Kansas City Car Accident Lawyer 

If you were seriously hurt or lost someone you love in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, you are facing some of the hardest questions of your life. After the initial shock fades, you’re left with pain, grief, mounting bills, financial distress, and uncertainty about what comes next. You may be wondering if your health will return, how long you’ll be out of work, or whether your life will ever feel normal again. These aren’t just inconvenient disruptions. They’re life-changing events.

At Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers, our experienced car accident lawyers focus exclusively on cases involving serious injuries and wrongful death. We've spent decades helping people who are facing long recoveries, permanent disability, or the devastation of losing a family member in a preventable crash. 

We care deeply about what our clients go through, because we’ve seen the lasting impact these accidents have—physically, emotionally, and financially.

Key Takeaways

• A serious car accident can affect every part of your life, not just your health, but your job, relationships, and long-term stability.
• When someone else’s negligence causes injury or death, pursuing a legal claim helps secure resources for recovery and encourages safer behavior going forward.
• Insurance companies are focused on minimizing payouts, not helping you rebuild your life. Without legal support, it’s easy to settle for far less than your case is worth.
• The steps you take early, like getting medical care and avoiding direct contact with insurers, can make a major difference in the outcome of your claim.
• Many accidents involve more than one liable party. Uncovering all sources of compensation requires a legal team with the experience to dig deeper.
• Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers handles only serious injury and wrongful death cases, offering focused legal guidance when everything you’ve worked for is at risk.

Why Choose Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers for Your Car Accident Case?

We’re not a volume firm trying to settle as many claims as possible. Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers is a boutique law firm focused on high-stakes, high-value litigation. We take a limited number of cases so that every client receives the full attention and resources their case demands.

The Scope of the Problem: Car Accidents in the U.S.

Every year, millions of Americans find their lives turned upside down by traffic crashes. In one recent year, nearly 40,000 people lost their lives in car accidents across the U.S., and over 2 million were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Missouri alone sees close to 1,000 deaths annually from motor vehicle crashes.

Some of the most dangerous roads run through major transportation corridors like I-70, I-35, and I-435, all cutting through the Kansas City metro. Factors like distracted driving, high-speed trucking routes, and seasonal weather hazards contribute to the risk. Despite advances in vehicle safety, far too many drivers and passengers are still paying the price for someone else’s recklessness.

Types of Car Accidents We Handle

Car crashes happen in countless ways, and the details of how they happen often determine who’s responsible and how much compensation is available. At Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers, we represent clients in a wide range of crash scenarios, each with its own legal challenges.

Dangerous road conditions

Potholes, poor drainage, missing signs, and inadequate lighting can all contribute to serious crashes. In these cases, we look closely at whether a city, county, or private contractor may be liable.

Drunk driving crashes

Intoxicated drivers put everyone at risk. These cases may also involve punitive damages due to the extreme negligence involved.

Head-on collisions

These violent impacts often lead to life-threatening injuries and may result from distracted driving, fatigue, or lane departures on rural roads.

Hit-and-run accidents

Leaving the scene of a crash is illegal in every state, and it also makes it harder for victims to recover damages. We pursue uninsured motorist claims and other legal avenues to help you recover.

Rear-end collisions

Often caused by distracted or speeding drivers, rear-end crashes can lead to whiplash, spinal damage, and even traumatic brain injuries.

Rollover accidents

SUVs and trucks are especially prone to rollovers, especially at high speeds or during evasive maneuvers. Rollover victims often suffer serious or fatal injuries.

Side-impact collisions

Also called T-bone accidents, these broadside crashes occur most often at intersections. The force of impact can crush doors and lead to severe internal injuries.

Texting while driving

Distracted driving kills thousands of people every year. Cell phone use behind the wheel continues to be one of the leading causes of preventable crashes.

Uber and Lyft accidents

Rideshare crashes can be legally tricky. Liability may fall on the driver, the rideshare company, or even a third party. We untangle the facts and pursue all available damages in these complex claims.

What Causes Most Car Accidents?

Almost all car crashes stem from human error, and most are preventable. They often happen because someone was careless, distracted, or driving recklessly. Some of the most common causes include:

• Distracted driving (texting, talking on the phone, using apps)
• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Fatigue or drowsy driving
• Aggressive maneuvers such as tailgating or cutting off other drivers
• Failing to yield or obey traffic signals
• Failure to adjust driving to weather conditions and losing vehicle control

In some cases, multiple factors combine to create a dangerous situation. Part of our job as car accident lawyers is to investigate what happened, determine who should be held responsible, and hold them accountable for your losses.

Common Injuries in Serious Car Crashes

Serious auto collisions often lead to long-term or even permanent harm. We regularly represent clients dealing with:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries, partial or full paralysis
• Broken bones or orthopedic trauma
• Severe burns or disfigurement
• Internal organ damage
• Soft tissue and joint injuries
• Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression)

Some injuries require surgery, long-term rehabilitation, or round-the-clock care. Cases involving serious injuries are not simple. They demand medical documentation, expert analysis, and a legal team capable of building a case for long-term compensation.

What Kind of Compensation Can You Recover After a Car Accident?

You shouldn’t have to bear the financial burden brought on by someone else’s carelessness. When we handle your case, we pursue compensation that reflects the full extent of your suffering and losses, not just what the insurance company says your case is worth. 

Depending on your case, compensation may include:

• Emergency and ongoing medical care
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Lost wages or diminished earning ability
• Future medical and life care costs
• Property damage
• Pain, emotional suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life

The compensation you pursue in a car accident claim should reflect the real impact the crash has had on your health, your income, and your future. Our Kansas City car accident attorneys meticulously document those losses and relentlessly pursue a recovery that meets all of your needs. 

Pursuing Compensation for Wrongful Death Caused by Car Accidents

In wrongful death cases, the impact extends far beyond financial losses. Families are left grieving while also facing practical challenges, such as how to cover funeral expenses or make up for the income and benefits the deceased would have provided. Beyond the dollars and cents, there is the emotional void—loss of guidance, companionship, and the unique role that person played in their family’s life.

Laws governing wrongful death damages and who is eligible to claim them vary from state to state. For instance, in Missouri, eligible family members may recover a wide range of losses, including funeral costs, lost financial support, and the value of services the person provided at home. In Kansas, families may also pursue compensation, though state law places limits on certain types of non-economic damages.

These cases are never easy. We know that no amount of money can make up for the loss of a loved one. What we can do is fight to ease the financial burden and hold the responsible party accountable, helping families find a measure of security as they move forward.

Who May Be Held Responsible in a Car Accident?

Many people assume car crashes are simply between two drivers. In reality, liability can extend far beyond the obvious parties.

Depending on the facts of your case, responsible parties might include:

• Another driver 
• A commercial vehicle driver and their employer
• A municipality or contractor responsible for road design or maintenance
• A manufacturer of a defective vehicle or part
• A rideshare company or delivery platform
• Another passenger or pedestrian who created a hazard

Our team of experienced car accident lawyers conducts a thorough investigation using accident reports, crash reconstruction, dashcam footage, black box data (if applicable), and witness statements. We identify all liable parties and ensure that each one is held accountable.

What Should I Do When the Insurance Company Calls?

If you're already getting calls or letters from insurance adjusters, proceed with caution. Insurance companies are businesses, and their goal is to minimize payouts.

Here’s what to remember:

• Don’t give a recorded statement without legal advice. Anything you say may be used to challenge your claim.
• Don’t accept a quick settlement offer. Early offers are often far less than what your case is worth.
• Don’t downplay your injuries. Even casual phrases like “I’m feeling better” can be used to argue you’re not seriously hurt.

Instead, direct the insurance representative to your attorney. When you work with Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers, we take over all communication with the insurance company to protect your rights and prevent you from being pressured or misled.

What Should You Do After a Car Accident?

If you’ve already received medical attention or you’re being treated, that’s always the right first step. But there are other actions you can take to help preserve your rights and strengthen your claim:

• Hire a car accident lawyer immediately to protect your claim and take the legal burden off your shoulders.
• Keep all medical appointments and follow treatment plans so your injuries are clearly documented.
• Write or video journal your pain levels, emotional stress, and day-to-day struggles to serve as evidence for your pain and suffering.
• Preserve all evidence, including photos, vehicle damage, clothing, medical records, and receipts.
• Avoid posting about the accident on social media—even innocent comments can be misinterpreted.

You don’t have to handle this process alone. Our team guides you through every step.

FAQs About Car Accident Claims

Start Your Case with a Car Accident Lawyer at Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers Today

After decades of helping clients rebuild their lives, we’ve seen the physical struggles, the financial pressure, and the grief that never make it into an insurance claim. That changes you as a lawyer and as a person. It’s why we’ve committed our practice to representing people with the most serious injuries and families facing wrongful death.

At Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers, we treat every client the way we would want our own families treated if the roles were reversed—with respect, honesty, and a relentless commitment to justice. We know legal action can’t undo what happened, but it can provide the resources to move forward and help prevent the same harm from happening again. If your family is dealing with the fallout of a catastrophic crash, call us at (816) 931-4611.