Louisville Car Accident Lawyers

General Information About Car Accidents

Car accidents are always bad events in our lives. Many of them are even tragic, resulting in death or serious injury. It takes a lot of time, effort, and knowledge to cope with the consequences of an accident. But you don’t have to do it yourself. Contact Louisville car accident lawyers for help. They will take care of all issues related to the settlement of your case and will seek fair compensation for you.

Number and Types of Car Accidents

According to the report, which was prepared by the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC), there were 130,042 car accidents across the state in 2022:

  • Fatal – 723
  • Nonfatal – 20,169
  • Property damage only – 109,150

The following people were injured in these accidents:

  • Persons killed – 774
  • Suspected major injury – 2,828
  • Suspected minor injury – 12,081
  • Possible injury – 14,542

The main types of accidents that have occurred can be identified:

Collision typeType of injury
Total collisionsKilledSuspected serious injurySuspected minor injuryPossible injuryFatal collisions
Collision with a fixed object69,1232791,3207,81610,415254
Collision with another object17,2021776371,7632,031166
Other non-collision6,3191464361,122866135
Collision with pedestrian983102172360230100
Non-collision overturned729286417219126
Collision with the parked vehicle1,4934311231084
Collision with pedalcyclist33111371275511
Collision with other animals6,494104718115110
Collision with deer3,07342058654
Collision with other animal2,94501981700
Collision with train2112211

Factors in Serious Car Accidents in Louisville

The 2022 KTC Report contains comprehensive information on the factors responsible for car accidents:

DRIVER CONTRIBUTING FACTORSALL COLLISIONSFATAL COLLISIONS
ALCOHOL INVOLVEMENT3,26096
CELL PHONE9552
DISREGARD TRAFFIC CONTROL3,71335
DISTRACTION4,4269
DRIVER INATTENTION38,972134
DRUG INVOLVEMENT1,13482
EMOTIONAL5176
FAILED TO YIELD12,09285
FATIGUE6352
FELL ASLEEP1,1818
FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE6,0725
IMPROPER BACKING1,2172
IMPROPER PASSING1,14914
LOST CONSCIOUSNESS/FAINTED69313
MEDICATION1809
MISJUDGE CLEARANCE9,25520
NOT UNDER PROPER CONTROL14,715214
OVERCORRECTING2,04750
PHYSICAL DISABILITY1693
SICK2329
TOO FAST FOR CONDITIONS3,71735
TURNING IMPROPERLY1,7335
UNSAFE SPEED1,166108
WEAVING IN TRAFFIC2142

Common Car Accident Injuries

From the large list of injuries typical for car accidents, the most common ones can be identified:

  • whiplash
  • head and brain injuries
  • broken arms and legs
  • back and spine injuries
  • rib fractures
  • internal organ injuries
  • lacerations
  • pinched nerves
  • limb amputation
  • burns.

Car Accident Laws and Case Types

Louisville is located in Kentucky, which is a no-fault state. To receive compensation, you must contact your insurance company, regardless of who is at fault and the degree of guilt. If your injuries are serious, you may be able to go beyond the no-fault system and file a claim against the other driver.

The law requires all drivers to have the following minimum auto insurance limits:

  • personal injury protection (PIP) – $10,000 per accident
  • bodily injury liability – $25,000 per person and $50,000 for the entire accident
  • property damage – $10,000 per accident.

The law provides for deadlines for filing applications and claims:

  • an application must be submitted within 10 days to the State Police Department
  • a personal injury claim can be filed within one year from the date of the accident
  • drivers have two years from the accident date to claim personal property damage.

Louisville car accident lawyers see different types of cases. As one of the options for classifying cases, you can take cases by type of vehicle responsible for the accident:

Vehicle TypePercent vehicles involved in all collisions of total countMotor Scooters/Motor Bikes
Passenger Cars89.4469.98
Taxicabs0.010.08
Trucks5.298.19
Motorcycles0.827.87
Motor Schooters/Motor Bikes0.130.72
School Buses0.190
Other Buses0.460.32
Farm Tractors/Equipment0.110.4
Emergency0.630.4
Other Public Owned0.110.08
Go Carts0.010
Other2.7911.96

Importance of Hiring Car Accident Lawyers in Louisville

Every car accident case in Louisville starts with filing a claim with your insurance company. Don’t let this fool you. Any insurance company cares primarily about its profits and strives to reduce costs associated with payments for insured events. Therefore, the best option is to contact car accident lawyers in Louisville.

Before filing a claim with the insurance company, lawyers carefully prepare materials. They investigate the causes of the accident, determine the degree of guilt of each participant, and study the police report and witness statements. Medical experts are used to assess the severity of injuries and their consequences.

Negotiations with the insurance company very often lead to a successful settlement of a car accident case. Knowledge of all the methods that insurance adjusters use to reduce compensation amounts, the correctly chosen negotiation strategy, and the collected evidence ensure such success.

If the case does go to court, the help of Louisville car accident lawyers will be very significant. They know all the intricacies of local legislation and the nuances of procedures. This helps them represent clients as effectively as possible, convincing juries that their clients’ claims are fair.

Criteria for Selecting Louisville Car Accident Lawyers

Experience
One of the key criteria when choosing Louisville car accident lawyers is experience. It is not enough just to know local legislation thoroughly. It is important to be able to apply all your knowledge and skills to achieve maximum results for your clients.

Specialization
An important criterion in the process of selecting car accident lawyers in Louisville will be the lawyer’s specialization. A good lawyer should have sufficient knowledge and specialization in personal injury law. To obtain adequate compensation, it is necessary to clearly understand the financial impact of your injuries and their consequences.

Compassion
Experienced Louisville car accident lawyers should always be on the same page with clients. Understand their needs, maintain constant contact, and keep clients updated on their cases.

Ways to Find Louisville Car Accident Lawyers

Recommendations
Ask family, friends, or acquaintances for recommendations. If they have had a positive experience hiring a car accident lawyer in Louisville, you will be able to get recommendations you can trust.

Local advertising
Pay attention to local publications, advertising on bulletin boards, and transport. Look for advertisements for law firms and contact them. Ask your questions and sign up for free consultations.

Social media
There are various legal forums and groups on social networks. There you can get useful information about Louisville car accident lawyers. Feel free to ask your questions.

Local law firms
Visit local law firm websites. On them, you can often read information about the achievements of their lawyers, client reviews, and payment terms.

Legal reference books
Specialized legal directories like Avvo or FindLaw can be helpful. They have a convenient search system based on various criteria. They can help you find car accident lawyers in your area.

Bar Associations
It’s worth contacting the Kentucky Bar Association or the Louisville Bar Association. They probably have a database of licensed lawyers and their referral service could provide you with a list of Louisville car accident lawyers.

Initial consultations
Be sure to sign up for initial consultations with your chosen lawyers. In personal communication, you can discuss your case and take a closer look at the qualities of a lawyer. This may help in your final choice.

If I Got into a Car Accident

No two car accidents are exactly alike. But there are general recommendations for what to do after a car accident:

  • it is necessary to check all participants in the accident for injuries
  • anyone who is injured should seek medical attention
  • protect yourself and other participants by moving to a safe place
  • call the police to the scene and wait for them to arrive
  • report the accident to your insurance company
  • document the scene of the incident, take photos of vehicle damage
  • save the contact information of witnesses and other participants in the accident
  • consult a car accident lawyer in Louisville for advice.

Don’t Do This After a Car Accident

Guilty plea
Any actions or statements that could be interpreted as an admission of guilt will be a mistake. In any communication with the police, insurance company, or other parties involved, avoid the topic of admitting guilt. Talk only about what you know, without judging actions.

Agreement for a quick settlement
A quick settlement is not always adequate in terms of the amount of compensation. Insurance companies try to lower the level of settlement by taking advantage of the client’s condition after a car accident. It’s a good idea to consult with Louisville car accident lawyer before agreeing to a quick settlement. He will be able to assess the possible damage and the desired amount of compensation.

Discussion of your case on social networks
Never post your case about an accident for discussion on social networks. All statements, assessments of the situation, and other points may negatively affect the settlement of your case in the future.

Compensation Possible as a Result of a Car Accident

The first step is to seek compensation from your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This insurance is designed to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and other personal losses up to the policy limits.

If your injuries are serious or your medical expenses exceed a certain threshold, you may be able to file a claim and seek compensation to compensate for damages above your PIP coverage, including pain and suffering.

Tips to Prevent Getting Involved in a Car Accident

Follow traffic rules.

Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Adapt to road and weather conditions.

Pay full attention to the road conditions while driving.

Keep a safe distance.

Avoid aggressive driving.

Inform other road users of your intentions in advance by using your turn signals.

FAQs

Can I handle my car accident case without a lawyer?

It is possible to litigate a traffic accident case without a lawyer. Experts do not recommend this due to the complexity of the legal procedures and the risk of receiving inadequate compensation.

How much does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer in Louisville?

Many car accident lawyers in Louisville operate on a contingency fee basis. It means they only receive payment if they successfully recover compensation for their clients.

How long will it take to resolve my car accident claim?

The time it takes to consider a claim for an accident depends on many factors, such as the complexity of the case, the insurance company’s readiness to negotiate, and others.