It's no secret that car accidents can be devastating leaving you with expensive repairs, overwhelming medical bills, and long-term emotional trauma. But when it happens to you, you don't have to face the aftermath alone. That's where a Louisville car accident lawyer comes in. With their experience and expertise, they can help make sure you get the compensation you rightfully deserve.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
If you or a person close to you has been injured in an automobile accident, it's important to be aware of the steps and requirements necessary to get proper compensation. The car accident attorneys at Johnson & Johnson Law are here to provide advice, representation and support in a range of motor vehicle accident cases, including those involving cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles and more.
With decades of combined experience in Louisville personal injury law, our car accident attorneys understand the challenges faced by individuals who have been injured because of someone else's negligence. We strive to ensure that insurance companies are held fully accountable after motor vehicle accidents no matter how complex the case. Additionally, our car accident lawyers can assist clients when it comes to dealing with medical costs and other associated expenses after a crash.
At Johnson & Johnson Law, we work closely with clients to help them identify appropriate options for medical treatment as well as providing skilled legal representation during the process of filing insurance claims for coverage and obtaining financial compensation for their losses. All our car accident lawyers follow a standard code of professional ethics that is dedicated toward fighting tirelessly for justice on behalf of each client we serve.
Causes of Car Accidents in Louisville
Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death and injury in Louisville, with many lives lost each year. Understanding the most common causes of car crashes is key to avoiding them in the future. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, following too closely and failure to yield are among the top five contributing factors for car crashes nationwide.
- Speeding: Speeding remains one of the main causes of car accidents across Louisville and in other cities nationwide. When drivers exceed the posted speed limit or drive too fast for conditions, it decreases their reaction time and increases their chance of being involved in a crash.
- Distracted Driving: Talking on a cellphone while driving or attempting to multitask behind the wheel can be extremely dangerous and lead to serious collisions. When a driver takes their eyes off the road - even for just a few seconds - they could miss important cues that another vehicle has changed lanes or stopped suddenly up ahead.
- Impaired Driving: It is illegal throughout Louisville to drive while under influence of drugs or alcohol; however, this type of behavior still puts people at risk on our roads every day. In addition to impairing judgment, using substances such as alcohol significantly slows down motorists’ reaction times and hinders their coordination when behind the wheel.
- Following Too Closely (Tailgating): When drivers fail to leave enough room between themselves and vehicles ahead on Lexington roads, it can cause rear-end collisions if traffic stops suddenly or unexpectedly changes speed or direction. Tailgating is also an avoidable hazard that often arises due to preventable distractions like talking with passengers or using cellphones while driving in Louisville.
- Failure To Yield: The NHTSA reports that failure to yield is a major contributing factor in both sideswipe collisions involving two vehicles traveling side-by-side as well as T-bone accidents where two cars cross paths at an intersection.
- Drivers who do not follow right-of-way rules by waiting until it’s safe before entering flowing intersections put themselves - as well as others on our streets at great risk for injury every day.
Common Injuries Resulting from Car Accidents
Car accidents can often lead to serious and long-lasting injuries that can drastically alter an individual’s life. Knowing the types of injuries may be beneficial when a person is making a personal injury claim or seeking compensation for their damages. Common types of injuries resulting from car accidents include:
- Whiplash
- Neck injury
- Concussion
- Broken bones
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord damage
Whiplash is one of the most common car accident-related injuries and occurs when the head moves back suddenly from the impact of a vehicle collision. Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness, headaches, dizziness and blurred vision.
Neck injury can also be caused by accident impact or sudden jerking motion of the head and can result in chronic pain in some individuals.
Other common car accident-related injuries include head trauma such as concussions that occur when there is an impact to the brain that causes swelling or bleeding inside your skull. Concussions can cause memory loss or confusion as well as impaired balance and coordination skills.
Broken bones are also common automobile accident-related injuries due to the forceful impact involved in motor vehicle collisions which occur at high speeds in many cases.
One of the most serious car accident-related injuries involves spinal cord damage due either to direct trauma or abnormal movement caused by sheer force during a crash. Damage to this vital part of your nervous system can lead to paralysis where you may lose all motor function on part or all parts of your body underneath the area affected by paralysis.
In some cases, victims only partially lose their mobility which is referred to as paraplegia for lower body paralysis or tetraplegia for full body paralysis with other possible side effects including depression, breathing difficulty, bladder issues among other complications depending on degree of neurological damage sustained during auto collision incident.
Liability and Negligence in Car Accidents
In Kentucky, most car accident cases are decided using the legal concepts of negligence and fault. Negligence is when someone fails to act as a reasonable person would in similar circumstances, resulting in harm to another.
In a car accident case, the negligence can occur from driver error or from defective auto parts or design flaws in one of the vehicles. In order for an injured victim to receive compensation for their damages, he or she must prove that the other driver was negligent and responsible for causing the accident and resulting harm.
Proving Negligence: To prove negligence in a car accident case, you must show four elements:
- Duty of Care: You must be able to demonstrate that the other driver owed you a duty of care while on the road.
- Breach of Duty of Care: You must be able to show how this duty was breached by demonstrating that the other driver failed to act as any reasonable person should while driving.
- Causation: You must be able to demonstrate how this breach caused your injuries.
- Damages: You must have sustained some actual damages – medical bills, lost wages, etc., Related to your injuries suffered due to the breach that you can prove through witnesses or documents such as medical bills or pay stubs.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
Being in a car accident can be an incredibly stressful experience. If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Louisville, it’s important to take the right steps to protect yourself and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages caused by the crash. Below are some steps that will help ensure a successful resolution of your claim.
- Remain at the Scene: It’s important that all parties remain at the scene of the accident until law enforcement arrives, exchange contact information, and file paperwork with police or complete an accident report.
- Document Accident Details: Take pictures of any damage and document as much detail as possible, including evidence like skid marks, broken glass, and other road debris that may not be apparent later on.
- Seek Medical Attention: Even if it does not appear that anyone is seriously injured after an accident, it’s vital to seek medical attention for anyone involved in order to properly document and treat any injuries received from the crash.
- Notify Your Insurance Provider: You should notify your insurance provider as soon as possible after an accident and provide them with documentation such as photographs or incident reports from law enforcement officers who were on site at the time of accident.
- Contact an Experienced Lawyer: A qualified Louisville car accident lawyer can provide experienced legal counsel about all aspects of your case, including determining liability or negligence, negotiating a settlement on your behalf and representing you during trial if necessary.
Benefits of Hiring a Louisville Car Accident Lawyer
For many people, being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic and confusing experience. Not only must you deal with the resulting injuries, but often times there are financial costs associated with the incident. As the owner of a vehicle, it is imperative to ensure yourself and your property are legally protected in the event of an accident. This is where hiring a Louisville car accident lawyer can be invaluable.
Retaining an experienced attorney to handle your case provides numerous benefits, a few of which are outlined below:
- Professional Guidance – An experienced lawyer will provide guidance throughout all aspects of your case. From filing paperwork to navigating through local regulations that may affect your claim, you’ll have someone that understands the legal system to back you up every step of the way.
- Insurance Assistance – A qualified auto accident attorney can help you navigate and understand insurance policies, as well as assist in formulating settlement offers from insurance companies. They will provide advice on how best to handle any potential stumbling blocks or ways by which an insurance company might attempt to reduce their expenses by denying or reducing compensation for your claim.
- Timely Resolution – An attorney will take on all the legal aspects of your case so that you can focus whatsoever on your recovery from any physical injuries suffered in the accident. This includes attending necessary hearings, submitting claims paperwork and other administrative processes related to settling a legal dispute as quickly and efficiently as possible so that you get compensated for any losses stemming from an auto accident without too much time and effort being taken away from other commitments in life such as work or family obligations.
- Negotiation Authority – An experienced lawyer possesses specialized knowledge regarding negotiations and complex matters within the court system so they can stand up for your rights when confronting powerful organizations such as insurance companies who often try to minimize damages owed or shield themselves from individual claims. Having this capability gives individuals greater power during negotiations over financial compensation due them after an auto accident has occurred.
How to Choose the Right Louisville Car Accident Lawyer
Finding the right lawyer in Louisville to help you with your car accident case can be a difficult and overwhelming process. There are dozens of attorneys out there that specialize in this type of law, and it can be difficult choosing the best one for your specific needs. When searching for a qualified Louisville car accident lawyer, consider some key factors that will assist you in making an informed decision.
- Experience Level – Choose someone who has handled numerous cases similar to yours in the past and can provide you with references from past clients. It is also important to make sure they have been successful in settling auto accident lawsuits, as they will have more understanding of legal process and be more prepared to represent your interests should it come down to litigation.
- Fees – Different lawyers have different rates and fees pertaining to their practice so make sure you know what is included so that there are no surprises later on. Ask questions such as whether or not they provide free consultations and other payment plans if necessary such as flat-fee or contingency-fee Basis.
- Reputation – Researching each law firm’s reputation for quality customer service can also provide additional insight into their ability as well as how much experience each lawyer possesses regarding car accident cases specifically located in your area.
All these factors taken together should give potential clients ample resources needed when selecting the perfect attorney for their case who is experienced, professional, knowledgeable, dependable and reasonably priced for services rendered.
Conclusion
The steps to take following a car accident in Louisville may seem difficult, but viewing them with the right support and information can be very beneficial. Every car accident is different, and it is important to be aware of your rights and explore your options for pursuit of legal action.
Seeking advice from a car accident attorney can help you understand your rights, what to expect from the process and how to determine liability. It is important that you find representation that suits your needs and is experienced in handling car accident cases.
If you have been involved in a car accident, consult with a lawyer as soon as possible in order to ensure that all evidence related to the incident is preserved. Seeking legal counsel promptly can provide valuable support so you can focus on recovering from the pain of your injuries or mourning if someone has died.