If you’ve been involved in an accident and you believe negligence contributed to your injuries and losses, you have the right to take legal action. In order to boost your chances of successfully obtaining compensation, we recommend working with a Newport, KY personal injury lawyer.
At Thomas Law Offices, we are dedicated to ensuring our clients receive justice for whatever situation they were wrongfully put through. Whether you’re dealing with a car accident, your loved one was neglected in their nursing home, or you were injured in a different way, our attorneys will fight for your rights and ensure you receive what you need to recover as fully as possible.
Understanding Personal Injury Law in Kentucky
Every state establishes its own laws and rules when it comes to dealing with a personal injury case. In Kentucky, claims are subject to comparative fault rules. This means that if the injured party is found to be partially responsible for their accident, their total compensation will be reduced by their percentage of fault.
It’s important to understand how comparative fault works because it’s likely the at-fault party will try to find a way to prove that you were partially responsible in order to reduce their fault in the matter. Your lawyer will have a comprehensive understanding of your claim and will know how to handle the situation if you are deemed partially at fault.
Common Personal Injury Claims in Newport
There are a number of situations that merit a personal injury claim. Among the most common are car accidents, truck accidents, nursing home abuse or neglect, and medical malpractice. If you’ve been injured in a similar situation, a personal injury attorney can review your situation and help you determine what you’re owed.
It’s important to note that if you were involved in a different type of accident, you may still have a claim. Other common personal injury claims include premises and product liability, workplace accidents, and wrongful death.
Car Accidents
Driving requires a significant amount of skill and concentration. Even a moment of distraction has the potential to result in serious or even fatal consequences. In Newport, car accidents affect people’s lives on a daily basis. While some crashes only result in minor property damage or bumps and bruises, others can result in catastrophic injuries.
In November 2019, a police cruiser crashed into a corner store in Newport after it was struck by a white sedan that ran a red light. Fortunately, no one was severely injured in the crash. All involved went to the hospital with minor injuries and were treated and released.
If you’ve been involved in a collision because someone broke a traffic law, you can prove they breached their duty of care to you and are responsible for your injuries. A Newport, KY car accident lawyer can help you build a successful claim.
Truck Accidents
With the number of tractor-trailers on the road, it’s no surprise that truck accidents happen as regularly as they do. It’s estimated that there are nearly two million semi-trucks in operation in the United States and more than five million semi-trailers. Just in 2018, according to the Traffic Collision Facts report, more than 10,000 tractor-trailers were involved in crashes in Kentucky. As a result, over 100 people lost their lives and more than 1,500 suffered non-fatal injuries.
When a regular-sized vehicle is in a crash with a tractor-trailer, it’s likely the car or SUV will sustain significantly more damage. Common truck accident injuries include spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and burns. Recovery for the victims is often an expensive and long process.
Truck drivers have to take extra precautions on the road because of the size of the vehicles they drive. If they fail to abide by the rules of the road, neglect their vehicles’ maintenance schedule, or try making deadlines by driving while fatigued, they are putting others’ lives at risk. When accidents happen, a Newport, KY truck accident lawyer can help with recovery.
Nursing Home Abuse
Residents in nursing homes require a significant amount of care. The facilities charged with providing them with the resources they need to live a high-quality life can be held legally responsible in the event a resident is wrongfully injured or dies from preventable causes.
Finding a quality nursing home can be a challenge. Of the 113 nursing homes in and around Newport, Kentucky, 22 have been rated only one star based on the Medicare Nursing Home Compare website. Of those 22 facilities, four have been cited for instances of abuse or neglect.
Abuse refers to the intentional physical, emotional, sexual, or financial harm of a resident. Neglect, on the other hand, is when a resident unintentionally does not receive what they need to maintain the proper quality of life. Proving either can be a challenge, which is why it’s best to work with a Newport, KY nursing home abuse lawyer if you believe your family member has a claim.
Medical Malpractice
Doctors are charged with providing a certain level of care, legally referred to as the standard of care, to all of their patients. When that doesn’t happen, injuries are a real possibility. Negligent physicians can make mistakes during diagnosis, in the operating room, or while providing treatment.
When a patient is injured, it’s likely their expected recovery time will extend significantly. As a result, they may be faced with more medical bills than they can handle. Fortunately, filing a claim can produce the compensation they need to take care of those expenses. In most cases, a med mal victim may be eligible for economic and noneconomic compensation that covers medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
According to the Bureau of Justice, winning a medical malpractice case is often challenging. The plaintiffs’ claims that proceeded to trial were only successful 25% of the time. In order to ensure your success, you’ll want to work with a Newport, KY medical malpractice lawyer from Thomas Law Offices.
The City of Newport, Kentucky
Founded in 1795, Newport, Kentucky is home to a mix of historic amenities and contemporary development. With stunning riverfront views of Cincinnati, residents and visitors alike can attend festivals, experience new dining opportunities, and enjoy family-friendly events all year long.
Based on our information above regarding personal injury claims in Newport, it’s evident that the area is not exempt from accidents and tragedy. Because of this, Thomas Law Offices provides reliable legal representation to those residing in Newport.
While our law firm is located in Louisville, the 90-minute drive is worth the experienced legal guidance we provide all of our clients with. Depending on your situation, we’ll determine how best to serve you to ensure you receive the compensation you need to move forward from your accident.
How to File a Personal Injury Claim
No matter what type of accident you’ve been in, it’s important to do what you can to retain evidence following the event. This could include personal statements, eyewitness accounts, photographs, police reports, and more. When you start working with an injury attorney, they’ll use that evidence, in conjunction with their own investigation, to build your claim.
Once your lawyer has an idea of how you’ll proceed with your claim and how you’ll prove fault, you’ll send a demand letter to the allegedly negligent party. This will include information like why that person is legally responsible for your injuries, what harm you sustained—including physical, emotional, and financial, and what you’re seeking in terms of compensation.
Depending on the situation, you could be in negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company. This is especially true in the event of a car accident. If the event you cannot reach a settlement, your lawyer can help you file a lawsuit and take your claim to court to receive an official verdict from a judge or jury.
Maximizing Your Compensation With Thomas Law Offices
No matter what type of accident you’ve been through, you deserve compensation to cover your losses if someone else’s negligence was to blame. At Thomas Law Offices, our Newport, KY personal injury lawyers understand the challenges that come with recovering from an injury. That’s why we strive to make the recovery process easier for our clients by providing them with the legal representation they need to move forward.
Filing a personal injury claim may seem daunting, but we’ll support you every step of the way and ensure you understand your rights. It’s important to note that some personal injury claims can take months or even years to settle, so the sooner you get in touch with an attorney after your accident, the better.
If you’re ready to learn about what you can do to financially recover from your accident, schedule a free consultation with our firm today. We’ll review your case, discuss your legal options, and determine what monetary awards you may be eligible for. With full and fair compensation, you’ll be able to put the accident behind you and move forward with confidence.