Kansas Car Accidents: Do You Have a Claim?

Have You Been Involved in a Kansas Car Accident?

Is there anything scarier, more frustrating, or more upsetting than a car accident? Whether you pass by one on the highway or find yourself involved in one yourself, there are very few things that can send you on such a roller coaster of emotions faster than a wreck.

The first question that comes to our mind after a car accident is the most obvious: What do I do? This is true whether we saw the crash happen or were actually involved in the crash itself. Later, the other questions start to trickle into our mind: What are the most common kinds of car accidents? What kind of car accident injuries do people tend to sustain the most often?

All of these questions are valid, and all deserve answers, so let’s address each of them.

The Most Common Kinds of Car Accidents in Kansas

Regardless if you’ve only been driving for a few months or you’ve been behind the wheel for decades now, the sheer number of car accidents a year — an average of about six million annually — means that you’ve probably witnessed at least one out there on the road.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT) most recent statistics, there were 64,682 accidents in the state of Kansas in 2019. Of those, 50,992 resulted in significant property damage, 13,313 resulted in serious injury, and 362 proved to be fatal.

KDOT‘s 2019 report goes on to detail the most common accidents that occurred over the course of the year:

• 28,908 involved just one single car
• 11,088 cars collided with deer
• 10,493 drivers crashed into stationery objects
• 5,759 were a result of speeding
• 5,546 were caused by snow and ice on the road
• 2,992 vehicles were overturned
• 2,149 involved alcohol

Clearly, anything is possible out there on the road. You never know what might happen, but one thing is abundantly clear from these staggering numbers: With an average of 177 car accidents a day, you can never exercise too much caution. Some may feel that they can avoid accidents by not driving at night or not driving when the weather’s bad. This is a perfectly reasonable thing to do, but keep in mind that KDOT states 62% of accidents occurred during daylight hours and 83% during good weather conditions.

Before you get behind the wheel, it’s best to be aware that there’s always a risk of an accident. These statistics should not keep you from driving, but rather help you to understand that these things are common and that there are people and resources out there to assist you when you need it most.

Now that you have a better idea of the most common kinds of car accidents in Kansas, it’s good to know the most common car accident injuries sustained in these accidents. Ranging from something as trivial as a minor scrape to something as severe as a brain injury, car accident injuries are practically just as common as car accidents themselves. Let’s take a look at some of the most common car accident injuries and why it’s so important to know the risk involved.

• Bruises and contusions
• Neck and back injuries
• Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Internal bleeding
• Broken bones

No matter if you’ve been in a minor fender bender or a serious pile-up, there’s always the possibility that one of these injuries can occur when you get behind the wheel. Like with the information about the most common kinds of car accidents in Kansas, this is not meant to be a deterrent, but rather a way to inform drivers like you that car accident injuries do happen and there are steps you can take to recover safely and healthily from them.

So, now that we understand the most common kinds of car accidents and the most common car accident injuries, let’s discuss what to do if you’ve been in a car accident in Kansas.

Step One: Check yourself and your passengers for injuries.

Before getting out of the car or assessing the damage to your vehicle, you absolutely must check yourself for any cuts, bruises, scrapes, or other injuries. Exiting the vehicle or exerting too much energy with an undetected injury will only make things worse, and you need to be extremely careful in this situation.

Step Two: Move your car off the road to safety, if possible.

If your car is able to be moved, you should move it out of the way of traffic and onto the shoulder. Better yet, if you’re near a parking lot or a less busy area, move yourself and your vehicle there. If you’re too injured to move or your car is too damaged to drive, stay put and turn your hazard lights on. If your car can’t be moved, exercise extreme caution as you move yourself and any passengers to safety.

Step Three: Call 911, then call your insurer.

No matter the severity of the accident, you should always call 911 to the scene of the accident so they can file a police report and an accident claim. Once this is done (and if it’s safe to do so), exchange information with the other driver and call your insurer to begin the claims process.

The Bottom Line: If You’ve Been Injured, Call Attorney Donovan Dodrill, Esq. at Plaza Injury Law
Consider this the fourth and final step: If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Kansas, call me, attorney Donovan Dodrill, Esq. at Plaza Injury Law, to find out if you have a case on your hands.

Contact my office for no cost, no-fee assistance. I don’t charge a dime unless you receive compensation. I believe in putting the client first, and I am committed to earning you a trial verdict or settlement so that I can maximize your recovery. If you’ve been injured, schedule a complimentary consultation today.