A car accident is stressful enough, but when you didn’t cause it, the questions and frustration can multiply fast. After a car accident that was not your fault, what you should do is stay calm, seek medical attention, call the police, and gather important information for your claim.
And when your injuries, bills, and missed work start piling up, you can reach out to a Kansas City car accident lawyer to get help with the next steps. Learn more about how you should act after a car crash—and how a lawyer can assist you—in this guide.
Stay Calm and Assess the Situation
Immediately after a crash, your safety and the safety of those around you are the top priority. Move yourself and others to safety if possible. Check for injuries and call 911 right away. Turn on hazard lights to alert other drivers.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Don’t wait to get checked out, even if you feel okay at first. Injuries like whiplash, concussions, or internal bleeding can take hours or even days to show symptoms. A doctor can spot problems early and begin treatment right away.
Ask for copies of your exam notes, test results, and bills. Keep everything organized in one place so you have a clear record of your care and expenses. Your Kansas City personal injury lawyer will need all of these documents later.
Contact our Kansas city personal injury lawyers now.
Call the Kansas City Police
Even if the accident seems minor, you must call the police. In Missouri, a police report is critical evidence when establishing fault. Provide clear, honest details about the accident and obtain a copy of the accident report once it’s filed.
If officers don’t respond to the scene, you’ll need to file a report with your accident information to the Missouri Department of Revenue within 30 days. Reporting is necessary if the crash involved injuries or caused more than $500 in property damage.
Gather Important Information
You need to collect detailed accident information at the scene. This protects your rights and helps support your claim later.
Be sure to gather:
- The other driver’s name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, and insurance details
- Vehicle make, model, year, color, and license plate number
- Names and phone numbers of any witnesses
- Photos or videos showing the crash scene, vehicle damage, traffic signs, skid marks, and road conditions
Accurate records from the start make it harder for insurance companies to twist the facts or dispute what happened.
Be Cautious With Insurance Communication
Call your insurance company soon after the accident, but stick to the basic facts. Give them the time, date, and location—nothing more. Don’t discuss who caused the crash or describe your injuries in detail.
If the other driver’s insurance company reaches out, don’t answer questions or agree to a recorded statement. Their goal is to protect their bottom line, not your best interest. Tell them you plan to speak with an attorney. That’s when we can step in quickly to handle these conversations and protect you from tactics designed to push a fast, unfair settlement.
Document Everything
The more information you collect, the stronger your case becomes. In the days and weeks after a car accident that was not your fault, one thing to do is to keep a written journal of how your injuries affect your daily life.
Note things like:
- Pain levels or symptoms
- Missed work or lost income
- Doctor appointments and follow-ups
These details help demonstrate the full impact of the accident on your life.
When to Involve a Kansas City Car Accident Attorney
Reach out to a Kansas City car accident attorney as soon as possible—especially if you’re hurt, the other driver denies responsibility, or the insurance company starts pushing back. The sooner you get legal support, the better your chances of protecting your rights.
Understand Missouri’s Car Accident Laws
Missouri operates under an “at-fault” system. This means the person responsible for the accident is financially liable for damages and injuries caused.
- Statute of limitations: You generally have five years from the accident date to file a lawsuit.
- Comparative negligence: If you’re partly at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
- Mandatory reporting: Accidents involving injuries, fatalities, or property damage over $500 must be reported.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
A Kansas City car accident attorney can review your situation and identify every category of compensation available to you. Many clients don’t realize just how much they’re entitled to recover.
Depending on the details of your case, you may be able to pursue compensation for:
- Emergency room visits, hospital stays, and follow-up medical care
- Surgeries, physical therapy, prescriptions, and long-term treatment
- Lost wages and missed work
- Reduced earning potential if you can’t return to your job
- Vehicle repairs or total loss replacement
- Pain and suffering from physical injuries
- Emotional distress or mental health care
- Loss of enjoyment of life or daily function
In some rare cases, punitive damages may also apply if the other driver acted with extreme recklessness.
What if the Other Driver Is Uninsured or Underinsured?
Missouri drivers must carry liability insurance, but some ignore the law or carry too little coverage to pay for serious injuries. If the driver who hit you doesn’t have enough insurance, your own policy may offer protection through uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
These claims can get complicated fast. Your own insurance company might try to downplay your injuries or limit what they pay. That’s our job. We’ll handle those conversations, push back when needed, and make sure your rights stay protected.
Talk to a Kansas City Car Accident Attorney Today
At Foster Wallace, we bring big-firm experience and local dedication to every case. With over $1 billion recovered in settlements, verdicts, and judgments, we know how to fight—and we do it with honesty, skill, and compassion.
You’ll never feel overlooked here. We treat every client like a person, not a file. We’ll give you straightforward answers, stay in close contact, and make sure you always know what’s happening with your case. It may be your injury, but it’s our fight.
There’s a lot to do after a car accident that wasn’t your fault. But one thing you should never do is wait to get started on your claim. Reach out today for a personal consultation. We’ll take it from here so you can focus on getting better.
