Morrin Law Office

Car accident lawyer in Kentucky

If you were hurt in a crash in Richmond, KY, a car accident lawyer in Kentucky from the Morrin Law Office could manage your insurance claims and recover compensation to cover your losses. We also sue and take cases to trial as necessary to get justice for our clients when the insurance company is not being fair.

Our trained injury professionals provide free, no-obligation consultations. We will discuss your accident, injuries, losses, and legal options with you at no cost. You can learn your rights and the services we provide to help during this conversation as well as exactly how we add value to your life and bank account.

An injury attorney from the Morrin Law Office represents Kentucky car-crash victims

A car accident attorney in Richmond, KY, from the Morrin Law Office protects the rights of collision victims and seeks justice on their behalf. We file no-fault and auto liability insurance claims, secure cash settlements, and help our clients with their physical and financial recovery.

The steps we take to get a financial recovery in each case include:

  • Investigating the crash and gathering evidence to support the claim
  • Documenting injuries, financial costs, and monetary losses
  • Communicating with all parties for the client
  • Preparing paperwork and filing the claim
  • Speaking with the insurance adjuster and building a case for compensation
  • Negotiating a fair settlement, when possible
  • Preparing a filing a lawsuit, if necessary
  • Representing our client at trial

Our personal injury office strives to make the claims process as easy for our clients as possible. We understand that you are working to heal and get back to your job, hobbies, family, and best life. That is why our legal professionals manage every step of the process for you. We even have an accident notification app to walk you through the initial minutes and hours following a crash.

We also offer the option of remote document signing and can speak with you via video conferencing.

Is it worth getting a lawyer for a car accident?

Our injury professionals believe the best way to protect your right to a fair and just settlement is to work with a Kentucky car accident lawyer who handles Kentucky injuries almost exclusively. This is because these cases are often more complex than they seem even for lawyers who practice a little bit of everything. Even determining which claims you can file can be challenging.

In addition, you cannot trust the insurers to be on your side. This is true even when it is your own insurance provider—even when they seem sympathetic and say they are working to help you get the money you deserve. Insurance adjusters must look out for their company’s interests and pay out as little as possible. In fact, they get paid more the less they pay out on the claims filed by hurt Kentuckians. Many companies have teams who will work to limit your financial recovery and protect their own profits.

When you work with our attorney, we will protect your best interests and file claims based on all available liability insurance policies. You can learn more about how we help crash victims in our free informational guide about car accidents and insurance claims, Fighting for Justice: Winning Car Insurance “Games.”

What is the best way to settle a car accident?

Kentucky’s Motor Vehicle Reparations Act, Ky. Rev. Stat. § 304.39, creates a “choice no-fault” system for car accident claims. Drivers who do not opt out of the system give up the option to sue, separate from meeting certain exceptions.

In a serious car accident, one or more of these exceptions is likely. They include:

  • Having a thousand ($1,000) or more in related medical bills
  • Lasting injury or disfigurement
  • Fractured bones
  • Death

Meeting an exception could allow you to sue, but filing an auto liability claim against the at-fault driver is more likely.

Mandatory insurance in Kentucky

Regardless of fault in your crash, you can claim your initial ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in damages through your own PIP coverage. This is required for all motorists who do not opt out, except motorcyclists.

Drivers also have to purchase bodily injury liability insurance. The driver who caused your collision should have this coverage. This is the policy that our attorney will design your case around and use to demand compensation for your physical, emotional, and financial losses.

It covers your medical care and lost wages as allowed under the law and above the limits of your PIP coverage. Recoverable damages in a liability claim may also include intangible losses. These could include pain and suffering, mental anguish, disability and disfigurement, and more.

How your attorney will pursue money damages and justice in your case

Our car accident professionals at the Morrin Law Office understand fault and liability and each party’s role in these claims. We interview witnesses, obtain documents, work with experts, and take additional steps to gather evidence.

This evidence must prove that negligence occurred on the part of the other driver (and possibly others). Negligence requires that we prove:

  • They had a responsibility to behave a certain way to keep others safe.
  • They failed to do as they should.
  • This failure caused the crash.
  • Our client suffered injuries and financial losses.

For example, imagine a driver who runs a red light and slams into your car in a t-bone collision. They are guilty of negligence because:

  • They had a responsibility to follow the traffic law, stopping at the light.
  • They did not stop despite the red light.
  • They entered the intersection as the victim crossed through, causing a collision.
  • The victim suffered whiplash, a broken arm, and other injuries.

In this case, the at-fault driver is likely the only liable party. However, some situations have multiple legally responsible parties. This may occur if:

  • The other car is a commercial motor vehicle, and the company is vicariously liable.
  • There is a problem with the road that contributed to the crash.
  • An issue with a car or its components contributed to the accident.

When we pursue a claim, our team of injury professionals identify all potentially liable parties and pursue claims against them when possible. Most cases we handle do not go to trial or even litigation because we understand that it’s better for our clients to get settlements faster and without litigation. Instead, we negotiate an out-of-court settlement and do not need to sue.

Recovering compensation based on your Richmond, KY, car accident

Our Richmond, Kentucky, personal injury lawyer knows how the state’s car insurance laws work and what it means for your financial recovery following a crash. In general, your first ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in medical care and lost wages is paid by your own personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage. This coverage is required under a provision in Kentucky law. These are also known as basic reparation benefits (BRB).

If your bills and other covered losses exceed this ten-thousand-dollar ($10,000) limit, you could pursue damages based on fault. When we handle a car accident claim, our team builds a case against the at-fault driver and demands their insurer pays for our client’s additional damages.

What is the average settlement for a car accident with an injury?

Most car accidents in Richmond, KY, only cause relatively minor injuries. This means the victim only receives BRB and does not need to pursue a claim based on another driver’s auto liability policy. Therefore, the average settlement could be under ten thousand dollars, not including property damages.

However, we cannot calculate an average of all valid liability claim results. They vary widely in recoverable damages and value. Some common recoverable damages include:

  • Medical treatment and ongoing care
  • Lost wages and benefits
  • Diminished earning potential based on lasting injuries
  • Vehicle repair or replacement costs
  • Other property damages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish

What is the average payout for whiplash?

Car accident claims are often worth more than people realize. For example, imagine you suffered whiplash injuries in a crash. Your required medical care might include:

  • An initial doctor’s visit
  • Follow-up care
  • Prescription pain relief and muscle relaxers
  • Physical therapy

Other damages might include:

This might not total the maximum BRB payout of ten thousand dollars ($10,000). However, it may qualify you to file a liability claim because of the cost of your care. If your doctor documents your lasting impairment because you developed a chronic pain condition, you could have additional damages not covered by your PIP policy. Filing a liability claim and recovering a cash settlement could include:

  • Reduced ability to work and earn
  • Property damages, including your vehicle
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Emotional distress

Our Richmond, Kentucky, accident attorney could value each of these losses and pursue an appropriate settlement based on the facts of your case and the past 20 years of injury jury verdicts. While there is no way to determine an “average settlement,” we will take the necessary steps to secure fair compensation in your case based on your individual situation.

Wrongful death damages after a Richmond, KY, collision

If your family member died due to their car accident injuries, our car accident lawyer could recover damages that include:

  • Funeral and burial costs
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of financial support
  • Loss of services
  • Loss of affection and guidance

Kentucky’s wrongful death laws allow us to hold the at-fault driver responsible in these cases outside of the no-fault auto accident system.

    When should you get a lawyer for a car accident?

    We recommend connecting with our car accident lawyer in Richmond as soon as your injuries allow. The Morrin Law Office could go to work investigating what happened and who is responsible while you heal and reach maximum medical recovery. If your injuries are life threatening or very serious then you should understand the insurance company is already building their case for your anticipated claim.

    They have investigators working to create a reasonable basis to deny your claim while you are either fighting for your life in the hospital or recovering in the hospital. Our injury professionals can then file your claim or claims and pursue compensation for the losses you suffered, seeking a just payout in your case. More importantly, we can help you heal and secure justice after suffering negligence.

    The insurance company will not take your claim seriously unless you have a professional in your corner; not just any attorney but an attorney who knows Kentucky insurance injury law and what the law requires of insurance companies.

    How long does an insurance company have to settle a claim?

    There is no deadline for settling a claim. However, there is a tight timeline for how quickly we need to work to protect your right to sue. We only have up to two years from the date of the accident or the last personal injury protection (PIP) payment to sue after an injury accident under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 304.39-230(6) or in a wrongful death case under Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 413.180. Your lawyer needs to preserve this right to ensure we can seek an appropriate settlement in your case.

    Kentucky and Madison County, KY, traffic accident statistics

    Thousands of people suffer injuries in Kentucky traffic accidents each year. In 2019, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported law enforcement responded to 667 fatal accidents with 732 deaths in Kentucky. This includes 16.4 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.48 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

    According to Kentucky State Police (KSP), 7.8% of all accidents involved drugs, and almost 12% involved a driver under the influence of alcohol. The KSP report also shows:

    • About one of every 5,997 residents of Kentucky died in a fatal crash in 2019
    • Approximately one of every 133 residents suffered accident injuries
    • One of every 16 licensed drivers in Kentucky was in a collision, and one of every 3,481 was in a fatal crash

    Most accidents, two-thirds, involved two or more vehicles. The top contributing causes to these crashes include:

    • Not in control of the car (31.48%)
    • Driver inattention (18.74%)
    • Alcohol involvement (11.99%)
    • Unsafe speed (11.39%)
    • Failure to yield (10.79%)
    • Drug use (7.8%)

    In Madison County, there were 2,458 collisions reported to law enforcement in 2019. This included nine fatal accidents and nine deaths, 359 injury accidents with 488 injuries, and 2,090 property damage collisions.

    Discuss your case with our Kentucky injury professionals

    At the Morrin Law Office, we provide free case reviews for car accident victims in Richmond, Kentucky. You can speak with an injury professional in our office today about our lawyer. Call (859) 358-0300 to get started.