Hays Car Accident Lawyer

It’s an unfortunate reality that car wrecks happen every day. While some people are only minorly inconvenienced with no injuries and no major vehicle damage, often that is not the case. According to 2021 data from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KSDOT), there were 45,306 cars involved in traffic crashes in our state, accounting for 50.31% of all vehicles involved in accidents that year.

We see car wrecks happen all around us, and we never think it will happen to us. But when it does, and you’ve been involved in a vehicle collision, you’re hurt, and your car is damaged, and you’re not sure what to do next. That’s where Prochaska, Howell & Prochaska LLC comes in. A qualified Hays car accident lawyer from our office will help guide you through the claims process and pursue legal action against those who are responsible for your injuries and damages.

Types of Automobile Crashes Our Office Handles

Although each car crash client and case is unique, our Hays office sees many of the following types of car wrecks:

• Rear-end collisions
• Drunk driving accidents
• Head-on crashes
• Intersection accidents
• Distracted driving collisions
• Highway collisions
• Side impact or T-bone crashes
• Hit and run accidents

Out of all these listed, Kansas sees more non-highway collisions than on any other road type, 40,418 of the total 57,598 traffic crashes that occurred in 2021, according to KSDOT. Additionally, most accidents that year (29,339) occurred in “non-intersections” over any other crash location.

Crash Statistics in Ellis County

KSDOT reported that 50.7% of all traffic crashes across Kansas in 2021 involved other vehicles. However, out of the 704 vehicle crashes that occurred in Ellis County, collisions with deer caused 131 of them, while speed or alcohol-related reasons caused a combined 77 crashes. The city of Hays accounted for 425 of the total county traffic crashes, and the data shows 89 injuries and zero deaths were sustained from these accidents.

Although most vehicle accidents occur in urban areas (61.82%), far more fatal vehicle collisions occur in rural areas (58.79%). With such a large number of rural roadways through our city, county, and the rest of the Sunflower State, it’s imperative that we drive with caution, especially during the hours of 3:00 PM to 5:59 PM as the number of total crashes is usually greater during that time.

Injuries Commonly Sustained in Car Crashes

All car crashes should be taken seriously because even the smallest accident can cause injuries, sometimes minor and sometimes severe. The injuries frequently sustained in Hays vehicle accidents are:

• Cuts and bruises
• Fractured or broken bones
• Back and spine injuries
• Head and neck injuries
• Crush injuries
• Amputations
• Death

If you have been in any type of wreck, it’s best to get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible, even if you believe your injuries may be minor. Sometimes, a small fender bender can lead to serious injuries that may not present themselves immediately. Your next call should then be to a Hays car accident lawyer with whom you can discuss recovering compensation for your injuries.

Choosing the Best Legal Assistance

The immediate aftermath of a car crash can be traumatizing. You may be disoriented and unsure of what you should do next or how or even if you can pursue legal action against the person(s) responsible for your collision.

Our attorneys at Prochaska, Howell & Prochaska LLC handle cases just like yours every day and are qualified to present your case in a timely manner to seek economic and non-economic compensation for your injuries and damages such as:

• Medical bills: All current and future medical bills relating to your wreck, including doctor appointments, surgeries, rehabilitation or therapy, medications, necessary medical devices, etc.
• Property damage: Costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle
• Lost wages: All income you have not made or will not make in the future due to the accident and your resulting injuries
• Loss of quality of life: In the event that your injuries are severe and will permanently affect your daily life
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress or trauma: Such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Funeral and burial costs: In the event that the injured person was killed in the crash or passed sometime afterward due to injuries sustained in the crash

You don’t have to do this alone. Contact our office for your free consultation, where a skilled and compassionate Hays car accident lawyer can review the details of your case and find the best way to hold those responsible for your injuries accountable for their negligent actions.