A car accident can occur within a split second, but the affects of a car accident can be felt long after the initial moment of impact. Likewise, it’s not just the drivers who are affected by an accident. In many cases, an entire family’s future can be jeopardized by a careless turn of the steering wheel.
So you’ve been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault. Now what?
First, take a deep breath – you’ve come to the right place. The legal team at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC has over 90 years of combined experience successfully representing injured clients in Kentucky and Indiana. Unlike many law firms whose lawyers only have arbitration or settlement experience, our Louisville car accident lawyers have actual trial experience. Let us put our well-earned legal experience to work on your claim so you can get the compensation you deserve. Call (502) 458-5555 or (800) 937-8443 today for a free consultation with an actual attorney. At Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, you pay no fees unless we win or settle your claim.
You have insurance, so there’s nothing to worry about, right?
A car accident can be a wake-up call for a driver who believed their insurance company’s benevolent slogans and promises. Make no mistake, insurance companies are much more concerned about their bottom line than they are about putting your life back together.
Damages from a Car Accident – The Ripple Effect
As we mentioned before, a car accident can adversely impact the lives of many people. For instance, if your injuries are severe enough to prevent you from working for a period of time, how will you pay your mortgage, feed your family, pay your mounting medical bills, or repair your car? Will you have to deplete your savings or dip into your children’s college funds to pay the bills? At Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, we don’t think that’s right. Our Louisville car accident lawyers will consider the following damages to determine the amount of compensation you should be awarded:
Property damage
Pain and suffering
All current and future medical bills related to your injuries (plastic surgeries, reconstructive surgeries, pain management, etc.)
All costs related to your rehabilitation and recovery (physical therapy, wheelchairs, wheelchair ramps, oxygen tanks, etc.)
Permanent injury or disability
Lost wages
Loss of career or earning potential
Reduced earning potential
Mental anguish and emotional duress
Permanent disfigurement and scarring
Loss of consortium
Out of pocket expenses (rental car or taxi while your vehicle is being replaced or repaired, etc.)
Punitive damages
Wrongful death damages for family in the unfortunate event that the accident causes the death of a family member.
As you can see, the actual costs of a car accident can add up to much more than merely doctor bills and vehicle repairs. Our proven record of successful results includes a $2.1 million settlement for a 35-year-old male who suffered a severe spinal injury in an accident. Remember, insurance companies often attempt to settle car accident lawsuits before you call an experienced attorney and for much less money than the case is worth. Don’t let this happen to you.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Injuries?
Depending on the circumstances of your car accident, a number of parties can be held liable, including:
The driver of the vehicle that caused the accident
The employer of the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident
Your own insurance company for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
An insurance company who denies your claim or offers you an insufficient amount of compensation
The manufacturer of a faulty vehicle or vehicle part (tires, brakes, airbags, etc.)
The entity that designed or built the roadway
The entity charged with maintaining the roadway
The estate of an uninsured or underinsured driver
Any other party that can be shown to have contributed to the cause of the accident
The bar or restaurant that over served the drunk driver that caused the accident
While it may be simpler to just assume the liable party will take responsibility and make fair settlement offer to you that is rarely the case – even with your own insurance company. This is why it is so important to have experienced, qualified, tenacious, and aggressive attorneys representing you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is negligence?
Kentucky law allows a victim of a car accident to get compensation from the at-fault driver so long as the victim can prove that the driver was negligent. To prove negligence, the victim must show that the driver acted without using the due caution that a reasonable driver would under the same or similar circumstances.
How much is my car accident worth?
The size of a personal injury settlement or award is determined by the severity of the injuries, the impact those injuries have on the victim and the limits of the insurance policy. The size of the medical bills, the severity of the pain and suffering, the long-term disability and mental anguish all are considered when determining the value of a personal injury award.
What if the driver takes off and isn’t found?
If the driver of the car that injured you isn’t found, then it will be impossible to get compensation for his or her insurance company. In some cases, this means that the victim isn’t able to get compensation. However, if the victim has their own auto insurance with uninsured and underinsured motorist’s coverage, then it might be able to be used to cover the injuries.
Contact a Louisville Car Accident Lawyer today
When you retain us, we will determine the amount of all your present and future costs arising from your accident, and present that figure to the responsible party or their insurer. If they don’t respond with a reasonable offer, we will go to trial and fight for you in court. Remember, insurance companies hire lawyers whose job is to get claims reduced or denied. You deserve to have a skilled and experienced attorney on your side, too.
When you give us a call at (800) 937-8443, a member of our personal injury team will answer the phone and have you talk with one of our experienced Louisville auto accident lawyers, immediately. There will be no waiting around or being handed off to people who won’t handle your case. We’re also always standing by to answer your questions through our Live Chat feature.
Get in touch with us today and Get the Tiger on Your Side!
With the NO FEE PROMISE, you never pay us a fee unless we win or settle your case Call us for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding your rights to compensation after a car accident can help you and your family rebuild and recover after this traumatic event. Please look over the FAQ’s to get insights about car accidents. Call Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC Injury Lawyers to talk about your auto accident and concerns.
To determine if you have a case, consult with one of our experienced car accident lawyers. With the NO FEE PROMISE, the first consultation is FREE. With the help of medical professionals and our team of car accident reconstruction experts, our lawyers will investigate your claim and determine all of your legal options to make sure you have a full and fair recovery for your injury.
Yes. Each state has a filing deadline for individual types of civil cases, called a “statute of limitations”. If you allow the statute of limitation to expire on your claim, you will be barred from making a recovery. This is why it is important to consult with one of our lawyers as soon as possibleafter your car accident.
If someone else caused your car accident, you may have a right to seek money damages from that person and their insurance company for your medical care, hospitalization, medication, medical supplies, lost earnings, future medical care, future loss of earnings, and pain and suffering. Call one of our lawyers as soon as possible after the car accident to advise you of your rights.
The fairness of any settlement offered by your insurance company should always be reviewed by an experienced car accident attorney. We recommend you contact Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC Injury Lawyers first before trying to settle any case with the insurance company. Do not sign anything or accept any offer without getting a FREE consultation immediately following your car accident. You may be unaware of additional compensation you are entitled to, which may NOT be included in the original settlement offer. Our team of attorneys have decades of experience with car accidents. We can help make sure you are fully and fairly compensated for all the money damages the law allows.
If you were seriously injured, handling your own claim would be difficult. We provide a FREE consultation for this purpose. Our attorneys can investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident to determine who should be held legally and financially responsible. Our attorneys can negotiate and fight for a fair settlement on your behalf, including all financial, emotional and physical injuries related to your case. Our attorneys will use their decades of experience with injury cases to insure your rights and interests are looked after.
Every case is different. The value of your claim may vary depending on the severity of injuries, lost earnings, and the future impact that your injuries may have on all areas of your life. It is best to consult with one of our attorneys and discuss your specific car accident.
State laws can differ, but you may be entitled to payment for medical care, hospitalization, medication, medical supplies, lost earnings, future medical care, future loss of earnings, and pain and suffering. If you lost a loved one in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for funeral costs, lost future earnings, and loss of companionship.
The majority of injury cases related to car accidents do not go to trial. Most are settled out of court, meaning the parties reach an agreement without a judge and jury getting involved. Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC Injury Lawyers handles each client’s case to secure the best possible result. For most cases, we are able to negotiate a settlement. However we are prepared to go to court and have done so when needed to make sure each client is fully compensated for their injuries.
Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC Injury Lawyers handles all motor vehicle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. We call this our NO FEE PROMISE. This means that our clients never pay a fee unless we win or settle their case.
Yes. This means that we charge NO legal fees to our client until we recover monetary damages for our client through a jury verdict, settlement or other means. If we do not recover monetary damages, then the client does not owe us any attorney fees.
Yes. A majority of the cases we handle are in Kentucky and Indiana. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in these states. In some cases we utilize co-counsel to represent clients outside of Kentucky and Indiana.
The insurance company is looking out for their best interest, not yours. Insurance companies may try rush you to sign paperwork for as little payment as possible. Our attorneys have a legal and ethical duty to act in the best interests of our clients, insurance company adjusters do not. We work only for you and part of our job is to advise and protect your interests after a car accident.
Even if you didn’t have car insurance on your car at the time of the accident, you are still entitled to recover damages from a person at fault in your accident. In some cases the at fault vehicle is not insured, but the driver of the at fault vehicle does have insurance. Our lawyers investigate and examine all of the details of the accident to determine all insurance coverage that may be available to fully compensate you after a car accident.
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