If you were hurt in an accident in Kansas, you may have the right to seek money for your injuries. A personal injury claim can help cover your medical bills, lost wages, and the pain you have been through. But the legal process can feel overwhelming, especially when you are still healing.
Bretz Injury Law represents injured people across Kansas. Founding attorney Matthew Bretz has more than 30 years of trial experience fighting for accident victims. From Kansas City to Wichita, Topeka, Salina, and beyond, our firm helps clients hold negligent parties accountable and pursue fair compensation.
What Is a Personal Injury Case?
A personal injury case is a legal claim filed when someone is hurt because of another person or company’s careless actions. The injured person, called the plaintiff, seeks money from the party who caused the harm, called the defendant. These cases are based on a legal concept called negligence.
Negligence means that someone had a duty to act with reasonable care, failed to do so, and caused your injuries as a result. For example, a driver who runs a red light and hits your car has breached their duty of care. If you can prove negligence, the at-fault party is responsible for paying for your losses.
What must be proven in a personal injury claim?
To win a personal injury case in Kansas, you must show four things. First, the defendant owed you a duty of care. Second, they broke that duty through careless or reckless behavior. Third, their actions directly caused your injuries. Fourth, you suffered real harm, such as medical costs or lost income, because of those actions.
This is proven by what the law calls a “preponderance of the evidence.” That means you must show your claim is more likely true than not. An experienced attorney knows how to gather and present the evidence needed to meet this standard.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Kansas
Bretz Injury Law handles a wide range of personal injury cases throughout Kansas. Our team focuses on serious injuries where clients need strong legal representation to recover fair compensation. These cases include:
- Car accidents and multi-vehicle crashes
- Truck and commercial vehicle collisions
- Motorcycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents caused by unsafe property conditions
- Construction and workplace injuries
- Dangerous and defective product injuries
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Wrongful death claims
Each type of case has its own set of legal rules and challenges. Our attorneys understand the details of Kansas personal injury law and tailor our approach to the facts of each case.
Why Your Choice of Attorney Matters
After a serious injury, you may be contacted by insurance adjusters who want to settle your claim quickly. Their goal is to pay as little as possible. Without an attorney on your side, you may not know what your case is truly worth.
When you hire a personal injury lawyer, you level the playing field. Your attorney handles all communication with the insurance company, gathers evidence to support your claim, and fights for a settlement that reflects the full value of your injuries. If the insurance company refuses to be fair, your attorney takes the case to court.
What makes Bretz Injury Law different?
Matthew Bretz spent the early part of his career doing defense work at a top Los Angeles firm, handling aviation and catastrophic injury cases. He switched to representing injured people more than 25 years ago because he wanted to stand beside victims, not protect insurance companies. That defense background gives him an understanding of how the other side thinks and prepares.
Every case at Bretz Injury Law is prepared for trial from the start. Insurance companies know when a law firm is not willing to go to court. When they see a firm that is ready to try a case in front of a jury, they are more likely to offer a fair settlement. This trial-ready approach is central to how our firm works.
“Exceptional service from Bretz Injury Law. Quick, efficient, and got great results for my personal injury case. Highly recommend”
Natalie Vázquez
Compensation You May Be Able to Recover
Kansas law allows injured people to recover money for many types of losses. These are called damages. Some damages cover costs you can add up, like bills and lost paychecks. Others cover harm that is harder to measure, like pain and the ways your life has changed.
Common types of damages in Kansas personal injury cases include:
- Medical bills, both past and future
- Lost wages and reduced ability to earn income
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of consortium, which is harm to your relationship with your spouse or family
In rare cases involving extreme recklessness or intentional harm, you may also be able to recover punitive damages. These are meant to punish the defendant and discourage similar behavior. Your attorney can help you understand which types of damages apply to your case.
Kansas Laws That Affect Your Personal Injury Case
Several Kansas laws play an important role in personal injury claims. Understanding these rules helps you protect your rights and avoid costly mistakes.
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Kansas?
Kansas gives you two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. If you miss it, you lose the right to seek compensation. There are limited exceptions, such as cases where the injury was not discovered right away or when the injured person is a minor. It is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible to protect your claim.
What if I was partly at fault for my accident?
Kansas uses a rule called modified comparative negligence. This means you can still recover money even if you were partially at fault, as long as your share of fault is less than the other party’s share. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20 percent at fault and your damages total $100,000, your recovery would be reduced to $80,000.
How does Kansas car insurance law work?
Kansas is a fault-based car insurance state. This means the driver who caused the crash is responsible for paying for the other party’s injuries and losses. You can file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If their insurance does not fully cover your damages, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the driver directly.
The Personal Injury Legal Process in Kansas
Knowing what to expect from the legal process can help ease some of the stress after an accident. While every case is different, most personal injury claims follow a general path.
After you hire an attorney, they will begin investigating your accident right away. This means gathering police reports, medical records, witness statements, and any other evidence that supports your claim. Your attorney will also handle all communication with the insurance company on your behalf.
After An Accident, Put Our Team On Your Side.
Since 1997, we’ve fought for Kansas families after serious accidents and injuries. Let our team protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Will my case settle or go to trial?
Most personal injury cases in Kansas are resolved through settlement, which means both sides agree on a payment amount without going to court. Settlements are often faster and less expensive than trials. However, a settlement is only worth accepting if it fairly compensates you for your injuries.
If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair amount, your case may need to go to trial. This is where having an attorney with real trial experience matters. Bretz Injury Law prepares every case as if it will go to court. This preparation gives our clients leverage in settlement talks and a strong position if the case does go before a jury.
Evidence That Supports a Personal Injury Claim
Strong evidence is the foundation of a successful personal injury case. Your attorney will work to collect and preserve the proof needed to show what happened and who was at fault. Key evidence often includes:
- Photographs of the accident scene and your injuries
- Police and accident reports
- Medical records and doctor statements
- Eyewitness accounts
- Surveillance camera footage
- Expert testimony, such as accident reconstruction
Gathering this evidence early is important because it can disappear over time. Witnesses forget details, security footage gets erased, and physical evidence at the scene changes. This is one of many reasons to contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident.
Contact us online or give our Kansas City office a call at 913-392-6352 to schedule your free case evaluation with a slip and fall accident attorney who puts your best interests first.
Why Matthew Bretz Fights for Injured People
Matthew Bretz’s dedication to personal injury law is rooted in personal experience. On Valentine’s Day 1992, his 16-year-old sister Marlee and two of her friends were killed in a train collision. That loss shaped his entire career and his commitment to helping families who have been devastated by preventable accidents.
He serves on the National Board of Directors for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and trains trial lawyers across the country through the Keenan Trial Institute. With admissions to practice in Kansas, California, and multiple federal courts including the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, he brings a depth of experience that few personal injury attorneys can match.
What to Expect When You Contact Bretz Injury Law
Bretz Injury Law offers a free initial consultation to discuss your case. During this meeting, you will explain your accident, your injuries, and your concerns. Your attorney will evaluate the facts, explain your legal options, and answer your questions about what comes next.
There are no upfront costs. The firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless your case results in a recovery. If you do not collect money, you do not owe attorney fees.
What should I bring to my consultation?
To make the most of your first meeting, bring any documents you have related to your accident. This includes police reports, medical records, photographs of the scene or your injuries, insurance correspondence, and any settlement offers you may have received. If you do not have all of these, that is okay. Your attorney can help you obtain what is needed.
Serving Injured People Across Kansas
Bretz Injury Law represents personal injury clients throughout the state of Kansas. Our firm serves communities including Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka, Salina, Hutchinson, Garden City, Dodge City, Liberal, and Hays. No matter where in Kansas your accident occurred, our team is ready to help.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact Bretz Injury Law to discuss your case. Call 913-392-6352 or submit a consultation request online. Attorney Matthew Bretz and his team bring more than three decades of personal injury trial experience to every case they handle.
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