When someone else causes your accident in Kansas City, they are typically responsible for your damages. However, getting into a crash with an uninsured driver can leave you wondering whether you’ll be able to receive the compensation you deserve. Bradley Law’s Kansas City uninsured motorist lawyers are here to help you identify all options for a fair settlement.
You could be compensated by your own insurance company or file a lawsuit against the uninsured motorist or third parties involved in the crash. Contact us today to find out more in a free case review.
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Kansas City Uninsured Driver Statistics
When driving in Kansas City or Missouri, you have a one-in-six chance of getting into an accident with an uninsured driver. Figures from the Insurance Information Institute (III) show that 16% of drivers in Missouri are uninsured. This is above the average rate of uninsured drivers nationwide, which is 14%.
Experiencing an accident with an uninsured driver can be stressful and overwhelming. Consider consulting a Kansas City uninsured motorist lawyer who can assess your accident, determine all avenues for recovering compensation, and help you move forward with a legal claim.
How Uninsured Motorist Coverage Works
Unlike some states, where uninsured motorist coverage (UM) is optional, Missouri requires drivers to carry this type of insurance. Thankfully, UM offers a safety net that kicks in when you’re involved in a crash with the driver or owner of an uninsured vehicle.
However, while UM can go some way to cover the costs of injuries and property damage, the limits of your policy may be too low to provide enough compensation if you are severely or permanently injured.
According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, minimum UM amounts are:
- $25,000 per person in bodily injury coverage
- $50,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage
- $25,000 per accident in property damage coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you and your passengers in all types of motor vehicle accidents, including motorcycle accidents, collisions with commercial trucks, and rideshare crashes.
A Kansas City Uninsured Motorist Lawyer Can Help You File a Lawsuit
Sometimes, uninsured motorist coverage simply isn’t enough to compensate you for your medical bills, pain and suffering, wage losses, and other damages. In those circumstances, there can be other ways to recover the payout you need to get your life back on track.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
If an uninsured driver caused your accident in Kansas City, you could seek compensation with a personal injury lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit can help you seek damages such as income loss, medical expenses, and future expected accident-related costs. However, litigation can be challenging, and you typically require compelling evidence to prove the other party’s fault.
A Kansas City uninsured motorist lawyer at Bradley Law can help you navigate the legal process, file the required paperwork, and, if necessary, represent you at trial.
Who You Could Sue
While suing the negligent driver is the obvious choice, they may not have the funds to compensate you adequately. An attorney can identify other available legal options, such as a third-party lawsuit. Here’s who may be partially or wholly responsible for your accident and damages:
- Government Entities: If a road defect or negligent signage contributed to your crash, you could have a case against the government body maintaining roads, such as the local Kansas City government.
- Employers: If the underinsured driver was operating a work vehicle or on work time when the accident happened, you could hold an employer accountable under the legal principle of vicarious liability.
- Rideshare Companies: A rideshare company may be responsible for your damages if the uninsured driver was transporting passengers or logged into their app when the crash happened.
- Vehicle Manufacturers: Sometimes, a vehicle defect contributes to or causes an accident. When this happens, you could sue a manufacturer.
Not all car accidents are clear-cut. Bradley Law can help you understand a complex crash involving various potentially liable parties.
Your Next Best Steps After an Accident with an Uninsured Motorist
If you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist in Kansas City, you’ll want to protect yourself and your interests. Here are your next best steps:
- Contact Law Enforcement: Call 911 for the police and medical help (if needed). A police report documents the accident, which will be crucial evidence for your insurance claim or lawsuit.
- Exchange Contact Details: Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver, even if they are uninsured. You’ll need their details to file a claim or seek compensation via the legal route.
- Collect Evidence: If you can, take photos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries. If there are witnesses, collect their contact information as witness statements can be invaluable for proving the other driver’s fault.
- Notify Your Insurance Company: Inform your insurance company immediately about the accident. They should start the claims process and provide assistance in dealing with the uninsured motorist situation.
- Call a Kansas City Uninsured Motorist Lawyer: An experienced car accident lawyer at Bradley Law can help assess your options for pursuing compensation and move forward with a claim.
How a Kansas City Uninsured Motorist Lawyer Maximizes Your Compensation
Working with a skilled attorney is critical if you were significantly hurt and incurred financial losses in an accident with an uninsured driver. Here’s how an attorney can give you the best chance of maximizing your payout:
- Experience: A seasoned attorney knows the crucial laws and insurance issues surrounding uninsured motorist claims in Missouri. They can analyze your accident carefully to determine all potential at-fault parties.
- Investigation: Your lawyer will thoroughly investigate your crash. If needed, they will hire technical experts and gather evidence to support your claim. Your attorney can obtain police reports, gather witness statements, and secure any available traffic camera footage.
- Insurance Negotiations: Dealing with an insurance company on your own can be tough and could result in a low payout amount. An attorney at Bradley Law can negotiate strongly with an insurer, aiming for maximum compensation.
- Litigation: If an insurance company drags its heels and refuses to compensate you adequately, our attorneys can take your case to court. At trial, they can present evidence and argue your case convincingly to a judge or jury to secure a favorable outcome.
An experienced Kansas City uninsured motorist lawyer knows how to identify all potential sources of compensation. They can work tirelessly to fight for a fair settlement that covers not only medical expenses and property damage but all your damages, including lost wages, pain and suffering, and others.
FAQs – Get Answers from a Kansas City Uninsured Motorist Lawyer
When should I file my personal injury lawsuit?
The timing of your lawsuit should be tied to the specifics of your case, such as the extent of your injuries, the complexity of your case, and the evidence needed to support your claim. In some cases, filing sooner rather than later can help preserve crucial evidence and witness testimony, increasing the likelihood of a successful outcome.
However, if you are severely injured, waiting until you have fully recovered or reached maximum medical improvement can be essential. Only then can doctors reliably determine your future medical needs and the extent of your expected future damages.
Remember, you must file your lawsuit within Missouri’s Statute of Limitations, which is five years from the day of the accident, to retain your rights and pursue compensation. Follow your attorney’s guidance. They can determine the best possible timing for your lawsuit.
What is the average settlement in accidents with uninsured motorists in Kansas City?
There is no average settlement, as every Kansas City accident claim is unique. Your compensation will depend on your damages, the extent of your injuries, and the circumstances of the accident. What you can recover in an uninsured driver claim can also depend on the available insurance coverage.
If your injuries are minor, your uninsured motorist coverage could offer the compensation you need. However, if you are permanently injured and your career and home life are significantly compromised, you could file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party or parties and potentially recover significantly more.
Do I need an attorney for a minor accident?
It depends. Even minor accidents can cause injuries, such as severe whiplash or traumatic brain injury (TBI), with potentially debilitating long-term symptoms. Such injuries may keep you away from work or family obligations. Moreover, getting adequately compensated can be an uphill struggle, and the other side may try to trivialize your injuries to avoid paying what you deserve.
Therefore, it’s usually advisable to consult with an attorney to assess your specific situation and determine the best way forward. A Kansas City uninsured motorist lawyer can guide you in dealing with insurance companies, evaluate the full extent of your damages, and negotiate a fair settlement.
We Fight for Your Rights
Don’t lose hope when trying to get justice after an accident with an uninsured driver. We are here to help you recover what you deserve, whether getting the most from your insurance coverage or filing a lawsuit and pursuing additional damages.
As a boutique law firm, we can offer you the personalized and compassionate service you deserve. However, we also have the resources to fight your case all the way to trial if an insurance company refuses to compensate you properly. You pay nothing unless and until we recover compensation for you. Contact us now to secure a free consultation.
