Whether you’re cutting around town on I-470 or heading to Kansas City on State Highway 291, you’ll see plenty of semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles. If you’re unfortunate enough to get into a collision involving one, there’s a good chance your life will be forever changed.
Truck accidents cause serious injuries to people in smaller passenger cars, while the trucker usually walks away with minor bumps and bruises. If you’ve been in a truck crash, you need the skills and advice of our Independence truck accident attorney. We ensure that your rights and interests are upheld.
Langdon & Emison advocates for people injured by someone else’s negligence. With more than 30 years of experience, we have a long track record of high-dollar settlements. Contact us online or call (866) 931-2115 to schedule a free consultation.
Your rights as an injured driver in Independence
As a truck accident victim, you have more rights than you know. Our firm supports and protects these rights and more:
- The right to hire your own lawyer to pursue a lawsuit for damages against all liable parties
- The right to fair treatment by the insurance companies
- The right to expect full and fair compensation for all material and non-material losses you suffered from the crash
- The right to high-quality medical care for injury treatment and rehabilitative therapy
- The right to seek compensation for vocational training or education if you are disabled to the point where you cannot sustain gainful employment
As your truck accident lawyer in Independence, MO, we properly value your truck accident claim to ensure it covers all past, present, and future needs.
Experience you can trust, with deep local roots
Langdon & Emison has been nationally recognized as a leading plaintiff’s firm. Multiple attorneys have been named Best Missouri Attorneys, Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation, and featured on the Super Lawyers list. For over 30 years, we’ve been western Missouri’s top choice for complex personal injury claims.
As a local firm, we stand beside our community—whether helping families rebuild after tornado damage or mentoring future women litigators through the Association of Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City. We’re also proud to support the Community Christian Center, empowering young people with education and vocational training.
With decades of experience in Jackson County’s 16th Judicial Circuit Court and beyond, Langdon & Emison combines legal expertise with hometown dedication to fight for the justice you deserve.
Our trusted legal advocates get results in truck accident cases
| $12.5 million verdict
A Ford F-150 was struck by an out-of-control semi-truck and rear-ended by another vehicle, puncturing the fuel tank and causing a fire that tragically claimed three lives. The case resulted in a $12.5 million verdict for Mr. Mathes, who lost his son and parents in the collision. |
| $7 million verdict
Langdon & Emison successfully proved that a tractor-trailer driver was negligent for driving while fatigued and held the employer accountable for negligent hiring in an Arkansas federal court. |
| $5.8 million settlement
Kent Emison and David Brose secured a $5.8 million settlement for a 16-year-old injured in a truck accident, proving the tractor-trailer was illegally avoiding weigh scales and should not have been on the highway. |
Our skilled Independence truck accident lawyers are by your side every step of the way
Experience matters—We deliver results
Our firm handles all matters related to your case:
- Personalized advice so you can better participate in the claims process
- Filing all legal matters in court
- Responding to the other party
- Speaking for you in court hearings, mediation, or arbitration
We focus on results, such as those we recently achieved for Mrs. Mathes, who suffered incredible losses in a devastating truck accident.
Comprehensive legal services from our Independence truck accident attorneys
The Langdon & Emison legal team handles the legal aspects of your case. You can focus on healing and recovery while we take care of everything necessary to pursue damages on your behalf. Our services include.
Prompt communication and honest advice
Your lawyer is the primary point of contact with the other side. They answer communications, respond to legal motions, and field phone calls and emails from the insurance company.
We also give you personalized advice about your case, starting with your free initial consultation. This includes any potential difficulties in proving liability, such as lack of evidence or evidence that could point toward you as the primary cause of the wreck.
You’re fully informed so you can make smart decisions about the direction of your case.
All legal motions and court filings
We begin with a Demand Letter addressed to the at-fault party or parties and their respective insurance companies. This letter lists the extent of your harm and the defendant’s role in causing it. The other party may:
- Agree to liability and the settlement amount we requested (usually when the evidence is heavily in our favor)
- Agree to liability but dispute the settlement amount (it may be higher than the insurance policy limit, for example)
- Deny liability, at which point the case moves forward to court
If the other party refuses our offer, then we initiate legal action.
We draft the initial lawsuit and all other motions necessary to move your claim forward. We also respond to legal motions filed by the other side, including responses to our filings and Demand Letter.
Exhaustive investigation of your claim
Our firm uses private investigators, accident reconstructionists, and expert witnesses to help us develop your case. We interview witnesses, review data from the truck’s event data recorder, and examine physical evidence, including vehicle damage and photos or a video of the collision.
Settlement negotiations
Most truck accident cases are settled out of court. We represent you in negotiations with the other party, including mediation or arbitration. As trained negotiators, we’re tenacious in these back-and-forth talks. We know what your case is worth and are ready to demand it.
Trial in civil court
If settlement negotiations fail, the case moves to civil court for trial. Sometimes, we recommend not settling and instead taking the case to trial. We may advise going to court if the evidence strongly supports your claim and we believe exemplary or punitive damages are warranted.
Punitive damages are awarded in cases where the defendant’s behavior was exceptionally negligent. They can only be handed down by a judge and jury. We petition the court for additional damages as a punishment to the defendant and a warning to others tempted to do the same.
Types of truck accident claims our firm handles
Semi-truck accidents can occur in various ways, each causing devastating injuries. Common types include:
- Jackknife accidents: Sudden braking causes the trailer to swing into an acute angle, hitting anything nearby.
- Underride accidents: Vehicles slide under a truck’s trailer, often during sudden stops or lane changes.
- Tire blowouts: A blown tire can cause the trucker to lose control and crash.
- Head-on collisions: Trucks crossing into oncoming traffic can cause deadly, frontal impacts.
- Rollovers: Taking curves too quickly can tip trailers, crushing other vehicles.
- Rear-end accidents: Following too closely can prevent trucks from stopping in time.
- Wide-turn accidents: Trucks hitting vehicles while making sharp turns without enough space.
- T-bone accidents: A vehicle strikes another head-on into the side, often at intersections.
- Blind spot accidents: Trucks collide with cars while merging or changing lanes without checking blind spots.
Regardless of your accident, an Independence truck accident attorney from Langdon & Emison can fight to secure fair compensation for your losses.
We have the experience to prove the truck driver is liable
Liability means that a person or entity (like the trucking company, the truck manufacturer, or a mechanic who worked on the cab or rig) is legally responsible for harm that they cause and can be required to pay monetary damages to the person they harmed.
Liability in truck accidents can occur through direct action, such as the driver speeding, texting and driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or operating in violation of FMCSA safety standards. It can also occur through inaction, such as a trucking company’s failure to do due diligence in the hiring process, hiring unqualified drivers, or its lack of supervision of drivers.
We build a case based on Missouri personal injury law and the evidence we collect to prove liability on the part of the trucker trucking company and any other liable party.
Winning your truck accident case rests on proving liability on the defendant’s part. This is a four-part legal concept; as your attorney, we must prove:
- The defendant had an obligation to keep you safe or prevent harm
- They failed in this duty, causing the accident
- You were hurt in the accident
- You suffered material losses because of the wreck
We answer frequently asked questions about truck accidents in Independence
Our semi-truck accident lawyer in Independence, Missouri, answers common questions about truck accidents and liability. For answers to your specific questions, contact us at (866) 931-2115 for a free consultation.
What damages are available in a Missouri truck accident case?
You have the right to demand full compensation for all present and future medical care, lost wages, loss of earning potential, and property damage. In addition to these material damages, you can also claim a fair amount for your pain and suffering, emotional trauma, loss of quality of life, disability, scarring, and disfigurement.
How much insurance do truck drivers have in Missouri?
The cap on the trucker’s insurance policy will likely influence the amount you can realistically expect to recover from the case. Truckers in Missouri carry between $750,000 and $5 million in liability insurance.
Should I speak to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster?
We usually recommend that you don’t say anything to a representative from the other party’s insurance company, as their interests are opposite yours. An insurance adjuster looks for any reason to claim that you caused the wreck to minimize the amount they pay in a claim.
Local resources for injured drivers in Independence
Resources for reporting accidents
- Online Traffic Crash Reports – Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP)
Insurance information
- Insurance Information – Missouri Department of Revenue
