Car accidents are a frightening experience for everyone involved. If you were involved in a car accident, it can be difficult to stay calm and think clearly with emotions and adrenaline running high.
However, it’s crucial that you take certain steps to protect your health, safety, and legal rights. If you need to pursue a car accident lawsuit in Kansas City, you need to avoid common mistakes after an accident.
Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Accident
1. Not Reporting the Accident
If you were involved in a car accident, it’s important to call 911 so the police can make an official report of the accident.
2. Not Seeking Medical Attention
Even if you don’t feel immediately injured after the accident, it’s important to seek medical attention. Some injuries don’t show up until later, so it is crucial to seek medical care.
3. Not Reporting to Your Insurance Company
You need to report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible (even if someone else is at fault). Waiting to report the accident can jeopardize your claim.
4. Not Consulting an Attorney or Settling Without Legal Advice
Contact a car accident attorney in Kansas City if you were injured in an accident. The other driver’s insurance company may contact you, but it is important that you don’t accept a settlement without legal advice. Most initial settlement offers will not cover the full amount of damages.
Contact Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader to Handle Your Car Accident Lawsuit in Kansas City
Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader is the trusted name for personal injury attorneys in Kansas City. We deliver answers, accountability, and justice for victims of car accidents.
When we represent a client or a family for a car accident lawsuit in Kansas City, we devote the time, resources, and experience for the best possible result.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury after an accident, use our virtual case tool or contact our office at (913) 266-2300 to connect with a car accident lawyer in Leawood today.
The above is not intended to be legal advice. Each individual case is different and must be analyzed on its own set of facts and circumstances. If you believe you may have a case, it is critically important that you timely contact a lawyer to ensure your rights are protected.
Common Causes of Serious Car Accidents
Each year in the United States, motor vehicle collisions result in a substantial number of serious injuries and fatalities. In 2023 alone, more than 44,000 people lost their lives in traffic-related crashes nationwide. In Kansas, 387 individuals were killed in motor vehicle accidents that year, while Missouri reported 991 fatalities from roadway collisions during the same period.
These figures underscore a consistent reality: even routine travel on familiar roads carries inherent risk when negligence is involved. While any collision has the potential to cause significant harm, certain behaviors and conditions substantially increase the likelihood of catastrophic or fatal injuries from a crash.
In many cases, these incidents form the basis of a car accident lawsuit in Kansas City, particularly where proceedings can establish another driver’s negligence.
Understanding the most common causes of serious crashes is an important step in identifying liability and pursuing accountability.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving remains one of the most frequently cited causes of serious motor vehicle accidents throughout Kansas City and across the country. Even a momentary lapse in attention can prevent a driver from recognizing hazards in time to avoid a collision.
At highway speeds, a vehicle can travel the length of a football field in just a few seconds, so brief distractions can have immediate and devastating consequences.
Common distractions may include:
- Texting or using a smartphone
- Adjusting navigation systems
- Eating or drinking
- Interacting with passengers
- Any activity that diverts attention from the road
Each form of distraction reduces a driver’s ability to react appropriately, significantly increasing stopping distances and reaction times.
In a car accident lawsuit in Kansas City, lawyers can establish distracted driving through cellphone records, eyewitness accounts, traffic or surveillance footage, and accident reconstruction analysis.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Excessive speed and aggressive driving behaviors are major contributors to both the frequency and severity of car accidents. When a driver exceeds posted speed limits or drives too fast for the conditions, it significantly reduces their ability to respond to hazards.
Stopping distances increase, reaction times decrease, and the force of impact in a collision is greatly amplified. Reckless driving behaviors, such as tailgating, unsafe lane changes, failing to yield, or running traffic signals, further elevate the risk of a serious crash.
Because speed and force often correlate with injury severity, these cases frequently involve extensive medical damages and long-term health consequences. In a car accident lawsuit in Kansas City, evidence of speeding or reckless conduct may play a critical role in establishing fault and liability.
Impaired Driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or certain prescription medications remains one of the most dangerous forms of driver negligence. Impairment affects a driver’s judgment, coordination, perception, and reaction time, all essential elements for safe vehicle operation.
National traffic safety reports consistently show that impaired driving contributes to a significant percentage of fatal crashes. Even legally prescribed medications can impair alertness or slow cognitive response, particularly when combined with other substances.
When a driver chooses to operate a vehicle while impaired, that decision may indicate negligence.
In a car accident lawsuit in Kansas City, impairment and liability are supported through toxicology reports, police records, witness statements, field sobriety tests, and other evidence.
Fatigues or Drowsy Driving
Fatigued driving can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence. A tired driver may experience reduced alertness, impaired decision-making, and slowed reaction times. Sometimes, brief episodes of microsleep can occur, where a driver falls asleep for several seconds without realizing it.
Risk factors for fatigue-related crashes include long-haul driving, extended work shifts, inadequate rest, and nighttime travel. Certain medical conditions and sleep disorders also significantly increase the likelihood of drowsy driving incidents.
Evidence such as employment records, driving logs, electronic data, and phone usage patterns may be used in a car accident lawsuit in Kansas City to help establish whether fatigue contributed to the collision.
Poor Weather and Hazardous Road Conditions
Weather conditions can increase the risk of car accidents by reducing visibility and leaving the road more slippery. Rain, fog, snow, and ice can make it harder to come to a complete stop or maintain control of a vehicle.
Drivers are expected to adjust their speed and driving behavior to match the condition of the roads, and failing to do so may contribute to negligence.
In some cases, hazardous road conditions themselves may contribute to crashes. Potholes, uneven pavement, inadequate signage, poorly marked construction zones, or deteriorating roadway surfaces can create dangerous driving environments.
In limited circumstances, responsibility may extend beyond the drivers involved to include governmental entities or contractors responsible for road maintenance and safety. These cases often require detailed investigation to determine adherence to proper maintenance standards and whether known hazards were addressed promptly.
Mechanical Failures and Maintenance Issues
Vehicle defects and maintenance failures can also play a significant role in serious car accidents. Issues such as brake failure, tire blowouts, steering malfunctions, or defective lighting systems can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle without warning.
Some mechanical issues result from inadequate maintenance, while others stem from manufacturing defects or faulty components. In such cases, liability may extend to multiple parties, including vehicle owners, repair shops, parts manufacturers, or automobile producers.
Accidents involving self-driving cars can further complicate liability, requiring careful analysis of software systems, driver behavior, and product design.
Inexperienced or Unlicensed Drivers
Inexperienced drivers, particularly new or young drivers, may lack the judgment and skills needed to respond safely to changing road conditions. These individuals may misjudge complex traffic situations, miscalculate distances, fail to properly check blind spots, or overreact in emergency scenarios.
Unlicensed or improperly licensed drivers present additional risks, as they may lack formal training or be operating a vehicle unlawfully due to suspension or revocation. In these circumstances, the absence of a valid license may also strengthen allegations of negligence and influence how liability is assessed in a car accident lawsuit in Kansas City.
