Contributing Factors in Kansas Car Accidents - Our Attorneys Describe Root Causes

Car accidents happen every day on I-35 in Wichita, U.S. 15 in Derby, and throughout Kansas. While nothing may feel "common" about a car accident when you're involved in one, our experienced attorneys understand that many accidents share a number of common contributing factors. Operator negligence is often the primary cause of some of the state's most serious car accidents. If you're involved in a dispute over the cause of your accident, don't wait to contact us. Call 866-584-1032. The experienced legal team at the Warner Law Offices can help uncover the true cause of your accident and help fight for the compensation you deserve.

Accidents Involving Drunk Drivers
When Driver is Distracted
Hit by a Texting Driver
Collisions Involving Speed
When Drivers Are Careless or Reckless
Accidents Caused by Sleep-Deprived Drivers

Accidents Involving Drunk Drivers

It seems like every day we hear about tragic accidents involving drunk drivers. Despite the well-documented risks of drinking and driving, many drivers in Kansas choose to get behind the wheel when they are impaired. It's against the law to drive drunk. While the number of drinking and driving related accidents has declined over the past several decades, accidents involving drunk drivers unfortunately remain common on Kansas roadways. That's because drivers who get behind the wheel while intoxicated pose a threat to all drivers, pedestrians and bystanders on the road. Even so, many drivers put all of us at risk every day by getting behind the wheel and driving drunk.

Drunk driving accidents are among the most preventable types of accidents seen on Kansas roadways. Drunk drivers often cause devastating injuries and tragic fatalities. A traumatic brain injury resulting from a head-on collision on I-135 or U.S. 400 could require surgery and a long, painful rehabilitation process. A high-speed rear-end collision could cause a spinal cord injury that leads to paralysis. When a drunk driver fatality occurs, entire families suffer from the loss. At Warner Law Offices, we have experience helping families pursue wrongful death lawsuits against impaired drivers.

The blood alcohol content (BAC) limit in Kansas is 0.08% for drivers over age 21. Drivers who fail or refuse a Breathalyzer test must be held accountable for their reckless behavior. It's critical to act fast if you were injured or a loved one was killed in a DUI crash. The knowledgeable legal team at the Warner Law Offices can pursue the compensation you need to cover the cost of your long-term injuries, the loss of a loved one and other damages. We may even pursue punitive damages, which are meant to punish the driver for his or her behavior and send a message to other drivers not to engage in similar reckless behavior.

At Warner Law Offices, our attorneys leave no stone unturned when handling cases involving drunk drivers. We know how to uncover key evidence to support your claim. Our staff of attorneys includes a registered licensed nurse. We can obtain police records and accident reports. We can track down and interview witnesses. We'll do whatever it takes within ethical and legal bounds to build a solid, successful legal strategy on your behalf. Contact us today.

Cell phones, car stereos and complex in-dash navigation systems may be technological marvels, but these devices can create dangerous distractions for drivers. In fact, many accidents in Kansas are caused by distracted drivers who take their eyes off the road or their hands off the wheel to engage in tasks other than focusing on the road. When these drivers do, a serious rear-end accident or collision at an intersection can happen in a moment's notice.

While cell phone and texting accidents remain the most common and well-publicized forms of distracted driving accidents for a reason, the experienced legal team at Warner Law Offices understands that many other behaviors qualify as distracted driving in Kansas. Some types of distractions have been at the root of accidents since Model T's rolled off the assembly lines. A driver may be eating breakfast or drinking a coffee on the way to work. He or she may be reaching for an object in the back seat or even talking to a passenger at the time of an accident.

It can be difficult to prove a driver was distracted after an accident. The driver who hit you may deny being distracted. Their insurance company may try to place the blame on you for causing the accident. We believe you shouldn't be left with the bill for their careless mistake. That's why we aggressively pursue distracted driving accidents. We believe injury victims shouldn't have to suffer financially due to someone else's reckless behavior.

The Warner Law Offices has a track record for obtaining large settlements for injury victims involved in accidents with distracted drivers. We have access to top medical experts and accident reconstructionists. We can obtain police records and interview witnesses. Put the power of an experienced Wichita law firm to work for you today. Contact us for a free case evaluation.

Texting and driving is illegal in Kansas. Drivers caught texting while driving, which is a primary offense, can be pulled over and ticketed by officers. But that hasn't stopped some drivers from ignoring the law and texting on the road. And with technological advances allowing smart phone users to access the internet, email and social media platforms on-the-go, drivers who use their phone behind the wheel pose a greater risk than ever to other drivers on the road.

When drivers pay more attention to their cell phone than the road ahead, potential exists for a serious accident to occur on Kansas roadways. At the Warner Law Offices, our attorneys are familiar with the most common types of accidents that texting drivers cause. You may have been stopped at a red light when you're rear-ended by another driver. (See "what to do if rear-ended by a driver" for more information). A texting driver may run a red light or stop sign while you're legally crossing an intersection. When you've done nothing to cause your accident, you shouldn't have to pay for somebody else's mistakes.

Even a seemingly "minor" accident involving a texting driver can result in serious long-term injuries, emotional trauma and financial difficulties. You may be unable to work. Ambulance costs, emergency room fees and long-term medical bills add up fast. You may be dealing with pain and suffering and emotional distress. Yet you may find the driver who caused your crash and his or her insurance company deny responsibility for the accident. They may even try to say you did something to cause the crash.

That's not fair. You shouldn't have to suffer because of somebody else's careless or reckless behavior. We can help. At Warner Law Offices, our legal team carefully investigates every accident. We can review police reports and phone records. We have access to medical experts and accident reconstructionists. We focus on all the important details so you can focus on what matters most: your family and your recovery.

Speeding may seem like a minor offense that many drivers engage in from time to time. But the consequences of speeding can be grave. If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a high-speed accident, you may be devastated, overwhelmed and wondering what to do next. Contact Warner Law Offices. We know that collisions involving speed are rarely minor. The force of impact between one or more vehicles traveling at high rates of speed can lead to catastrophic injuries and result in physical, emotional and financial damages lasting a lifetime.

At Warner Law Offices, our experienced attorneys understand that the faster somebody is traveling, the less time that driver has to react. Drivers who fail to obey the speed limit may have difficult controlling their vehicle and cause a rear-end crash at a stop sign or red light. They might fail to stop in time for pedestrians crossing an intersection. In some cases a driver ignoring the speed limit my cause a high-speed collision on a highway involving multiple vehicles and fatalities. Speeding accidents on interstates and major roadways are common.

How dramatic of an effect can speed have on a driver's ability to stop? If a driver is going 30 miles per hour and somebody pulls out of a driveway 125 feet ahead, you will have just enough time to prevent a collision if you apply your brakes 1.5 seconds after you see the vehicle ahead of you. If you're traveling at 40 miles per hour, you would travel an additional 22 feet before applying your brakes and travel an additional 44 feet before your vehicle comes to a stop, resulting in an accident with the car ahead.

High speed accidents often go hand-in-hand with other contributing factors. A speeding driver might be under the influence of alcohol or may be texting. These accidents can lead to complex injury claims that require the skills of a tough-minded Wichita attorney.

If you were injured in a high-speed accident, it's important to talk to an attorney about your legal rights. The driver who caused your accident may deny speeding. His or her insurance company my try to say you did something to cause the accident. We work tirelessly to collect all evidence necessary to hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions. You may have done nothing wrong to cause your accident. You shouldn't have to pay for somebody else's mistakes.

Reckless driving can happen anywhere, anytime on highways and interstates, or even rural roads, in Kansas. Whether you've been injured or a loved one was killed in a head-on crash caused by a speeding driver or a T-bone crash at a busy intersection, you deserve justice. Warner Law Offices is ready to help. Our experienced attorneys know the law and know how to hold careless or reckless drivers responsible for their behavior.

What is considered reckless driving in Kansas? The following situations often lead to accidents on roadways in Wichita and throughout the state:

Speeding or racing
Driving without headlights
Wrong-way driving
Passing in a no passing lane
Running traffic signals
Failing to yield at traffic signals
Passing a stopped school bus
Driving with faulty equipment

The cause of your accident may be clear-cut. You were injured or a loved one was injured or killed as a result of a reckless driver. You may face steep medical bills, lost wages and a long road to recovery ahead, possibly involving physical therapy, surgeries and expensive medications. Yet the driver who caused your accident may have denied any wrongdoing or even fled the accident scene. His or her insurance company may try to say you caused the accident.

That's not fair, and that's why we're here. We aren't afraid of insurance companies or reckless drivers. We have a track record of success and know what's required to secure compensation. Our case results speak for themselves. Reckless driver accident victims need an experienced and aggressive attorney at their side. Let us help you. Contact the Warner Law Offices today for a free case evaluation.

Accidents caused by fatigued drivers can be blamed for thousands of crashes each year in Wichita and throughout Kansas. These can be difficult cases to prove, because drivers may deny falling asleep. Unlike drunk driving cases, there are no roadside tests to determine if a driver nodded off. But it's not unusual for motorists to fall asleep at the wheel, even briefly. When an asleep at the wheel accident occurs, drivers and passengers in cars and on motorcycles may end up with severe injuries, including paralysis or brain injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 49 percent of all men and 26 percent of women say they have fallen asleep while driving. Overall, 37 percent of U.S. drivers admit to falling asleep while behind the wheel at least once in their lifetime. While many drivers associate fatigued driving with truck accidents, drivers who spend long hours on the road or simply fail to pull over when tired may be just as likely to cause a crash.

At the Warner Law Offices, our experienced attorneys understand that falling asleep while behind the wheel is easily preventable. Drivers who are drowsy have the choice to pull over to the side of the road. People who choose to drive while sleepy are not intentionally acting maliciously or with premeditation. But their choice to not pull over can be considered negligent and irresponsible when a serious accident occurs. If you were injured or a loved one was injured by a fatigued driver, contact us. We will put experience and resources to work and thoroughly investigate your claim. We hold negligent drivers accountable.

How to Reach the Warner Law Offices

If you've been injured in an accident, you need more than just a lawyer. You need a law firm on your side with the experience and medical training necessary to protect your rights. Each of Warner Law Office's knowledgeable attorneys has more than 25 years of experience tirelessly fighting on behalf of injury victims in Wichita and throughout Kansas. Attorney Anne H. Pankratz is a registered nurse. Let us make a difference in your life. Contact us. Call 866-584-1032 to set up a free case evaluation with one of our team members today.