Get Answers to All Your Questions About Kentucky Accident Claims

In Kentucky, personal injury law refers to the area of law that deals with civil claims for compensation filed by people who suffer physical and mental injuries caused by other parties’ negligence, recklessness, intentional actions, or other legal fault.

If you’ve been hurt in an accident, you likely have many questions about your right to pursue a Kentucky personal injury claim. The attorneys at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer are ready to discuss your unique circumstances and answer your specific questions during a free consultation.

Contact us now to find out more about your legal options.

What Is a Personal Injury Claim?

A personal injury claim allows someone who suffers physical and emotional trauma due to someone else’s actions to seek financial compensation from that party or their insurance company. In most cases, a person hurt by someone else’s actions must prove that the other party acted negligently, recklessly, or intentionally. However, some personal injury cases, such as those involving product liability claims, impose strict liability for an accident victim’s injuries.

Some common examples of personal injury claims in Kentucky include:

  • Car accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Boating accidents
  • Slip-and-fall accidents
  • Premises liability (dangerous property) accidents
  • Dog bites and other animal attacks
  • Construction site accidents
  • Product liability (dangerous or defective product) accidents
  • Medical malpractice and birth injuries
  • Nursing home abuse and neglect
  • Workplace accidents (workers’ compensation and third-party personal injury claims)

What Is the Personal Injury Claim Process?

The personal injury claim process begins with an initial investigation into the accident that caused a person’s injuries. The injured person’s lawyer may recover critical evidence for a personal injury case, such as accident reports, accident scene photos and videos, and eyewitness statements. An investigation may also call on accident reconstruction, engineering, and medical experts to explain how the accident and injuries occurred.

After assembling evidence, an accident victim can file an insurance claim or demand letter with the liable parties to demand compensation through a settlement. The parties may informally negotiate a settlement or participate in mediation to resolve the personal injury claim before formal litigation becomes necessary. However, an accident victim may have to file a lawsuit to preserve their rights to seek compensation in court.

In a personal injury lawsuit, the parties first submit pleadings laying out the facts of the case. Next, the parties engage in discovery, exchanging evidence and information and deposing witnesses to narrow down disputed issues for trial. If the parties cannot settle the personal injury claim, the case will eventually go to trial, where the court will issue a verdict after hearing the parties’ evidence, witnesses, and arguments.

Hiring our personal injury attorneys can help you throughout the claim process by providing you with an advocate who can handle all the details of your case so you can focus on healing.

What Can I Get from a Personal Injury Case?

If someone else injured you in Kentucky, they could owe you compensation for the many ways the injuries affect your life. Common examples of damages often available in personal injury cases include:

  • Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation
  • Costs of long-term care for disabilities that result from accident injuries
  • Lost wages from missed work
  • Ongoing and future reduced earning capacity
  • Physical pain, emotional trauma, and distress
  • Diminished enjoyment of life

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Case?

Kentucky’s statute of limitations typically requires you to file a personal injury lawsuit within one year of getting hurt. The statute of limitations for car accident claims is two years. Because you have limited time to prepare and file your personal injury claim, you can protect your rights and options by speaking with our personal injury lawyers as soon as possible.

What Do I Do After an Accident?

If you’ve suffered injuries in an accident in Kentucky, taking prompt action can preserve your rights and options to seek financial recovery and accountability from the at-fault parties. Here’s what to do:

  • Contact a personal injury attorney from Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal options for compensation. Do not talk to the insurance company before you talk to us.
  • Report the accident and your injuries to the appropriate authorities. For example, if you’ve had a car accident, contact law enforcement to report the crash. If you got hurt on someone else’s property, notify the property owner. If you sustain injuries in a workplace accident, report your injuries to your employer as soon as possible.
  • Seek immediate medical attention to diagnose and treat the injuries you sustained in the accident. Do not put off seeing a doctor or undergoing medical treatment or rehabilitation. Follow your treatment plan and recovery instructions, including physical and work restrictions.
  • Request copies of any accident or incident reports, such as a police motor vehicle crash report.
  • Obtain copies of your medical records of your treatment and rehabilitation.
  • Keep any bills, invoices, or receipts for expenses incurred during your recovery, such as medical bills.
  • Gather your pay stubs to calculate your lost wages if you need to take time off work or transfer to a lower-paying, light-duty, or part-time role while recovering from your injuries.

Our Personal Injury Lawyers Can Give You More Information

Our knowledgeable personal injury lawyers can offer personalized advice and guidance through the personal injury claims process based on your case’s unique facts and circumstances. At Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, our attorneys have extensive experience representing victims of others’ carelessness and people who have suffered injuries in work accidents. We have a proven record of success, highlighted by the millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts we’ve recovered for our clients.

If you’ve been hurt in an accident in Kentucky, you deserve dedicated, experienced legal representation with the Kentucky Courage™ to fight for your rights and interests. Call Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer today at (877) 809-6889 or reach out online for a free, no-obligation consultation about Kentucky personal injury laws and your legal options for seeking maximum compensation.