- February 19, 2025
- Car Accidents
“Getting into an accident” is not on anyone’s to-do list. However, it is a likely occurrence, especially when driving on American roads. Kansas witnesses its fair share of vehicle crashes, and these incidents have the potential to upend victims’ lives. A car accident can trigger a series of events that devastate life as you know it. You could have to deal with everything from impossible bills and missed hours of work or even job loss to vehicle damage and acute emotional distress. Understanding the most common causes of vehicle accidents in Kansas can help you determine your own best driving practices to avoid becoming the next crash victim.
Car accidents can happen to anyone, but knowing the common causes can help you stay vigilant and protect yourself and others.
The Seven Top Causes of Vehicle Accidents in Kansas
Why Are Accidents in Kansas So Common?
Since 1980, Palmer Law Group has helped Kansas drivers rebuild their lives after car and truck accidents. And through the years, we have identified these as the leading causes of accidents in Kansas.
Distracted Driving
Smartphones didn’t exist when Palmer Law Group first opened our doors. Today, they’re one of the biggest factors that lead to Kansas vehicle accidents. Even a quick glance at a notification or those few seconds you take to send a text can create gaps in attention that change lives forever. Visual distractions pull your eyes from the road, manual distractions take your hands off the wheel, and cognitive distractions steal your focus. Every second of distraction at 55 mph means your vehicle travels the length of a football field essentially driverless.
The law recognizes these dangers. Kansas statute 8-15,111 prohibits texting while driving, but enforcement can’t prevent every incident. When someone else’s distraction causes your crash, you need an advocate who understands both the modern causes and the timeless principles of vehicle accident law.
If you’ve been injured in a vehicle accident, call Palmer Law Group at (785) 233-1836 for a free consultation about your rights.
Speed and Reckless Driving
Speed transforms manageable situations into catastrophes. Kansas highway safety data shows that excessive speed consistently ranks among the most common causes of serious vehicle accidents. When drivers exceed safe speeds, they deny themselves and others of crucial reaction time. Reckless driving behaviors multiply the risks. Weaving through traffic, running red lights, and tailgating can all increase the chances of a collision.
The damage that speeding and reckless driving crashes cause can be vast. You may end up having to face the physical destruction of your vehicle, as well as financial damages like medical costs, vehicle repairs, and lost wages. It can feel overwhelming — and even sometimes impossible — to deal with these issues as you’re trying to heal.
Impaired Driving
Alcohol and drugs continue causing devastating accidents on Kansas roads. Impaired drivers show clear warning signs like swerving between lanes, sudden stops, and erratic speeds. But by the time you notice these signs, it might be too late to avoid them. Since 1980, we’ve seen how impaired driving crashes shatter lives. Criminal courts may punish the drunk driver, but civil law provides a path for victims to rebuild.
Weather-Related Accidents
Adverse weather is another frequently occurring cause of vehicle accidents in Kansas. From sudden storms to black ice, the state’s weather patterns contribute significantly to vehicle accidents. Rain reduces traction and creates hydroplaning risks; snow and ice extend braking distances; and fog and dust storms trap drivers in zones of dangerously low visibility.
Weather-related accidents often involve complex questions of liability and driver responsibility.
Intersection Dangers
Intersections concentrate risk by bringing together multiple vehicles, crossing paths, and changing lights, each of which adds complexity to maneuvering on the road. When drivers run red lights or roll through stop signs at intersections, they increase the likelihood of T-bone and side-impact car crashes, which frequently cause severe injuries. The human body isn’t built to absorb force from the side, and there’s not much protection by way of vehicle design. Quite often, these crashes even turn fatal.
Teen and Inexperienced Drivers
New drivers face challenges that those with more time behind the wheel handle automatically. An inexperienced driver might overcorrect on a curve or miss a sudden brake light when scanning for traffic. These are stages of learning that every driver passes through, but sometimes, that learning process claims casualties. Kansas’s graduated driver’s license laws try to protect new drivers by limiting night driving and passengers, but laws can’t accelerate the process of gaining experience. And when inexperience leads to accidents, families need guidance on how to move forward.
Driver Fatigue
Fatigue sneaks up on drivers, and, unlike alcohol, there’s no clear line between safe and dangerous. The drowsy driver keeping themselves awake with coffee and cold air is just as harmful as one who has had too much to drink. Long-haul truckers can face this battle daily, as can night shift workers heading home and parents who’ve been up with sick children. They aren’t to blame for being tired, but when their fatigue causes car crashes, the victims still need help rebuilding their lives.
Time Matters After an Accident
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Claim?
Kansas law generally gives you two year from the accident date to file a civil action. Missing the deadline means you could lose your right to sue forever. The reality is that while you’re focused on recovery, crucial evidence fades daily. The Palmer Law Group has dealt with these deadlines since 1980. We know how to preserve evidence and meet filing requirements before time runs out.
Get Help From an Experienced Kansas Car Accident Attorney
There Is No Need to Do it Alone
Vehicle accidents are devastating enough without the added stress of having to go through the legal process to obtain compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. Getting a qualified and experienced car accident lawyer from the outset can save you a lot of heartache while putting you in a better position to receive just compensation. Since opening our doors in 1980, Palmer Law Group has helped countless Kansas vehicle accident victims navigate the aftermath of crashes caused by distraction, speed, weather, and other common factors. We understand that you need to rebuild your life and will fiercely fight to give you your best chance.
Don’t wait to protect your rights. Contact Palmer Law Group at (785) 233-1836 to discuss your vehicle accident case.