Cody Hagan
Cody brings a rare mix of high-level litigation experience and genuine, down-to-earth client care to Wallentine Injury Law.
A graduate of the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, Cody earned his law degree summa cum laude in 2016. During law school, he served as an editor of a legal publication, worked as a teaching assistant in UMKC’s nationally recognized legal writing program, and competed on the school’s negotiation team.
After law school, Cody Hagan clerked for the Missouri Supreme Court, working directly with Judge Paul Wilson. There, he gained firsthand insight into how cases are analyzed and decided at the highest level of Missouri’s judiciary.
Over the last decade, Cody has built a broad litigation practice handling everything from catastrophic injury claims and trucking collisions to product liability and constitutional litigation. Before representing injured people, Cody spent years defending insurance companies and businesses—the same companies he now takes on every day. That experience gives him an insider’s understanding of how insurance companies evaluate claims, build defenses, and try to pay less than what people deserve.
Today, Cody focuses primarily on serious car wreck and trucking cases in both Missouri and Kansas. He has tried cases before juries and judges and has handled litigation involving hundreds of millions of dollars in exposure. He has also authored appellate briefs at every level of the court system, including briefs submitted to the Supreme Court of the United States.
How Cody’s Experience Benefits Injured Clients
Serious car wreck and trucking cases are rarely simple. A trucking collision often involves several parties, including the driver, the trucking company and its insurer. It can also involve federal safety regulations, driver logs and maintenance records that must be gathered and analyzed. In these cases, insurance companies usually have experienced adjusters and defense lawyers working to limit what they pay.
Cody sat on the other side of that table. After years defending insurance companies and businesses, he knows the strategies they use to dispute fault, question medical treatment, and minimize damages. He uses that knowledge to prepare each case thoroughly from the start and to anticipate defenses before they come up. His trial and appellate experience means he builds every case with trial in mind, which can strengthen a client’s position at the negotiating table and in the courtroom.
Recognition for Outstanding Work
Super Lawyers has recognized Cody Hagan as a Rising Star in both Missouri and Kansas multiple times, most recently in 2026. But what truly sets Cody Hagan apart is how he practices law.
He believes clients deserve a lawyer they can actually talk to, someone accessible, honest, and real. Cody is known for building authentic relationships with his clients, personally checking in on them, and making sure they never feel like just another file on a desk. He understands that after an injury, people don’t just need legal advice, they need someone in their corner.
Outside of his legal practice, Cody is a licensed foster parent and a dedicated advocate for children in the foster care system. He was appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court to serve on the Juvenile Court Improvement Project Steering Committee and serves as a board member for the Cass County Youth Court. He has also worked alongside his firms over the years to help adopt families in the community during the Christmas season.
Whether he’s in the courtroom or sitting across the table from a client, Cody Hagan’s approach is the same: be prepared, be honest, and treat people like people.
Learn More
To learn more about our firm’s approach to personal injury litigation and holding insurance companies accountable, visit our practice areas.
