Truck Accident Attorneys in Kansas City, Missouri

1. Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, Chtd.

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, 18-wheeler accidents, tractor-trailer crashes, commercial vehicle accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions, personal injury litigation

Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, underride accidents, rollover accidents, tire blowout accidents, wide-turn crashes, lost load accidents, driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving truck accidents, improperly loaded cargo accidents, mechanical failure accidents

Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulation compliance investigation, hours of service violation analysis, driver log examination, black box data retrieval and analysis, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, catastrophic injury claims, evidence preservation

Background: Firm established in 1949 with over 75 years of legal experience. Lynn R. Johnson is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates. The firm secured a $23.5 million verdict against Swift Transportation, believed to be the largest personal injury verdict in Kansas history for a trucking case. Total recoveries exceed $500 million for injured individuals and their families. Attorneys admitted to practice in Missouri and Kansas, as well as federal courts. Multiple attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers.

Location: 2600 Grand Blvd., Suite 550, Kansas City, MO 64108

Contact: (816) 542-5999 | https://www.sjblaw.com

Consultation: Free initial consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery is obtained)

2. Sifers Jensen Palmer Law Firm

Practice Focus: Semi-truck accidents, commercial truck litigation, tractor-trailer collisions, 18-wheeler accidents, big rig accidents, spinal cord injuries, wrongful death, personal injury

Case Types Handled: Semi-truck collisions, tractor-trailer accidents, big rig crashes, commercial vehicle accidents, truck accidents involving driver negligence, improper maintenance accidents, negligent hiring claims, improper loading accidents

Legal Services: Federal and state trucking regulation compliance analysis, driver qualification investigation, insurance claim negotiation, trucking company liability claims, negligent training claims, negligent supervision claims, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, evidence preservation, damage documentation

Background: Attorneys at the firm have successfully handled semi-truck accident cases for over 35 years. The firm maintains an active nationwide practice in commercial truck litigation. Attorneys Tim L. Sifers, Eric G. Jensen, Rob M.N. Palmer, and Nate Scearcy focus on complex trucking cases. Licensed in Missouri and Kansas with federal court admissions.

Location: 1901 W 47th Pl, Suite 200, Westwood, KS 66205

Contact: (816) 819-3880 | (833) 757-3476 (toll-free) | https://www.sjplawfirm.com

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis (no attorney fees unless recovery is obtained)

3. The Nail Law Firm

Practice Focus: Trucking accidents, commercial motor vehicle claims, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, personal injury

Case Types Handled: Semi-truck accidents, tractor-trailer collisions, commercial vehicle crashes, truck accidents involving driver distraction, driver fatigue accidents, impairment-related accidents, improper maintenance claims, negligent hiring claims, improper loading claims

Legal Services: Commercial motor vehicle accident investigation, trucking company liability analysis, driver negligence claims, maintenance record review, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, wrongful death claims, evidence preservation and analysis

Background: Roger Nail and David DeGreeff are the firm’s attorneys handling complex personal injury and trucking accident cases. The firm is recognized for personal injury litigation and has been selected by Expertise.com as a truck accident law firm in Kansas City. Office located on Country Club Plaza at 201 W 47th Street in Kansas City. Licensed in Missouri with federal court admissions.

Location: 201 West 47th Street, Kansas City, MO 64112

Contact: (816) 251-1001 | https://kctriallaw.com

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement

4. DeVaughn James Injury Lawyers

Practice Focus: Trucking accidents, 18-wheeler collisions, semi-truck accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, personal injury

Case Types Handled: Semi-truck accidents, tractor-trailer collisions, 18-wheeler crashes, cargo truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, speeding truck accidents, improper maintenance accidents, drug and alcohol impairment accidents

Legal Services: Federal and state trucking regulation compliance investigation, truck driver records analysis (training, employment, medical, drug testing), maintenance records examination, operational log review, truck cockpit camera footage preservation, mobile phone records investigation, black box recorder data retrieval, electronic logging device (ELD) data analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation

Background: DeVaughn James Injury Lawyers is described as the largest personal injury law firm in Kansas, with offices in Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City. Notable trucking case results include a $7.9 million trucking accident settlement, $4.87 million tractor-trailer settlement, $1.9 million semi-truck accident settlement, and $750,000 trucking accident settlement. Partners Dustin L. DeVaughn, Richard W. James, and Cody G. Claassen handle trucking cases. Licensed in Missouri and Kansas with federal court admissions. No Fee Guarantee contingency arrangement.

Location: 10450 Holmes Rd., Suite 110, Kansas City, MO 64131

Contact: (816) 999-9999 | (913) 999-9999 | https://www.devaughnjames.com

Consultation: Free case evaluation available 24/7, contingency fee basis (No Fee Guarantee)

5. Adler & Manson

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, motor vehicle accidents, personal injury, workers’ compensation, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries

Case Types Handled: Trucking accidents, commercial vehicle collisions, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, driver fatigue accidents, truck defect accidents, roadway condition accidents, dangerous weather condition accidents

Legal Services: Trucking company negligence investigation, driver negligence claims, insurance claim negotiation, personal injury claim filing, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, damage documentation, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims

Background: Firm established in 1995 with over 70 years of combined legal experience. James F. Adler and William G. Manson are the firm’s principals. The firm has recovered more than $95 million for clients in personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. Licensed in Missouri and Kansas. The firm offers reduced fees (25%) in certain circumstances.

Location: 9233 Ward Parkway, Suite 240, Kansas City, MO 64114

Contact: (816) 333-0400 | https://adlerandmanson.com

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis (no fee unless recovery obtained), reduced fees available in certain circumstances

Driver Qualifications, Public Entity Limits and Employer Liability in Kansas City Truck Crash Claims

For a Kansas City truck crash, the federal rules on who may drive and on the carrier’s accident register and annual inspection point to the records worth requesting. Missouri law limits recovery over a public entity’s truck and makes a party answer for the fault of a defendant who was its employee.

Who May Drive

Except as provided in subpart G, 49 CFR 391.11(b) requires a commercial driver to be at least 21, able to read and speak English sufficiently, able by experience or training to operate the vehicle safely, physically qualified, holding a currently valid commercial license issued by only one jurisdiction, not disqualified, and to have passed a road test or hold a license or certificate the carrier accepted as equivalent.

Limits for a Public Entity’s Truck

Under RSMo 537.610(2), a claim over a state or public entity truck is limited to $300,000 for any one person and $2,000,000 for all claims from one occurrence, and under (3) punitive damages are not awarded. The figures are adjusted every January 1 under (5), and the Missouri Department of Insurance’s table showed $517,306 per person and $3,448,710 per occurrence for 2025; confirm the amounts for the year of the crash with counsel.

Accident Register and Annual Inspection

Under 49 CFR 390.15(b), the carrier keeps an accident register for 3 years after each accident, listing date, location, driver, injuries, fatalities and any hazardous materials release, together with copies of required accident reports. Under 49 CFR 396.17, each commercial motor vehicle, including each unit of a combination, must have passed a periodic inspection within the preceding 12 months.

When the Carrier Answers for Its Driver

Under RSMo 537.067(1), a defendant at 51 percent or more of the fault is jointly and severally liable for the judgment, a defendant below 51 percent pays only its percentage, and a party is responsible for the fault of another defendant who was acting as its employee. Under (2), punitive damages are several only.

Kansas City Truck Accident Questions

How long do I have to sue the trucking company?

Five years under RSMo 516.120(4) for an injury claim, and three years under 537.100 for a wrongful death action.

Yes, when the driver was acting as its employee. For example, imagine a $400,000 judgment with 60 percent of the fault on the truck driver, an employee of the carrier, and 40 percent on another motorist: under RSMo 537.067(1) the driver is jointly and severally liable for the full $400,000, the other motorist is responsible for $160,000, and the carrier is responsible for its employee’s fault.

What if a city or state truck caused the crash?

Under RSMo 537.600(1), sovereign immunity is waived for injuries directly resulting from public employees’ negligent operation of motor vehicles in the course of their employment, and the 537.610 limits described above cap what the public entity pays.