Preventable accidents happen every day, leading to hundreds of deaths and injuries. In many cases, another person’s negligent actions are responsible for this harm, leading to an unexpected hardship. Those affected may need to pay for expensive medical care, learn to live with permanent disabilities and be unable to go to work and support his or her family. If you suffer from a personal injury case in Kansas City, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit—and you need a Kansas City personal injury lawyer with the knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to secure the compensation you deserve. At the Goza & Honnold, LLC law firm, our attorneys have successfully represented thousands of clients in their injury claims, working tirelessly to support their paths to recovery. We can help you secure the compensation you deserve.
Why Choose Our Personal Injury Lawyers
- Our Kansas City personal injury lawyers have the experience and resources necessary to fully investigate your claim, represent you during insurance negotiations, and craft a compelling case for the courtroom.
- Our track record speaks for itself. Over our decades of personal injury experience, we have secured tens of millions of dollars in settlements and trial verdicts.
- We have handled personal injury cases across a wide range of practice areas, including car accidents, slip and falls, inadequate security, and defective and dangerous products.
What Is a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Personal injury is a legal term that refers to any injury to a person’s mind, body, or emotions, rather than to property. A personal injury lawsuit arises when you sustain an injury due to another person’s negligence, or his or her failure to uphold a certain standard of care. For example, drivers have a duty to follow all traffic laws and to operate their vehicles safely. Property owners must maintain safe premises, and nursing homes must keep their facilities clean and free from violence.
At Goza & Honnold, LLC, we represent Kansas City residents in many types of personal injury claims, including the following:
- Bicycle Accidents
- Car accidents
- Dog bites
- Inadequate security
- Medical malpractice
- Motorcycle accidents
- Nursing home abuse and negligence
- Pedestrian accident
- Product liability
- Slip and falls
- Truck accidents
- Commercial Tort Litigation
If you believe you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim in Kansas City, contact our firm and schedule a free consultation with a Kansas City personal injury lawyer at Goza & Honnold LLC. During your free consultation, your injury attorney will review the facts of your case and determine whether you have grounds to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Contact a personal injury lawyer at Goza & Honnold LLC for your free consultation!
Why You Need a Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyer
After an accident, you can suffer from painful injuries that may require long-term care. You may be unable to go to work after the accident, leading to weeks or months of lost wages. In addition to financial hardship, serious injuries can cause psychological trauma and ongoing chronic pain. If someone else is responsible for your accident, you deserve full recovery. Our Kansas City personal injury lawyers can help you obtain the compensation you need to recover from these losses. Since he or she will have handled several cases similar to yours, your personal injury lawyer will be familiar with the processes, strategies, and evidence necessary to prove the defendant’s negligence and secure a sufficient settlement.
Your injury lawyer can provide several benefits throughout the litigation process, including the following:
- Experience negotiating with insurance companies and opposing counsel.
- Knowledge of Missouri’s civil court system and the paperwork necessary to file your claim.
- The ability to handle all aspects of your case so you can focus on recovering from your injuries, not complex paperwork or procedures.
- Knowledge of medical resources to help you fully understand the extent of your injuries and recover from them.
Contact a personal injury lawyer at Goza & Honnold LLC for your free consultation!
How to Prove Negligence in a Personal Injury Case
Not every accident or injury will result in a valid Kansas City personal injury claim. Your personal injury lawyer will need to prove that another person was legally responsible for your injuries. Legal responsibility in Kansas City personal injury cases typically hinges on the concept of negligence. If your case goes to trial, you and your personal injury attorney will need to provide evidence to support the four elements of negligence.
- Duty: The at-fault party owed you a duty of care.
- Breach: The at-fault party breached his or her duty of care.
- Causation: The breach of duty directly caused your accident.
- Damages: You suffered losses, such as medical expenses and lost wages, that you can collect in your lawsuit.
You can use many pieces of evidence to establish negligence. For example, say that you are in a car accident in Kansas City with a driver who speeds through a red light, colliding into the side of your vehicle. You can easily establish duty since all drivers owe a duty to drive safely and follow traffic laws. Running a red light is a violation of traffic law and a breach of duty. To establish the breach, you can use surveillance footage, the accident police report, and witness testimony to prove that the defendant in your case ran the red light. These pieces of evidence, along with evidence of your injuries such as medical records and photographs, can establish causation. If your case is especially complex, your Kansas City law firm may enlist the help of expert witnesses, such as Kansas City medical professionals and accident reconstructionists, who can provide testimony on the technical aspects of the accident.
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Kansas City?
Under a law known as the statute of limitations, you have five years from the date of the accident to file a Kansas City personal injury lawsuit. If you file your lawsuit after this deadline passes, the court will likely dismiss your claim. As a result, you will be ineligible to recover compensation for your injuries. There is an exception to the statute of limitations known as the discovery rule. If you could not have discovered your injury until a later date, the statute of limitations will begin running on the day you discover or should have reasonably discovered it. For example, if your landlord uses materials containing asbestos, you may not develop cancer until years after the initial exposure. You would need to file your claim within five years of the diagnosis. While exceptions to the statute of limitations do exist, they are not common. To ensure you file your personal injury lawsuit in Kansas City on time and by the correct deadline, speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer in Kansas City at the Goza & Honnold, LLC law firm as soon as possible.
Contact a Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Are you the victim of an accident in Kansas City? You may be eligible for financial compensation. The personal injury lawyers at Goza & Honnold, LLC can evaluate your claim and determine whether you have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. Contact our personal injury law firm today by calling 913-451-3433 or schedule a free consultation and discuss your legal options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury in Kansas City
How are pain and suffering calculated in Missouri?
Pain and suffering damages in Missouri are complex, and unfortunately, there is no set formula or guideline one can follow to calculate those damages. In a trial, the judge or jury will determine the appropriate amount for pain and suffering based on the facts of the case and the nature and severity of the injuries. In a settlement, the parties agree on an amount, usually based upon what they believe could be awarded at trial. Our firm has the experience necessary to understand the ranges of pain and suffering damages in Missouri personal injury claims and to arrive at fair assessments for our clients.
Would there be any reasons why I might not receive full compensation?
The facts and circumstances of your case will determine whether your potential settlement or jury award is subject to any reductions. One example might be the consideration of your own fault in the accident or incident that caused your injuries. Missouri is a pure comparative fault state, so any award you might receive at trial can be reduced by the percentage of your own fault.
What compensation am I able to receive for my personal injury case in Kansas City?
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you could be eligible for the following types of compensation:
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- Medical expenses associated with your treatment
- Anticipated future medical expenses for ongoing care
- Wages you have lost because of your injuries
- Income you will lose in the future because of lasting injuries
- Pain and suffering compensation
- Compensation for the effects of your injuries on your relationship with your spouse (also known as loss of consortium)
Helpful Links
Why Would an Insurance Company Deny Your Claim
What to Do if a Driver Is Not Listed on Your Insurance Policy and Is Involved in an Accident