Personal Injury Law in Kentucky
Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Kentucky? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Kentucky can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law in Kentucky relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.
Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Kentucky
Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.
A few of the most common personal injury claims are:
- Car Accidents
- Slip and Fall
- Dog Bites
- Medical Malpractice
- Workplace Accidents
- Burn Injuries
Most Common Injuries in Kentucky
According to the Foundation For a Healthy Kentucky, Kentuckians often have rational reasons for high use of the ER, including medical emergencies, and needing care when other medical facilities weren’t open. Over 29% of all ER visits in Kentucky stemmed from a medical emergency as a result of an accident or unintended injury.
Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Kentucky
Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Kentucky
A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance. After consulting with your attorney, you draft a demand letter to send to the defendant. This includes the basis for your claim, the names of the defendants, and the damages you are seeking. If no settlement can be reached you enter the discovery process, or gather evidence, and then you enter the trial phase. With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount. According to Debt.org, average Kentucky emergency room costs vary based on treatment, but a Health Care Cost Institute study put the average cost at $1,389 in 2017. That is just the cost of initial treatment. After factoring in other things like medical bills, work loss compensation, and damage to personal property, the compensation you need to recover could be substantially significant. This is why the average personal injury settlement in Kentucky can range anywhere from $3,000-$75,000. If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court. This is to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in KY, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all. If your Kentucky personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted. Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses. General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant compensate you for the pain and anguish. Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. Kentucky is one of several states that has no caps on either economic or noneconomic damages. The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized. Kentucky abides by a one year statute of limitations. This means that you only have one year from the date of your accident to file any relevant claim. We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. Pursue a personal injury claim in Kentucky against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Kentucky state lines. Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area! Are you curious to learn about other areas of Kentucky law? Check out more content on our site!Kentucky Personal Injury Settlement
Damage Awards in Kentucky
Statute of Limitations in Kentucky Personal Injury Law?
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