What Can You Do When You Don’t Know Who Caused Your Injury?

Many times, individuals contact law firms because they have been injured and want to seek compensation by filing a lawsuit against a certain party or person who hurt them. However, a tricky situation that often arises is when the victims do not know who caused their injuries.

If that sounds like you, it is important to know that you are not alone, and this is a very common issue. With the right personal injury attorneys by your side, you will find a solution in no time.

Examples of cases where there’s no clearly liable party

There are several types of cases in which clients may not know who exactly caused their injury. We will go over a few of the most common ones below.

• Unexpected gunfire: To start the new year off, the neighborhood around East 79th Street and Donnelly Avenue shoots off guns – every year. No one in that neighborhood was hurt, but a bullet “lightly grazed” an individual’s leg in Hickman Hills, and he has no clue who is to blame for his injuries. Any time multiple folks fire guns into the sky or into a crowd, it can be hard to figure out who the culprit is.
• Hit-and-run car accidents: One of the most common types of accidents in which individuals typically do not know who caused their injuries is a hit-and-run car accident. Hit-and-run accidents occur when a driver hits your vehicle and flees the scene of the accident. Even though it is against the law, hit-and-run car accidents happen frequently in Kansas City, MO. As a matter of fact, the new year began with a driver being injured in a hit-and-run collision on 33^rd The driver passed away one week later from his injuries. Unfortunately, The Kansas City Police Department has not yet found the suspect, as he exited his vehicle and ran away from the scene of the accident.
• Assaults, robberies, and other acts of violence: People who commit violent acts typically take pains to hide their identity. They may wear masks and/or gloves, or disguise their features in other ways. This can make it difficult to identify them for police and for civil injury claims.
• Acts of nature: Sometimes it’s not other people who cause you harm; it’s Mother Nature. Rockslides, flash floods, and tornadoes can all cause catastrophic injuries. So can the deer (or family dog) which runs out into the road ahead of you. Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents can be caused by falling debris from trees or from unexpected sinkholes.

What should I do if I have been hurt but do not know who caused my injury?

If you have recently been hurt by another person or party but are unsure of who exactly is to blame, Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys can legally assist you with this matter. Our lawyers will listen to your experience, look at any information and evidence you have collected, and offer our advice about what you should do. We will likely want to begin thoroughly investigating your accident right away, which will give us the ability to weigh out all potential liable parties. Next, we will be in touch with law enforcement, local businesses in the area of your accident, and your insurance company.

After speaking to these parties, we may be able to locate or find surveillance cameras, witnesses, other key pieces of evidence, and possibly even other liable parties or solutions. Hiring an experienced and skilled personal injury lawyer can help you learn the best course of action that you should take when you do not know who caused your injury. Here are two possible options that we may suggest:

• Filing a claim with your own insurance: If you were involved in a hit-and-run car accident, your insurance may provide you with Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM). Progressive Casualty Insurance Company explains that UM can be used to cover hit-and-run accidents in certain states, making it a potential solution for your hit-and-run case. The law in Missouri currently requires all drivers to have “uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury per person and $50,000 for bodily injury per accident.” Note: your insurance policy may also cover acts of nature, but it’s policy specific. If you are covered and your own insurance company won’t play ball, we may be able to help.
• Filing a negligent security claim: If you were mugged, robbed, or shot on someone else’s property a potential option is to file a negligent security lawsuit. This type of lawsuit will seek to hold the owner of the business, house, apartment, club, bar, or other establishment accountable for not having the proper security for you and other customers, guests, or visitors while on the property. (If you were on your own property, you may be able to file a claim through your homeowners’ policy.)

At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we take these types of cases very seriously. Our personal injury lawyers know and understand that our clients are not always going to know who caused them harm. Therefore, it is our job to either help you find out who injured you or explore other options to obtain the compensation that you need to get back on your feet again. We are ranked as Kansas City’s Favorite Law Firm, which is a title we have worked very hard for. If you would like to begin working with our dedicated and compassionate team, please call our office or complete our contact form today. We have offices located in Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Parkville and St. Joseph (MO); Olathe, Kansas City, and Overland Park (KS). Our Kansas City, MO office is open and accepts new clients anytime, and our other offices are open and available by appointment.