Whether your accident was caused by a distracted driver, a drunk driver, a speeding vehicle, or someone else's negligence, our Wichita team will investigate your case thoroughly, determine who is liable, and pursue the maximum compensation available for your injuries and losses. Our goal is to protect your rights, advocate for your best interests, and give you peace of mind while you recover.
We handle everything from start to finish, gathering evidence, dealing with adjusters, negotiating settlements, and, if necessary, taking your case to court. You don’t have to go through this alone. Let us be your voice during this challenging time.
Common Causes of Wichita Car Accidents
Car accidents in Wichita often result from a combination of driver negligence, hazardous road conditions, and mechanical failure. With high-traffic corridors like Kellogg Avenue (U.S. 54), I-135, and intersections throughout Sedgwick County, local roads are no strangers to frequent and sometimes serious collisions. Understanding the most common causes of car accidents in Wichita not only helps with prevention, it can also play a critical role in determining liability when seeking compensation.
Here are some of the most frequent causes of car accidents in Wichita:
- Distracted Driving: One of the leading causes of crashes in Wichita, distracted driving involves any activity that takes a driver’s attention off the road, such as texting, eating, adjusting the GPS, or interacting with passengers. Even a few seconds of inattention can result in a devastating rear-end collision or lane departure.
- Speeding: Exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions reduces a driver’s ability to react in time to avoid a crash. At higher speeds, both the likelihood and severity of accidents increases significantly, especially in heavy traffic or on rain-slicked roads.
- Impaired Driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or even certain prescription medications can severely impair reaction times, coordination, and judgment. Impaired drivers are responsible for a disproportionate number of injury and fatality crashes across Kansas each year.
- Reckless Driving: Aggressive behaviors such as tailgating, weaving between lanes, ignoring traffic lights, and failing to yield are common causes of collisions in Wichita. These behaviors are especially dangerous in urban areas with pedestrian traffic and frequent intersections.
- Weather Conditions: Wichita’s changing seasons bring rain, snow, ice, and fog, all of which can reduce visibility and road traction. Poor weather is often a contributing factor in crashes, particularly when drivers fail to adjust their speed or braking distance to suit the conditions.
Different Types of Car Accidents
Car accidents come in many forms, and the type of crash can have a major impact on the severity of injuries and the complexity of legal claims. Below are the most common types of motor vehicle collisions in Wichita:
- Rear-End Collisions: Often caused by drivers following too closely or failing to react to sudden stops. Rear-end crashes frequently occur in heavy traffic, at stoplights, or in construction zones. Injuries such as whiplash, back strain, and head trauma are common.
- Side-Impact (T-Bone) Accidents: These occur when one vehicle strikes the side of another, typically at intersections where a driver runs a red light or fails to yield. T-bone crashes are especially dangerous because the sides of vehicles offer less protection, often resulting in serious injuries to occupants.
- Head-On Collisions: Among the deadliest types of crashes, head-on collisions often result from wrong-way driving, impaired driving, or losing control of a vehicle. These high-force impacts frequently lead to severe or fatal injuries, especially on rural roads or highways.
- Single-Vehicle Accidents: These crashes involve only one vehicle and can be caused by driver distraction, overcorrection, speeding, or poor road conditions. A single-vehicle crash may involve striking a guardrail, tree, or pole or rolling off the roadway, but can still result in serious injuries or fatalities.
- Multi-Vehicle Pileups: These complex accidents typically occur on highways and involve chain reactions where multiple vehicles collide in succession. Determining fault can be challenging, as many drivers may have contributed to the crash by failing to maintain safe distances or respond to traffic hazards.
- Rollover Accidents: Rollover accidents typically occur when a vehicle loses stability due to sharp turns, high speeds, tire blowouts, or collisions with curbs or uneven surfaces. These crashes are especially common in taller vehicles like SUVs and trucks, which have a higher center of gravity.
Understanding the cause and type of crash is essential for building a strong legal case. At Reidmiller, Andersen & Scott, our Wichita attorneys carefully examine accident reports, physical evidence, and witness statements to pinpoint exactly what happened and who should be held responsible.
Common Injuries After a Wichita Car Accident
Car accidents in Wichita can range from low-speed fender-benders to high-speed highway collisions, and even the most minor-looking crash can cause serious or long-lasting injuries. Some injuries appear immediately, while others may take days or even weeks to become apparent. That’s why it’s important to seek medical attention after any crash, no matter how minor it may seem.
Here are some of the most common injuries we see in Wichita car accident cases:
- Whiplash and Neck Injuries: Whiplash occurs when the head is suddenly jerked backward and then forward, straining the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck. It’s one of the most common soft tissue injuries after rear-end collisions and can lead to stiffness, limited mobility, and chronic pain if left untreated.
- Back and Spinal Cord Injuries: The impact of a collision can compress or damage the spine, leading to herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, or even spinal cord trauma. Severe spinal injuries can result in partial or full paralysis, while even less serious injuries may cause long-term discomfort and mobility issues.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): A blow to the head, either from hitting a window, steering wheel, or headrest, can cause a concussion or more serious brain injury. TBIs may affect cognitive functions, memory, speech, coordination, and emotional regulation. In severe cases, they can result in permanent disability or require lifelong care.
- Broken Bones: Fractures to the arms, legs, ribs, pelvis, or collarbone are common in car accidents, especially high-impact collisions. Some fractures may be simple and heal with rest, while others may require surgery, pins, or physical therapy for full recovery.
- Internal Injuries: The force of a crash can cause damage to internal organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, or spleen. These injuries may not show immediate symptoms but can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Internal bleeding and organ perforation are medical emergencies requiring urgent attention.
- Psychological Trauma: The emotional impact of a car crash can be just as serious as the physical injuries. Many victims in Wichita suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, or panic attacks, especially if the accident was severe or involved fatalities. Psychological injuries can affect relationships, work performance, and overall quality of life.
Whether your injuries are visible or hidden, minor or catastrophic, they can significantly affect your health, finances, and future. At Reidmiller, Andersen & Scott, we work with medical professionals and experts throughout Wichita to assess the full extent of your injuries so that your compensation reflects the true cost of your recovery.
Determining Liability in a Wichita Car Accident
Establishing who is at fault in a Wichita car accident is a critical step in pursuing compensation. Under Kansas law, liability determines who is legally responsible for the damages caused in the crash, including medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and more. Because Kansas follows a comparative fault system, identifying and proving fault accurately can have a significant impact on your claim.
Our Wichita team at Reidmiller, Andersen & Scott conducts thorough investigations to determine liability and protect your right to compensation. Here are the key factors we consider:
- Police Reports: When law enforcement responds to the scene of an accident, they create a report detailing the facts of the crash, the parties involved, and sometimes their opinion on who was at fault. These reports can provide a foundation for insurance claims and legal arguments.
- Witness Testimonies: Independent accounts from bystanders or passengers can help clarify what happened, especially if the drivers involved provide conflicting statements. Witnesses often offer neutral, third-party perspectives that support your version of events.
- Traffic Camera or Surveillance Footage: In urban areas like Wichita, traffic lights, business security cameras, and even dashcams may capture footage of the crash. Video evidence is among the most powerful tools available for reconstructing accidents and proving negligence.
- Vehicle Damage Analysis: The position and extent of damage on the vehicles can reveal how the collision occurred. Accident reconstruction experts may examine damage patterns to determine speed, angle of impact, and which driver may have caused the crash.
- Driver Statements: Admissions made at the scene, whether recorded by police or noted by witnesses, can be valuable. Even seemingly casual remarks like “I didn’t see them” or “I was going too fast” may be used as evidence of fault.
Comparative Fault in Kansas
Kansas uses a modified comparative fault rule (
K.S.A. § 60-258a), which means that your compensation may be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you. For example:
- If you are found 20% at fault, your total compensation would be reduced by 20%.
- If you are 50% or more at fault, you are barred from recovering any compensation.
Because of this rule, it’s critical to work with an experienced Wichita car accident attorney who can build a strong case proving the other party’s negligence and minimizing any fault assigned to you.
Compensation Available After a Wichita Car Accident
Victims of car accidents in Wichita may be entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages. These damages are intended to compensate you for the losses and hardships resulting from the crash, both financial and personal.
Here’s a breakdown of the types of compensation you may be eligible to recover:
- Medical Expenses: Includes emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, prescription medications, physical therapy, and future medical treatments related to the accident.
- Lost Wages: If your injuries prevent you from working, temporarily or permanently, you can recover compensation for lost income, missed business opportunities, and diminished earning capacity.
- Property Damage: Covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and any other personal property damaged in the accident.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensates you for physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, and the overall impact the injury has had on your daily life.
- Disfigurement or Disability: If you’ve suffered permanent scarring, loss of limb, or long-term disability, you may be entitled to additional damages for the change in your quality of life.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries prevent you from participating in hobbies, sports, or activities you once enjoyed, this may be considered in your compensation.
- Loss of Consortium: In cases where the injury affects a spousal relationship, compensation may be awarded to the spouse for loss of companionship, affection, or intimacy.
At Reidmiller, Andersen & Scott, we work closely with medical providers, financial experts, and accident reconstruction specialists throughout Wichita to fully calculate your damages. Our goal is to ensure you’re not left facing the financial burden of someone else’s negligence.
Kansas Car Accident Statistics
Understanding the scope and frequency of traffic crashes in Kansas, especially in densely populated areas like Wichita, underscores just how common and dangerous car accidents can be. Reviewing official statistics helps shed light on key risk factors, where crashes happen most often, and why having an experienced attorney can make all the difference after a serious accident.
According to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT):
- In 2021, there were nearly 60,000 total traffic crashes across the state of Kansas.
- These accidents resulted in 424 fatalities and over 17,000 injuries, many of which were severe and life-altering.
- Approximately 13% of all reported crashes led to injuries, while nearly 1% were fatal.
Crash Data for Wichita and Sedgwick County
Sedgwick County, which includes the city of Wichita, consistently ranks among the highest in the state for total vehicle collisions. In 2021:
- About 10,000 crashes occurred within Sedgwick County alone.
- Of those, 65 were fatal, and over 3,000 involved injuries. This means that roughly one in every six crashes in Kansas happened in Sedgwick County.
- Wichita’s high traffic volume, urban density, and network of busy roadways (including I-135, Kellogg Ave., and Broadway Ave.) contribute to the elevated risk of collisions in the region.
Top Contributing Factors in Wichita Car Crashes
KDOT identified the most common contributing circumstances behind these crashes:
- Inattention: Driver distraction remains one of the top causes of accidents in Kansas. Activities such as texting, eating, or adjusting vehicle controls divert attention from the road and reduce the ability to react in time to prevent a crash.
- Failure to Yield Right of Way: This includes drivers failing to yield at intersections, stop signs, or when merging, particularly in urban areas where traffic is heavy and fast-moving.
- Following Too Closely: Tailgating reduces the time available to stop and often leads to rear-end collisions, especially in congested traffic or during sudden braking.
Other notable factors include speeding, alcohol or drug impairment, improper lane changes, and driving too fast for road conditions.
Why These Statistics Matter
Behind every number is a real person, a family disrupted, a life changed, or a future altered. These statistics highlight the ongoing need for improved road safety, responsible driving behavior, and strong legal representation for those affected in Wichita.
At Reidmiller, Andersen & Scott, we stay informed about state crash data to better understand the patterns and causes of local accidents. This knowledge helps us advocate more effectively for our clients and ensures that we build strong cases grounded in real-world context and local trends.
How Can an Attorney Help After a Wichita Car Accident?
Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can be confusing, stressful, and overwhelming, especially when you're facing injuries, vehicle damage, lost income, and aggressive insurance adjusters. That’s where having an experienced legal advocate can make all the difference.
At Reidmiller, Andersen & Scott, our Wichita car accident attorneys are committed to protecting your rights and guiding you through every stage of the legal process. We handle the complex legal work so you can focus on healing and getting your life back on track.
Here’s how we help:
- Comprehensive Case Evaluation: We begin by listening to your story, reviewing accident details, and identifying the strengths of your case. We'll explain your legal rights, outline what compensation you may be entitled to, and develop a strategy tailored to your situation. Whether your accident involved another driver, a commercial vehicle, or a hit-and-run, we’ll evaluate every angle.
- Evidence Collection: Strong cases are built on solid evidence. We gather critical documentation, including police reports, medical records, insurance communications, surveillance footage, and eyewitness statements. When necessary, we also work with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and economic analysts to support your claim.
- Negotiation with Insurance Companies: Insurance companies are focused on minimizing their payouts, not on protecting your interests. We take over all communications with insurers to prevent you from being pressured into accepting a lowball offer. Our attorneys fight for full compensation that reflects the true extent of your damages, both current and future.
- Legal Representation in Court: If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we're fully prepared to take your case to court. Our trial attorneys have experience presenting cases in front of Kansas judges and juries, and we won’t hesitate to pursue litigation if it’s in your best interest.
- Guidance on Medical Treatment and Bills: We help you connect with trusted medical providers and specialists if you haven’t already received care. Our team also assists with managing medical bills, liens, and insurance claims to ensure you're not burdened with unexpected costs during recovery.
At Reidmiller, Andersen & Scott, our mission is to eliminate the stress of legal proceedings and give you peace of mind during a difficult time. We handle the details, the negotiations, and the strategy; you focus on healing. We also offer our expertise to injured victims in all kinds of Wichita personal injury cases, including:
If you have lost a loved one in a Wichita car accident, our attorneys are also available to help you pursue a
wrongful death claim. For more information about how the team at Riedmiller, Andersen & Scott can help in your Wichita car accident or personal injury case, contact us today and schedule a free consultation.
Contact Reidmiller, Andersen & Scott After a Wichita Car Accident
If you or someone you care about has been injured in a car accident in Wichita or anywhere in Sedgwick County, it’s important to know that you don’t have to face the legal system alone. The aftermath of a crash often brings more than just physical injuries; it can also lead to financial hardship, emotional distress, and uncertainty about the future. That’s where we come in.
At Reidmiller, Andersen & Scott, our Wichita team is dedicated to helping car accident victims secure the compensation they need and the justice they deserve. We understand how overwhelming this process can be, which is why we provide personalized, step-by-step support from the moment you reach out. Whether you’re dealing with uncooperative insurance companies, mounting medical bills, or long-term injuries, we are here to advocate for you.
Our Wichita attorneys have experience handling a wide range of motor vehicle accident cases, and we know what it takes to build a strong claim. We will investigate the crash, handle all legal communications, negotiate for maximum compensation, and go to trial if necessary. You can trust us to protect your interests every step of the way.
Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case and learn more about your legal options. You can also fill out our online contact form, and a member of our legal team will get back to you promptly. Let Reidmiller, Andersen & Scott stand by your side and help you move forward with confidence.
