Distracted drivers, unsafe roadways, and defective vehicle parts are all common causes of car crashes. Every year thousands of Kentuckians are seriously injured in car accidents. Most people depend on their insurance company to take care of the situation following an accident. Insurance companies are in business to make money and try all that is possible to avoid paying more than they have to. If you have a serious accident, it is better to contact a car accident lawyer who will be familiar with the tactics of insurance companies who often try to undercut proper compensation to injury victims. Your attorney would ensure that you see a doctor after an accident occurs as a medical report will be imperative in any potential personal injury claim.
A List Of What You Should Do If You Are In Auto Accident
If you’re involved in a car accident, you can experience fear, confusion, and even disorientation. It is important to take a moment and take stock of how you feel and decide whether or not you are injured.
- Check that everyone is safe. If you are hurt, or it appears that anyone else is hurt, the first step is to call an ambulance.
- Move to a safe destination. As long as you are not seriously injured, the next step is to move your vehicle out of the traffic.
- Call the police.
- Exchange Information.
- Take a picture of the other driver’s auto insurance document.
- Get witness contact information.
- Take photos of the scene and all property damage.
Give a statement to the police. Speak to the police when they arrive and give an honest assessment of what happened for the police report. Stick to the facts as you know them but avoid taking the blame for the accident. Who was responsible will be decided by investigation of the facts, but it is best not to push the police towards a judgment that you were responsible. Do not give a recorded statement to either your or another driver’s insurance company. Especially if you were injured. Contact an auto accident lawyer before giving any type of statement to an insurance company.
What Are Common Auto Accident Injuries?
Usually, the injuries will be classified as STI (soft tissue injuries), fractures, broken bones, and emotional and psychological damage. While in some cases, like a fender bender, an accident attorney may not be necessary, there are car accident cases in which a strong legal defense may be your only option for fair compensation.
Examples of each injury classification:
- Soft tissue injuries: Concussions and head Injuries, ruptured organs, whiplash, torn ligaments, internal bleeding, tendons and tendinitis, bone cartilage damage, Bursitis, and impact injuries
- Fractures and broken bones: Spinal injuries, broken bones, knee injuries. abrasions, and lacerations
- Emotional and psychological damage: Post-traumatic stress disorder — many people suffer from PTSD after a car accident. This can cause nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, and depression.
Accident Lawsuit And Settlement
A lawsuit may not always be necessary. However, it is in your best interest to at least explore the possibilities with an attorney before you accept the offer from the insurer. It is wise to call an accident attorney after a car accident so that you will have assistance when dealing with the insurance company if a personal injury is involved. If your attorney believes the amount offered to you is not sufficient, they can assist you in gathering evidence, witnesses, and expert medical testimony to strengthen your case.
How Does Kentucky No-Fault Insurance Work?
Kentucky basic PIP provides up to $10,000 per person per accident for medical expenses, lost wages, and similar “out-of-pocket” costs due to an injury. Higher benefits and deductibles are optional. With no-fault car insurance, your own insurance policy covers your medical bills and other economic losses after a car accident, regardless of who caused the accident. You can opt out of the no-fault system in Kentucky, preserving your right to sue an at-fault driver after a car accident. All people who register, operate, maintain, or use a motor vehicle in Kentucky are deemed to have accepted limitations on their rights to sue and be sued (tort rights). This means injured people cannot recover medical expenses, wage loss, other expenses, or pain and suffering from the at-fault party unless their injuries exceed certain thresholds. The thresholds are $1,000 in medical expenses, a broken bone, permanent disfigurement, permanent injury, or death.
Michael O’Hara Can Help If You Were Injured In an Auto Accident
Injuries happen unexpectedly, and they can lead to major setbacks for victims and their families. Injury victims and their loved ones not only have to deal with the injury itself but also with a significant financial burden that these situations cause. I have an experienced team with the resources necessary to fully investigate your claim and recover the compensation you deserve.
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Contact (859-746-0500) Michael O’Hara, PLLC for a Consultation
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About Michael A. O’Hara, PLLC
When you have to deal with the justice system – whether related to a civil or criminal matter – you need more than the truth on your side. You need a skilled attorney who can employ sound legal strategies to produce the results you are hoping for. I am attorney Michael A. O’Hara, and I am licensed to practice in Kentucky and Ohio at the state level, as well as in Federal District Court and the Federal Court of Claims. I have been representing clients in the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati area since 1994.