Kansas City Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
The Midwest's Most Effective Injury Law Firm
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
- Last Modified:
- July 18, 2024
If you were in a car accident that involved a driver who was driving under the influence, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit for your damages. A Kansas City DUI accident attorney can pursue all legal avenues to maximize your compensation.
- Why Hire Our Kansas City DUI Accident Attorneys?
- Types of Damages That Can Be Recovered Following a DUI Accident
- How Our Team Recovered $450,000 for a Drunk Driving Accident Victim
- Overview of Missouri Drunk Driving Laws
- Car Insurance And DUI Accidents
- What to Do After a DUI Accident
- Types of Drunk Driver Accident Injuries
- Get Help with Your Drunk Driving Accident Claim Today
WHY HIRE OUR KANSAS CITY DUI ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS?
Many people think hiring an attorney is necessary only if you wind up in court. But in a DUI accident, an attorney can do much more than represent you at trial. Among other things, they can investigate the accident and collect evidence to build your case seeking compensation.
In addition, a personal injury attorney is invaluable when dealing with insurance companies. These companies use a variety of tactics to deny or minimize claims, but we’re prepared to fight back. Let our experienced Kansas City drunk driving accident lawyers:
- Evaluate available insurance coverage
- Initiate the insurance claims process
- Communicate with adjusters
- Negotiate a fair settlement
Our DUI accident lawyers have the skills and resources needed to handle your claim and maximize your recovery. We have over 40 years of experience representing people injured in car accidents in Kansas City and beyond. In that time, our team has recovered over $1 billion in life-changing case results for thousands of clients. Our winning track record has resulted in many awards and accolades, including:
- Best Law Firm in St. Louis by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
Use our legal checklist to learn what to do after an accident and understand key legal considerations for recovering financial compensation.
TYPES OF DAMAGES THAT CAN BE RECOVERED FOLLOWING A DUI ACCIDENT
You could be entitled to significant economic and non-economic damages through a lawsuit. Economic damages refer to the financial losses that resulted from the accident. Non-economic damages are intangible and compensate you for the subjective, non-monetary losses you suffered due to the accident. Together, they cover things like:
- Medical bills, including surgery, therapy, and ongoing doctor visits
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Lowered quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Wrongful death
You could also be eligible for punitive damages, which courts reserve as punishment in the most extreme cases of misconduct. You can count on our attorneys to calculate the full and fair value of the damages you are owed.
HOW OUR TEAM RECOVERED $450,000 FOR A DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENT VICTIM
Our DUI car accident attorneys represented a client who was injured by a drunk driver on the side of the road in Jefferson County. The drunk driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was almost twice the legal limit, and they displayed visible signs of intoxication at the accident scene. Our client’s injuries included a torn ACL in her right knee, requiring physical therapy and other treatment.
We sought compensation through the defendant’s State Farm insurance policy. The company told us that the applicable policy limit was $250,000, but we later discovered that the actual limit was $1 million under the defendant’s umbrella policy. This allowed us to secure a $450,000 settlement for our client.
OVERVIEW OF MISSOURI DRUNK DRIVING LAWS
The legal BAC limit in Missouri is 0.08 percent. However, minors are also subject to the state’s zero-tolerance law, which sanctions underage driving with a BAC of 0.02 percent or higher. Importantly, a BAC lower than these legal limits can still result in a DWI charge if a driver’s use of alcohol or drugs impairs their ability to drive safely.
A DWI in Missouri can result in criminal prosecution, fines, license suspension, and jail time. Offenders can also face civil lawsuits if their intoxication results in harm to others.
Get started with a free consultation with one of our skilled Personal Injury Lawyers today.
CAR INSURANCE AND DUI ACCIDENTS
Your damages from a DUI accident may be covered by your car insurance or the car insurance of the at-fault driver. But there are many reasons that you cannot rely solely on insurance coverage following a DUI accident, including
- Your insurance company does not always represent your best interests.
- The most an insurance company has to pay you is determined by the coverage limits of the plan, not the actual amount of damage.
- Some Kansas City drivers are uninsured or underinsured.
Dealing with insurance companies can be complicated. Don’t go up against these multi-billion-dollar companies alone. At Brown & Crouppen, we work on a contingency fee basis, so you have nothing to lose by enlisting our support today.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A DUI ACCIDENT
After a DUI accident, you must take certain steps to protect yourself. Your top priority after a DUI accident is seeking medical care for your injuries. A thorough medical exam will ensure that all your injuries are treated swiftly and appropriately, and your medical records will support your legal claims.
Beyond that, you’ll need to file a police report and gather information from others at the scene. Be careful about what you say in the aftermath of the accident, as insurance companies and the at-fault driver can use your statements against you during negotiations and litigation.
"If you're in an accident and you have reason to believe that the person who hit you was driving under the influence, please make sure to share those concerns with the police officer because they can pursue that. They can smell breath. They can request breathalyzers. In some situations they may be able to request blood samples.
When you are hit by somebody who is under the influence, it automatically will make your case more valuable. When juries see that kind of behavior, they rightfully want to punish it because the people that are out there driving under the influence are making things dangerous for every one of us—and that includes people on the jury. So, if the person who hits you was under the influence, we know how to frame that claim just right to increase the value tremendously."
Our Kansas City car accident attorneys will calculate the value of your claim and let you know how much you can sue for based on the circumstances of your case. To improve your chances of securing full compensation after an accident, you should:
- Seek medical attention.
- Call 911 or file a police report.
- Watch what you say.
- Get contact information from the other driver and all witnesses.
- Retain legal counsel.
Once you are medically stable, contact a Kansas City DUI attorney at Brown & Crouppen. A DUI injury lawyer can protect your right to compensation for your damages, whether or not you later decide to file a lawsuit.
And if you do choose to file a lawsuit, time is of the essence. You have a limited amount of time under the Missouri car accident statute of limitations to investigate, develop, and file a claim, so do not delay.
TYPES OF DRUNK DRIVER ACCIDENT INJURIES
Because drunk driving is extremely dangerous for all road users, the state has initiated a public education campaign to increase awareness. Sadly, because of the debilitating effects of alcohol on driving ability, car accidents involving impaired drivers often result in more catastrophic injuries than others. Common injuries our attorneys see in DWI car accidents include:
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- Broken bones
- Cuts and bruises
- Spinal cord injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Herniated discs
- Burns
- Knee injuries
- Chest injuries (e.g., broken ribs)
- Airbag and seatbelt injuries
- Psychological trauma (e.g., PTSD)
Unfortunately, in many cases, drunk driving accidents are fatal. Though no amount of money can make up for the loss of a loved one, surviving family members and legal representatives can file wrongful death claims seeking justice, accountability, and compensation.
According to the NHTSA, about 37 people are killed due to drunk driving in the United States every day, which translates to one person killed every 39 minutes. The agency further reports that, in 2022, 13,524 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes nationwide. According to the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, “Impaired driving accounts for 17 percent of the traffic fatalities in Missouri.”
GET HELP WITH YOUR DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENT CLAIM TODAY
Let our award-winning DUI accident law firm handle the legal details while you focus on your recovery. We are committed to serving our community by providing top-tier legal representation and defending the rights of accident victims injured at little to no fault of their own. You can count on our legal team to gather all available evidence and build a strong case on your behalf.
Contact us online or call (816) 670-4701 to schedule a free consultation with our DUI injury lawyers today. We are here to help, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.
FREE CASE EVALUATION
OUR OFFICE
Brown & Crouppen Law Firm
2345 Grand Boulevard #675 Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 670-4701
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- Last Modified:
- July 18, 2024
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