Trucking companies have a lot of money at risk when their drivers cause Kansas City truck accidents. A truck can weigh up to 20 times more than a passenger car. When a trucker loses control and crashes, passenger vehicle occupants can be seriously injured or die.
Knowing where and why truck accidents happen in our community is important if you live or travel in Kansas City. Talk to a Kansas City truck accident lawyer immediately if a truck driver’s negligence injured you. You can have severe injuries that change your life, such as burns, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, lacerations, amputations, and internal injuries. You’ll need plenty of money for your treatments and recovery.
The truck company has plenty of legal and financial resources and will attempt to undermine or deny your claim. You need to fight back with a seasoned truck accident attorney who will stand up for your rights and never back down.
Missouri Commercial Truck Accidents
Missouri and Kansas City are growing, and thousands of trucks cross the state daily. Sadly, the number of serious types of truck crashes is rising. The Missouri State Highway Patrol states there were 15,000 total truck crashes in the state in 2022. There were 120 reported deaths related to truck crashes in the state in 2022.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that annual deaths in Missouri from truck crashes rose 58 percent between 2012 and 2022. You should immediately speak to a Kansas City truck accident lawyer if a trucker injured you recently. Your attorney will strive to prove that the trucker or another party neglected their duty of care and injured you.
Where Do Most Truck Accidents Happen in Kansas City?
Recent crash data released by the city government states that the following areas are some of the worst in Kansas City for truck crashes:
- I-70, where it intersects with I-670 and US 71 Highway
- I-435, where it intersects with I-70
- US 71 Highway intersection with 63rd Street
- I-29, where it intersects with Barry Road
- I-470, where it intersects with I-435 and US Highway 50
Prospect Avenue, Ward Parkway, Troost Avenue, and Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard are other hazardous roads for truck and car accidents. In the northeast, the Independence Avenue bridge is another common spot for deadly truck accidents in Kansas City. Police report that at least 40 tractor-trailers have hit the bridge since 2020.
Why Are Kansas City Trucks Often In Severe Accidents?
Kansas City, Missouri, is a major thoroughfare for tractor-trailers crossing the United States. There are many truck accidents in busy Kansas City every year. The following factors often cause them:
Size Disparity
Because of the massive difference in size between cars and trucks, tractor-trailers are frequently involved in severe and fatal crashes. For example, even a rear-end accident in which a truck hits a car at low speed can cause severe injuries. Trucks weigh tens of thousands of pounds more than passenger cars.
Blind Spots
Commercial trucks are easy to see, but the driver may not see you. Big rigs usually offer truckers a good road view but have large blind spots in truck accidents. It is difficult for the driver to see directly in front and behind. The trucker also may have difficulty seeing cars on the sides near the cab.
Truck drivers are often at fault if they change lanes into other vehicles. You should speak to a truck accident attorney if a truck merged into your vehicle and caused an accident.
Reduced Maneuverability
Big rigs cannot stop or turn as quickly as cars. The truck’s length and width make it hard to turn unless it turns wide. Also, heavy trucks are at a higher risk of losing control and rollover, which can damage or crush smaller vehicles next to them.
Weather Issues
Tractor-trailer drivers have difficulty seeing and maintaining traction in bad weather. Poor visibility, wet roads, rain and snow, and wind gusts can cause major truck crashes. The truck driver is supposed to drive with a higher duty of care than other drivers, but sometimes, the trucker may be negligent and cause an accident.
Large Loads
Truck crashes in Kansas City can be devastating because rigs weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. That huge load slamming into a 4,000-pound car can cause catastrophic accidents. Some accidents cause devastating injuries or death. Talk to a wrongful death attorney in Kansas City if you lost a loved one in a truck crash.
What Causes Kansas City Truck Crashes?
There are many reasons for truck crashes in Kansas City. Generally, truck drivers cause the majority of truck crashes, but there are others sometimes at fault:
- Driver fatigue: Kansas City truck drivers must follow hour-of-service (HOS) rules for driving and resting. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration administers these rules. Unfortunately, the pressure to make money and follow carrier orders may cause truckers to drive when they are tired. A truck accident attorney can review the truck driver’s log to learn if they were driving too long without mandatory breaks.
- Distracted driving: Just because a trucker has a CDL doesn’t mean they can’t surf the Web or text while driving. Professional drivers spend long hours behind the wheel and may be tempted to use a handheld phone. One or two seconds of distraction when driving a huge truck can trigger a catastrophic crash.
- Improper load: Shifting truck cargo can cause the trucker to lose control of the truck and cause a rollover or other accident. The crew or company that loaded the truck can be liable for your injuries.
- Drunk driving: Truckers have CDLs, and they are severely punished for drunk or drugged driving. Truckers are breaking the law if they have a BAC of .04 percent. They can lose their license if convicted of a DUI, and they can be sued in civil court.
- Maintenance problems: Truckers must check their rigs at the start and end of every work day. If there is a maintenance problem, the carrier must take the truck out of service. However, truckers and maintenance crews may need to pay more attention to their duties to keep the vehicle moving. A truck accident lawyer can review the truck’s maintenance records to determine if there was negligence.
How Can A Truck Accident Lawyer In Kansas City Help You?
Truck accidents are more complex and usually involve more potentially liable parties than passenger vehicle crashes. A truck accident attorney is vital to being fairly paid for your medical bills, lost earnings, property damage, and pain and suffering. Getting the most money for your losses is difficult without a seasoned attorney helping you. Some essential duties of a tractor-trailer crash attorney are:
Investigate The Truck Crash
Your truck accident attorney will perform an independent crash analysis to determine the cause and fault. They will collect and review police reports, witness statements, photos and videos, black box data, vehicle damage evidence, cell phone records, telemetry data, and more.
Next, your attorney will attempt to use the
to show who caused the accident and why. Doing so is essential to receiving fair compensation in a claim or lawsuit.
Find All Liable Parties
The truck driver may be primarily responsible for your accident injuries, but there may be other liable parties in a truck crash. The truck, parts manufacturer, cargo, and maintenance crew may also be partially at fault. There can be several insurance policies that must pay for your injuries and damages.
Determine Your Full Losses
A skilled truck accident lawyer will carefully add up all your losses, including current and future medical care, lost earnings, lost income earning capacity, pain and suffering, mental anguish, property damage, and more. Your lawyer will retain various experts to document and attest to your losses.
Negotiate With The Truck Insurance Company
The truck company will fight your claim aggressively, especially if you have severe injuries and damages. Your truck accident lawyer will negotiate hard to get the most money for your losses. A seasoned personal injury attorney has ample insurance negotiation experience and knows how to get the most money for you.
File A Lawsuit, If Needed
Most truck accident claims end with a settlement. But the insurance company may deny the claim, argue you were at fault, or offer far less than you deserve. You can be severely injured and need ample compensation for your medical bills and future. So, your attorney may file a truck accident lawsuit and argue the case in court.
Retain Case Experts
Another attorney must retain subject matter experts to build your case. Accident reconstruction experts, doctors, vocational experts, economists, and others may be called to bolster your case.
Assist With Finding Medical Care
Many doctors may be reluctant to treat a severe truck crash victim because they know you may be unable to pay the bill. A skilled Kansas City truck accident attorney may help find doctors who will treat you instead of payment until the case concludes. This important attorney role can make a big difference in the quality and speed of your recovery.
Kansas City truck accidents are big, intimidating, and costly. There is usually major money on the line, and the truck company’s attorneys and insurance adjusters will want to minimize your compensation. You can count on an experienced truck crash attorney in Kansas City to get you the most money.
What Is A Kansas City Truck Crash Worth?
It is challenging to say what your truck crash claim is worth. Your damages will vary based on injuries, financial losses, and more. Some truck accidents may be worth millions, and others, thousands. An experienced truck accident attorney in Kansas City can review your claim to estimate its value. Your payout will vary based on these and other factors:
Severity Of Injuries
Your injuries are the most important factor in the size of the payout for a truck crash. Suppose you have quadriplegia from the truck crash. The impacts will be for life, and you will need constant medical care and be unable to work. The claim will be worth much more than if you broke your arm and ribs in the crash.
Medical Bills
Paralysis or other type of catastrophic injury can require millions in short and long-term medical care. A truck accident attorney must work closely with your medical team to document your prognosis and future medical needs for the largest settlement.
Lost Earnings
A catastrophic injury, such as paralysis or a head injury, may make you permanently unemployable. A truck accident attorney will work with occupational experts to estimate your future lost earnings.
A less severe injury like a broken leg would also involve compensation for lost work time. But you will probably have a full recovery, so you can eventually return to work.
Pain And Suffering
The massive truck crash impact can severely injure and traumatize your body. You can have terrible pain from your injuries and treatments. You should be paid fairly for your pain and suffering. A truck accident attorney will document your pain and suffering by compiling information and statements from your medical team.
The insurance company may underestimate your pain and suffering, but your attorney will fight to get you the most money for your pain and discomfort.
Mental Anguish
Having your body severely damaged in a truck accident - whether it’s shattered bones, burns, or a spinal cord injury - is emotionally and mentally painful. You may never enjoy life as you once did. Caring for yourself or enjoying past hobbies may be impossible. Your truck accident lawyer will interview your mental health team to document how the injuries affect you emotionally.
Contact A Kansas City Truck Accident Attorney
You get hit by a truck in Kansas City and don’t know what to do. You need to go to a doctor immediately, then speak to a Kansas City personal injury lawyer in a free consultation. The trucking company’s insurance policy may cover your injuries and damages, so speak to a truck accident lawyer today.
