If you are involved in an automobile accident, regardless of whether it is your fault or not, you should call an experienced traffic lawyer as soon as possible. Chris Kopecky is founder and lead counsel of The Traffic Lawyers, P.A., based in Oberland Park, Kansas, and serving the three states of Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. He talks here about how an experienced lawyer can help you navigate through this often very difficult and traumatic time.
Car accidents are traumatic situations. People act impulsively and often do so without a clear head. It is helpful to talk to a traffic lawyer to make sure you are doing everything that you need to in order to preserve your rights.
If the accident is your fault and you have been ticketed for it, then The Traffic Lawyers can try to help stop that ticket from hitting your record, even if it is entirely your fault.
Liability Potential
Automobile accidents present a particularly difficult problem in that there is not only criminal or traffic ticket problems but also a potential for liability. You may find yourself under-insured or uninsured, and need to be able to assess the situation, and act accordingly.
If the accident is not your fault, The Traffic Lawyers can help you navigate your way through the quagmire, making sure you are reimbursed for all your out-of-pocket expenses, and/or injuries. Because we work on both sides of the fence, we are well-equipped to advise you in either scenario.
State-Specific Charges
Each state is specific, or unique, in the way that they handle automobile accident law. Kansas, for example, is a no-fault state, wherein you must have at least $2,000 in medical bills or a permanent injury to go against the other person’s insurance policy or injuries. Missouri, on the other hand, allows plaintiffs to proceed against defendants with little damages.
The states also vary as to the way they assess faults. Kansas, unlike Missouri, has modified comparative fault, and if it is determined that you are 50% or more at fault in causing your own accident, you receive nothing. In Missouri, you may be 99% at fault causing your own accident and proceed against the defendant with just the one percent fault that he has.
This article is for informational purposes only. You should not rely on this article as a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances, and you should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. Publication of this article and your receipt of this article does not create an attorney-client relationship.
