Nothing in the world can ever prepare you for an accident. If you suffered injuries or losses in an accident in Lexington, you could file a personal injury claim and seek compensation. The overall scope of personal injury law in Kentucky is huge and covers everything from auto accidents to medical malpractice, slip & fall accidents, and other accidents involving fault. No matter the circumstances, you could benefit hugely from hiring a Lexington personal injury attorney. In this post, we are sharing a few pointers worth knowing.
What to do after an accident?
If you want to file a personal injury claim, you must gather evidence to prove the other party’s fault. Immediately after the accident, take photos of your injuries and the accident scene. Write down everything you can remember because it is not unusual for people to forget details later. You should also note down the contact details of witnesses at the scene if any. Regardless of how minor your injuries may seem, check with an injury doctor without delay and keep a file of your medical records and documents.
How long do you have to file personal injury lawsuit?
If you want to approach the civil court and file a personal injury lawsuit, you have to do so within the deadline set by the Kentucky statute of limitations. In Kentucky, you have one year to file such lawsuits, which is considerably shorter when compared to other states.
What if you had a share in the fault?
Kentucky has claimant-friendly laws. This is a pure comparative fault state, which means you can sue the other party even when you are more at fault than them. However, a part of your settlement will be lost, as your fault share will determine what you get from the settlement awarded to you.
Do you need a lawyer?
The short answer is yes. Although no law makes it mandatory to hire a personal injury lawyer, hiring one is a good idea. Most lawsuits are negotiated and settled outside of court, and if you don’t hire a lawyer, you will end up settling for a much lower amount. The at-fault party will never agree to their fault, and if you are dealing with an insurance company, you cannot expect the claims adjuster to be fair. Get an attorney on your side to negotiate your claim.
You can sort and find Lexington personal injury law firms online.