Do I Need a Kentucky Accident Lawyer?

There is nothing in the law that requires you to hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you in your claim for damages arising from your car accident, wrongful death, truck/bus accident, construction accident, malpractice claim or other liability claim in Kentucky. In many cases, your biggest impediment to self-representation is the detailed knowledge you must have about complex medical and legal issues.

In minor accident cases involving limited damage to your car, for example, it may be easier for you to negotiate a repair settlement with the insurance adjuster directly without an attorney. Why, then, would you want to bring an accident lawyer in Kentucky into your case? Attorneys are advocates - which means that they have a professional obligation to represent you and your interests.

In an ideal world, attorneys would not be needed. In accident cases for example, the other driver would act honestly and admit fault, his insurance company would offer a fair payment for your car damage and your personal injuries and loss- you would simply submit information about your accident to the responsible insurance adjuster and a fair payment would be made to you that would cover your present and future medical expenses, lost time from work, as well as the pain and discomfort you have experienced as a result of your accident.

In a malpractice case, your doctor would readily admit his mistake and his insurer would offer enough compensation to put you on the road to recovery. In a case with long term consequences from a defective product, the manufacturer would create a fund to care for the medical needs of all injured.

Unfortunately, in the real world, people do not always act honestly or honorably, especially when they have done something wrong. More importantly, insurance companies are in business to make money and their employees are directed to limit payout and to deny liability whenever possible.

Benefits of Hiring an Experienced Kentucky Accident Lawyer

Knowledge of the Kentucky system. You may have already figured out that the insurance claim system in Kentucky is a kind of game with its own lingo and rules. When notice of a possible claim by you is received in the office of an insurance company, the assigned adjuster immediately assigns a projected payout figure to your case. In every State, insurance companies are required to have enough money in cash to pay expected claims.
An experienced Kentucky accident lawyer knows that your case will be worth more money if they can convinced the adjuster to set a high reserve on your case. Your attorney’s written and verbal communication with the insurance company is designed to send a message that your injuries are serious and that the insurance company should be prepared to pay significant damages.

Perspective about case values. Experienced injury lawyers work within the marketplace of insurance settlements. An experienced lawyer will know which parts of your case are strong and which are weak. He may also subscribe to a jury verdict reporting service so he will know what similar cases in your area have generated in settlement or verdict. Attorneys who negotiate injury cases day in and day out will have a sense of what makes up a fair settlement in your city or town.

Insurance adjusters would much prefer to deal with you directly and not with a lawyer. While many insurance company employees are honest and fair people, these individuals are trained to serve as advocates for their employer. Your Kentucky accident lawyer is a professional negotiator and representative. His or her goal will be to use this training in negotiation tactics to increase the payments made to you.

Professional detachment. As your hired representative, your lawyer has a professional obligation to represent you zealously and to explore all sources of recovery for you. Your lawyer is also trained to maintain a level of independence from your case. Experienced lawyers know that anger and emotion make it difficult, if not impossible, to conduct serious negotiations. After all, if you are hurt and your life has changed because of your injury, it would be difficult for you to listen quietly while an insurance adjuster minimizes your injuries and offers a lowball settlement figure. A good lawyer can engage in negotiations without taking personally the offers and counter-offers that typically occur.

Ability to litigate. If you have ever been in a courtroom, you know that the court system is its own world - with its own vocabulary, procedures and customs. Because of overburdened dockets, judges expect court litigants to know how to proceed when they appear. Non-attorneys rarely fare well when they appear in court without representation. Even lawyers sometimes will hire other lawyers for court appearances.

Every lawyer understands that taking a case to trial is a risk. The right case with the right judge or jury could result in a huge verdict. On the other hand, a bad judge or unreasonable juror could sink even a strong case. Insurance companies offer to settle cases in order to manage their risk. If the insurance company knows at the beginning of a negotiation that a large jury verdict is not part of the equation, the settlement offers will be low.

In sum, you may find that an experienced kentucky accident lawyer can benefit you in several ways - he or she understands the insurance claim system; has experience and knowledge about what a local jury might award; is a trained negotiator and will not be influenced by an insurance adjuster’s rhetoric; and will not be personally offended by statements made in negotiation. Finally, an experienced attorney knows when to go to court when negotiations break down.

Our firm offers a free consultation and charges no up front fees to handle your personal injury or wrongful death case. We make home and hospital visits and will do whatever we can to help you recover the compensation you deserve in a timely manner. Give us a call at (502) 589-9353 or contact us online to learn about how we can help you.

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138 South Third Street | Louisville, KY 40202 | 502-589-9353