Smithville's Car Accident Attorney

Every year, tens of thousands of people are hurt, and hundreds of people die in Smithville motor vehicle crashes. Each crash may cause physical pain and emotional suffering that can last forever.

You want your life to go back to the way it was before your accident, and the Law Offices of James P. Deffet LLC is here to help you achieve that goal. You don’t have to worry about whether your case is too small for an attorney or about the cost of hiring a lawyer. Instead, you can get the personal attention that you need from an experienced lawyer who isn’t afraid to fight for your rights after any kind of Smithville auto accident.

Types of Car Crashes

Not all collisions are the same, but they can all have similar effects on your life. Our firm represents people hurt in Clay County, Platte County, Clinton County, and Jackson County, Missouri:

Car crashes. Passenger cars, SUVs, and pick-up trucks are involved in more accidents than other types of vehicles. Rear-end crashes, head-on collisions, sideswipe wrecks, and rollovers can all result in serious injuries or fatalities.
Van accidents. Van passengers and drivers, and other nearby motorists, may be hurt or killed in collisions or in a van rollover.
Motorcycle wrecks. Motorcyclists are not protected by seat belts and the safety features of other motor vehicles. Often, motorcycle riders are seriously hurt in crashes that may cause minimal injuries to other motorists.
Truck collisions. Large trucks can cause big injuries, and truck accident cases can be complicated. The trucker, trucking company, or another motorist could be legally responsible for the crash. An experienced lawyer can determine who is liable and help you make a fair recovery.
Bus crashes. Bus crashes, like truck crashes, can be complicated. The bus driver, bussing company, or even the government may be responsible for your crash.
Limo accidents. Limousines don’t always meet the same safety requirements as other vehicles, and limo passengers may not be wearing seat belts.
Boating accidents. Motor vehicle collisions are not limited to Missouri roads. If you are boating on Smithville Lake or another a lake or river, serious accidents can happen.

Whether you were hurt while traveling in another vehicle, on a bicycle, or as a pedestrian, you may be able to make a legal recovery.

Causes of Car Accidents

Just as there are many types of auto accidents, there are many different reasons that accidents occur. From our Smithville office, we represent people who were hurt throughout the Greater Kansas City area when another driver caused an accident by:

Speeding. A driver who is traveling too fast for road conditions or over the speed limit may cause a crash. The accident may be more severe than it would have been if the driver had been traveling at a safe speed.
Aggressive driving. Aggressive drivers who tailgate, weave in and out of traffic, or speed up at intersections may be unpredictable or lose control of their vehicles and cause collisions.
Distracted driving. Cell phones and other forms of technology are, perhaps, the best-known form of distracted driving. However, anything that takes a driver’s eyes off of the road, a driver’s mind off of driving safely, or a driver’s hands off of the steering wheel is a form of distracted driving that can cause a crash.
Drunk driving. Like other states, Missouri defines the crime of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) as having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. However, in a personal injury case, even a lower BAC may be relevant to your case.
Drugged driving. Certain prescription medications and many illegal medications can interfere with safe driving. Drivers who operate vehicles while under the influence of drugs can cause serious crashes.
Drowsy driving. Some studies liken tired drivers to drunk drivers. A tired driver may swerve out of a lane, take longer to stop, and miss traffic signals, for example, and cause a crash.

Any of these forms of negligence—or any other time a driver fails to exercise reasonable case—a serious accident injury may occur.

Common Injuries Sustained in Car Crashes

The effect of a motor vehicle crash can be temporary or permanent. Either way, you deserve compensation for all of your injuries, including but not limited to:

Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
Nerve damage
Internal bleeding
Back pain
Burns
Lacerations
Bruises
Whiplash
Anxiety and depression
PTSD
Pregnancy complications

Car accidents also cause deaths. After a fatal crash, the surviving family members may file a wrongful death claim against the negligent driver.

How to Protect Your Rights After a Smithville Auto Crash

The first step is up to you. If you contact our Clay County accident law firm, we can make sure that you know:

What to do after an accident. Certain steps, such as getting medical care and preserving important evidence, can make an essential difference in your legal recovery.
What compensation you may receive after a motor vehicle crash. In Missouri, your compensation may include but may not be limited to past and future medical expenses, lost income, out of pocket costs, physical pain, and emotional suffering.
How long you have to file a case. In most cases, the Missouri statute of limitations gives you five years to file a motor vehicle accident case. If you wait any longer, then you may be unable to recover any compensation for your injuries.

Insurance companies are going to work hard to prevent you from recovering the compensation you deserve. Jim Deffet has represented insurance companies. He knows the games that they play to maximize their profits, and he knows how to represent clients against insurers successfully.

Contact Our Firm Today

Contact us to learn more about your rights and our risk-free representation. Your first consultation is always free, and if we take your case, then we may represent you on a contingency fee basis, which means that you won’t owe us any hourly fees. Instead, our fee will be an agreed-upon percentage of your recovery.