Were you injured in an accident involving a large semi-truck in Kansas City, MO? Hiring an experienced Kansas City truck accident lawyer may be critical to your future. Call us at (816) 323-0955 to learn more.
At Cohen Law Firm, our team has the skills to help you fight for full compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and your accident-related pain, suffering, and trauma.
With over seven years of experience handling complicated personal injury law matters, we know how the system works. Our founding attorney has already used his legal knowledge and skill to recover tens of millions of dollars on behalf of personal injury victims.
It’s incredibly difficult to recover fair compensation if you don’t understand your legal options. Contact our law firm to schedule your free consultation with our Kansas City truck accident attorneys today.
Why Choose Cohen Law Firm for Help After a Truck Accident in Kansas City?
Hiring our experienced Kansas City personal injury attorneys at Cohen Law Firm can give you the edge you need to win your case. Trucking companies are represented by teams of insurance adjusters and defense lawyers. They’re all working hard to minimize their own liability, and they have the resources to succeed.
As the victim, fighting back is critical. You deserve the strongest possible legal representation.
Our lead attorney, Zach Cohen, has twice been recognized with the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys’s “Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney under 40” award. Our Kansas City personal injury lawyers are here to put a proven track record of success to work in your case.
Do you know how much your case is worth? Is someone other than the truck driver legally responsible for your damages? What if you’re being blamed? Our lawyers have answers to these and other questions you have.
Call for a free case evaluation today to learn how we’ll build the strongest compensation claim possible in your case in Kansas City, Missouri.
What Is My Kansas City Truck Accident Case Worth?
When evaluating a case’s value, relevant factors include, but are not limited to:
- The nature and severity of your injuries
- How much you’ve spent on medical treatment
- The expected cost of any future medical care
- The amount of income you’ve lost
- The projected costs associated with reduced earning capacity and lost job benefits
- How a long-term impairment impacts your quality of life and enjoyment of life
- Whether you share blame for the crash
Not understanding your case value can mean walking away with far less compensation than you deserve. You may even be left dealing with expenses that your insurance deal doesn’t cover, and you can’t go back and ask for more once your case is settled.
If you have questions, contact our experienced Kansas City truck accident lawyers for help evaluating your case value.
What Types of Compensation Are Available After a Truck Accident in Kansas City?
In Missouri, damages are classified as either economic damages or non-economic damages.
An economic damages award should cover all of your financial costs, including:
- Current medical expenses
- Expected future medical treatment costs
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning potential
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Assistance with household activities
- Property damage and vehicle repairs
Non-economic damages are more intangible, yet can help you cope with the life changes you have experienced due to the accident.
Examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Mental health issues, including depression, PTSD, and anxiety
- Loss of consortium in fatal crash cases
Punitive damages are also possible. In Missouri, courts can award punitive damages where the evidence shows the defendant acted with “deliberate and flagrant” disregard for your safety. When a defendant’s acts deserve punishment, our attorneys will also pursue punitive damages.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer to Handle My Case?
Our Kansas City truck accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. That means we only get paid if you get paid.
When you hire us to handle your legal representation, you’ll agree to a contingency fee percentage. If your lawyer recovers compensation, you’ll pay the pre-agreed percentage of your settlement or verdict.
Can Missouri’s Comparative Fault Rules Impact the Value of My Truck Accident Claim if I Share Some Fault?
Yes. Your compensation will typically be reduced to account for your share of blame, but you won’t lose your right to damages entirely unless you were 100% responsible.
Missouri has adopted a pure comparative negligence law. If you’re assigned a percentage of fault, your compensation will be reduced by that percentage.
Count on Our Truck Accident Attorneys in Kansas City to Fight to Recover Compensation for Your Injuries
Some examples of the types of injuries truck accident victims suffer include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Chest injuries
- Concussions
- Leg and knee injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Tractor-trailers and big rigs are incredibly large and heavy. Many carry dangerous cargo. These factors tend to increase the risk of serious injuries among occupants of smaller passenger vehicles in a truck wreck.
At Cohen Law Firm, we represent clients who have sustained all types of injuries. Contact us today to explore your legal options after a crash.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in Missouri?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 5,317 car accidents involving large trucks were reported across Missouri in 2024.
Two thousand eighty-eight victims were injured in those crashes, and, unfortunately, 137 crash victims were killed.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Large Truck Accidents in Kansas City?
While many factors can contribute to a crash, some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:
- Speeding
- Driver fatigue
- Violating federal trucking regulations, including hours-of-service regulations
- Failing to check blind spots before changing lanes
- Lane departures
- Aggressive driving
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Wide and dangerous turns
- Not inspecting the truck before and after trips
- Drunk driving and driving under the influence of drugs
- Mechanical failures, often caused by improper vehicle maintenance
- Failure to secure the truck’s cargo properly
- Hiring unqualified truck drivers
The trucking industry is heavily regulated to prevent accidents. Still, accidents involving large commercial vehicles are relatively common–and nearly always dangerous. If you were injured in a truck accident, count on our lawyers to identify every issue that played a role in the crash.
How Do I Prove I Deserve Compensation After a Semi-Truck Accident in Missouri?
Missouri has an at-fault car insurance law. That means you usually must prove liability before you can recover compensation. Most victims are required to prove that someone else was negligent.
You prove negligence by offering proof of four elements:
- The defendant’s legal duty of care
- Some type of mistake that breached the duty
- Causation, or that the accident would not have occurred “but for” the breach
- The damages you suffered because of the crash, and their value
As a practical matter, you’ll need to gather evidence about each of these elements.
Evidence may include:
- Accident reports
- Photos and videos showing conditions at the accident scene
- Evidence from the commercial truck’s electronic recording device, or black box
- The truck driver’s hours-of-service records
- Inspection reports and maintenance records
- The truck driver’s CDL and qualifications
- Testimony from experts
- Eyewitness statements
- Video surveillance footage
- Medical records, which provide valuable evidence about the victim’s damages
A timely investigation is critical to locating this evidence. Our lawyers have the resources to launch a swift investigation of our own, in addition to analyzing the results of any official crash reports.
Who Is Responsible for Covering My Damages After a Truck Accident in Kansas City?
Even if a negligent truck driver was clearly responsible for the crash, someone else may ultimately pay your damages. Typically, the trucking company will be responsible for any damage caused by its employee-truck drivers.
Responsible parties could also include:
- Inspection and maintenance companies
- Manufacturers of defective safety equipment
- Companies responsible for a vehicle’s cargo
- Truck leasing companies
- Government agencies
- Third-party drivers
Our lawyers will work hard to determine liability. We’ll be prepared to demand fair compensation from all responsible parties.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Truck Accident in Missouri?
You typically have five years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Once the statute of limitations runs out, you may lose your right to demand compensation from the at-fault parties.
Most claims are settled with the insurance company before a lawsuit is filed. The settlement process can take longer than you might think. Collecting the evidence you need to prove your case can also take time. In the end, it’s always best to consult an attorney soon after a crash.
Contact an Experienced Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
It’s natural to have questions about your legal rights after an accident. Call our team at Cohen Law Firm to schedule a free case review with a Kansas City truck accident lawyer today. We know how to help you maximize your compensation award.