When you’ve been injured because of someone’s negligence, you may want to settle the matter as soon as possible. But this may not leave you with the best settlement for your future. Having a personal injury lawyer at your side will give you peace of mind that someone is looking out for your best interests. If you’ve been injured in Kentucky, a Louisville personal injury lawyer from Thomas Law Offices can help you with your claim.

Knowledge in Their Field

Personal injury cases have specific laws that dictate how you should pursue your claim that you may not know about, but your lawyer will. This could be from the state’s statute of limitations, what you need to prove your side of the story, and how to get a favorable outcome. An experienced lawyer who has successfully won cases like yours before will improve your chances of getting the compensation you need.

In the state of Kentucky, you can recover the difference between what your car was worth immediately before the accident and what it is worth immediately after the accident. Insurance companies use estimated repair costs and the Blue Book value of your car to make their decision.

If the estimated repair costs are more than 75% of your car’s Blue Book value, they will likely total your car and pay you the Blue Book value of your car immediately before the accident. In most cases the insurance company will send an adjuster to estimate what it will cost to repair your vehicle.

Your insurance company will then issue you a check for repairs or a check for the Blue Book value amount if they choose to total your vehicle instead. If you receive a check for repairs, you may use the mechanic shop of your choice.

Many people involved in automobile accidents will suffer from whiplash. If you’re experiencing this injury, or know someone who is, it can be frustrating – especially if recovery is progressing slowly. It’s important to know that whiplash can be treated, and if treated properly it can go away.

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash occurs when the soft tissues in the neck are damaged by a sudden, violent jolt. This occurs most frequently with auto accidents, especially rear-end collisions. In the event of a car accident, the body may be jolted forward, while the head stays in one place. That motion causes the whiplash. Whiplash can also be the result of sport injuries, work injuries, or falls.

Whiplash symptoms vary and normally take 24 to 48 hours to become noticeable after an accident. Depending on the severity of the accident, the pain may start immediately. The most common symptoms whiplash sufferers will experience is stiffness in the neck or upper back pain.

Many people have a general idea of what to do when they’ve been injured in an accident or due to negligence—file a claim against the responsible party. For example, in a car accident the person would file a claim against the driver because they were going over the speed limit. But there may be some confusion of what your legal options are after you’ve been injured because of your city’s or county’s negligence.

You could have gotten in a car accident because a cop didn’t signal a turn or ran a red light, or you could have slipped inside a government building that didn’t indicate the floor was wet. In these cases, you may have grounds to prepare for a lawsuit, but there are certain steps you need to take first.

With any personal injury case, it’s the job of you and your attorney to prove to the judge and jury that the accident caused your injuries. A third-party witness may help you prove your case. Knowing whether or not you need a third-party witness can be confusing and frustrating. Our experienced personal injury lawyers are here to provide you with the information you need to make the decision that’s right for you.

What are the benefits of a third-party witness?

A third-party witness will be a person you do not know. This person would have been present when your accident occurred and would have watched the event unfold. Any additional information they provide, in conjunction with yours, has the potential to help your case. The sooner they present what they saw, the more reliable and detailed the description will be.