Kansas City Distracted Driving Attorney
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:
- November 14, 2024
Distracted driving is a huge problem, causing thousands of injuries and deaths every year. Distracted drivers must be held accountable when their negligent actions put others in harm’s way. Brown & Croppen’s Kansas City distracted driving lawyers help crash victims take a stand and work toward meaningful financial awards.
If you’ve been injured in a distracted driving accident, our injury lawyers at Brown & Crouppen Law Firm of Kansas City may be able to help you recover compensation. Get started with your case by calling (816) 670-4701 or requesting a free case evaluation online. And remember, we only get paid if you win.
- Why Should I Hire Brown & Crouppen’s Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys in Kansas City?
- Understanding Distracted Driving Laws in Missouri
- Proving Liability in Distracted Driving Accident Cases
- What Is My Distracted Driving Car Accident Lawsuit Worth?
- What Are the Different Types of Distracted Driving?
- Common Injuries in Distracted Driving Car Accidents
- How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After an Accident With a Distracted Driver?
- Trusted Kansas City Distracted Driving Lawyers Ready to Fight for You
Are you struggling with painful physical injuries, mounting financial costs, and debilitating emotional distress after a car accident with a distracted driver in Kansas City, Missouri? Call Brown & Crouppen to set up a free consultation and get started. You got hurt because another driver was negligent, and our Kansas City distracted driving lawyers can help you fight to hold them accountable.
Since 1979, our attorneys have been passionate, dedicated advocates for car accident victims in Kansas City and throughout the midwest. Our mission is simple: to make a genuine difference in the lives of the people we represent. Our results speak for themselves. We’ve won more than $1 billion in verdicts and private settlements on behalf of our clients.
We’ve seen firsthand the devastation that texting and other dangerous distractions can cause. We will help you take a stand and demand the compensation you need and deserve.
Why Should I Hire Brown & Crouppen’s Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys in Kansas City?
If a distracted driver hits you, you may feel frustrated and confused. You likely have questions about your rights and how to receive compensation for your financial losses and suffering. At Brown & Crouppen, we have over 40 years of experience helping victims of distracted driving accidents in Kansas City seek justice.
With over 250 legal professionals, we level the playing field against big insurance companies that try to pay less than your claim is worth. We also believe everyone deserves access to the best representation possible. That’s why we do not charge upfront fees to work with our team. We only get paid if you win.
How Our Distracted Driving Lawyers Can Help
When you work with our distracted driving law firm, you’ll have time to recover from your car accident injuries while we:
- Answer your most pressing car accident questions.
- Investigate the accident.
- Gather evidence to establish that the other driver was distracted, including photographs, video recordings, cell phone records, witness statements, and police reports.
- Determine if there were other contributing factors and, if so, other potentially liable parties.
- Defend against victim-blaming tactics designed to shift liability and limit your financial recovery.
- Enter negotiations armed with compelling arguments and evidence so you receive a meaningful settlement offer for your car accident.
- Prepare to argue your case at trial if the distracted driver refuses to accept responsibility for the harm they’ve caused.
Our award-winning attorneys are proud to be recognized by Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, Missouri Lawyers Media, and Missouri’s Best. Contact our Kansas City car accident attorneys to schedule your free consultation and learn how we can help with your distracted driving lawsuit.
Understanding Distracted Driving Laws in Missouri
So, is it illegal to text and drive in Missouri? With a growing number of Missouri texting and driving accidents, a law banning handheld electronic devices was enacted in August 2023. Known as Siddens Bening Hands-Free Law, Missouri drivers are no longer allowed to do the following while operating a motor vehicle:
- Hold or support an electronic communication device with any part of the body.
- Write, send, or read text-based communications.
- Communicate on an electronic communication device without a hands-free feature.
- Retrieve any electronic data on a communication device.
- Use a search engine or website on an electronic communication device.
- Watch videos or movies on an electronic communication device.
- Record, post, send, or broadcast videos using an electronic communication device.
Under this law, drivers cannot text, email, interact on social media, or make handheld phone calls while driving on public streets or highways. Failing to comply can result in fines, driving record points, driver’s license disqualification, and even misdemeanor or felony charges if the offense causes property damage, serious physical injury, or death.
With a deep understanding of these laws, our texting and driving accident lawyers can help you fight for your rights. Reach out today to learn more about your legal rights and options.
Proving Liability in Distracted Driving Accident Cases
If you were injured in a distracted driving accident, it’s normal to want to hold the other driver accountable and demand the maximum compensation for your claim. However, your state’s laws will determine if you must prove liability before receiving insurance benefits.
Because Missouri is an at-fault state, you can seek compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance. By contrast, Kansas is a no-fault state, which means you first file a claim through your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, regardless of who was at fault for the accident.
Our distracted driving attorneys in Kansas City, MO, can help you bring a claim against the at-fault party to cover your medical bills and other damages. We will build a strong case based on solid evidence proving the elements of negligence:
- Duty – The driver had a duty to follow the rules of the road and drive safely.
- Breach of duty – The driver failed to uphold their duty by texting while operating the vehicle.
- Causation – The breach caused your car accident.
- Damages – The crash led to medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, or other damages.
What Is My Distracted Driving Car Accident Lawsuit Worth?
How much your case is worth will depend on the severity of your injuries and the extent of your damages. A distracted driving accident lawyer from Brown & Crouppen can calculate your damages to claim the maximum amount available.
We’ve helped numerous distracted driving accident clients secure life-changing settlements and verdicts, including:
- $200,000 for a motorcyclist who crashed into a driver who was not paying attention.
- $111,000 for a golf cart passenger ejected from the vehicle because the driver was texting.
- $100,000 for a pedestrian on a motorized scooter who was injured by a distracted driver.
In the case of the motorcyclist, our client shared fault for the accident. However, we were able to show our client was owed compensation because the other driver was distracted and did not slow down safely. Our team secured $100,000 from the other driver’s insurance and $100,000 through our client’s uninsured motorist (UIM) coverage—the policy limits for both.
Get started with a free consultation with one of our skilled Personal Injury Lawyers today.
What Are the Different Types of Distracted Driving?
When you hear “distracted driving,” you probably immediately think of texting or scrolling on a cell phone. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, “It takes approximately 4.6 seconds to read an incoming text message—the equivalent (at 55 MPH) of traveling the length of an entire football field, blind.” Even a five-second distraction is enough to cause a deadly accident.
However, while it’s true that cell phone use is incredibly distracting behind the wheel, it’s not the only way that drivers lose focus on the road. There are three types of distractions behind the wheel:
- Cognitive – Distractions that take your mind off the task of driving.
- Manual – Distractions that cause you to physically take your hands off the steering wheel.
- Visual – Distractions that make you take your eyes off the road.
Even so, according to the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, using a cell phone while driving is one of Missouri’s fastest-growing causes of car accidents. Over half of the people killed in distracted driving accidents in the state were passengers and not drivers.
At Brown & Crouppen, we’ve seen first-hand how dangerous distracted driving can be. Understanding the consequences of these accidents pushes us to serve those injured by distracted drivers with compassion, commitment, and dedication to justice.
"Distracted driving is a real, real problem. We have these cell phones in our hands, taking your eyes off the road to look at a text. They say the average time that it takes is about five seconds. Imagine this, you're on the highway, you're going 55 miles an hour in some places, maybe 70, that's the speed limit. For the average length it takes to read or send a text, they say it's like closing your eyes for five seconds. You would never do that. That would be terrifying. Yet, if you look around at drivers around you and sometimes in your own vehicle, it happens every single day. Send that text at a stoplight or once you get to your destination. You are putting yourself and everyone around you at risk, it can wait."
Common Injuries in Distracted Driving Car Accidents
Traffic crashes caused by distracted driving can lead to severe injuries, including:
- Concussion
- Whiplash
- Sprains and strains
- Bruising and other soft tissue injuries
- Broken bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Burns
- Wrongful death
If you’re injured in a distracted driving accident, you could be facing expensive medical bills and a long recovery. Our distracted driving lawyers are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve while you focus on your health and getting back on your feet.
"When you have an accident and you’re hurt, one of the things that's going to be an issue is any pre-existing injuries to that part of the body. For instance, if you get hurt in an accident and your back hurts, it's going to be important if your back hurt before, and if you had medical treatment, that'll become an issue. The thing that you must understand is don’t stay away from a lawyer and don’t think you don’t have a case just because you’ve hurt that part of your body in the past. Every time you hurt yourself, you add to any injury you have to add to that part of your body. If your back was bad before, I guarantee you that after an accident, it’s going to be worse. So it’s a factor, but still, see a lawyer because we’ve collected millions and millions of dollars for people who’ve had pre-existing injuries to the same part of their body."
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After an Accident With a Distracted Driver?
Under the Missouri personal injury statute of limitations, you generally have five years from the crash date to file a distracted driving lawsuit. Though there are limited exceptions, if the deadline passes before your file, you will most likely lose the right to seek compensation through a lawsuit.
Five years might seem like a long time, but it’s important to contact our experienced Kansas City injury attorneys right away after your crash. Evidence proving the other driver was distracted can be lost or destroyed as time passes. Witnesses may also become harder to find, and their memories become less reliable. Let our skilled legal team take swift action to build the strongest case possible on your behalf.
Trusted Kansas City Distracted Driving Lawyers Ready to Fight for You
Another driver’s careless mistakes can change your life in an instant. Don’t let them off the hook for their poor decisions. Let our skilled Kansas City distracted driving attorneys hold them accountable and fight for the best outcome for your case. Call (816) 670-4701 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
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Brown & Crouppen Law Firm
Address: 2345 Grand Blvd #675, Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: (816) 670-4701
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- Last Modified:
- November 14, 2024
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