Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Kansas City
Tim Dollar
Personal Injury Lawyer
It’s no surprise Tim Dollar is considered one of the top trial lawyers in America. He has tried more than 286 jury trials, has won hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients and orchestrated major company and legislative policy changes that make our world safer.
Highlights of Tim’s civil practice include Bresette v. Brassfield and Gorre, et. al, a nationally publicized story about the devastating collapse of a flight display board at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Alabama. The falling display fatally injured a 10-year-old boy and catastrophically injured his mother.
Additionally, Tim represented KC Wolf (Dan Meers), the longtime mascot for the Kansas City Chiefs. Meers was seriously injured, while performing a stunt at Arrowhead Stadium using a bungee cord and a zip line.
His many jury trials include those he has conducted while serving as a Special Homicide Prosecutor for Jackson County, Missouri. Jackson County has continued to work with Tim over the past 30 years on important homicide cases. In that role, he has prosecuted some of the most noteworthy criminal cases in the country including The Precious Doe case, which was chronicled on national TV shows such as America’s Most Wanted and the book, “Through the Rain: A True Crime Memoir of Murder and Survival.”
Brette Hart
Personal Injury Lawyer
Education
- Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas
- J.D. – 2005
- Honors: Dean’s List
- Honors: With Honors
- Truman State University
- B.S. – 2001
- Major: Business Administration
Bar Admission
- Missouri, 2005
- Kansas, 2006
- U.S. District Court District of Kansas
- U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri
Honors
- Kansas Super Lawyers: 2020 – 2022
- Missouri Super Lawyers: 2020 – 2022
- Kansas Rising Stars: 2009 – 2018
- Missouri Rising Stars: 2009 – 2018
Professional Associations
- Missouri Bar Association
- Kansas Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
- Super Lawyers
- Wichita Bar Association
- Johnson County Bar Association
- American Inns of Court
- American Board of Trial Attorneys (ABOTA)
- Kansas Women Attorneys Association
- Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City (AWL-KC)
- Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers
Alyson Dunavant
Personal Injury Lawyer
A native of St. Louis, Alyson received her undergraduate and law degree from St. Louis University. She earned the Dean Scholarship throughout her time at SLU.
After spending one year as an associate in a boutique litigation law firm, Alyson decided that her passion to help people was better served helping personal injury victims. Alyson had worked at personal injury law firm all through law school. She learned how important it is to listen to clients and find creative solutions for their problems.
Education
- Saint Louis University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri
- Doctor of Jurisprudence – 2021
- Saint Louis University
- B.A. – 2018
- Honors: cum laude
- Major: Criminal Justice
Professional Associations
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Member, 2021 – Present
- Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, 2022
Douglas L. Carter
Personal Injury Lawyer
Trial attorney Doug Carter originally hails from Willow Springs, a small town in south central Missouri. When his father, a Missouri State Highway Patrolman, was killed in 1969, he moved with his mother to Springfield, Missouri. Already a budding advocate, he led his high school debate team to many statewide victories. At the University of Missouri/Columbia, he won the only college debate tournament he entered and was elected Student Government President for the largest academic division on campus.
Destined to become a distinguished trial lawyer, Doug graduated in 1981 from Duke University School of Law where he edited the Duke Law Journal and competed on the school’s National Moot Court Team – for which fewer than 1% of law students qualify. He then went to Washington, D.C. and began his career as a trial lawyer.
Doug returned to the Midwest in 1985 and became a shareholder in two large Kansas City law firms. He defended major propane companies in serious burn, brain damage and death cases from coast to coast but sensed that something was wrong. Founding his own firm in 1996, Doug now has a strong record of making a difference in the lives of injury victims by delivering aggressive, focused experience with compassion and a commitment to justice.
Paeten Denning
Personal Injury Lawyer
Paeten joined Denning Law Firm, LLC in 2021. Paeten knew at a young age she wanted to be a lawyer so that she could help others. As a grade-schooler, she would attend law school classes with her Dad and would study with him after school each day in the library at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School. It was this early exposure to law and her desire to enter a profession where she felt like she could have a positive impact on people’s lives, that reinforced her desire to pursue a career in law.
Paeten pursued this dream at the University of Kansas School of Law graduating in 2019. Following graduation, she began her legal practice at a plaintiff’s firm in Kansas City focusing on the areas of personal injury, civil rights, and medical malpractice. Paeten assisted in two major jury trials, appeared for hearings in state and federal court, participated in local activism, and gained invaluable experience representing individuals who had been injured due to the negligence of others.
While at the University of Kansas School of Law, Paeten was an active student participating in women in law, the international law society, acted as the vice president of the student bar association, and KU’s traffic court. After her first year of law school, Paeten interned at the United States District Court of Kansas. She helped write the Kansas Habeas Corpus help sheet, assisted in writing court orders, legal research, and observed federal dockets and trials. Paeten also interned at the Tanzania Women Lawyer’s Association in Arusha, Tanzania. She assisted low-income clients with custody issues, land right issues, and participated in community activism for female representation. After her second year, Paeten clerked for a plaintiff’s firm and then was awarded a humanities grant to travel to Tanzania to study health law and health care access for women.
James P. Cannon
Personal Injury Lawyer
Attorney James P. Cannon’s practice of law focuses on personal injury and wrongful death. James has handled hundreds of cases over the last thirty-five years nationwide and has collected millions of dollars for his clients.
At Cannon Law, I take pride in the one-on-one attention that I have provided to all my clients. Although I have successfully represented hundreds of clients, I never forget how overwhelming a personal injury case is for my clients. As my client, you can depend on me to prioritize your case and give you the compassionate and experienced counsel you require.
When Jim is not in the courtroom he is spending time with his wife and children and participating in the community.
Practice Areas
- Personal Injury/Death
- Auto Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Truck & Motorcycle Accidents
- Defective Products & Class Action
- Work Injuries & Construction Accidents
ALLISON L. GREENFIELD
Personal Injury Lawyer
An experienced defense attorney, Allison has advocated for clients involved in some of the highest-profile cases in the Midwest. She focuses her practice on business and commercial litigation, insurance, premises and product liability, and arson-fraud litigation. She also works in construction defect and transportation.
Amid protecting clients facing high-stakes litigation, Allison extends her passion for law into community service and involvement with numerous professional organizations; including holding leadership roles with the Lawyers Association of Kansas City – Young Lawyers Section.
Practice Areas
- Business and Commercial Litigation
- Insurance Defense
- Premises and Product Liability
- Arson-Fraud Litigation
- Construction Defect
- Transportation
Education
- University of Tulsa College of Law, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- J.D. – 2012
- Baker University
- B.A. – 2009
SCOTT HUNTER
Personal Injury Lawyer
Education
- University of Missouri Columbia School of Law, Columbia, Missouri
- J.D.
- University of Missouri at Columbia
- B.A.
Bar Admission
- Missouri
- Kansas
- U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court District of Kansas
Honors
- Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, 2010 – 2011
The duties of the best personal injury lawyer in Kansas City encompass a wide range of responsibilities aimed at representing their clients effectively in personal injury cases. These duties include:
Client Consultation: Personal injury lawyers start by meeting with clients to understand the details of the case. They listen to the client’s account of the incident, gather relevant information, and assess the merits of the case.
Legal Research: Lawyers research applicable laws, regulations, and precedent cases that pertain to the client’s personal injury claim. This research helps them build a strong legal argument.
Case Evaluation: Attorneys evaluate the strength of the case and provide clients with an honest assessment of their chances of success. They discuss potential outcomes and strategies for pursuing the case.
Investigation: Personal injury lawyers often conduct investigations to collect evidence that supports their client’s claims. This can include obtaining accident reports, medical records, witness statements, and expert opinions.
Negotiation: Lawyers engage in negotiations with insurance companies, opposing parties, or their legal representatives to reach a settlement. They advocate for their clients’ interests and work to secure fair compensation.
Filing Legal Documents: Attorneys are responsible for preparing and filing all necessary legal documents, including complaints, motions, and responses, with the court. They ensure that all paperwork is submitted accurately and on time.
Discovery: In more complex cases, lawyers engage in the discovery process. This involves exchanging information and evidence with the opposing party, conducting depositions, and requesting documents.
Legal Strategy: Personal injury attorneys develop a legal strategy tailored to the specific circumstances of the case. This strategy may involve identifying key issues, potential witnesses, and arguments to present in court.
Representation in Court: If a settlement cannot be reached, the lawyer represents the client in court. They present the case before a judge and jury, cross-examine witnesses, and argue for the client’s right to compensation.
Client Advocacy: Throughout the legal process, lawyers advocate for their clients’ rights and interests. They provide guidance, answer questions, and keep clients informed about the progress of their case.
Medical Expertise: In many personal injury cases, understanding medical records and terminology is crucial. Lawyers may consult with medical experts to interpret medical evidence and establish the extent of injuries.
Negligence Analysis: Lawyers assess whether the defendant (the party responsible for the injury) acted negligently or breached a duty of care. This analysis is essential in establishing liability.
Economic and Non-Economic Damages Assessment: Attorneys work to calculate the economic damages (such as medical bills and lost wages) and non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering) suffered by their clients to determine appropriate compensation.
Settlement Negotiation: In the event of a settlement offer, lawyers advise clients on whether to accept or reject it. They negotiate with the opposing party to secure the best possible settlement terms.
Ethical Representation: Personal injury lawyers must adhere to ethical standards and professional codes of conduct while representing their clients, ensuring that they act in the clients’ best interests.
Client Support: Lawyers provide emotional support and guidance to clients throughout the legal process, recognizing that personal injury cases can be emotionally taxing.
The duties of the best personal injury lawyer in Kansas City revolve around ensuring that their clients receive fair compensation for their injuries and losses while navigating the complexities of the legal system. They work diligently to protect their clients’ rights and achieve the best possible outcome in personal injury cases.