Personal injury
Car accidents, truck accidents, slip and fall, dog bites, and wrongful death. How contingency fees work and what your case is worth.
Cases we take
- Car, truck and motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Slip, trip and fall on someone else's property
- Dog bites
- Wrongful death
- Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) accidents
- Nursing home neglect
We generally do not take medical malpractice, product liability, or workers' compensation cases, but we will refer you to a firm that does.
Fees
Personal injury cases are on contingency: no retainer, no hourly fee, and nothing owed unless we recover money for you. Our fee is 33 and one-third percent of the recovery if the case settles before a lawsuit is filed, and 40 percent if a lawsuit is filed. Case expenses (records, filing fees, experts) are advanced by the firm and reimbursed from the settlement. You get a written accounting before any money is disbursed.
What is my case worth?
Nobody can tell you that on a first phone call, and be wary of anyone who does. The value depends on medical bills, lost wages, the severity and permanence of your injuries, fault, and available insurance. After we review the police report, medical records, and insurance policies, the attorney will give you a realistic range.
Deadlines
Kansas: two years from the injury for most claims. Missouri: five years. Claims against a city, county or state agency have much shorter notice deadlines, sometimes 90 days. Call as soon as you can.
The first steps
- Get medical care and follow through with treatment. Gaps in treatment hurt your case.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company before talking to us.
- Do not post about the accident on social media.
- Save photos, the police report number, witness names, and every bill.
- Call us. The free consultation can be by phone, video, or in person, and we come to the hospital or your home if you cannot travel.
How long does it take?
Most cases settle in 6 to 18 months after you finish treatment. Cases that go to trial take two to three years. We do not settle without your approval.