Kentucky Personal Injury Attorney

Why choose a Kentucky personal injury lawyer from Hughes & Coleman after an injury?

The best Kentucky personal injury lawyers will help you level the playing field against the insurance company and ensure that you are properly represented, while protecting your rights along the way.

Our injury law firm will have and keep your best interests in mind so that you can focus on your recovery. We are staffed with highly experienced attorneys who understand the complexities of Kentucky personal injury law and have the skill to negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.

At Hughes & Coleman, we also offer a free consultation so that you can share your story with our legal staff. We want to understand what happened, help you determine if you have a personal injury claim, and advise what next steps would be beneficial to ensure you receive the most money possible.

Additionally, our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we don’t get paid if you don’t recover compensation. You never pay out of pocket – ever.

Hughes & Coleman fights for maximum compensation for our injured clients

In many personal injury cases, the insurance company will offer substantially less than what our clients deserve. In those instances, you need a personal injury lawyer on your side who knows how much your claim is really worth, and who can hold the at fault party accountable.

While other firms may take the initial offer and move on, our team is dedicated to getting you the compensation you’re entitled to. Though many cases do settle out of court, our team prepares for any potential trial from the very start and will argue your case in front of a judge and jury if necessary.

Looking for a top Kentucky personal injury law firm?

When looking for a personal injury lawyer that can effectively represent you, it is important to take a few things into consideration. In most cases, you will only have one opportunity to secure the compensation you deserve, so it is important that you choose the best Kentucky personal injury attorney for you from the very start who can understand the specific needs of your claim and what your case may be worth.

Experienced personal injury attorneys will have years of settlement negotiations and trial wins behind them, and examples of how they have successfully represented injured victims.

A top personal injury attorney in Kentucky should also be prepared to help you throughout the duration of your claim and provide you with the service you deserve. As your legal representatives, we take over all communications with the insurance company and bill collectors so that you can focus on your recovery. Additionally, our team will work to gather all police reports and other necessary documents, witness statements, and if needed, obtain expert witness testimony to establish liability on your behalf. We also help manage all of your medical expenses and medical bills so that your out-of-pocket expenses are managed appropriately for a personal injury lawsuit. We also have a team dedicated to ensuring you receive the medical care you need during this difficult time.

Trust in a Kentucky injury firm that has the resources and experience to make the personal injury claims process as easy as possible for you.

Kentucky personal injury lawyers can help with a variety of claims

There are many different accidents and incidents that a personal injury lawyer can assist with. If you’ve sustained injuries due to the negligence of another person, company, or government entity, an attorney at our firm can help.

Proving negligence in a personal injury claim

Under Kentucky law, negligence can be broken down into four primary elements. Each of these elements will need to be addressed in a personal injury case to receive compensation for your injuries.

Duty:

The other party owed you a duty.

For example, a grocery store proprietor or manager is responsible for ensuring the safety of their patrons by addressing issues like spill cleanup and repairing broken steps. To fulfill this responsibility, the store must take sensible measures to reasonably safeguard its customers. However, this task can get somewhat complicated, given that the notion of “reasonable” is subject to varying interpretations.

Breach of Duty

The other party breached this duty and responsibility.

The fundamental question revolves around whether the defendant either caused a hazardous situation or permitted its continuation. While this can be straightforward in instances such as running a red light, it can also grow more complicated.

Causation

Your damages were caused by the other party breaching their duty.

Even if an individual acknowledges their negligence, it doesn’t automatically validate that their negligence led to your injuries. Consider the previous scenario. The store owner might assert that your slip resulted not from the puddle but due to your focus on your phone. Alternatively, they could contend that although you did slip on the puddle, your existing back injury was the primary cause of your fall.

Damages

In order to recover compensation, you must prove that you suffered damages.

These can range anywhere from minor injuries to serious injuries, but you need to prove that your injuries were caused by someone else breaching their duty of care under the law.

An attorney skilled in injury law understands what is needed to prove negligence against the at fault party and how to recover maximum compensation on your behalf.

Types of damages personal injury lawyers can help you recover

Damages in a personal injury claim can range from minor to catastrophic injuries. Serious injury victims will often require long recoveries, which can strain finances and relationships. Often, the insurance company will not pay or account for long-term care. In these instances, you need a Kentucky personal injury attorney to fight for every dollar you deserve. Some of the damages a victim can recover in a personal injury settlement or verdict include:

• Medical expenses and medical bills (including future medical expenses)
• Lost wages and future lost wages as a result of the injury
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, and loss of consortium

As you can see, some of these damages are fairly straightforward. Medical bills are hard dollar amounts that can be easily calculated. These are referred to as economical damages.

Subjective damages, like pain and suffering, however, require skilled personal injury attorneys who have the necessary experience to understand what your case is truly worth. These additional damages may not be initially obvious in the insurance claims process and are often not offered by the insurance company for victims who do not have legal representation while pursuing personal injury claims. These non-economical damages can also be life-long issues that need to be accounted for within your claim.

To recover all of the economical and non-economical damages you’re entitled to, it is in your best interest to hire a knowledgeable law firm with the resources to support you while negotiating a settlement, or in court if necessary.

Punitive damages can also be awarded to punish the negligent party for their gross negligence or malice.

Kentucky pure comparative negligence laws

Kentucky operates under pure comparative negligence, which means that you can technically be up to 99% at fault and still recover compensation for your damages. However, it is equally important to note that the percentage of compensation you are entitled will depend on how much you are deemed to be at fault.

For example, if your damages were $10,000 going into a personal injury lawsuit, but it was found that you were 80% at fault, you would only be entitled to the remaining 20% in damages, or $2,000.

This is another reason why hiring a Kentucky personal injury lawyer is critical to ensure you receive every dollar you deserve. A skilled attorney can assist in personal injury lawsuits by minimizing your share of fault. This is especially important when facing a corporate defendant that may have teams of attorneys on their side aiming to place as much blame on you as possible.

What is the statute of limitations in Kentucky for injury cases?

One year.

Per Kentucky statute 413.140, most personal injury victims have one year to file a claim, and typically, the clock starts ticking on the day the incident occurred. If the injured accident victim fails to file a claim within this time period, they will forfeit their rights under Kentucky law to pursue damages and compensation.

Personal injury lawyers ensure that all required paperwork is filed on time and that statute mandates are adhered to so that your personal injury claim is not lost as a result of administrative oversights or delays.

If you’ve been injured, don’t wait. Call our experienced and skilled legal team today for a free initial consultation.

800-800-4600

Get it done.

Our personal injury lawyers prepare settlement demand letters for you

To officially initiate settlement talks, your lawyer will compose a demand letter and deliver it to the responsible party’s insurance company. This letter will encompass accident details, including the situation leading to it, the involved parties, and the extent of your injuries. Additionally, it will present the fault evidence gathered during the investigation, establishing the other party’s liability. The demand letter will list financial losses, itemize non-economic damages (like pain and suffering), and specify the total compensation amount sought from the insurer.

How is a Kentucky personal injury settlement negotiated?

Demand letters usually don’t get an immediate positive response. Typically, the insurance company you’re addressing will contest either the grounds for your demands, the requested compensation amount, or both. They might offer counterclaims and a counteroffer to your attorney. Negotiations will continue until an agreeable resolution is reached or if deemed impossible by either party.

If the insurance company doesn’t agree to your valid financial claims made through your lawyer, or if settlement efforts outside court are unresponsive, your attorney will likely opt for the next step in the personal injury case: filing a lawsuit.

How long does a personal injury lawsuit take in Kentucky?

The duration of settlement negotiations can range from weeks to months, influenced by how severe your injuries are and how complex the case is. The Kentucky personal injury process may involve the following steps, though most personal injury cases are settled out of court.

1. Notifying all parties about your compensation intent by submitting a claim. This is typically done after all of your damages are identified and you have reached a point of maximum recovery.
2. Aiming for a favorable settlement by engaging in negotiations.
3. Filing a lawsuit if settlement talks fail.
4. Presenting your case in court to establish the defendant’s liability for your damages.
5. Pursuing trial or alternate resolution methods like mediation or arbitration. For instance, if the insurance company’s offer is unsatisfactory, the judge might suggest mediation to resolve the matter.

Our dedicated Kentucky personal injury lawyers will take your personal injury case to trial if needed

Even though most claims are settled out of court, your attorney is preparing for a judge and jury from day-one. These preparations are actually a big reason why many claims do not end up in court because the insurance company knows that your attorney is willing to go the distance. For the insurance company, it is more costly to litigate a case, and a settlement is more favorable, especially when up against evidence that would prove your case if things did go that far. If you do not have an injury firm on your side with the resources to fight these companies, it would be very challenging and could become costly.

Count on Hughes & Coleman to handle negotiations, providing consistent updates to you throughout the process. We are here to represent you and to be your voice while always fighting for your best interests.

What to expect in a Kentucky personal injury trial

If your injury case goes to trial, a Kentucky injury attorney can help lead the charge during this time. Typically, the process will include:

• Pretrial motions
• Depositions for parties and for witnesses
• Jury selection
• Opening statements
• Examination and cross-examination of witnesses, including expert witnesses
• Presentation of relevant evidence
• Preparing and giving appropriate jury instructions
• Closing arguments
• Jury deliberations
• Jury verdict

Taking a case to trial can have its advantages and disadvantages, but sometimes it is necessary, especially when some insurance companies try to avoid financial responsibility or attempt to get the plaintiff to accept a settlement amount worth far less than the value of their injuries and losses. The full strength of our team will not hesitate to take on an insurance company or other negligent parties in court. We have done it before, and we will do it again if needed.

What Should I Do After Suffering a Personal Injury in Kentucky?

Accident victims are often concerned about the steps they take (or don’t take) following a personal injury due to someone else’s negligence. These concerns can be valid, and what you do after experiencing an injury due to no fault of your own can impact personal injury lawsuits and how much a law firm is able to recover on your behalf.

Seek medical attention immediately

After suffering an injury, you may or may not immediately experience severe physical pain. Regardless of how painful your injuries are directly after the incident, it is important to visit a doctor or emergency room so that you can be cared for and to have your injuries documented. Most personal injury cases depend on medical records to prove that you’ve been injured and sustained damages. If you do not have medical records to back up your claims, it will be challenging to seek compensation through an injury attorney, or on your own through your insurance company.

Never admit fault after an accident and refrain from social media

Accident victims often make the mistake of apologizing or admitting fault after an incident with either the other party or the insurance adjuster. This is a big mistake and can cost you. Remember, Kentucky is a pure comparative negligence state and the money you’re entitled to will depend on what percentage you are at fault. The insurance company will use any form of you admitting fault to minimize your claim. Therefore, never admit fault to anyone because it can jeopardize your claim. Additionally, do not post anything on social media that relates to your injuries, or could indicate that you are not as injured as you truly are. Careless social media posts can and have been used against personal injury victims to reduce, or completely dismiss valid claims.

Document the accident scene as much as possible

An experienced personal injury attorney can use any evidence you collect to strengthen your claim. In cases such as medical malpractice, it may not be possible to document a “scene”, but your medical records and any notes you have can be beneficial.

In claims regarding car accidents, you may have the ability to document the scene more thoroughly. If you have the opportunity:

• Take as many photos and videos as possible of the scene, and your injuries
• Gather witness statements and contact information

When you hire an injury law firm, your attorney can also help uncover evidence that you may not have thought of or have immediate access to, such as traffic camera footage, doorbell footage, and other items that can demonstrate how the incident occurred to support your personal injury case.

Common types of serious injuries sustained by victims in Kentucky

Contact Hughes & Coleman today for help with your accident injury lawsuit

Our team is here for you 24/7 to help you get your life back on track. If you’ve been injured in Kentucky, let our personal injury attorneys put our firm’s resources, experience, and skills to work for you. You don’t have to negotiate with the insurance company alone.

Call us today at 800-800-4600 for a free consultation. Get it done.

Areas we serve in Kentucky

We serve all of the Commonwealth.

Frequently ask questions and helpful tips about Kentucky personal injury lawsuits

How much do personal injury lawyers cost?

Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that the injury firm covers all upfront costs and only get paid if they obtain a favorable outcome on your behalf. When you call Hughes & Coleman, you can talk through your claim with our legal team for free, and when you become a client, you never pay out of pocket – ever. We only get paid if we recover money on your behalf.

Can a lawsuit be reopened after a settlement is agreed to?

Once you’ve agreed to and received a settlement, it’s generally not possible to reopen a lawsuit. Even if future surgeries or medical treatments are required, you can’t revisit the lawsuit for coverage. Therefore, it’s wise to avoid rushing the settlement of your personal injury case.

Your attorney will advise you on when to settle or when a trial may be required to obtain the compensation you deserve.

Hire the best attorney for you from the start. You may only have one chance to walk away with a favorable outcome.

If you have any additional questions, call us any time at 800-800-4600.