auto accidentKansas City is the largest city in Missouri, with a population of over 500,000, so it’s unsurprising that the area also has the highest rate of automobile accidents in the state.

Important Kansas City car accident data shows how and why automobile collisions occur so frequently in the city. Thanks to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Missouri Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Kansas City Police Department, these figures can help drivers on our roads stay aware. 

How an Attorney Can Help After Your Car Accident

After an accident, you should not be required to fight with adjusters from insurance companies for proper reimbursement. Unfortunately, this is a situation in which many accident victims find themselves. You need a Kansas City auto accident attorney who will safeguard your best interests and fight for the recompense you require.

Here is how we at Peterson & Associates, P.C. may be of service:

  • Provide reliable legal counsel
  • Manage communications and administrative duties
  • Conduct an investigation to gather evidence and identify culpable parties
  • Accurately value all your damages
  • Utilize experts as required to provide expert testimony showing causation and damages
  • Negotiate a reasonable settlement on your behalf
  • Make a persuasive argument to the jury if your case gets to trial

Do not allow an insurance company to undervalue your claim or unjustly blame you. Our Kansas City law firm can provide you with the legal assistance you need. Contact Peterson & Associates, P.C. immediately for a free evaluation of your case by a Kansas City auto accident attorney committed to assisting you.

Data on Kansas City Accidents

The Kansas City police have identified a number of accident hotspots, from I-435 to I-470 and beyond. In fact, officials say there were more than 157,000 in one recent year across Missouri. These incidents resulted in 881 deaths and more than 55,000 injuries.

Tragically, Kansas City, Missouri has more automobile accidents than any other Missouri city. In 2019, almost 20,500 vehicle accidents resulted in 79 deaths and over 8,700 injuries.

Fatal Accidents in Kansas City

In 2019, Kansas City saw 75 fatal auto accidents compared to 5,830 crashes resulting in injuries. Fourteen were pedestrian-related, 8 were commercial vehicles, and 12 included motorcycles. These accidents killed 79 persons in total.

Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of road deaths in Missouri increased by 12% in 2020. In 2020, 126 pedestrians were killed, a historical amount.

In May 2021, police in Kansas City recorded an increase in collisions but a decrease in deaths. In the first five months of 2021, there were 5,778 automobile accidents but just 22 fatalities in Kansas City.

Truck Crashes in Kansas City

About 4% of cars on the road are trucks, yet they account for 14% of deadly collisions. When a semi-truck collision results in death or severe injury, the victims are often the passengers of a regular sedan or another type of passenger vehicle.

Between 2016 and 2018, Kansas City saw well over 80 truck accidents involving more than 100 significant injuries and approximately 30 deaths.

Distracted Driving in Kansas City

Driving while distracted is the most frequent and deadly cause of major accidents today. In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that distracted driving caused more than 2,800 fatalities and 400,000 injuries in the United States.

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety claims a 30% rise in distracted driving and mobile phone-related accidents. Between 2016 and 2020, 400 deaths in Missouri were caused by distracted driving. Sixteen of these incidents occurred in Jackson County, including Kansas City.

Causes of Kansas City Accidents

The Kansas City Regional Transportation Safety Blueprint comprehensively analyzes transportation accidents from 2013 to 2017.

Many factors cause most collisions. The most prevalent, according to the survey, were:

  • 70% of all accidents include lane departure, with 725 deaths and 3,547 severe injuries.
  • 51% of incidents involve a collision with a fixed object, resulting in 534 deaths and 2,763 severe injuries
  • 41% of accidents involving unrestrained passengers resulted in 435 deaths and 2,435 severe injuries.
  • 41% of collisions with aggressive driving resulted in 431 deaths and 1,828 severe injuries.
  • 33% of accidents include a teen driver, with 345 deaths and 3,114 severe injuries.
  • Drunk or impaired driving accounts for 31% of accidents, 321 deaths, and 1,500 severe injuries.
  • 23% of incidents involved horizontal bends, with 246 deaths and 1,384 severe injuries.
  • 21% of incidents occur at intersections, with 220 deaths and 524 severe injuries.
  • Unlicensed driving accounted for 21% of incidents, 216 deaths, and 1,137 severe injuries.
  • Distracted driving accounts for 16% of collisions, 163 deaths, and 1,010 severe injuries.

This research sheds light on the causes of most accidents and the significant variables linked with increased injury and mortality rates.

Drunk Driving in Kansas City

Unfortunately, drunk driving accidents are all too prevalent throughout Missouri, especially in Kansas City. From 2013 to 2017, drunk driving contributed to approximately 31% of accidents in Kansas City. In 2019, the Missouri State Highway Patrol documented 822 accidents in Jackson County connected to drugged or intoxicated driving. This includes 442 incidents with minor property damage, 372 accidents involving injuries, and eight fatalities.

Authorities say that these drunk driving incidents caused 361 injuries and seven fatalities in Kansas City throughout 2019.

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