Personal Injury Attorneys in Kansas
It can be difficult to know what to do after an auto accident, especially when you've been injured. A personal injury attorney can advise you on how to move forward, can help you negotiate with the insurance company, and can file a lawsuit for you if need be.
NOTE: The content of this website is intended solely for informational purposes. It is not a source of legal advice and should not be used as such.
If you have suffered an injury due to the carelessness or neglect of another person, you have experienced a personal injury. You might not have to accept responsibility for the costs associated with the injury―loss of work time, medical bills, repair or replacement of damaged property and more.
Depending on the magnitude of the loss, you may wish the find a good personal injury attorney in Kansas.
Hiring a KS Personal Injury Attorney
It is important to seek experienced representation in personal injury cases. You can deal with your insurance company on your own, but you may not know whether what they're offering is actually appropriate compensation. The insurer's goal is to get you to settle for the lowest amount possible. Your attorney can be an advocate for your right to get compensated at the right level.
Meeting with Your Attorney
During your first meeting, your attorney will likely request a signature on a medical release so that he or she may collect your medical records. Bring the following for your attorney to review:
- Your insurance information.
- Photographs.
- Statements and notes regarding the accident.
- Medical bills and record of doctor visits.
What to Do After an Automobile Accident
Most people are in mild shock after an accident, and there's too much going on to know the extent of your losses. It's important to follow a few rules:
- Do not leave the scene of the accident.
- Move off the road or to the side if possible.
- Check to see if anyone is injured.
- Give immediate aid to anyone with injuries.
- Call the police.
Regardless of who is at fault, it is imperative that you never, under any circumstances, leave the scene of an accident before the police or an ambulance arrives.
Preserving Evidence
Be careful to preserve any evidence. Your personal injury attorney will need as much documentation you can provide to build your case.
Get and keep:
- Copies of all police reports.
- Witness statements.
- Records of hospital and doctor visits.
- Medical bills.
- Your repair bills and receipts for money you spend due to the accident.
A Word on Photographs
Shoot the damage from as many angles as you can. You are looking less for the whole picture of the damaged vehicle than you are of the details of the damage. Shoot close up and from a distance. Then, make notes on the back of each picture.
Also take photographs of the accident scene and note anything unusual or different about the area on the day of the accident. Take those pictures as close to the same time of day as possible, noting any differences in the light.
Photograph your injuries and your passengers. Finally, if you are photographing up close on a large area, hold up a ruler for gauge, so viewers can determine the actual size of the injured area.
Once You're Back Home
Make notes of what everything that happened, including as much detail as you can recall. If you were carrying passengers, ask them to write down their recollections, including everything leading up to the accident and comments made by onlookers, the other party, and police.
Be as specific as you can about:
- The date, time, and location of the accident.
- Traffic, weather and road conditions.
- Lighting conditions.
- Anything striking about the other party (smell of alcohol, appeared disoriented, etc.).
If the other party left the scene, write down as much as you can recall about the other vehicle.
Your attorney may also want to know:
- Who was involved/present.
- Time you lost from work for injuries and other accident-related matters.
- Expenses incurred due to the accident, such as for transportation, towing, car repairs, medical bills and other costs.
- How the injuries are affecting/will affect your personal life.
- Dates of doctor/therapist visits.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Kansas has a statute of limitations of 2 years on personal injury cases.
If, after a reasonable length of time your attorney has not been able to settle the matter with the insurance company, your next step will be to file a personal injury lawsuit with the court. However, if you miss the deadline of 2 years, you may not be able to get your case heard in court.