Car Accident Attorneys in Kansas City, Missouri

January 1, 2026 / Comments Off

1. DiPasquale Moore (DM Injury Law)

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, rideshare accidents, wrongful death from auto accidents, catastrophic injuries

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, semi-truck accidents, catastrophic injury cases, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: The firm has offices in Kansas City, Columbia, Topeka, St. Louis, Wichita, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Denver. Their attorneys handle personal injury cases throughout Missouri and Kansas. Notable results include $3.5 million for a family in a Colorado car crash fatality and $1.8 million after a client was killed in a commercial vehicle crash.

Location: Kansas City, Missouri (multiple regional offices)

Contact: (816) 888-7500 | https://www.dmlawusa.com/

Consultation: Free case evaluation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless compensation is recovered)

2. Edelman & Thompson

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, workplace injuries, workers’ compensation, wrongful death from auto accidents

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical care coordination, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, workers’ compensation claims

Background: Edelman & Thompson celebrated 30 years of service to the Kansas City community in 2024. The firm’s team includes a former workers’ compensation judge and a former legal advisor for the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation. The firm focuses on personal injury representation for Kansas City area residents.

Location: Kansas City, Missouri

Contact: (816) 561-3400 | https://edelmanthompson.com/

Consultation: Free personal injury consultation with no obligation

3. Kevin McManus Law

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death from auto accidents, long-term disability claims, life insurance disputes

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, traumatic brain injuries

Background: Kevin McManus, the founder and managing attorney, has 20 years of legal experience. The firm includes attorneys with 25, 20, and 6 years of experience respectively. The firm represents individuals throughout Missouri and Kansas in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases.

Location: Kansas City, Missouri

Contact: https://www.kevinmcmanuslaw.com/

Consultation: Free consultation, available 24/7, contingency fee arrangement

4. Foster Wallace, LLC

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, wrongful death from auto accidents

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: Founded by attorneys Michael Foster and Brian Wallace after over a decade of legal practice. They started their own firm to serve local clients in Kansas City who need assistance with personal injury matters. Kimberly, an attorney at the firm, has over a decade of experience advocating for injured people. Notable result: $1.4 million compensation for client James Smith.

Location: Kansas City, Missouri (serving Kansas and Missouri)

Contact: https://www.fosterwallace.com/

Consultation: Free, no-obligation case review

5. Wendt Law Firm P.C.

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, burn injuries, wrongful death from auto accidents, catastrophic injuries

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries

Background: Samuel Wendt is recognized as one of the Top 50 Super Lawyers in Kansas City and has been named a Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters every year since 2008. He is recognized among the top 100 attorneys in both Kansas and Missouri. The firm is licensed in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa. The firm handles cases throughout the Midwest region.

Location: Kansas City, Missouri (serving Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa)

Contact: https://wendtlaw.com/

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement

Car Accident Laws and Regulations in Missouri

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Five years from the date of the accident under Missouri Revised Statutes § 516.120. This is one of the longest statutes of limitations for personal injury claims in the United States.

Statute of Limitations for Property Damage Claims: Five years from the date of the incident.

Fault vs. No-Fault Insurance State Status: Missouri is an at-fault (tort) state. The driver responsible for causing the accident is liable for damages. Victims can pursue compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance company, their own insurance company, or through a personal injury lawsuit.

Comparative Negligence Rules: Missouri follows a pure comparative fault system. An injured party can recover damages even if they are partially at fault for the accident. Compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to the injured party. For example, if a victim is 40% at fault and damages total $100,000, they would receive $60,000. Unlike modified comparative negligence states, Missouri does not bar recovery regardless of the plaintiff’s percentage of fault.

Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements: Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Property Damage Liability: $25,000. Uninsured Motorist Coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident (required unless rejected in writing).

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Requirements: Missouri does not require PIP coverage. It is a fault-based system.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Regulations: Missouri requires insurance companies to offer uninsured motorist coverage equal to liability limits unless the policyholder rejects it in writing. Underinsured motorist coverage is optional but recommended.

Damage Caps: Missouri caps punitive damages at the greater of $500,000 or five times the net amount of the judgment awarded to the plaintiff. There are no caps on economic or non-economic damages in personal injury cases.

Dram Shop Liability Laws: Missouri has dram shop laws under Missouri Revised Statutes § 537.053. Bars and restaurants may be held liable if they sell alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person who subsequently causes an accident. Social hosts generally are not liable.

Vicarious Liability Rules for Vehicle Owners: Missouri applies the family purpose doctrine in limited circumstances. Vehicle owners may be held liable if they allow a family member to use their vehicle for family purposes. General permissive use does not typically create owner liability.

Rental Car and Rideshare Accident Liability Rules: Rideshare companies must maintain liability coverage. During active rides, Uber and Lyft carry $1 million in liability coverage. Rental car companies are generally protected under the Graves Amendment from vicarious liability for accidents caused by renters.

Reporting Requirements: Accidents resulting in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500 must be reported to the Missouri Department of Revenue within 5 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the statute of limitations for filing a car accident claim in Missouri?

Missouri has one of the longest statutes of limitations in the nation for personal injury claims. You have five years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for injuries sustained in a car accident. This five-year deadline is set by Missouri Revised Statutes § 516.120. However, if your claim involves a government entity (such as an accident with a city vehicle), shorter deadlines apply and you must file an administrative claim first. Despite the lengthy timeframe, it is advisable to begin the claims process promptly while evidence is fresh and witnesses are available.

How does Missouri’s pure comparative fault system affect my car accident case?

Missouri follows a pure comparative fault system, which means you can recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 30% at fault and your total damages are $100,000, you would receive $70,000. Unlike states with modified comparative negligence that bar recovery when fault exceeds 50%, Missouri allows recovery regardless of your fault percentage. Insurance companies often try to assign more fault to victims to reduce their payout. An experienced attorney can gather evidence to minimize your assigned fault percentage.

Where are car accident lawsuits filed in Kansas City, Missouri?

Car accident lawsuits in Kansas City, Missouri are typically filed in the Circuit Court of Jackson County. Missouri has two metropolitan areas that straddle state lines, and Kansas City is one of them. If your accident occurred in Kansas City, Kansas (across the state line), your lawsuit would be filed in Wyandotte County District Court and would be governed by Kansas law, which has different rules including a shorter two-year statute of limitations. An attorney familiar with both Missouri and Kansas courts can determine the proper venue and applicable law for your case.

What types of compensation can I recover in a Missouri car accident case?

In Missouri car accident cases, you may recover economic damages including medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and out-of-pocket expenses. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life. Missouri does not cap economic or non-economic damages in personal injury cases. In cases involving extreme negligence or intentional misconduct, punitive damages may be available, though Missouri caps punitive damages at the greater of $500,000 or five times the net judgment amount.

What should I do if the at-fault driver in my Kansas City accident has no insurance or insufficient coverage?

If you are injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver in Missouri, you may have several options. Missouri requires insurance companies to offer uninsured motorist (UM) coverage in amounts equal to your liability coverage unless you reject it in writing. Check your own policy for UM/UIM coverage, which would compensate you when the at-fault driver cannot. You can also file a lawsuit directly against the uninsured driver, though collecting from individuals without assets can be difficult. If the at-fault driver was working at the time of the accident, their employer may have additional insurance coverage. An attorney can review all potential sources of compensation.