On March 20, 2024, our client was driving on I-435 in the Kansas City area when he became the lead vehicle in a four-car chain-reaction collision.
Traffic was moving at approximately 20 miles per hour when another driver rear-ended a Jeep, pushing it into a Honda, which was then forced into the rear of our client’s vehicle. The sudden impact threw our client’s body forward and backward inside his vehicle as he braced himself against the steering wheel. Police and emergency medical personnel responded to the scene, and he was transported by ambulance to AdventHealth for evaluation.
Neck and Back Injuries Following the Collision
Following the crash, our client experienced persistent neck, upper back, and shoulder pain, along with headaches and other symptoms. He initially received emergency treatment, including X-rays, pain medication, and injections, before continuing with chiropractic care and physical therapy.
Further evaluation revealed cervical and thoracic spine injuries, decreased range of motion, and neurological symptoms. An MRI confirmed an intervertebral disc injury in his cervical spine.
Despite treatment, he continued to experience residual neck and back pain. His provider determined that he had reached maximum medical improvement and assigned a 10% whole-body impairment rating. He was also expected to require ongoing maintenance care, with approximately $7,680 in future treatment anticipated.
Determining Responsibility in a Four-Vehicle Crash
The number of vehicles involved made the insurance side of the case more complicated.
The police investigation identified the driver who struck the first vehicle as the person who initiated the entire chain reaction. Although that driver presented an insurance card at the scene, the listed insurer later could not verify valid coverage, making uninsured motorist coverage an important part of our client’s claim.
Our firm also pursued the insurance carriers for the two drivers whose vehicles were pushed into one another before striking our client. Both carriers denied responsibility and pointed back to the driver who caused the initial impact.
How Our Personal Injury Lawyer Helped
Our firm worked through the multiple insurance and liability issues created by the four-vehicle collision, obtained the available coverage information, and documented the medical evidence supporting our client’s injuries.
Although several vehicles were involved, the evidence consistently showed that our client was simply caught at the end of a chain reaction caused by an uninsured driver. Establishing that distinction allowed us to pursue the appropriate coverage rather than leaving our client responsible for the consequences of a crash he did not cause.
The case was ultimately resolved for policy limits, providing compensation for his medical treatment, permanent impairment, future care needs, and the injuries he sustained in the collision.
