Kansas City Underride Truck Accident Lawyer

When a car slides underneath a huge commercial truck on I-69 or I-35, the results can be devastating. If you or someone you love has been seriously hurt in an underride truck accident in Kansas City, you need an expert attorney on your side who will fight for you.

At DM Injury Law, we've secured over $1 billion for our clients who have been seriously hurt like you. Accidents involving big trucks lead to more serious injuries and can be more difficult to handle. Since your accident involved a commercial vehicle, there are more laws that must be taken into consideration and more insurance policies we can file under.

Our underride truck accident attorneys in Kansas City are here to fight for the compensation you need to pay off your medical bills and other financial losses. We offer FREE consultations, and YOU PAY NOTHING unless we win your case.

DM Injury Law is Kansas City's premier truck accident law firm. We can help you with any truck accident legal issue you're facing, including:

• Truck accidents in Kansas City
• Semi-truck accidents in Kansas City
• 18-wheeler accidents in Kansas City
• Delivery truck accidents in Kansas City
• Jackknife truck accidents in Kansas City
• Fatal truck accidents in Kansas City
• Trucking company negligence in Kansas City

Why Choose DM Injury Law for Your Kansas City Underride Truck Accident Claim?

After a traumatic accident, you deserve a legal team with the resources to secure the maximum settlement possible for you. At DM Injury Law, we will handle your case with the care and attention it deserves. Here’s why clients trust us to fight for them:

• Proven Results: We've secured over $1 billion for victims just like you, helping families pay off medical bills, regain financial stability, and rebuild their lives.
• Experienced Team: Our attorneys and support staff of investigators, case managers, and medical records specialists know how insurance companies operate. We'll handle them so you can focus on healing.
• We Handle Everything: From the very beginning, we handle everything for you. From dealing with insurance companies and collecting evidence to managing paperwork and building your case, we’ve got it covered. You can focus on your recovery while we do the heavy lifting.
• No Upfront Costs: We operate on a contingency basis, meaning YOU DON’T PAY ANYTHING upfront. You won’t owe us a dime out of pocket; our fee comes from the settlement if we win your case.

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Our Proven Results

Our expert team has helped families recover millions of dollars after life-changing truck crashes, including:

• $11 Million: Our client's son was killed while in a company truck, and the other driver fell asleep at the wheel.
• $2.2 Million: We helped a family secure compensation after a truck crossed over the divider line and hit our clients' vehicle.
• $1.8 Million: A truck driver crossed the dividing line and hit our client, who passed away.

What Is an Underride Truck Accident?

An underride accident happens when a smaller vehicle slides underneath a commercial truck's trailer. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the NHTSA categorizes a crash in which any portion of a passenger vehicle slides under the body of a larger truck or trailer as an underride crash.

These truck crashes are extremely dangerous. When a car goes under a truck, the impact often hits the windshield or roof of the smaller vehicle. This can cause severe head, neck, and chest injuries because the car's safety features, like airbags and bumpers, can't protect the people inside.

There are two main types of underride accidents:

1. Rear Underride Accidents: These happen when a car crashes into the back of a truck or trailer. This can occur when a truck stops suddenly, slows down without warning, or backs up.
2. Side Underride Accidents: These occur when a car hits the side of a truck's trailer and slides underneath. This often happens when a truck is turning, crossing an intersection, or blocking the road.

Why Underride Accidents Happen

Underride crashes are typically caused by driver negligence, inadequate truck maintenance, or dangerous road conditions. Common causes of these crashes our Kansas City truck underride accident lawyer has handled include:

1. Missing or Faulty Underride Guards

Federal law requires most large trucks to have rear underride guards, steel bars that hang from the back of the trailer to stop cars from sliding underneath. However, not all trucks have these guards, and some guards are too weak, too high, or poorly installed. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), many underride guards fail to prevent crashes, especially in offset collisions.

Side underride guards are not required by law, which makes side collisions even more dangerous.

2. Poor Visibility

Many truck trailers, especially older ones, don't have enough reflective tape or lights. This makes it hard for drivers to see the truck at night or in bad weather. When a truck is stopped or moving slowly without proper warning lights, other drivers may not notice it until it's too late.

3. Truck Driver Negligence

Truck drivers who fail to use emergency flashers, road flares, or reflective triangles when stopped can cause underride crashes. Speeding, distracted driving, and failing to follow traffic laws also increase the risk of these accidents.

4. Brake Failure or Mechanical Problems

Worn-out brakes, bad tires, or faulty parts can make it impossible for a driver to stop safely. If the vehicle isn't maintained properly, an underride crash becomes much more likely.

5. Driver Fatigue

Federal rules from the FMCSA limit truck drivers to 11 hours of driving after 10 hours off duty. But some trucking companies ignore these laws and push drivers to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines. Tired drivers have slower reaction times and make dangerous mistakes.

6. Poor Training

Not all truck drivers receive proper training on how to handle a large vehicle safely. An inexperienced driver may make mistakes that lead to an underride crash.

No matter what caused your underride truck crash in Kansas City, DM Injury Law will fight for the money you need to pay for your medical bills and other financial losses this accident caused you.

Who Is Responsible for an Underride Crash?

Figuring out who is at fault in an underride accident takes a thorough investigation. Our legal team will look at every detail to hold the right parties accountable. Liable parties may include:

• The Truck Driver: The driver may be at fault if they were speeding, driving recklessly, or too tired to drive safely.  
• The Trucking Company: The company could be responsible if they failed to maintain the truck, pressured the driver to break federal safety rules, or hired an unqualified driver.  
• The Truck or Parts Manufacturer: The manufacturer may be liable if faulty underride guards, brakes, tires, or other defective parts caused the crash.  
• A Maintenance Company: The maintenance company could be at fault if they failed to fix known problems with the truck.  
• Government Entities: Government entities may be responsible if poor road conditions, missing signs, or broken traffic signals contributed to the accident.

What to Do After an Underride Accident

If you've been involved in an underride crash, take these steps to protect yourself and your claim:

1. Get to Safety: If you can move your vehicle out of traffic, do so. Turn on your hazard lights.
2. Call 911: Report the crash and any injuries immediately. Having a police report can be valuable evidence in your claim.
3. See a Doctor: Even if you feel fine, get checked out by a medical professional. Some injuries don't show up right away.
4. Take Photos: If it's safe, take pictures of the damage, the truck, your injuries, and the accident scene.
5. Get Information: Write down the truck driver's name, the trucking company's information, and contact details for any witnesses.
6. Don't Talk to the Insurance Company: They may try to get you to say something that hurts your claim. Let us handle all communication.
7. Call DM Injury Law: We'll start building your case as soon as you contact us.

How We Can Help You

At DM Injury Law, we handle every part of your case so you can focus on getting better. Our team of lawyers, investigators, and case managers will work tirelessly for you.

Here’s how we’ll help:

• Investigate the accident scene right away to collect evidence.
• Analyze the truck’s "black box," driver logs, and maintenance records.
• Partner with experts to prove how the accident happened.
• Manage all talks with the trucking and insurance companies.
• Fight for the full compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

How Long Do I Have to File an Underride Truck Accident Claim in Kansas City?

In Missouri, you have five years from the date of the accident to file your claim, according to RSMo § 516.120. In Kansas, the deadline is two years under K.S.A. § 60-513.

While this may seem like a long time, it is crucial to file your claim as soon as possible. Over time, evidence can be lost, and witnesses may forget important details. If you miss the deadline, you will lose your right to recover compensation for your injuries.

Comparative Fault in Missouri and Kansas

What if the insurance company tries to blame you for the crash?

In Missouri, you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. Missouri follows a "pure comparative negligence" rule under RSMo § 537.765. Your percentage of fault will reduce your compensation, but you can still recover damages.

In Kansas, you can recover compensation as long as you are less than 50% at fault for the accident, according to K.S.A. § 60-258a. Your percentage of fault will also reduce your settlement.

Insurance companies prioritize their profits, not your well-being. They will try to blame you for the accident to pay you as little as possible. Our lawyers will fight to protect your rights and ensure you are not unfairly blamed for a crash that wasn't your fault. We are here to get you the compensation you deserve.

Contact DM Injury Law Today for a Free Consultation

Being injured in an underride accident with a truck is a traumatizing experience. Now, you have medical bills piling up and lost wages from time off work. That's why you need one of the best lawyers for underride truck accident injuries in Kansas City.

DM Injury Law is here to listen to your story and fight for a fair truck accident settlement. Contact us today for a FREE consultation. Remember, YOU DON'T PAY unless we win your case.