Client Walk-Through | Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in an accident? This guide will walk you through what you need to know to take action. It will show you how a Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyer will work hard to give you the best chance of being fairly compensated.

We’ll do our best to clearly analyze your case, without overcomplicating the explanation. We want you to walk away from this guide, educated and empowered to take action! We’ll also highlight the benefits of hiring an attorney. Our mission is to make sure you are fairly compensated, and we don’t pretend that it’s necessarily going to be a fast payout. Yes, you read that right! You have to understand, this isn’t the lottery. The settlement money we can help you secure is not a get-rich-quick scheme like some TV advertising lawyers would lead you to believe. We partner with you and recognize your intrinsic value as a human being, not just a quick settlement opportunity.

We have over 70 years of combined legal experience in truck accident cases. Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys has won millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. We know the effort it takes to get things done. The consistent value we put forth case by case comes from our personalized approach.

If you become our client, we want you to share your story and develop a plan of action based on your goals and the legal possibilities. From the start of our free consultation to the finish line of closing your case, we make sure you are heard, informed, cared for, and we work hard with the goal of you being compensated fairly. If you’re hurt in a truck accident, trust Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys. We will bring the dedication that it takes to get you justice, peace of mind, validation, and as much compensation as we can win for your Pain & Suffering.

What to Do After a Truck Accident

You most likely are reading this after the fact you were in an accident. We’ll lay out the basics of what you should do following a truck accident. Then highlight the practical steps you can take to make sure all your bases are covered.

Call 911

Calling the authorities ensures that the crash is properly investigated and that all parties receive necessary medical treatment. Involving the police is also necessary. They will record witness statements, help you file a report, and gather evidence at the crash.

Your Conversation with the Police

The efforts of the police in gathering evidence will be huge in proving fault against the other party in your case. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stand your ground. It’s okay not to admit fault or wrongdoing when the police interview you following the crash. Be respectful and only provide the facts of the case. All information you give is placed in the police report. This includes statements about the extent of your injury, which you often don’t know until the medical providers assess you. Insurance companies point to those statements. They use them to avoid paying you what you’re owed.

Record Everything You Remember

If you’re able, gather as much information as you can. Your evidence can support the police report. Or, it can show a different angle that may have been overlooked. Here’s a list of things you can do:

  • Take pictures.
  • Exchange contact information with the other driver.
  • Exchange contact information with all witnesses.
  • Write down everything you remember about the crash.

Memory distortion often sets in. The details of the accident you remember become more and more diluted. It’s best to play it safe and have too much evidence than not enough!

Meet with a Doctor

We’ve had so many cases where our clients were in an accident and had little to no immediate pain due to their adrenaline and endorphins. The insurance company calls accident victims early and records a statement of them saying what they think their injuries are.

Always play it safe. Have a doctor ensure that you receive the right diagnostic studies to diagnose unseen conditions like internal bleeding. Early detection can be crucial to your health and recovery.

File a Claim

Call your insurance company to file a claim regarding your truck accident if you have benefits on your own policy. Be very careful what you say to the insurance adjuster, even though it’s your insurance company. They can record everything on that call and use it against you in their efforts to pay you as little as possible later if you make a claim for benefits on your own policy.

Consult with a Lawyer

Even if the insurance company is offering you what you think is a fair claim, you have the legal right to a second opinion. Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys offers a Free Consultation where we walk through all of your legal options and see if you have grounds for more compensation.

Plan of Attack to Get Life on Track

We’ll walk you down several paths of damages. This will give you the big picture of what you can recover for compensation.

Your free consultation with a Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyer will clarify what damages your case can get back.

Keep this in mind. We secure monetary compensation for your losses and legal damages. It’s meant to help you move towards recovery, not an effort to “get rich quick.”

We want the insurance company to compensate you well and treat you fairly.

Now, let’s categorize damages into three sections:

  1. Economic Damages
  2. Non-Economic Damages
  3. Punitive Damages

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the kinds of damages you can put on a spreadsheet like medical bills or lost wages.

Economic damages cover the types of damages that you would have the paper to prove—such as bills, receipts, or invoices.

Medical Expenses

You can be compensated for a wide range of costs, such as:

  • medication
  • hospitalization
  • surgery
  • physical therapy
  • ongoing medical treatment
  • future medical expenses

Lost Wages

You can recover for the money you lost from being off work! This includes:

  • Income you’ve lost immediately following the accident.
  • The future income you lose due to the long-term impact of your injuries and the effect they have on your ability to work.

Vehicle Damages

You are entitled to reimbursement for the value of the repair of your vehicle, or the total loss if it’s not repairable or worth repairing depending on the value of the vehicle.

Non-Economic Damages

Placing a financial value on these damages can seem daunting. But, think of the priceless value of the quality of life. These damages are designed to compensate you for the pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life that resulted from your injuries.

Loss of the Enjoyment of Life

The opportunities you had before the crash to enjoy life and live it to the fullest may have been cut short due to your injuries.

Pain & Suffering

  • The mental anguish that you felt from how the physical injuries have affected your life.
  • Scaring or Disfigurement.
  • The physical pain you experienced during and after the accident.

Emotional Distress

The psychological impacts from the accident may end up being the most scaring.

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms

Punitive Damages

This legal route only applies to certain situations. Punitive damages depend on the at-fault party’s behavior. The defendant caused the accident. If they were extremely reckless and that resulted in bodily harm to you (the plaintiff), then this category of damages may apply to your case. It punishes the defendant for their actions.

It can help if you talk with one of our team members. They can give you a better idea of what damages you can pursue for your truck accident injury. It’s most likely in your best interest not to take on battling the insurance company alone. You need a team of advocates for the Kansas City area. They have a clear plan to attempt to win you as much compensation and justice as possible.

The Pyramid We Follow to Prove Fault

Now you understand what damages you can recover. Here’s Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys’ approach to prove fault and how we can do this legally.

We’ll try to channel the explanation through the build-up of a three-layer pyramid. Each layer will condense in size and focus, ultimately pointing to the peak of the design. That peak is our ability to establish fault on the defendant.

The Process of Fault – Layer 1

Negligence is the technical term for fault. Proving negligence has 4 steps. The injured is the plaintiff. The at-fault party is the defendant.

  1. Duty – Someone had a responsibility to behave in a certain way.
  2. Breach of Duty – That person did not behave in the way they were supposed to.
  3. Damages – The person’s failure to fulfill their responsibility directly resulted in an injury.
  4. Causation – This failure to fulfill responsibility is the reason the injury happened.

Who’s at Fault – Layer 2

Identifying the liable party is the second layer of our pyramid. Each of the parties has a responsibility to behave in a certain way. If they breach this duty, there are now grounds for a lawsuit to take place.

  • Truck drivers can be liable if they break any regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
  • Trucking companies sometimes push the line of the state and federal regulations that govern them. They force their drivers to work beyond the legal hour limit, which can lead fatigued drivers to make mistakes and inevitably result in catastrophe.
  • Shipping Company—A shipping company could be held liable. This would be if they knew a driver was unqualified but let them drive and it caused a crash.
  • Truck mechanics must properly test the truck and inspect it. They could be found liable if a faulty part or failure caused the accident.

The Cause of Fault – Layer 3

In the final layer of our pyramid, we analyze common causes and factors that led to a truck accident injury.

Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys takes an extremely thorough approach in walking you through your injury case. We want to work toward getting the most compensation for you, the right way.

Common causes of truck accidents include the following:

  • Speeding and Reckless Driving
  • Alcohol and or Drug Abuse
  • Mechanical Failure
  • Poor Training
  • Improper Loading
  • Weather Conditions

You need to have a Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyer who can identify all contributing factors to hold the negligent accountable. Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys is the team to get things done. Here’s why…

Why Choose Us for Your Kansas City Truck Accident

At Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys, we know that when you’re looking for Kansas City truck accident lawyers, you want someone with a proven record of success. Our law firm’s commitment to securing maximum client compensation has resulted in numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here are a few of our case results!

  • $3,150,000 – Truck Collision
  • $2,000,000 – Truck Accident Settlement
  • $500,000 – Truck Accident Jury Verdict

Over the years, we’ve continued to develop our craft and trial skills, becoming one of our region’s most successful trial firms. We keep up-to-date on recent trucking laws and accident investigation methods. This helps us build our readiness to build the strongest case for you.

As we’ve said from the beginning—we’re your partner, not a paycheck. We aren’t and cannot promise you that you’ll hit it big if you retain our services. There are so many variables that go into any trucking accident case, including insurance coverage, the extent of your injuries and loss, and the venue or jurisdiction where the accident occurred. We do ensure you are heard, informed, cared for, and we work hard with the goal of making sure you get compensated fairly.

Photo of Mike Wyatt, Attorney at law.

“Our trial experience gives us a significant advantage over most other injury lawyers. When the insurance companies and defense attorney know that we will not only go to a jury trial, but have the real ability to win for our clients, it puts the insurance companies and insureds at risk when they play games and don’t offer fair compensation. It’s our ability to go to trial and track record for success that often leads to resolving cases outside of court.” Mike Wyatt, Partner at Mann, Wyatt & Tanksley

Free Case Estimate – Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyer

If you think Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys could help your case, or if you just have a legal question, contact us!

We’ll discuss the details of your case in your free estimate. We’ll see if you have grounds for more compensation than the insurance will offer.

Our firm works on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay a dime unless we win for you in the end. Our time, resources, and expertise are all extended to you without any upfront or hourly fees.

Call 1 (877) 388-8555 to schedule your free case estimate or contact us online.