- Why You Need Our Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyers to Fight an Insurance Company
- What to Do After a Truck Accident
- We’re Ready to Help You Achieve Justice
Why Turn to Our Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyers?
Of course, you have many choices when looking for a Kansas City truck accident lawyer. However, when you choose The Bruning Law Firm, you’ll have a skilled, experienced attorney on your side who has a track record of success in similar cases.
We’ve helped clients obtain millions of dollars, including a $1.4 million jury verdict for a truck accident victim with a spinal injury. We are ready to seek every dollar you have coming.
These are just a few reasons you should hire our firm.
No Upfront Costs
We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay any upfront legal fees. We only get paid if we win your case. This structure aligns our interests with yours and ensures our services are accessible to those most in need.
You have nothing to lose by choosing The Bruning Law Firm.
Resources and Support
Our law firm has the resources to investigate your accident thoroughly, gather evidence, and consult with experts.
Whether reconstructing the accident scene or consulting medical professionals, we’re well-equipped to build a compelling case on your behalf.
A Powerful Ally
By choosing our law firm for your motorcycle accident case, you gain a partner committed to your recovery and well-being. We advocate fiercely for our client’s rights and work tirelessly to ensure they receive the maximum compensation they deserve
Contact us today to learn how we can help you move forward from this challenging time.
How Much Is Your Kansas City Truck Accident Case Worth?
Estimating the compensation for a truck accident victim’s injuries involves considering several factors and can vary significantly depending on the case’s specifics.
Generally, the nature and extent of the injuries determine the value of your claim, as do the impact on your life, associated costs, and the liability aspects of the accident.
The following is a look at some of the factors that will help determine the amount of compensation you can obtain:
Medical Expenses
This is often the most immediate and quantifiable factor. Compensation should cover all medical treatments related to your injury. Medical expenses include emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, medication, physical therapy, and long-term healthcare needs.
Your Kansas City truck accident lawyer will also consider future medical costs if your injury is severe enough to require ongoing treatment.
Lost Income and Earning Capacity
If you can’t work due to injury, you may also qualify for compensation for lost income. More severe cases where the accident impacts your ability to earn a living in the future may warrant a claim for loss of earning capacity.
A skilled Kansas City truck accident lawyer will factor in your age, career trajectory, and the severity of your disability when calculating your lost earning capacity.
Pain and Suffering
This non-economic damage compensates for the physical pain and emotional distress you’ve suffered – and will continue to suffer while you recover.
Calculating pain and suffering requires a skilled truck accident lawyer. Factors we consider in our calculations include the severity of the pain, duration of recovery, and the overall impact on the victim’s quality of life.
An attorney with The Bruning Law Firm will have the experience to accurately calculate these and other subjective damages.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Truck accident injuries can sometimes prevent victims from engaging in hobbies, exercises, and other recreational activities they once enjoyed.
Compensation might reflect this loss, which is subjective but essential in establishing the accident’s impact on the victim’s life.
Punitive Damages
A jury may award punitive damages in cases involving a truck driver or associated party’s gross negligence or reckless disregard for safety. These not only compensate the victim but also punish the wrongdoer.
We will always examine whether you can seek punitive damages in your case.
Each case is unique, and the compensation will depend on the details of the accident, the evidence available, the skill of your Kansas City truck accident lawyer, and negotiations with insurance companies.
Our experienced attorneys with The Bruning Law Firm can provide a realistic assessment and work to secure the maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.
Hotspots for Kansas City Truck Accidents
Like every major city, Kansas City has areas where truck accidents occur. Thousands of huge commercial vehicles travel Interstates 435, 70, 470, and others daily.
Some of the biggest trouble spots include:
- I-70 and I-670
- I-435 and I-70
- I-49
- I-29 and Barry Road
- I-470 at I-435
- I-470 and U.S. 50
Truck accidents in these and other areas across the state led to 162 tragic deaths in Missouri in a recent year and tens of thousands of severe injuries.
Horrible Truck Accidents Lead to Devastating Injuries
Truck accidents are among the most catastrophic road incidents due to the large size and heavy weight of trucks. These are a few of the most common types of truck accidents and the injuries they cause.
Common Types of Truck Accidents
- Rear-end collisions: These occur when a truck hits the vehicle in front due to the truck’s longer stopping distance. High speeds worsen the impact, often leading to severe damage and injuries.
- Jackknife accidents: This type of accident happens when the trailer skids and forms an acute angle with the cab, resembling a folding pocket knife. It often occurs due to sudden braking or slippery roads.
- Rollovers: Trucks can roll over when drivers lose control, often due to excessive speed, sharp turns, or unstable loads. Rollovers are particularly dangerous as they can involve multiple vehicles and lead to spillage of hazardous materials.
- Blind spot accidents: Trucks have significantly larger blind spots than other vehicles. Accidents frequently occur when trucks change lanes or merge without noticing a vehicle in the blind spot.
- Underride accidents: These extremely dangerous crashes occur when a smaller vehicle slides under the rear or side of a truck, often shearing off the top of the smaller vehicle.
- Lost-load accidents: Improperly secured or overloaded cargo can fall off trucks, creating hazards for other vehicles and leading to accidents.
Common Injuries in Truck Accidents
- Head and brain injuries: Traumatic brain injuries are common in truck accidents due to high-impact collisions. Symptoms can range from relatively minor concussions to injuries that severely damage the brain, affecting cognitive and motor functions.
- Spinal cord damage: These injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, significantly altering a victim’s life. The medical costs and long-term care associated with spinal injuries are substantial.
- Shattered bones: The impact of a truck accident can easily break bones. If a victim has multiple broken bones, they might need surgery to heal correctly.
- Internal injuries: The impact of a truck accident can cause internal bleeding and damage to organs. These injuries are particularly serious because they might not be immediately apparent.
- Cuts and lacerations: Jagged pieces of metal, broken glass, and other types of flying debris can cause severe cuts, which might require stitches and can lead to permanent scarring.
- Whiplash and soft tissue injuries: These are common in almost all types of vehicle accidents, including truck accidents. While sometimes considered less severe, they can lead to long-term discomfort and mobility issues.
Why You Need Our Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyers to Fight an Insurance Company
An insurance company may make a truck accident case unnecessarily complex.
The scale of the damage, the multiple parties involved, and the sophisticated nature of insurance defense tactics all contribute to victims' difficulties in seeking fair compensation.
Here’s a closer look at these significant challenges.
Complex Trucking Laws and Regulations
Truck accidents often involve a complicated web of laws and regulations that govern commercial trucking operations. Federal and state regulations dictate standards regarding hours of service, maintenance, and load securing, among others.
Violations of these regulations can be pivotal in proving negligence, but understanding and demonstrating such violations requires a detailed knowledge of the regulatory landscape.
Insurance companies are well-versed in these regulations and often leverage their extensive knowledge to challenge claims.
The Severe Nature of Injuries and High Claim Value
Due to trucks’ massive size and weight, truck accident injuries are typically more severe than those from car wrecks. Consequently, the financial stakes are higher, and insurance companies are motivated to minimize payouts.
The severity of injuries often leads to substantial claims for medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering, which insurance providers scrutinize intensely.
The potential for significant financial liability makes insurance companies fight harder to reduce their exposure.
Multiple Potentially Liable Parties
Unlike accidents involving only personal vehicles, truck accidents can implicate several parties, including the truck driver, the trucking company, cargo loaders, and vehicle or parts manufacturers.
Each party may have its own insurance provider, leading to a convoluted battle of claims and liabilities among multiple insurers.
Determining who’s at fault involves a detailed investigation and often requires the involvement of accident reconstruction experts and legal professionals. Insurance companies use the presence of multiple parties to deflect responsibility and complicate the claims process.
Aggressive Defense Tactics
Insurance companies handling truck accident claims often employ aggressive tactics to reduce their financial responsibility.
These tactics can include disputing the severity of injuries or suggesting that pre-existing conditions are to blame. Insurers may also deliberately prolong the process, hoping financial pressure will force claimants to accept lower settlements.
Need for Expert Testimony
Given the complex nature of truck accidents, expert testimony is often crucial in proving fault, establishing the extent of injuries, and demonstrating the accident’s impact on the victim’s life.
Insurance companies typically have a roster of experts they rely on to counter such claims, and overcoming this aspect requires the claimant to secure credible expert witnesses, which can be a substantial barrier for many victims.
Because of these challenges, fighting an insurance company after a truck accident requires an effective legal strategy backed by comprehensive evidence and expert testimony.
Our Kansas City truck accident lawyers with The Bruning Law Firm can handle all of these challenges so you can focus on recovering. We’ll level the playing field against deep-pocketed insurance companies and work to secure the compensation you rightfully deserve.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
Once you receive medical care after a truck accident, strengthen your case and position yourself for the best possible outcome.
Diligence in following these steps can significantly increase the compensation you may receive.
Adhere to Your Doctor’s Treatment Plan
Follow your healthcare provider’s treatment plan to the letter. Attend all follow-up appointments, take your prescribed medications, and complete recommended physical therapy sessions.
Compliance isn’t only critical for your physical recovery. It also shows that your injuries were severe and that you took appropriate steps to reduce their impact.
The trucking company’s insurer will closely examine how you follow your plan to evaluate the authenticity and severity of your claim.
Documentation of Expenses and Losses
Keep meticulous records of all your accident-related costs. This documentation should include medical bills, medication receipts, travel costs to attend medical appointments and any modifications needed for your home or vehicle due to your injury.
Also, document any income you lost because you missed work. This detailed documentation helps to establish the accident’s economic impact.
Keep an Injury Journal
Maintain a daily journal detailing your recovery and the challenges you face. Note your pain levels, mobility issues, emotional distress, and how the injuries affect your daily life and relationships. This personal record can be a powerful tool in demonstrating the long-term consequences of your injury.
Obtain a Copy of the Police Report
Obtain a copy of the police report as soon as possible, or we can do so for you. This report contains crucial details about the accident, including potential determinations of fault and citations issued, which are vital for substantiating your claim.
Schedule an Attorney Consultation
Schedule a free consultation with a law firm with extensive experience in truck accident cases, such as The Bruning Law Firm.
Our skilled legal team will use this detailed evidence to build a strong case on your behalf, negotiate with insurance companies, and, if necessary, take your case to court.
Taking advantage of our experience will increase the likelihood of a successful claim and help ensure your compensation reflects the full scope of your losses and suffering.
We’re Ready to Help You Achieve Justice
Please don’t hesitate to contact The Bruning Law Firm online or call our Kansas City office for a free case evaluation. Our experienced Kansas City personal injury attorneys are waiting to evaluate and protect your rights.
Consultations are always free, and we never charge fees unless we win compensation for you. Call us today at (816) 370-5384 to learn more.
