Have You Been Injured? We're Ready to Fight for You.

Lexington Car Accident Lawyer

Another driver’s negligence caused your Lexington car wreck, injuries, and property damage. Now, you’re dealing with rapidly growing debt on top of your emotional, psychological, and physical injuries. It may feel like you’ll never escape the burden that was unfairly forced on you by the other driver.

We’re here to let you know that you have legal options for recovery under Kentucky law.

A Lexington car accident lawyer from Thomas Law Offices can advocate for you before the insurance company. We’ll fight to make sure your medical bills (including future medical expenses), lost wages, and other damages resulting from personal injury are fully compensated in your settlement award.

We provide expert legal counsel for even the most complicated personal injury lawsuits, including those involving drunk driving, distracted driving, an uninsured motorist, or wrongful death.

The attorneys from our law firm represent car accident victims who sustained serious injuries in Lexington, KY, Fayette County, and throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Should You Hire a Lexington Car Accident Attorney?

If you’re unsure whether hiring a lawyer is worth it, there’s one simple fact you should know: Those who hire attorneys get more money than those who don’t. One study conducted by the Insurance Research Council found that victims of personal injury received, on average, settlements that were more than 3.5 times larger than those awarded to claimants without lawyers.

There is, of course, no guaranteed outcome to your auto collision case. But your chances of achieving a fair settlement are much higher when you have professional legal representation. Additionally, some lawyers (like ours at Thomas Law Offices) handle most car accident claims on a contingency fee basis. That means there’s no financial risk to you—your lawyer only gets paid if they win your case.

There are multiple reasons working with an accomplished team of Lexington car accident lawyers can make a big difference in your case. Hiring an experienced lawyer after an automobile accident can:

  • Increase the amount of financial compensation you can receive
  • Take the stress of filing a claim off your shoulders
  • Ensure you don’t jeopardize your claim by submitting insufficient evidence, misspeaking when answering insurance company questions, or missing a critical deadline
  • Provide you with strong emotional support and legal guidance you can trust
  • Free you to focus on recovery and healing

How the Car Accident Lawyers of Thomas Law Offices Can Help You

Our law office tackles some of the toughest car accident cases in Kentucky. We’ve earned our reputation the hard way—and we’re proud of the work we’ve devoted to holding negligent drivers accountable for behaviors that harm others.

Automobile accidents are devastating to survivors. That’s why our law firm focuses on giving car crash victims the future they never believed possible after a catastrophic auto collision.

To give your personal injury claim the most advantageous outcome, Thomas Law Offices’ team of Lexington car accident lawyers can:

  • Provide, without any obligation, a free consultation with a real attorney at our law office.
  • Investigate the actions of all drivers involved in your auto accident to appropriately pinpoint liability.
  • Oversee every step of the insurance claims process in a timely and error-free manner.
  • Support you and your family by building a meaningful attorney-client relationship that sees you as more than just another car accident case.
  • Make use of decades of experience in Kentucky courts, a strong standing in the Lexington legal community, a wealth of resources, and the passion to win on your behalf.

Kentucky car accident statistics

How Many Car Accidents Happen in Kentucky?

Kentucky’s 2020 annual Traffic Collision Facts report painted a troubling picture of motor vehicle accident trends in our state. In 2020, Kentucky’s traffic fatality rate was both higher than the previous year and higher than the national average.

There are over four million residents and more than three million licensed drivers in Kentucky. Based on those numbers, in 2020:

  • 1 out of every 24 drivers licensed in KY was involved in a motor vehicle crash
  • 1 out of every 154 Kentucky residents was injured in a traffic accident
  • 1 out of every 3,704 Kentucky drivers was involved in a fatal crash
  • 1 out of every 5,747 KY residents was killed in a fatal car accident

Car accidents are preventable. The Kentucky Office of the Governor advises all motorists in the Commonwealth to observe the following four fundamental rules of safe driving. If every driver observed these rules every time they got behind the wheel, next year’s Kentucky car accident statistics could look much different.

  • Never text and drive.
  • Never operate a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Always wear a seatbelt.
  • Never speed.

If you were hurt or a loved one was killed because someone broke these rules, you are not alone. The Lexington car accident attorneys of Thomas Law Offices are here to stand with you as you seek justice and recovery.

Common car accident injuries in Kentucky

What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?

It’s no secret that motor vehicle accidents destroy lives, both in Lexington, KY and across the globe. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data and National Safety Council (NSC) statistics show us that:

  • 4.8 million Americans sought medical help for car accident injuries in 2020.
  • Traffic crashes are a leading cause of death in the U.S. for people aged 1–54.
  • 1.35 million people around the world are killed in traffic accidents each year.
  • Every day, 3,700 people in the world die in motor vehicle-related accidents.
  • 42,915 people in the U.S. were killed in 2021, the highest number of traffic deaths of the past 15 years.

The total cost of medical bills and other expenses related to traffic collisions in the U.S. reached $473.2 billion in 2020.

As car accident lawyers, we understand how impossible it may seem to afford medical care that covers the full spectrum of your injuries. Auto accidents result in many types of injuries, from minor to severe. Below are some of the most common injuries seen in Lexington car accidents.

Catastrophic Injuries

Injuries that are sudden, critical, and particularly devastating to the victim’s future—often involving the loss of a body part or its function—are considered catastrophic. The medical expenses stemming from these injuries are the costliest, often extending throughout the victim’s life.

Lexington car accidents that are especially severe may leave victims with catastrophic bodily injuries such as:

  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Loss of limb or amputation
  • Severe burns
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Internal organ injuries
  • Coma
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Permanent disability

Other Physical Injuries

An injury does not need to be classified as catastrophic to have detrimental long-term effects on a person’s health and livelihood. Even recoverable injuries like broken bones can require emergency treatment, surgery, and months of physical therapy. An auto accident of any magnitude has the potential to leave survivors with:

  • Broken bones
  • Tears, sprains, strains, and other soft tissue damage
  • Whiplash
  • Concussion
  • Bruises and lacerations
  • Burns
  • Facial disfigurement
  • Back, neck, and shoulder injuries
  • Knee damage

Psychological and Emotional Injuries

Many people think of physical injury when they hear the term “personal injury.” But personal injury cases address more than just bodily harm. Our accident lawyers in Lexington know how emotionally traumatizing it is to be involved in a car crash. If the accident occurred while you were driving, you may struggle with the resulting psychological injuries for months or years.

Survivors of a serious car wreck commonly suffer:

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Recurring flashbacks and visions of the accident scene
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Grief
  • Guilt or shame
  • Changes in appetite
  • Stress-related disorders
  • Fear of driving or travel by car
  • Withdrawal from hobbies or social activities

Wrongful Death

The worst crash injuries can result in fatality. Surviving family members of fatal accident victims in Kentucky may have the right to pursue justice through a wrongful death claim. This civil action allows family members to recover the damages of their loss and hold a negligent motorist legally accountable.

Our Lexington, KY law firm handles car crashes involving wrongful and preventable deaths. Please reach out to our accident lawyers in Lexington if you would like to learn more about how we can support your family after the tragedy of a motor vehicle fatality. We will begin by scheduling a free case evaluation to learn more about your case and to discuss your legal options.

Compensation Your Lexington Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You Recover

Most car accidents result in some type of loss to those involved. If you sustained injuries and property damage in a Lexington, KY automobile accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

Your Lexington car accident attorney from Thomas Law Offices will help you by reviewing documents like your medical records, the accident report, proof of your lost wages, and other evidence to calculate how much compensation you are entitled to receive.

Compensatory Damages: Economic and Noneconomic

In a personal injury lawsuit, “damages” refers to the financial compensation the at-fault party should provide to the victim. These compensatory damages (to compensate the victim’s losses) are further divided into economic and noneconomic damages.

Car Accident Lawyer

Economic damages go toward your financial injuries such as:

  • Lost wages
  • Medical bills
  • Damage to vehicles involved or other property
  • Lost earning capacity

Noneconomic damages seek to address the non-financial repercussions of your accident, including:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional anguish
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Permanent disability

What Are Punitive Damages?

You may have heard the term “punitive damages” used in regard to a personal injury case. These are not compensatory, as they are not intended to compensate a specific loss. Rather, they punish harmful behavior and deter others from similar wrongdoing.

As experienced car accident lawyers in Kentucky, we must advise that punitive damages are very rarely applied in Lexington motor vehicle cases. Only car crashes caused by extreme negligence like drunk driving or willful maliciousness may involve punitive damages. This is something we can discuss in more detail when you come to our law office for a free case evaluation.
What to do after a Kentucky car accident

What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Lexington?

Those involved in Lexington car accidents should take the following steps to stay safe and protect their rights.

Move to a Safe Place

Move yourself, your passengers, and your car (if possible) to the side of the road and out of the flow of traffic. Turn on your hazard lights and use flares or triangles if you have them. Don’t move someone who appears to be suffering from a back or neck injury.

Call 911

Call emergency services and wait for help. Never leave the scene of the accident without waiting for police and exchanging information with involved motorists.

Exchange Information

With the other drivers or driver, exchange:

  • Name, address, and phone number
  • Driver’s license number
  • Insurance information, including company name and insurance policy number
  • Vehicle make, model, year, and color
  • License plate number
  • Vehicle identification number (VIN)

Gather Evidence

If you are able, take pictures and videos of the crash site, including:

  • Damage to vehicles involved
  • Damage to surrounding property
  • Traffic, lighting, and weather conditions
  • Behaviors of other drivers if you suspect intoxication
  • Intersections, traffic lights, and stop signs nearby
  • Any visible injuries
  • Other factors that affected the crash, such as road debris or a downed street sign

Get Medical Attention

Proceed immediately to the hospital if you were seriously injured. Even if you were examined by EMTs and your injuries seem minor, schedule a follow-up exam with your doctor. This is critical to your health and your auto crash claim. Keep all records of medical treatment.

Contact a Lexington Car Accident Attorney

Set up an appointment to speak with a lawyer. You may decide later to forego legal representation, but the information you receive during a case consultation will help you make an informed and educated decision.

Car Accident Victims FAQs

We’ve compiled a few questions that victims of motor vehicle accidents in Kentucky may be asking. If you have another question about your own case, please contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation with one of our Lexington car accident lawyers.

Can I File a Car Accident Claim if I’m Partially at Fault?

In short, yes. You are not barred from compensation if you are partly at fault for the accident. This can be a complicated scenario, but your Lexington car accident attorney can help you through the process.

There are two Kentucky laws you’ll need to consider when answering this question: no-fault laws and comparative negligence laws.

Kentucky’s No-Fault Laws

Kentucky is a “no-fault” insurance state. If you’re injured in a crash, your first option is to use your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage and file a claim with your own insurance company. In this case, it doesn’t matter who is at fault for the accident.

But there are some situations in which you may need to file a claim against another driver. To do so, you must prove that you meet one of the requirements for passing the no-fault “threshold,” such as having a broken bone, permanent injury, or over $1,000 in medical bills. Your lawyer can advise you when filing a claim or lawsuit against the other driver is appropriate.

Comparative Negligence in Kentucky Automobile Accidents

When it comes to auto accident cases, Kentucky adheres to a pure comparative negligence system. Comparative negligence means that both (or more than two) parties can share partial liability. So, if you were found to have contributed in some way to the crash, you can still be compensated for your losses. Under “pure” comparative negligence laws, you can obtain compensation no matter how much you were at fault, as long as it is not 100%. Your percentage of fault will equally reduce the amount of compensation you can receive.

How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?

Our car accident attorneys have no way of accurately answering this question without first meeting to discuss your case. That’s one of the reasons Thomas Law Offices offers a free consultation to any injured car crash victim hoping to learn more. When we meet at our law office, we’ll review the factors that help us determine the value of your claim. Those include:

  • The nature and extent of your injuries
  • Whether a fatality was involved
  • The amount of medical bills incurred through treatment
  • Who was at fault for the accident
  • How many individuals were injured in the vehicle involved in the crash
  • The age and overall health condition of those injured or killed in the crash
  • Your occupation, income, and amount of missed work time
  • Insurance coverage for you and the other driver
  • Damage sustained by your vehicle and any other valuables
  • How your life was impacted by the accident

How Do I Prove My Car Accident Claim in Kentucky?

The insurance company isn’t going to just take your word as fact. A big part of filing a successful auto claim is gathering strong evidence to support your right to compensation.

Finding that evidence can be a challenge at times. Crash victims don’t always have the time, ability, and resources to hunt down the proof required for a solid claim.

At our law firm, we often look to the following types of evidence when building personal injury claims on behalf of our clients:

  • The police report of the accident
  • The other driver’s cell phone records
  • Your medical records and proof of income and lost earnings
  • Dashcam and cell phone camera footage
  • Traffic and surveillance camera footage
  • Photos of the accident scene
  • Eyewitness accounts of the incident
  • Testimony from expert witnesses like medical experts, traffic reconstruction experts, engineers, and vocational experts who can provide a professional opinion about the cause of the crash and its effect on your life

Should I Talk to an Insurance Adjuster About the Accident?

You will likely receive a phone call from an insurance adjuster soon after your crash. This is a normal part of the process—but be on your guard. The job of an insurance adjuster is to find information that can be used to reduce the value of your claim, thus saving the company money.

You should never agree to have your statement recorded, and you should never answer questions from another insurance company. Don’t admit fault or make assumptions if you aren’t completely sure about an answer. Avoid any discussions about your health or treatment, or what you were doing prior to the crash.

While it’s possible to manage these conversations yourself, it’s always a good idea to have all questions referred to your attorney. This sends a strong message that you won’t be bullied or taken advantage of. Simply tell the insurance adjuster that further communications will be handled by your Lexington auto accident attorney from Thomas Law Offices. The insurance adjuster will get the message loud and clear.

How Do I Know if the Insurance Company Is Offering Fair Compensation?

A quick settlement may sound good, but it’s just one of many auto insurer tactics that help the company reduce payouts to policyholders. How can you be sure that the award you’re being offered is the full and fair amount?

Before you make a decision to accept a settlement offer, consider these questions:

  • Have I compared this amount with what an experienced lawyer thinks my case is worth?
  • Does the amount fully cover my medical costs, lost income, and property damage?
  • Have my noneconomic damages like pain and suffering and emotional anguish been taken into account?
  • Could my health condition worsen and result in future medical expenses?
  • Is the insurance company placing part of the blame on me, and is it a fair percentage?

Without legal experience and training, it’s very difficult to know if a settlement amount is fully valuing the worth of your claim. If you are unsure, schedule a free consultation with a legal representative you trust.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Lexington, KY?

The thought of retaining an attorney may bring to mind worries of steep legal fees and court costs. While litigation can be costly, we at Thomas Law Offices use a system that makes top-quality legal advocacy affordable to all our clients, no matter their financial standing at the time they come to us.

By using a contingency fee model, we don’t ask for any money upfront. We only get paid when you do. Our fees come out of a percentage of your award amount, when and only when you get your monetary compensation. This allows us to fully focus on winning your case and sharing your goal of obtaining fair compensation for your losses.

A Lawyer From Thomas Law Offices Is the Advocate You Need

There are dozens of law firms in Lexington, Kentucky. We know that making the right choice is a personal and often sensitive matter.

When you come to our law office for a no-cost case evaluation, we treat your case with the respect and dignity it deserves. You will find that our lawyers are ready to use their years of expertise to answer your questions and empower you with the information you need, without any pressure, fees, or obligation.

If you choose Thomas Law Offices to handle your personal injury claim, you know you have a powerful and dedicated advocate who will not stop fighting until your case reaches the best outcome possible. From contacting insurance companies to analyzing police reports and calculating maximum compensation, you never need to worry that a detail of your case will slip through the cracks. We invite you to read more about what our clients say about our work.

Call or fill out our online contact form to begin the conversation today.

Free Case Evaluation

At Thomas Law Offices, our personal injury attorneys recognize that our potential clients are likely going through some of the most difficult times of their lives. We don't want you to have to worry about paying out of pocket for legal advice when you're just starting to learn your legal rights and options. That's why we provide free case evaluations. We'll offer our expert advice about your potential case and walk you through how we can help you.

Call us or fill out the form below to tell us about your potential case and a personal injury lawyer will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Meet Our Founder

Tad Thomas - Trial Lawyer

Tad Thomas

Managing Partner

Tad Thomas has dedicated his practice to representing plaintiffs in various types of civil litigation, including personal injury, business litigation, class actions, and multi-district litigation.

After graduating with his law degree in 2000 from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University, Mr. Thomas immediately opened his own private practice and began representing injury victims.

In 2011, Thomas Law Offices was established in Louisville, Kentucky. Over the past decade, Mr. Thomas has expanded his firm and now has offices in three additional locations: Cincinnati, Ohio, Columbia, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois. He is also a frequent lecturer on topics like trial skills and ethics and technology.

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National Civil Justice Institute - Trustee
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Southern Trial Lawyers Association
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Ohio Association for Justice
Kentucky Justice Association
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