Personal Injury Services in Kansas and Missouri

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When the negligent actions of an individual, business, or government entity cause harm, the victim may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. Having an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you level the playing field and make a compelling case for the compensation you deserve. If you were injured in Kansas or Missouri, Joseph, Hollander & Craft may be able to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

How Our Injury Attorneys in Kansas and Missouri Can Help

Personal injury cases are complex and often stressful for the victim. We understand the concerns you have as bills stack up and you miss work. When you hire Joseph, Hollander & Craft as your personal injury law firm, we bring the following to the table:

• Conducting a thorough investigation of the facts to understand what happened
• Identifying all parties who could potentially be liable for your injury
• Determining the fair value of your past and reasonably estimated future losses (damages)
• Demanding fair compensation and standing up to the insurance companies
• Working to settle your case on your terms
• Pursuing a lawsuit when needed
• Consulting expert witnesses who can help
• Taking your case in front of a jury and seeking the maximum amount of compensation allowed by law
• Addressing your questions and concerns each step of the way

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Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Regardless of the type of personal injury case you have in Kansas or Missouri, we can take care of your case from beginning to end and work for the best possible results. We’re prepared to handle:

• Wrongful Death: A wrongful death occurs when someone’s negligent behavior causes the death of an individual. It’s an extension of personal injury, although with different damages.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can affect the victim’s cognitive functioning, behavior, and personality. Victims can expect to have significant medical and long-term care needs stretching into the future.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Spinal cord damage can leave a person partially or completely paralyzed, and will affect not only quality of life but the length of one’s lifespan.
• Burn Injuries: Severe burns can require hospitalization and extensive reconstructive surgery. These translate into major medical bills, lost time at work, and other significant losses.
• Internal Organ Injuries: Internal injuries like organ damage can present life-threatening complications and require a long recovery period.
• Amputation Injuries: Losing an arm, leg, or other part of your body doesn’t just impact you in the short term with medical bills and missed time from work. It can affect your quality of life and emotional peace.
• Broken Bone Injuries: Bone breaks may be common but they are not minor injuries. A serious break can require multiple surgeries and metal hardware to fix, and some people may live with chronic discomfort or pain as a result.

Common Causes of Injury Lawsuits

Understanding why accidents happen is the first step towards claiming monetary damages. These are just a few of the most common reasons:

• Truck Accidents: Due to their size and weight, truck accidents can cause significant injury, long-term disability, and sometimes death. Various parties from the driver and trucking company to the cargo loader or inspection company can be held liable for these catastrophic wrecks.
• Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcyclists do not have the protective steel frames and airbags that come with passenger vehicles, so they are vulnerable to major injury even if they wear a helmet and safety gear.
• Car Accidents: There are many causes of car accidents, and it is not always a motorist’s fault. For example, a defective braking system may point to liability on the part of the vehicle’s manufacturer.
• Fires & Explosions: These dangers can result from defective consumer products, faulty wiring, improper storage of hazardous chemicals, and much more. Often fatal, fires and explosions also leave victims with painful injuries, disfigurement, mental and emotional trauma, and decreased quality of life.
• Product Defects: Product defects are usually due to defective design (the product’s design was inherently unsafe), defective manufacturing (the design was safe but the actual assembly of the product was not), or the lack of proper instructions and warning labels.
• Slip & Falls: Slick or icy surfaces such as grocery store floors, parking lots, sidewalks, and unsafe stairs can cause a slip and fall. The victim could suffer a TBI, spinal cord injury, and other serious and sometimes life-threatening injuries.
• Dog Bites: Owners of dogs and other dangerous animals in Kansas and Missouri must take precautions to ensure that their pets do not bite others. If this happens, the victim could develop an infection, require major reconstructive surgery, and endure pain and suffering.

Seeking Compensation in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Victims can generally seek two types of compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit.

Economic damages are easier to calculate. They include current medical bills, future estimated medical bills, lost wages, lost income, decreased earning capacity, and property damage.

Non-economic damages are more subjective and not subject to a simple mathematical calculation. Examples of non-economic damages are pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement.

In rare situations involving willful misconduct or extreme disregard for the safety of others, victims can seek punitive damages to punish the wrongful conduct and deter future incidents of it.

Why Choose Joseph, Hollander & Craft

We know that you have your choice of personal injury law firms to represent you. We believe our client-focused approach is what sets our practice apart. You are not just another file or docket number, and we believe that you deserve the same quality of legal attention and care that we would want for ourselves.

How Our Contingency Fee Works

Many personal injury victims worry that they cannot afford a lawyer and will therefore be shut out from the courts. Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means a client does not owe us anything unless and until we recover compensation for them, and the fee is paid as a percentage of the money awarded to them. Not only does this motivate us to fight for the best possible outcome, it gives you the peace of mind of knowing that justice is available to you.

Looking for a Referral Partner?

Joseph, Hollander & Craft regularly partners with attorneys and law firms across Kansas and Missouri when needed to position a case for an optimal result. When a matter falls outside our scope or would be better served by another firm, we are prepared to make thoughtful referrals that protect the client’s interests. We only refer to attorneys and law firms we trust to handle cases effectively, competently, and carefully. Likewise, we welcome referrals from other attorneys who trust us to handle personal injury cases with professionalism and care. We invite you to contact us at any time to learn more.

Personal Injury Lawyers: Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit?

In most cases, personal injury victims in Kansas only have two years to file a lawsuit. In Missouri, they have five years. For wrongful death, eligible survivors in Kansas have two years, and they have three years in Missouri.

You should understand, however, that these are the standard deadlines. Circumstances can dictate different limitations periods. It is important to act quickly after an injury occurs so that you can collect evidence and schedule your filing deadlines accordingly.

What happens if I do not file on time?

If you file outside the statute of limitations and an exception does not allow you more time, then the court may dismiss your lawsuit. This means that no matter how bad your injuries are or how clear it is that the defendant was liable, you will receive no compensation.

For this reason, we strongly advise that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible after your accident and that you never assume an exception will apply to your case.

Should I speak with the at-fault party’s insurance company?

Talk to your own personal injury attorney before speaking to the insurance company that represents the responsible party. You should also not sign any documents or send anything to the insurer without speaking with a lawyer. The other person’s insurance company is not looking out for your interests. Even your own insurance company may deny or underpay your claim if not presented with the right information filtered through an attorney who understands the system. Working with an attorney can be key to recovering what your claim is worth.

How do expert witnesses help with a personal injury lawsuit?

Expert witnesses are professionals with specialized knowledge that can explain complex subjects to a jury. For example, an accident reconstructionist can explain how a car crash happened. Expert witnesses provide important testimony that helps victims prove the elements of a personal injury lawsuit.

Will my case settle or go to trial?

Whether your case will settle depends on various factors like the severity of your injuries, your likely future medical needs, the impact of your injuries on your ability to work, and more. Most personal injury cases settle. Although we will try to settle your case if that is what you want, we are not afraid to go to trial if necessary.

Contact Joseph, Hollander & Craft in Kansas or Missouri

If you’ve been hurt, all you want to do is get your life back to normal. We’re happy to assist with that process by providing exceptional legal service that meets accident victims where they are. Have you suffered a personal injury in Kansas City, Lawrence, Overland Park, Topeka, or Wichita? If so, it’s time to speak with Joseph, Hollander & Craft. Reach out to us now to begin working on your case.