Personal injury law covers a wide range of situations, from car accidents to slip-and-fall accidents. In Wichita, it includes tort lawsuits, motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability, and intentional torts. Here are some stats on these claims and the law in the city.

Personal injury stats 

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, tort lawsuits in Wichita last an average of 23 months. The main category of this suit is negligence, whether it involves medical malpractice or negligence. Claimants often request damages to cover their medical costs and other expenses from the injury. Tomas Pyle, personal injury attorney with a practice in Wichita, Kansas, has handled quite a number of these cases. 

Next up are the motor vehicle accident cases. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that these cases take around 20 months to resolve. According to reports, there were more than 90,000 accidents in the Kansas area, with 7000 of those cases from Wichita. 

Most of the accidents were caused by drunk driving. Some are specifically linked to accident-prone roads. Some intersections were also identified because they have the highest rates of accidents in the city. 

Moving on to medical practice cases. According to the Bureau of Justice statistics, these cases last for an average of 31 months. Medical malpractice cases are more complex because of the requirement of expert evidence and other factors. 

Patients usually bring this suit up when their doctor fails to offer a duty of care, leading to adverse effects. This could include leaving a foreign object in a patient’s body after surgery or failing to diagnose a condition as quickly as possible so the patient can get help. 

Intentional tort cases also last for an average of 25 months. Cases in this category range from false imprisonment to defamation and even assault. They are also criminal cases, but the result of these cases is compensation for the pain and suffering the complainant endured. 

Finally, premises liability cases often take, on average, 24 months to conclude. This law allows visitors to sue homeowners for compensation when they get injured on their property. A perfect example is a dog bite while on a property or an elevator accident. Others include collapsed stairs, slips, and even fires on the property due to the owner’s negligence. 

Can you file a personal injury claim without a lawyer 

The answer is yes and no. For small claims, it may be easier to file a personal injury suit. The process involves gathering evidence of the event as well as receipts from the hospital. You may need to write a demand letter and see if the matter can be settled amicably. 

If your case is more complicated, it will be advisable to use a seasoned lawyer. The lawyers understand everything that needs to be done before instituting an action in court. Doing it yourself may save you some money, but many personal injury lawyers only require contingency fees. You may not need to pay upfront until your case has been settled.