Hit by a Car While Walking in Kansas City?

If you've been struck by a vehicle, do not try to get up and walk it off. Pedestrian accidents cause severe injuries — broken bones, head trauma, spinal injuries, internal bleeding — and movement can make them worse. If you're conscious, call 911 or ask a bystander to call.

Tell the 911 operator your location as precisely as possible. If you're near an intersection, give the street names. Kansas City's grid system can make this straightforward — try to identify the nearest cross streets. Emergency services will dispatch paramedics and law enforcement.

Even if your injuries seem minor, accept medical transport. Adrenaline can mask pain for hours, and internal injuries may not produce symptoms until much later.

If you're able, get the driver's name, phone number, insurance company and policy number, driver's license number, and license plate. If the driver tries to leave the scene, try to note their plate number, vehicle make, model, and color. Missouri law requires drivers involved in an accident with an injured person to stop and provide information — leaving is a hit-and-run, which is a criminal offense.

Ask witnesses for their names and contact information. In pedestrian cases, independent witnesses can make the difference between a successful claim and a denied one. Drivers frequently claim they didn't see the pedestrian or that the pedestrian "came out of nowhere."

If you're able — or have someone else do it — photograph the scene: the intersection, crosswalk markings (or lack thereof), traffic signals, the vehicle that hit you, its position on the road, any skid marks, the road conditions, lighting, and your injuries.

Note the time of day and weather. Many Kansas City pedestrian accidents happen at dusk or after dark, when visibility is reduced. The presence or absence of streetlights, crosswalk signals, and pedestrian crossing signs is relevant evidence.

Do not apologize or say anything that could be interpreted as admitting fault, such as "I wasn't paying attention" or "I jaywalked." Fault is a legal determination.

Pedestrians have no protection — no airbags, no seatbelt, no vehicle frame. The injuries are often severe. See a doctor immediately, even if you were able to walk after the crash. Concussions, internal bleeding, hairline fractures, and soft tissue damage often have delayed symptoms.

University Health at Hospital Hill is the region's Level I trauma center for the most critical injuries. Saint Luke's Hospital, Research Medical Center, North Kansas City Hospital, Children's Mercy Kansas City, and Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence are additional options. For follow-up care, orthopedic specialists, neurologists, and rehabilitation facilities throughout the metro can address long-term needs.

Keep every medical record, bill, and receipt. Document your recovery — symptoms, pain levels, limitations — in a daily journal.

The driver's insurance company will contact you. Their goal is to minimize the payout. You are not required to give a recorded statement. Decline politely and tell them to contact your attorney.

Insurance adjusters in pedestrian cases often try to establish that the pedestrian was at fault — jaywalking, crossing against the signal, wearing dark clothing, being distracted by a phone. Don't give them ammunition.

Missouri is an at-fault state with no PIP and no no-fault system. The at-fault driver's liability insurance pays your damages. Fault determination is critical.

Missouri law requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian. Drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop for pedestrians at intersections with traffic signals. However, pedestrians also have responsibilities — they should use crosswalks where available, obey pedestrian signals, and not suddenly leave a curb into the path of a vehicle that is too close to stop.

Here's what matters for your claim: even if you were partially at fault — crossing mid-block, crossing against a signal, not using a crosswalk — Missouri's pure comparative fault system (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.765) means your claim is not barred. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover. If a jury finds you 30% at fault for jaywalking but the driver 70% at fault for speeding, you recover 70% of your damages.

Missouri's statute of limitations for personal injury is five years from the date of the accident (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120). (Note: Pending legislation — HB 68 — may reduce this to two years. The bill passed the House in 2025 but did not receive a Senate vote. Five years is current law as of March 2026. Always verify with an attorney.)

If the driver fled the scene (hit-and-run), the statute of limitations still runs from the date of the accident, regardless of whether the driver has been identified.

Pedestrian accident cases often involve serious injuries and substantial medical costs. An attorney can investigate the accident, obtain surveillance footage (from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, or KCPD), establish the driver's negligence, and negotiate a settlement that accounts for your full damages — including future medical care, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Most personal injury attorneys in Kansas City offer free consultations and work on contingency.