Timeline of a Truck Accident Case in Kansas

Authored by Bradley A. Pistotnik — well-known and highly experienced Wichita truck accident lawyer; author of the book “Truck Accidents Kill,” and an authoritative speaker on trucking safety.

Coverage: Wichita Metro (Sedgwick County & surrounding communities) and Western Kansas — defined here as any county west of a north–south line that runs ~10 miles east of Topeka, bounded by Nebraska (north), Oklahoma (south), and Colorado (west).

Investigation (Weeks 0–8)

• Preservation letters; ECM/ELD/telematics downloads (49 CFR §395.8(k), §395.11 retention); vehicle inspections (Part 396).
• Witness interviews; 911/CAD; roadway and scene mapping; medical documentation.

Demand & Negotiation (Months 2–6+)

• Comprehensive demand after baseline medical stabilization.
• Negotiations while experts/reconstruction continue in parallel.

Litigation (Months 6–18+)

• Complaint, written discovery, depositions (driver, safety director, experts).
• Motions on FMCSR issues (§392.2, §392.3, §392.6, §395.3), spoliation, and admissibility of electronic data.
• Mediation and trial settings subject to court calendars and case complexity.

What Speeds Things Up

• Early expert engagement; organized medical and wage documentation.
• Realistic evaluation with firm settlement targets and trial readiness.

For more details on regulations, see Hours-of-Service & Other Trucking Rules. On insurer tactics, see How Trucking Insurers Try to Devalue Your Claim.

Injured in a truck crash in Wichita or Western Kansas? Call Bull Attorneys for a free, confidential consultation. 24/7. We move fast to preserve ELD/telematics and black-box evidence. 316-684-4400.