KANSAS CITY REAR-END CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER
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:
- March 25, 2024
Rear-end car accidents can cause severe injuries to the neck, spine, and chest. In 2020, they made up roughly 6.8 percent of the nation’s fatal collisions. Unfortunately, most rear-end collisions are entirely avoidable. If you were injured in a rear-end collision, our Kansas City rear-end car accident lawyers can help you seek maximum compensation from the driver responsible.
- Why Should I Hire Brown & Crouppen If I Have Been Hurt In A Rear-End Collision In Kansas City, Missouri?
- Rear-End Car Accident Statistics
- What Causes Rear-End Collisions?
- Is The Driver In The Rear Vehicle Always At Fault For A Rear-End Car Accident?
- What Damages Can I Recover After A Rear-End Collision In Kansas City?
- What Are The Most Common Injuries In A Rear-End Collision?
- How Long After A Rear-End Car Crash Do I Have To File A Lawsuit?
- Trusted Kansas City Rear-End Car Accident Lawyers Ready To Fight For You
Were you recently rear-ended while driving in Kansas City, Missouri? Our award-winning Kansas City rear-end car accident lawyers at Brown & Crouppen can help you file a claim and pursue maximum compensation for your medical treatment, lost earnings, and suffering.
We are nationally recognized trial attorneys who have been fighting for Missouri crash victims for over 43 years. We offer the resources and depth of experience of a larger firm, while also giving clients the personalized and compassionate legal representation they deserve.
Since our founding in 1979, we have won over $1 billion in jury awards and private settlements on behalf of deserving crash victims like you. Now it is your opportunity to get our top-rated litigators on your side. Call our law office in Kansas City, Missouri, to get started. Your first consultation is free.
WHY SHOULD I HIRE BROWN & CROUPPEN IF I HAVE BEEN HURT IN A REAR-END COLLISION IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI?
What caused your rear-end collision? What kind of evidence will you need to prove that another driver is at fault? How can you protect yourself if they turn the tables and blame you for the crash?
These are critical questions but not questions you should have to deal with alone after getting hurt in a Kansas City of Crestview rear-end car crash. Benefit from the experience and resources of Brown & Crouppen’s nationally acclaimed Kansas City car accident lawyers.
Turning to us for help during this challenging time allows you to focus on getting better. Our team will take care of your fight for compensation from start to finish while we:
- Advise you about your legal rights and options
- Coordinate a thorough investigation into your rear-end collision
- Gather evidence—such as red light camera footage, photographs of tire tracks or marks on the road surface, medical records, police reports, and documented damage to physical property—to build a strong claim for damages
- Find and interview witnesses
- Anticipate strategies designed to shift blame and reduce your financial recovery
- Handle settlement negotiations with at-fault motorists and their insurance carriers
- Prepare to reject lowball settlement offers and bring your car accident case to trial
At Brown & Crouppen, our Kansas City personal injury lawyers genuinely care about the people we represent. You deserve every opportunity to receive fair compensation after a life-changing rear-end car accident in Kansas City or Raytown. Our mission is to help you get the money you deserve.
Call our law office in Kansas City, Missouri, today to learn more and set up a free consultation with a member of our trusted team.
REAR-END CAR ACCIDENT STATISTICS
According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 29 percent of all auto accidents reported nationwide are rear-end collisions. Not all of these accidents are minor fender benders, either. Rear-end collisions account for 30 percent of reported injuries and 29.7 percent of damaged property.
Crash data reported by the Insurance Information Institute indicates that rear-end car accidents made up roughly 6.8 percent of the nation’s fatal collisions in 2020. Car accidents killed 987 people in Missouri. Based on the Insurance Information Institute’s data, about 67 of these deaths can be attributed to rear-end collisions.
WHAT CAUSES REAR-END COLLISIONS?
Rear-end collisions, by definition, occur when the front end of one vehicle strikes the rear of another vehicle. These typically happen at intersections, traffic lights, stop signs, and in congested traffic situations.
Not surprisingly, distracted driving is the leading cause of rear-end collisions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that about 87 percent of all rear-end collisions involve some form of driver distraction, including texting and driving, reaching for something in the back seat, talking with passengers, and eating.
When a driver is distracted, they are not paying proper attention to the surrounding traffic. They might not notice that the traffic light has turned from green to red or that the car in front of them has slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting something in the road. Other factors that can contribute to rear-end collisions include:
- Following too closely/tailgating
- Drunk driving
- Fatigued driving
- Accelerating to “beat” a red or yellow light at an intersection
- Road rage
- Faulty brakes
- Malfunctioning traffic signals
- Obscured traffic signs
- Slippery road conditions
It is crucial to identify every possible reason that a rear-end collision happens. Causation is key when determining liability for a crash.
IS THE DRIVER IN THE REAR VEHICLE ALWAYS AT FAULT FOR A REAR-END CAR ACCIDENT?
Car accidents — including rear-end collisions — can be incredibly complicated. While the driver of the rear vehicle is often at least partly to blame for a rear-end crash, that is not always the case. For example, the driver who was hit from behind could be at fault or share the blame if they:
- Slam on their brakes suddenly because they were distracted and didn’t notice a change in traffic
- Sit at a traffic light after the signal turns green because they are not paying attention
- “Brake check” a car behind them
In some cases, liability will be shared by both drivers. Under Missouri’s pure comparative fault law, each party’s role in the multi-vehicle accident is evaluated, and liability is assigned accordingly.
For instance, let’s say Driver A is texting and doesn’t notice that the traffic on I-70 has come to a complete stop. Driver B can’t see in front of Driver A, but is following too closely. Driver A looks up and slams on their brakes just in time to avoid a collision. However, since Driver B is tailgating, they hit the rear of Driver A’s car.
In this scenario, both drivers would likely share responsibility for the accident. Each party’s damages would be reduced by their respective share of the blame. If each were equally at fault, they would be entitled to half the value of their car accident claim.
WHAT DAMAGES CAN I RECOVER AFTER A REAR-END COLLISION IN KANSAS CITY?
When you file a claim for car insurance benefits or a car accident lawsuit, you can seek compensatory damages for your losses. In Missouri, compensatory damages fall into two categories: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages cover monetary expenses and costs associated with a rear-end car accident, such as:
- Lost wages
- Lost job opportunities
- Disability
- Present medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Property damage
- Nursing assistance
- Rehabilitation
Non-economic damages compensate for any trauma the rear-end car accident victims experiences, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Depression and anxiety
At Brown & Crouppen, our Kansas City rear-end car accident attorneys will work hard to account for all the costs and losses you have endured due to your wreck. We will enlist the help of qualified experts to reach a full, meaningful financial recovery on your behalf.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON INJURIES IN A REAR-END COLLISION?
Most rear-end collisions happen when the vehicle in front is at a complete stop (or moving very slowly). As a result, occupants of the front vehicle experience considerable forward momentum when they are struck from behind.
Safety devices, such as seat belts, can save an occupant’s life but also cause burn-like injuries to the skin and break bones in the neck and chest. Other commonly reported rear-end collision injuries include:
- Whiplash
- Neck injury
- Back injury
- Chest injury
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Soft tissue injury
- Knee and foot injury
Occupants who aren’t restrained can be thrown into the windshield or ejected from the vehicle, increasing the risk of catastrophic injury or wrongful death.
Get started with a free consultation with one of our skilled Personal Injury Lawyers today.
HOW LONG AFTER A REAR-END CAR CRASH DO I HAVE TO FILE A LAWSUIT?
Missouri has a five-year statute of limitations that applies to most car accident lawsuits. So, you will generally have until the fifth anniversary of your rear-end collision to pursue compensation from a negligent motorist or insurance company.
Some situations can call for the statute of limitations to be extended. For instance, the clock might not start immediately if you have sustained an injury that is difficult to diagnose. Soft tissue injuries to the neck, such as whiplash, may not manifest right away. In these cases, the statute of limitations can be tolled until your injury can be diagnosed.
If you have lost a family member in a fatal rear-end collision in Kansas City, you will have just three years to initiate a wrongful death lawsuit against responsible parties.
TRUSTED KANSAS CITY REAR-END CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS READY TO FIGHT FOR YOU
If you were recently injured in a rear-end collision in Kansas City, Missouri, contact Brown & Crouppen for immediate legal assistance. Our Kansas City rear-end car accident attorneys are standing by to provide the necessary legal guidance you deserve during this trying time.
Let our award-winning litigators fight to get you full compensation for your injuries. Your first case evaluation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win. Call our Kansas City law office to get started today.
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Brown & Crouppen Law Firm
2345 Grand Boulevard #675 Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 670-4701
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- Last Modified:
- March 25, 2024
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