Kentucky country roads can offer motorists less traffic than the city’s streets and highways, but they can also provide their own unique hazards. Drivers have to be more attentive at all times because of the narrow lanes and tight curves.
Distracted drivers can glance down for a second and veer out of their side of the road or be off the curb in an instant. In a single year, the Kentucky State Police saw over 1,200 victims injured in accidents along county roads. They also saw reported 45 people killed along those same roads. Across the state, 56% of accident fatalities happened on rural roads.
The numbers show that despite the lighter traffic, more accidents out in the country can end in a tragic loss of life.
Frankfort Deadly Three-Vehicle Accident
A young woman died after a three-vehicle collision in Franklin County early Tuesday morning. LEX18-TV reported the crash happened on Georgetown Road in Frankfort on August 18th, 2020.
The Kentucky State Police say the accident took place after a driver crossed the center line. That led to three cars colliding on the two-lane road. One vehicle landed on its side. A black truck and a black car were also heavily damaged.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that one of the drivers, a 19-yr-old woman, was killed. At least two other people were taken to the hospital.
Compensation After a Fatal Accident
A multi-car accident can leave behind many victims, including the families left to deal with the grief after losing a loved one. The news can be even more distressing when a careless driver behind the wheel caused the tragedy. A family can get little time to grieve before they begin to see bills from the accident arrive.
Kentucky law allows the family of a deceased victim to file something called a wrongful death claim. This claim attempts to recover compensation for the family for some of the financial and emotional damages caused by a careless driver.
A representative for the family can file a claim. This is usually a spouse or domestic partner, it can also be a child of the victim. In some cases, it can be the parents of the victim. The representative can also be an attorney working for the family.
A wrongful death claim is a civil case helping the family hold the liable driver responsible for the consequences of his or her mistake. Some of the hardships the family can recover are money for any hospital bills incurred before the victim passed away. Money for funeral costs and the lost wages the family would have received if the victim had survived and been able to keep working can be part of the award. The emotional support a spouse or children would have received from the victim throughout their lives can also be compensated.
In Kentucky, the family of a victim has one year from the date of the victim’s death to file a claim against the at-fault driver and his or her insurance.
Contact a Kentucky Wrongful Death Attorney
The attorneys at The Kaufman & Stigger Lawfirm don’t recommend waiting for the full year to file a claim. The more time that passes after an accident the harder it will be to gather evidence, locate any witnesses, and collect documents to build a strong case. A local attorney can help a family prepare their case and make sure they get the maximum compensation in the aftermath of a tragic accident.
Talk to a Lexington Wrongful Death Attorney you can trust to be on your side and get your family what is theirs under the law. The attorneys at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, have that knowledge and a combined 100 years’ experience in helping clients get the compensation needed to protect a family’s future. To discuss your case, call Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC today, at (800) 937-8443, or click here to contact them online.
