This may seem like an obvious question with an obvious answer; when two vehicles collide, it must be because one driver made a mistake that caused the crash.  But the truth is that this is not always the case, and determining who is at fault for an accident may not be so simple.

Often a third party shares blame for what happened.  A Louisville car accident lawyer can help determine who is at fault for your accident and build your case to see that you receive the financial compensation you deserve.

How is Fault Assigned in a Kentucky Car Accident?

The state of Kentucky is a pure comparative fault state, which means fault in a crash is distributed between all involved parties.  Drivers are responsible for the percentage of fault that is assigned to them.

A disheartening news story made headlines in the New York Times yesterday after 8 nursing home residents were found dead in a Hollywood, Florida facility that was overwhelmingly hot without a working air conditioning system. The nursing home’s AC system was knocked out during Hurricane Irma and had not been fixed yet. The facility did have working power otherwise, however, which has raised several questions among city officials and the community.

The Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills started sending residents to the nearest hospital early in the morning when residents began reaching critical health conditions. After the hospital received 3 residents from the same home, the staff members decided to investigate the nursing home personally and found conditions that were unsettling. The facility was reported as being almost unbearably hot. They went room to room, checking on residents—and found three dead in their beds.

Kentucky has thousands of miles of roadways used by millions of drivers every year.  Thomas Law Offices encourages and desires for every driver in Kentucky to reach their destination safely.  But in the unfortunate event an accident does occur, it is important to understand Kentucky’s car accident laws so that you can protect your rights and help you and your family return your life to normal.

How Long Do I Have to File an Accident Report or Car Accident Claim in Kentucky?

While other states allow more time to bring a lawsuit, Kentucky has a tight deadline, so it is important to act fast.  You have 10 days to file a written accident report with Kentucky State Police, and you must do so if you think the damage will exceed $500 or the car accident resulted in injury to or death of any person.

You have one year to file a lawsuit for personal injury and two years to file a lawsuit for property damage.  The clock for these deadlines starts ticking on the date of the accident.  Failure to file your claim within the time guidelines will result in the courts denying your claim and you being unable to recover any damages.

Tonight my husband and I went to dinner at Citizen 7, a hip and modern Latin American style restaurant located in the heart of the business district of Norton Commons in Louisville.  The weather was beautiful, so the doors of the restaurant were wide open allowing a comfortable flow between indoor and outdoor patio seating.  We chose to eat inside and after a brief wait were seated at a two-seater table near the bar.

We started our dinner experience with an order of chips and salsa and two draft Pacifico beers. Citizen 7 offers three different types of salsa, ranging from classic garden fresh, to salsa verde, to a deep red salsa with an extra kick of spice.  The tortilla chips were fresh, salty, and delicious.

The dinner menu offers a wide range of a la carte items with Latin American flair, from tacos to burritos to side dishes.  There are also a variety of entrees, nachos, and fresh salads to choose from.  I ordered two tacos a la carte, the Pollo taco (chicken simmered in a tomato and chipotle sauce, pico de gallo, avocado crema and queso fresco) and the Baja Fish taco (blackened mahi mahi, pineapple mango salsa, pickled red cabbage and shredded lettuce), and a side of Elote in a cup (wood grilled corn topped with cojita cheese, mayo and chili lime seasoning).

Distracted driving has become an epidemic in the Unites States.  With dependency on smartphones increasing daily, the number of teens killed or injured in distracted driving car accidents has risen each year.  A recent survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety said that 94 percent of teens recognize the dangers of texting while driving, yet 35 percent admitted to doing so.

What Can Parents Do to Protect Their Teenage Driver?

It is important for parents to discuss this topic with their teenage drivers.  Teens who understand the consequences of texting and driving and the danger it presents to themselves and to others are less likely to do it.  Modeling responsible driving is also important.  If children see their parents using their phone behind the wheel, they are less likely to take them seriously when it is time to discuss how dangerous it really is.