Topeka Car Accident Lawyer

When you’re searching for a car accident lawyer in Topeka, sorting through your options can be intimidating – and deciding which law firm you can truly trust can feel like an impossible challenge. Combine that with the stress of recovering physically, emotionally, and financially from an automobile accident, and you can find yourself shouldering an incredible burden. We want to help relieve your stress in finding an attorney by letting you know why people choose us and why you should consider us for your case:

• Founded in 1979, our firm has built a strong reputation as a long-time member of the Topeka and northeast Kansas legal community.
• We have won over $100 million in awards and settlements for clients.
• Our attorneys, many of whom are native Kansans, have a combined 60 years of legal experience in the state.
• We are proud to have received some of the most prestigious professional awards given to law firms and lawyers, which you can read about here.

We are committed to providing Topeka car accident victims with ethical, knowledgeable and compassionate attorneys in their time of need. Visit our testimonials page to see how we consistently live up to this commitment. To learn how we can help you, reach out today to schedule a free case evaluation with a trustworthy car accident attorney from the Palmer Law Group team.

How Our Topeka Car Accident Attorney Can Help

There are many ways that a Topeka car accident attorney can help you when you’ve been injured in a crash including:

• Investigating the accident and gathering evidence to determine fault and establish liability
• Communicating with insurers, law enforcement, eyewitnesses and other parties
• Advising you about a fair dollar amount to pursue to adequately pay for your injuries and other losses
• Filling out and filing all the complicated paperwork involved in car accident cases
• Negotiating with insurance company representatives to try and get a fair settlement offer
• Identifying expert witnesses, if required, to provide input on your behalf
• If your case goes to trial, serving as your powerful legal advocate in court
• Keeping you informed about your legal rights and responsibilities.

Types of Injuries in Car Accidents

When two or more heavy vehicles collide, it isn’t surprising that serious and even catastrophic injuries can result. Here are some of the types of injuries we’ve seen in car accident cases we’ve handled:

• Paralysis, permanent disability or a handicap
• Burns and loss of limbs
• Life-threatening injuries, including spine, head and brain trauma
• Severe injuries, including broken bones and lacerations that need stitches
• Organ damage and serious soft tissue injuries
• Minor injuries, such as scrapes, bruises, contusions, or cuts
• Post-traumatic stress disorder and other emotional and psychological injuries.

Sometimes car accident injuries require long-term or even lifelong medical treatment and nursing care. In some cases, victims may need assistance with the most basic tasks of daily life such as bathing, toileting, dressing and feeding themselves. This extensive medical treatment and other care is very expensive. If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a car accident cause by the careless and negligent actions of another party, you are entitled to be fairly compensated for your physical, emotional and financial losses.

Compensation in Car Accident Claims

Compensation in car accident cases is based on damages. Damages are the losses that you have suffered because of the crash. Damages may vary substantially among car accident cases, depending on the circumstances.

In Kansas, potential damages include, but are not necessarily limited to payment for:

• Medical expenses for emergency care, hospitalization, doctor visits, medications and medical equipment
• Wage loss for time off work during recuperation
• Loss of future earning capacity if you can’t work anymore or your ability to work is limited
• Pain and suffering for your physical and emotional pain
• Mental anguish; for example, if you have suffered social humiliation due to physical scarring caused by the accident
• Property loss for damage to your vehicle
• And more.

Medical expenses, wage loss, lost earning capacity, and property damage are called economic damages because they are more easily quantifiable. Pain and suffering and mental anguish are non-economic damages because they are not as easy to put a price on. In Kansas, there are legal limits on how much can be awarded in non-economic damages. The current limits are:

• $325,000 for injuries that occurred on or after July 1, 2018 and before July 1, 2022
• $350,000 for injuries that occurred on or after July 1, 2022.

Additionally, in some cases where the defendant has acted with willful malice, or if their behavior was particularly egregious, the court may impose punitive damages, which are meant to deter especially poor conduct such as drunk driving.

How much compensation you might be able to get in your case depends upon all of its unique factors. When we work with you, we can advise you about a possible value range for your claim.

Topeka Car Accident Attorney Answers FAQs

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Topeka

Whether you’ve sustained serious injuries or are only dealing with minor property damage, contacting an experienced car accident lawyer in Topeka after an accident can make the difference in your case. Unfortunately, far too many accident victims fall prey to unfair settlements from insurance companies. In many cases, an accident victim may not realize they’ve been severely shortchanged until it comes time to pay for future medical bills, repair cost for their vehicle, and more.

With an experienced car accident lawyer on your side, you can avoid many of the most common post-accident pitfalls. Rather than being pressured by the insurance company to accept minimal compensation, you can move forward with confidence knowing that you have an expert legal advocate on your side. Working with an attorney after a car accident can make a world of difference in securing your rightful compensation and protecting yourself after both minor and serious auto accidents.

Kansas Car Accident Statistics

According to the traffic quick facts report conducted by the Kansas Department of Transportation, there were 426 fatalities and 16,013 injuries, including 1,586 disabling injuries, in traffic crashes in the most recent year with available statistics.  There are a number of factors that contribute to these dangerous accidents, including:

• Right-of-way violations
• Driver inattention
• Following another vehicle too closely
• Improper lane changes
• Disregarding traffic signage
• Taking a dangerous evasive action
• Running a red light
• Using a mobile phone
• Texting
• Medical conditions
• Presence of debris or other obstructions
• Speeding
• Overturning
• Intoxication
• Work zone hazards
• Snow and ice hazards
• Animal interference.

These are just some of the many reasons for accidents. However your accident happened, if another party’s negligence was to blame, you could be entitled to compensation.

The Eye-Opening Facts about Car Accidents and Injuries

If you’ve ever been involved in a car accident, whether it was a minor or a major incident, you know how frightening the experience can be. Unfortunately, car accidents are a frequent occurrence in Topeka and countless other American cities, putting drivers, passengers, and even bicyclists and pedestrians at serious risk of property damage, injury, and even death.

A car accident can include any combination of the following vehicles or pedestrians:

• Two standard passenger vehicles
• A standard passenger vehicle (or vehicles) and a commercial truck (such as a semi-truck)
• A passenger vehicle and another automotive vehicle, including a train, bus, RV, trailer, motorcycle, or tractor
• A pedestrian and a passenger vehicle
• A bicyclist and a passenger vehicle
• A passenger vehicle and an animal
• A passenger vehicle and a nonstationary object or structure, such as a building, lamppost, or street sign.

In 2020, there were more than 52,000 traffic crashes reported by the Kansas Department of Transportation. Of those, nearly 25 percent resulted in injuries and fatalities.

When you consider the numbers, it makes sense not just to be aware of your risk of being involved in a car accident, but also to know what actions to take after an incident.

What to Do After a Car Accident

Immediately after a crash, call 911 to get medical attention for any injuries. If you are not taken to the emergency room, see a doctor as soon as possible. Serious injuries do not always show up immediately. At the scene of the accident, if possible:

• Give a report of what happened to police.
• Exchange license, insurance and contact information with the other driver.
• Get eyewitness statements or contact information for witnesses.
• Take photographs with your phone of the scene and vehicles.

Keep your medical reports and all of the documentation you have gathered related to the accident organized into a file. You can provide this evidence file to your attorney who can also gather additional evidence as necessary.

Attorney LJ Leatherman

LJ Leatherman passionately believes in fair and dedicated representation for individuals who have been affected by automobile negligence, electrical injuries, firearm litigation, wrongful death, and third-party claims against insurance companies and all other areas of personal injury litigation. [Read More]