A serious car accident can permanently upend your life. While you are dealing with the physical injuries from your car crash, you will also simultaneously begin to accumulate financial damages for things like medical bills, lost wages, auto repairs, and more. If you were injured through no fault of your own, it’s time to reach out to Peterson Law Office for help.
At our law firm, we believe that accident victims should not have to unfairly bear the burden of medical bills, lost wages, and other damages on their own. This is why we have dedicated our professional careers to investigating car crashes, determining liability, valuing the worth of accident claims, and guiding victims through the process of filing a claim with the insurance company.
The attorney-client relationship is of utmost importance to us, which is why we offer free case evaluations to those who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents here in Lexington, KY.
Kentucky Car Accident Statistics
To get a better understanding of just how serious automobile accidents can be, let’s take a look at our state’s 2021 Traffic Collision Facts:
- 806 people were killed in car crashes on public roads (an increase of 4.1% over the previous year)
- Car accidents injured 29,372 people
- Kentucky’s traffic fatality rate was 1.62 per 100 million miles traveled (higher than the national average of 1.43 per 100 million miles)
If you are one of the many people who have been injured in a Lexington car accident or have lost a loved one in an automobile accident, Peterson Law Office is here for you.
The Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Lexington, KY
Many of the car crashes that occur here in Lexington, KY are the result of a motorist’s negligent, reckless, or wrongful actions behind the wheel. During the years we have spent representing car accident victims, we have noticed the following are some of the most common causes of car accidents in our city:
- Following too closely (tailgating)
- Driver inattention
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Speeding
- Failure to stop at stop signs or red lights
- Drunk driving
- Reckless and aggressive driving
- Driving on too little sleep
Most car accident claims center on the idea of negligence. If the driver who caused your accident was behaving in a way that did not take into account the safety of everyone on the road (such as weaving in and out of lanes or passing on the right), they may be held responsible for their negligent actions in a car accident claim. These types of cases can be complicated though, and you will likely require the guidance of an experienced lawyer to secure full and fair compensation.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Every car accident case is unique, and no two victims will have quite the same experience. However, many people who have been involved in accidents here in Lexington, KY experience a range of minor to catastrophic injuries.
Minor injuries include bruising, cuts and scrapes, and sprains, and may only require a few days of rest and mild medical intervention. However, our car accident attorneys have seen that serious injuries of a life-altering nature are far from uncommon. Motor vehicle accidents have the capacity to cause much more devastating injuries:
- Broken bones
- Neck and back injuries
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Deep cuts or lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Nerve damage
- Internal organ damage
- Burns
- Loss of limb (amputation)
- Crush injuries
Some injuries are not so easily seen, though. Many victims of Lexington car accidents also struggle with significant emotional damages, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This type of mental anguish can be debilitating, interfering with everything from a person’s work life to their ability to engage meaningfully in relationships.
No matter whether you suffered physical injuries, mental anguish, or some combination of both, know that Kentucky state law affords you the right to recover compensation for auto accident damages.
What To Do if You’ve Been in a Car Accident in Lexington
The period of time following a collision is often marked by confusion. Few people realize just how disorienting being in a car crash can be, and even fewer are prepared to take the proper steps after a collision.
You do not want to be saddled with the blame for an accident that was not your fault. To preserve your right to financial compensation and avoid being named the at-fault party, we recommend that you take the following steps:
Seek Medical Care
Your health and well-being should be your number one priority. If you or anyone else at the scene requires immediate or emergency medical attention, call 911 and request that an ambulance be sent to the scene. Never attempt to move anyone who appears to be suffering from a head, neck, or back injury, as this could cause additional harm.
If you are not taken from the scene in an ambulance, you can instead:
- Proceed directly to the emergency room
- Seek care at an urgent care facility
- Schedule an appointment with your regular doctor
Never ignore or try to explain away any symptoms of serious injuries, including new or worsening pain. If something feels wrong, have it checked out by a doctor. Don’t worry about medical bills or let financial concerns interfere with your decision to seek care. These types of expenses are compensable in personal injury lawsuits.
Call the Police
Kentucky state law requires that you file a police report if the following conditions are met:
- Property damage exceeded $500
- One or more of the passengers or drivers involved suffered an injury or was killed
If you do not summon the police to the scene of your accident, you must fill out your own accident report and submit it to the Department of Kentucky State Police on their website.
However, it is preferable to have a police officer respond to the accident scene and create their own report. These police reports often play a key role in negotiating personal injury claims with the insurance company.
Exchange Information
After a car wreck, all drivers of the vehicles involved in the collision must exchange information with one another. This includes:
- Contact information, such as names and phone numbers
- Addresses
- Driver’s license numbers
- License plates
- Auto insurance information
If the other driver seems hesitant to disclose this information, ask the police officer you called to the scene to help facilitate the exchange of information. When a driver is reluctant to disclose their contact info and insurance coverage, it is often because they are uninsured, underinsured, or believe they may have been responsible for the accident.
Take Pictures
Evidence in car crash cases disappears quickly, so take advantage of the time that you are still at the scene where the accident occurred. Use your phone’s camera to take pictures and document as much evidence as you possibly can.
As Lexington car accident lawyers, we look for photos that show the following when taking on a personal injury claim:
- The general scene
- Nearby street signs or landmarks that show where the accident took place
- Damage to both vehicles
- Any visible injuries
- Other property damage, including damage to fences and streetlights
- The license plates of every vehicle involved
- Debris
- Skid marks
- Potholes
- Time of day and weather conditions
If you are unable to take pictures while still at the scene of the accident, return as soon as possible or send a trusted friend or loved one to take pictures for you.
Keep Track of Important Documents
Car accident lawyers in Lexington know just how difficult the insurance claims process can be after most car accidents. Preserving important documents is one of the most effective ways to prove that you sustained injuries and other damages in an accident, and that you deserve to be fairly compensated for the harm you’ve suffered.
If you’ve been involved in an auto accident in Lexington, KY, keep track of the following:
- Your copy of the police report
- Any medical bills you’ve received
- Discharge papers from the emergency room
- Instructions from your doctor
- Paystubs or direct deposit slips showing a lower than average amount
If you’re unsure whether a document is important, err on the side of caution and keep it. Store your documents in a safe place and bring them with you when you meet with the car accident attorneys at Peterson Law Office for your free consultation.
Speak With Lexington Car Accident Lawyers
The physical, emotional, and financial damages associated with auto accidents can be severe. Even a minor injury can result in the sudden piling on of medical expenses, which may be further complicated if you require time off work to recover. At our law firm, we don’t believe it’s right for you to be unfairly burdened with these expenses when another driver’s negligence caused the accident.
If you’re ready to learn more about your legal options for recovering compensation after a car wreck, contact our law firm today to schedule a free case evaluation. You’ll have the opportunity to sit down and discuss the details of your case one-on-one with an experienced Lexington car accident lawyer.
Frequently Asked Car Accident Questions
The days and weeks after a car accident can be scary. Some of the fear comes from simply being unfamiliar with the process of filing a personal injury claim against the insurance company. Although we can more easily address any of your concerns you have while meeting in-person for your free consultation, the answers to some of the following frequently asked questions can also be helpful.
Do I Have a Car Accident Claim in Lexington, KY?
If the other driver involved in your accident was acting negligently or in a way that otherwise caused the collision, you may have a valid accident claim. You can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident, although your total award will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
What Does Insurance Have To Do With Personal Injury Cases?
When you file an auto accident claim, you are not recovering compensation directly from the at-fault driver. Instead, as a no-fault state, Kentucky requires drivers to first file a claim with their own insurance company regardless of fault. You may opt out of no-fault insurance in Kentucky, so you may need to speak with the Lexington car accident attorneys at our law office to determine whether you have the correct or sufficient coverage.
If your damages total more than your policy limits or Kentucky’s minimum coverage requirements, you may then file against the insurance company of the other driver. If the other driver was uninsured or did not have state-minimum coverage, you may need to rely on your own underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage.
What Compensation Can Be Recovered in a Lexington Auto Accident Claim?
There are three types of financial compensation you may be entitled to after a car crash: economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
Economic damages refer to your calculable financial losses, such as:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Auto repairs and loss of property
Non-economic damages refer to non-financial losses that have still deeply affected your life:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of society and companionship
- Loss of enjoyment in life
- Disfigurement
Punitive damages are awarded as a punishment to other drivers who have behaved in ways that were particularly egregious or willfully dangerous. Punitive damages are rare in most personal injury cases, but your Lexington car accident attorney will advise you of all damages to which you are entitled.
The above compensation is also available to surviving family members who have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident. You can contact our law office to learn more about the process of filing a wrongful death claim.
How Long Will My Car Accident Case Take?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Every case is unique, and our Lexington car accident lawyers cannot say with any certainty how long yours might take without first meeting for a free consultation.
However, the typical motor vehicle accident claim will take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to settle. Factors that may influence how long your case takes to handle include:
- Whether the other drivers involved are accepting or fighting liability
- The extent of your injuries
- Whether anyone was killed in the accident
- If there is any dispute over the facts in the police report
- If there are significant financial losses from medical bills and lost wages
Never be afraid to ask your legal counsel how long they think your automobile accident case will take. At our law office, we value and prioritize the attorney-client relationship, and are prepared to answer all of your questions—no matter what.
Do All Car Accident Cases Go to Trial?
The vast majority of Lexington car accident injury cases are settled outside of court. This means that a negotiation for full and fair compensation is reached without ever needing to step foot in a courtroom.
However, a small percentage of cases will proceed to a jury trial. In such situations, you’ll want to have an experienced Lexington car accident attorney on your side.
The Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer for Your Car Accident Claim
Don’t think you’ll need a lawyer since you’ll be filing a claim with your own insurance company? Think again. Your auto insurer is a for-profit business, and its main priority is to boost profits by limiting liability and lowering settlement amounts. You may be denied compensation altogether.
When you choose to work with one of the many accident lawyers in Lexington, we hope that you will schedule a free case evaluation with our law office. Our proven track record of representing injury victims in Kentucky speaks for itself, but we want you to feel assured that we will treat your case with the respect and dignity it deserves.
We’ll Launch a Thorough Investigation Into Your Case
Negligent drivers often try to pin the blame on their victims. We won’t let that happen. When we take on an accident case, our car accident lawyers launch a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.
During our investigation, we will determine the cause of the crash and its impact on your life by:
- Examining the police accident report and extracting important information
- Reviewing footage of the crash captured on dashcams or security cameras
- Reviewing pictures of the accident scene
- Partnering with professionals, including accident reconstruction experts and medical experts who can testify on your behalf
- Contacting witnesses and taking their statements
Don’t leave matters of liability up to chance. Contact our law office today and we’ll schedule your free consultation.
We’ll Value the Worth of Your Claim
You know that you are entitled to compensation for your damages after an accident, but how much? If you’re not sure how much your claim is worth, the insurance company will lowball your settlement offer while making it seem like that is the most you can expect to get.
Peterson Law Office does not allow our clients to be bullied and tricked by the insurance company. We’ll properly value the worth of your claim, which is a process that often involves reviewing your medical records, consulting with experts, and taking into account both current and future expenses.
We’ll Negotiate With the Insurance Company
Not ready to take on the insurance company on your own? The good news is that when you work with our law office, you won’t have to.
We take on the role of talking, negotiating, and otherwise dealing with the insurance company on behalf of our clients. You won’t need to answer tricky questions from the insurance adjuster or deal with repeated requests for more and more documentation when you choose to partner with us.
We’ll Treat You as a Whole Person
Auto accident claims can easily make victims feel as though their collisions left them as fractured human beings. When there is so much emphasis on whether you have a claim and how much it might be worth, it is easy to feel as if you are losing a bit of yourself.
That’s not how Peterson Law Office handles things. We value who you are as a whole person, not just an accident victim. In all that we do, we strive to show our clients that they are more than just the victim of a car accident.
We’re Just a Phone Call or Message Away
Ready to speak with a car accident lawyer about your case? You can contact us by calling our Lexington office or filling out our convenient online form.
Peterson Law Office Cares About Car Accident Victims
Lexington car accidents can leave victims with a lifetime of medical bills and pain and suffering. If you’ve suffered broken bones, neck or back injuries, or any other serious accident injury, you may be owed compensation for your damages.
We offer free consultations to injury victims in Lexington and the surrounding area. At Peterson Law Office, we know how important it is to feel comfortable with the personal injury attorney you choose to work with, and we want you to feel confident in our ability to represent your case.
There is no need to delay—Kentucky limits the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit after an accident. Contact us today to learn about your legal options.
