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Morrin Law Office

Car Accident Lawyers in Lexington Kentucky

Car accidents in Lexington, KY are commonplace, unfortunately. It’s just as unfortunate the car accident lawyer market is absolutely flooded with billboard attorneys and mascot lawyers like tigers, guys with hammers, and law firms with “hundreds” of years of experience. Really?

If you have a serious car accident then you really should get a serious Lexington car accident attorney who focuses on adding value, not adding entertainment to your TV commercial slots. The Morrin Law Office is about adding value to your injury recovery and life after a serious car accident. You won’t see our attorney on TV dancing, riding dragons, or doing anything but working hard for hurt Kentuckians after they have been in a Lexington car accident.

Kentucky was ranked sixth on the list of states with the most dangerous roads. The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety reports that, in 2022, nearly 700 people died from roadway accidents in the state. This means for drivers in the state that collisions, and therefore injuries, are not uncommon. Lexington has the second largest population of any city in the state, and that means Lexington has plenty of bad drivers who don’t yield the proper right of way, don’t use turn signals, and who don’t stop their vehicles when they should.

If you’ve been injured in a Lexington car accident or have lost a family member in a fatal crash, you need professional guidance unless both the liability insurance provider and all Under-Insured Motorist insurance providers pay out the policy limits for their at fault insureds. The Morrin Law Office helps Kentuckians in personal injury and car accidents in Lexington, Kentucky. Working with our team of professionals ensures you will have a dedicated and knowledgeable Lexington injury lawyer on your side through this difficult time.

What to Do After a Lexington Car Accident

The first thing you should do is make sure you do not need emergency treatment. Evaluate your bodily injuries and the injuries of any passengers in your vehicle. Stay in your vehicle until the EMT arrives in an ambulance or a responding law enforcement officer, usually from Lexington Police Department, arrives to take your statement and prepare an accident collision report. If you are sore or even just “banged up” then it’s very important you tell the officer this even if you are not going to the emergency room immediately. The best practice would be to take the ambulance to the emergency room to get checked out and to make sure you don’t have any serious injuries-even if you are “just sore.”

Most car insurance companies write policies that require their insured to report the accident to them as soon as possible so it’s important to let your car insurance company know you were hit in an accident. They are not allowed, by law, to increase your insurance premium without good cause and if you didn’t cause the accident then they should not increase your car insurance premium. If they do, you should report them to the Kentucky Department of Insurance, and also get a copy of your declarations page to shop insurance with other car insurance providers.

Call the Morrin Law Office for free guidance and an estimate on the value of your case by calling our team of professionals at 859-358-0300. We only offer representation to folks for whom we can add significant value; we want to do good and add value to the recovery of injured Kentuckians. If representation is right in your situation,x we will still spend time talking to you about what you should be doing on your own to make the best of your situation and to recover as much as possible without hired professional help.

Emergency Rooms

The emergency room may indicate that you don’t need emergency treatment. This does not mean you won’t need any further treatment. They only evaluate you for your immediate need for emergency medical care. For example, if you hit your head against the windshield or steering wheel then the emergency room doctor will likely order a catscan (CT scan) on your head to make sure you don’t need immediate brain surgery. Just because the CT scan comes back normal does not mean you are in the clear. If you have persistent symptoms then you should go to your primary care physician after an accident to get reviewed for all treatment needs. You can have a normal CT scan and still have a brain injury that effects your daily living. The brain injury will show up on an MRI but MRIs aren’t usually conducted in emergency departments because the swelling prevents the MRI from being as accurate as it should be. MRIs are usually conducted later once the swelling goes down.

Your discharge papers from the ER will tell you to follow up with the emergency department or your primary care physician after a number of days if the symptoms do not resolve on their own. Pay attention to the time given in the discharge papers and make sure you get follow up care immediately if your symptoms do not completely resolve within the time given.

Car Accidents and Kentucky Roads

Rankings for Kentucky overall suggest hazardous driving conditions, but I-64, I-65, and I-75 are notoriously difficult roads. In 2018, I-75 recorded the highest number of collisions out of every interstate in Kentucky, as well as the most injuries.

Kentucky interstate Crashes, 2018

In 2018, I-64, I-65, and I-75 together totaled more than 60% of Kentucky’s interstate crashes. Further, data for I-64 and I-75 shows crash incidents increasing for six consecutive years. Interchanges at Paris Pike and Newtown Pike experience significant congestion and compromised safety.

Interstates 64 and 75 are not the only dangerous roadways in Kentucky. New Circle Road in Lexington is notoriously hazardous, with car wrecks frequently disrupting the flow of traffic for motorists. When you’ve been involved in an accident on New Circle Road, I-75, or any other street, obtaining the best Lexington car accident attorney can help you move forward toward recovery by hiring a professional, not a cartoon character lawyer.

Car Accident Injuries

While many motor vehicle accidents involve only property damage and do not cause injuries, data shows that there are a significant number of crash-related injuries reported each year. In 2020, there were over 1.5 million car crashes that resulted in injuries in the United States.

Even seemingly minor accidents like a rear-end collision can lead to injuries that require medical attention. While the type of injuries someone may sustain after a car accident are varied and extensive, there are some that are more common than others.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a type of injury that impairs the functions of the brain. A TBI can be caused by a penetration injury or a bump or jarring of the head, the latter of which is often the case in car accidents. TBIs can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe, which means symptoms and the injury’s effect can vary significantly.

Facial Scarring and Injuries

Injuries to the face can cause long-term and severe consequences, from permanent scarring to vision impairment. Even facial damage that is not considered severe or permanent is often traumatic and impacts the victim’s life until full recovery is reached. Bruising, lacerations, and broken bones are especially difficult to deal with when they are on the face.

Concussion

Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury[1] commonly caused by a violent impact on the head. Symptoms include headaches, memory issues, balance and coordination problems, and inability to concentrate. The effects of a concussion can be temporary or permanent, and the severity of symptoms ranges from mild to severe.

Broken Bones

Broken bones throughout the body can easily occur from the impact that occurs in motor vehicle accidents. Fractures in the ribs, arms, legs, and clavicle are some of the most highly-occurring types of breaks. Depending on the type of fracture and the extent of the break, recovery can take months to years to complete, and some people may never regain full function or range of motion.

Soft-Tissue Damage

Injuries to muscles, tendons, and ligaments are classified as soft-tissue injuries. Sprains and strains can occur during a car accident through sudden force. Examples include the force of slamming on the brakes or the movement that occurs when the body is jolted around after impact. Bruising, pain, and loss of function are common with soft-tissue damage.

Loss of Limb

The loss of a limb can occur directly from trauma received in the accident or as a necessary medical intervention brought on by injury complications. Either way, this type of injury is guaranteed to impact a collision victim’s life. From post-operative care and physical therapy to prosthetics and other adaptive equipment, losing a limb takes a significant financial and emotional toll.

Psychological and Emotional Trauma

When injuries can be seen and measured, they are more likely to be taken seriously. However, the psychological effect of a traumatic incident like a car accident cannot be overlooked. Counseling and medication may be necessary to recover from the emotional pain sustained from a car accident.

Regardless of the type of injury you sustain, you will need help from professionals on your road to recovery. Most people experience significant challenges as they try to get back to normal after an accident. In addition to the physical and emotional difficulties, the financial aspect can take a toll on crash victims. A Lexington accident lawyer is a good resource to get answers to some of your questions about car accident claims and personal injury lawsuits, as well as a powerful advocate in your fight for justice.

Property damage and medical bills can quickly climb into the tens of thousands, and even people with good jobs can struggle to handle these expenses. That’s because broken bones, concussions, and other car accident injuries make it difficult, if not impossible, to work. Hospital stays, surgeries, follow-up appointments, ongoing treatment, and chronic pain can lead to a significant amount of missed work. When your injuries lead to missed work and lost income, the best Lexington injury attorneys will know how to help you get the fair compensation you deserve.

Mayo Clinic. Concussions. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/symptoms-causes/syc-20355594

Liability and Fault in a Lexington, Kentucky Car Accident

When you’ve suffered significant physical, emotional, and financial difficulties from a Kentucky car accident caused by someone else it’s frustrating and you may have questions about what you should do about it such as: Should I hire a car accident lawyer? Will it be worth it? How do I pay bills if I’m off work after a car accident in Kentucky? The Morrin Law Office is here to help you through all of these questions. So who will be held liable for your injuries after a bad collision? It depends on who is found to be at fault. Whether the Lexington Police Department responds to your accident or a Fayette County Sherriff deputy, he/she will prepare a collision report and they are trained to list the vehicle they think caused the accident as “Unit 1.” If you are in a Lexington car wreck and the vehicle you were driving is listed as “Unit 2” then you should call our office immediately to see if hiring a Kentucky car accident injury professional is right for you.

Kentucky uses a no-fault system to determine fault in car accidents. This doesn’t mean fault doesn’t matter; it very much does in determining which insurance company is going to pay for the damages caused by the accident. What “no-fault” means is that everyone get’s at least $10,000.00 in insurance coverage to pay for medical bills, lost wages caused by the accident, and other out of pocket expenses.

Drivers in Lexington, Kentucky, and elsewhere throughout the state are required to have basic PIP coverage. Basic coverage provides a maximum of $10,000 for each person in a single accident. If you are injured in an accident caused by someone else, you will still need to report the accident to your insurance provider for coverage through your PIP insurance and to receive a PIP claim number. You will provide this PIP claim number to the medical care providers who treat your car accident injuries. However, if your injuries exceed the following thresholds, you will be able to file a legal complaint against the at-fault party:

  • More than $1,000 in medical expenses
  • One or more broken bones
  • Permanent disfigurement or injury
  • Death

Car insurance companies do not make it easy to secure reasonable compensation for your accident, so it is a good idea to speak with a professional car accident attorney who handles car accidents every day in Lexington, Kentucky, before attempting to secure a settlement or file a lawsuit. At The Morrin Law Office, we don’t get paid until you do when we win, so there’s no financial barrier to accessing the high-quality legal representation you deserve. Call us at (859) 358-0300 to schedule a consultation with one of Kentucky’s best personal injury lawyers.