The sun climbs higher in the sky, casting a warm glow across the endless fields of Missouri and Kansas. It’s the kind of day that makes you want to roll down the windows, turn up the music, and just drive.
For many, spring and summer represent freedom, road trips, and time spent with family. Yet, this idyllic vision masks a grim statistical truth. The seasons we associate with life and vibrancy are, paradoxically, the deadliest on our nation’s roads.
The clear skies and dry pavement create a false sense of security, leading to a dramatic and tragic increase in serious summer and spring driving accidents. What begins as a perfect day can be shattered in a single, violent instant, leaving families to grapple with devastating injuries and unimaginable loss.
Key takeaways
- Increased Traffic Volume: Summer holidays, school vacations, and favorable weather crowd Missouri and Kansas highways like I-70 and I-35 with a mix of passenger cars, inexperienced teen drivers, and commercial trucks, raising the probability of a serious collision.
- More Vulnerable Road Users: Sunny days mean more motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians are sharing the road. This requires heightened driver awareness to prevent a tragedy, as these individuals have little to no protection in a crash.
- Higher Rates of Risky Behavior: The relaxed, celebratory atmosphere of summer often leads to more distracted and impaired driving. Holidays like the Fourth of July and Labor Day are consistently among the deadliest periods due to these preventable choices.
What Turns Sunshine into a Season of Serious Car Accidents?
The fundamental reason for the seasonal spike in collisions is the sheer density of vehicles on our roadways. From the bustling I-435 loop around Kansas City to the long, straight stretches of US-69, more cars, trucks, and motorcycles are competing for the same space.
This congestion alone drastically shortens the margin for error, but specific types of traffic add unique layers of risk.
The surge of vacation and long-distance travel
When summer arrives, so does the great American road trip. Families set out for destinations near and far, creating a hazardous mix of driver behaviors and conditions.
- Driver fatigue: Long hours behind the wheel, often starting early or ending late to "beat the traffic," lead to significant driver fatigue. A tired driver can experience slowed reaction times and impaired judgment, similar to someone who has consumed alcohol. This state, sometimes called "highway hypnosis," can cause a driver to zone out for critical seconds, leading to high-speed rear-end collisions or drifting out of their lane.
- Unfamiliar roadways: A driver from out of state attempting to find their way through downtown Kansas City or navigating a rural Missouri highway for the first time is at a distinct disadvantage. They may make sudden lane changes, slow down unexpectedly to read signs, or misinterpret the flow of traffic, creating a dangerous situation for everyone around them.
- The "Vacation Mindset": The pressure to make good time and the general excitement of a trip can lead to more aggressive driving habits, including speeding, tailgating, and unsafe passing maneuvers. This mindset prioritizes the destination over the safety of the journey itself.
The "100 Deadliest Days" for Teen Drivers
For teenage drivers, the freedom of summer vacation comes with a terrifying statistical reality. The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is widely known as the “100 Deadliest Days” due to a sharp increase in fatal crashes involving teens.
- Inexperience Compounded by Distraction: Teen drivers lack the years of experience that allow seasoned drivers to anticipate and react to hazards instinctively. This inexperience is dangerously compounded by the number one cause of teen crashes: distraction. With friends in the car, music playing, and social media notifications buzzing, their attention is easily pulled away from the road.
- Increased Night Driving: Summer offers more opportunities for teens to drive at night to and from social events. Driving after dark is inherently more dangerous due to reduced visibility, and this risk is magnified for a young driver who may not be as adept at spotting pedestrians, cyclists, or animals on the road.
- Higher Propensity for Risk-Taking: Peer pressure and a still-developing prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that governs judgment, can lead to poor decisions like speeding, not wearing seatbelts, or attempting dangerous maneuvers.
The Hidden Dangers Contributing to Summertime Collisions
Beyond the sheer volume of traffic, several environmental and behavioral factors unique to the warmer months contribute to the elevated risk of driving accidents. These dangers are often subtle, lulling drivers into a false sense of security on what appears to be a perfect day.
Deceptive environmental and roadway conditions
The road can become a hazard in the summer, often in ways drivers do not anticipate.
- Blinding sun glare: A low-lying sun in the morning or late afternoon can create a blinding glare, completely washing out a driver’s field of vision. This makes it impossible to see traffic lights, brake lights on the vehicle ahead, or a pedestrian stepping into a crosswalk. This momentary blindness is a frequent cause of intersection and rear-end crashes.
- Tire blowouts: High pavement temperatures in July and August put immense stress on tires, especially those that are underinflated or worn. A sudden tire blowout at highway speeds can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle, sending it careening across multiple lanes of traffic or into an embankment.
- Active construction zones: State and local governments take advantage of good weather to perform road maintenance. This results in a proliferation of construction zones across Missouri and Kansas.
These zones are inherently dangerous due to:
- Sudden lane shifts and mergers
- Uneven pavement or road debris
- Reduced speed limits that some drivers ignore
- The close proximity of heavy machinery and road crews
What are the Consequences of These Seasonal Driving Accidents?
After being released from the hospital, you return home to face the true scope of a serious collision. The initial shock gives way to the painful reality of recovery and the sudden influx of paperwork and phone calls. Taking deliberate, organized steps during this period can help protect your rights and your family’s future.
Your actions at home matter
The period immediately following your return home is a critical window. How you handle documentation and communication can significantly affect your ability to recover fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
- Create a central file for all documents: You will quickly become inundated with paperwork. Designate a specific folder or box to hold every single document related to the accident.
This includes the police report, the other driver's information, all medical bills from the hospital, doctors, and therapists, pharmacy receipts for prescriptions and medical equipment, and any letters or emails you receive from insurance companies.
Keeping this information organized will be immensely helpful later.
- Maintain a detailed recovery journal: Begin a simple daily journal. In it, you should track your physical symptoms, including pain levels on a scale of 1 to 10 and any side effects from medication.
Document every medical appointment and the instructions you receive. Just as importantly, write down how your injuries affect your daily life. Note any activities you can no longer do, from mowing the lawn to picking up your child, and any family events or social occasions you are forced to miss.
This journal becomes a powerful record of your suffering and loss.
- Be extremely cautious when speaking with insurance adjusters: You will receive a phone call from the at-fault driver's insurance adjuster very quickly. Their goal is to close your claim as fast and as cheaply as possible.
You are not obligated to provide them with a recorded statement about the accident or your injuries. Politely decline, and give only your name, contact information, and the police report number.
Never accept a quick settlement offer, as it is almost certainly a lowball amount that does not account for your future medical needs or lost income.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim after an accident?
The deadlines, called the statute of limitations, are very different in each state and are strictly enforced. In Missouri, you generally have five years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is a relatively long window. In Kansas, the deadline is much shorter; you only have two years from the date of the accident to file your claim. Missing this deadline, regardless of the severity of your injuries, can permanently prevent you from seeking justice.
Will the other driver's insurance cover all my medical bills and lost wages?
It is highly unlikely, especially in a catastrophic injury case. Both Missouri and Kansas mandate a minimum liability insurance coverage of only $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury. A single night in the hospital or a necessary surgery can easily exceed these minimums. When injuries are severe, such as a traumatic brain injury or a spinal cord injury, the lifetime costs of medical care can run into the millions. This is why it is vital to have a thorough investigation to identify all possible sources of recovery beyond the at-fault driver's minimal insurance policy.
My family member has a traumatic brain injury from a truck accident. How is a claim for this type of injury different?
A claim for a catastrophic injury like a TBI is fundamentally different from a standard personal injury case. It requires a much more detailed and forward-looking approach. Instead of just adding up current medical bills, the process involves working with a team of medical and financial professionals to create a comprehensive "life care plan."
This plan projects the full, lifetime costs associated with the injury, including:
- Future surgeries, therapies, and doctor's visits
- In-home nursing care or residence in a long-term care facility
- Medications and medical equipment
- Home and vehicle modifications to accommodate disabilities
- Vocational rehabilitation and lost future earning capacity
Presenting a claim of this magnitude requires a significant investment of time and resources to ensure the victim has the financial support they will need for the rest of their life.
What happens if the driver who hit me has no insurance or not enough to cover my catastrophic injuries?
This is a tragically common situation, and it is where your own auto insurance policy can provide a critical safety net. This is handled through two types of coverage:
- Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage: If the at-fault driver has no liability insurance at all, or if it is a hit-and-run incident, your own UM coverage can be used to pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages, up to your policy limits.
- Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage: If the at-fault driver has insurance but their policy limits are too low to cover the full cost of your catastrophic injuries, your UIM coverage can be used to bridge the gap. Pursuing a UM/UIM claim involves a complex process with your own insurance company, which is why having legal representation is vital to ensure you receive the full benefits you are entitled to under your policy.
From Devastation to Determination
When a catastrophic accident caused by another's negligence tears your world apart, the path forward can seem impossible. The physical pain is compounded by a tidal wave of medical bills, lost income, and the profound emotional trauma of a life that has been permanently altered.
At Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers, we concentrate our entire practice on representing victims of catastrophic injury and wrongful death throughout Missouri and Kansas. We are not a high-volume law firm.
Our sole focus is on securing the resources you need to rebuild your life with dignity and security.
If your family is grappling with a devastating accident, please contact our team for a free, confidential consultation. Let us carry the legal burden so you can focus on healing.
Call our Kansas City office at (816) 931-4611 or visit our contact page to learn how we can help.