Experienced Car Accident Attorney in Louisville, KY

If you’ve been injured, our law firm is on your side

Car accidents happen on Louisville roads and highways every day, from Bardstown Road on the city’s southeast side all the way up to the “Spaghetti Junction,” where Interstates 64, 65 and 71 meet on the city’s north end. Accidents can happen to the safest drivers through no fault of their own. You may be on your way to Waterfront Park or the Jefferson Mall when you’re rear-ended by a texting driver. A drunk driver may even cause a fatal accident on the Gene Snyder Freeway.

Car accidents come in many shapes and sizes, from rear-end crashes to head-on collisions. The Whaley Law Firm handles any type of car accident involving negligence, including broad-side collisions, hit-and-runs, and rollovers, among other common types of car wrecks. We are proud to represent injured pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. We also file wrongful death claims on behalf of families of people killed in fatal car accidents.

The wreck wasn’t your fault. What happens next is in your control.

Before you were injured or your loved one was harmed in a car wreck, you might have thought that motor vehicle accidents hardly ever happen, or that they happen to “other people.” Unfortunately, someone is killed every day on a Kentucky road – and even people who survive can find their lives changed forever. That’s why you have recourse under Kentucky law, and that’s where we come in.

If you were injured or a loved one was injured or died in a car crash, get in touch with an experienced lawyer. We know your world can be turned upside down because some other driver was distracted or driving recklessly. At the Whaley Law Firm, we work tirelessly to protect the rights of those injured anywhere in Kentucky. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Knowing what to do makes all the difference

In the aftermath of a car crash, your adrenaline is high, you may be dazed and confused, and it can be easy to make mistakes. Knowing what to do after an accident can help protect your legal rights. Keep these answers in mind and make sure to reach out to us as soon as possible.

Do I need to call the police if I'm in a car accident?

If you’re involved in a  car wreck in Louisville, you should call police right away to report the crash. Police will create an accident report detailing what happened in the crash, which can be a valuable piece of evidence when you’re trying to pursue a personal injury claim. Information contained in the accident report may indicate who’s at fault, how the accident happened (e.g., the other driver was texting, speeding, etc.), and document any injuries.

Should I talk to an insurance adjuster if one contacts me?

No. After a car accident, you may hear from an insurance adjuster who might ask you to sign paperwork or give a recorded statement about what happened in the crash. Talking to the insurance company could hurt your claim. The insurance adjuster works exclusively for the insurance company - not for you – and they’re trained to ask questions designed to hurt your claim. You may inadvertently make a statement that could result in less compensation.

We strongly urge you to decline giving a statement about your accident without first talking to an experienced lawyer.

How soon after the accident should I seek medical treatment?

Seek medical attention immediately, even if you don’t think you’ve been injured. Crash victims are often not aware that they’ve been injured because some symptoms aren’t noticeable right away. You may be feeling overwhelmed, and your adrenaline may be covering up your pain. Some injuries take days or weeks to become apparent, which means your health may suffer if you wait too long to see a doctor. Some internal organ injuries and brain injuries might not have noticeable symptoms but can turn fatal if left untreated.

Do I need a car accident lawyer?

If you’ve been injured in a car wreck you are not required to hire an attorney to pursue a personal injury claim, though hiring a lawyer can dramatically increase your chances of getting the compensation you deserve. It’s been shown that personal injury victims who get a  lawyer to help them with their claim receive more on average in compensation than those who don’t. An experienced lawyer can investigate your crash, collect evidence to build a strong case on your behalf, negotiate with the insurance company, and represent you in court, if necessary.

How much is my car accident claim worth?

If you were injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, emotional distress and more. The value of your claim will rely heavily on the extent of your damages, including the severity of your injuries, which means your case could be worth hundreds, thousands, or maybe even millions. It really all depends on your specific circumstances.

If you would like to get a good idea of what your claim is worth, schedule a free consultation with a lawyer right away. Our dedicated legal team in Louisville can meet with you, answer your questions, discuss your legal options, and give you honest advice on what to do next.

Whose insurance pays for car accidents in Kentucky?

Kentucky is one of three states that use a “choice no-fault” system for car insurance. By default, car insurance policies purchased in Kentucky are no-fault policies that include up to $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP), which covers a minimum of $10,000 in medical bills, lost wages, and other “out of pocket” costs. If you have no-fault insurance, you generally cannot sue the at-fault driver for compensation for your injuries, unless the accident caused at least one of the following:

• Permanent disfigurement
• Fracture of a weight-bearing bone
• Compound, compressed, or displaced fracture of any bone
• Permanent loss of a body function
• Any permanent injury
• Any injury or combination of injuries resulting in at least $1,000 in medical bills

If you choose to opt out of the no-fault system (which must be done in writing), then you are free to pursue compensation for a car accident in a liability claim or injury lawsuit against an at-fault driver. That cuts both ways, however: if you cause a car accident after opting out of no-fault, you can be sued for that crash, as well. In addition, people who opt out of no-fault are not entitled to mandatory PIP benefits from their own insurance company.

This system is complex and nuanced, and the insurance companies don’t help matters by making policy documents deliberately difficult to read. Things can be even more difficult if your crash involved an uninsured or underinsured motorist, or a hit-and-run driver who is not found. We would be happy to review your policy and help you understand your legal options, whether that’s a first-party claim with your insurance company or a third-party claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

We understand the full impact of a serious Kentucky car accident

A car accident can lead to any number of serious injuries, emotional trauma and financial complications in an instant. You may be left wondering how to get back to normal when facing months of physical rehabilitation or multiple surgeries. Ambulance fees, emergency room bills and long-term costs may skyrocket. You may be unable to return to work, care for dependents, or do the things you love. You have endless questions and don’t know where to turn.

In short, a bad accident is far more than just a single event. It has a ripple effect on every aspect of your life: your career, your family, and your future. You need full compensation for what you’ve lost, but the insurance company will do everything in their power to downplay those losses – or blame you for them. To them, it’s all business. To you, it’s personal.

That’s why we’re here. We’re ready to help you fight for the compensation you need to cover the long-term cost of your accident.

What you should know about the insurance adjuster

Insurance companies may try to argue that you were at fault in order to keep your payments to a minimum. Even if they accept responsibility, they may try to convince you to accept an unreasonably low settlement. Insurance companies can create a great deal of confusion. Their adjusters are trained to protect the interests of the insurance company. They often have good people skills, which can fool some accident victims in thinking the adjuster is on their side. Nothing can be further from the truth. The adjuster gets paid to deny claims and minimize payments.

If you do have to talk to an insurance adjuster or other insurance company representative, keep the following in mind:

• Avoid volunteering information. Answer their questions as narrowly and concisely as possible.
• Don’t give any specific information on your injuries. Say you’re receiving medical treatment and leave it at that.
• Don’t give your consent to have your conversation recorded. Any recorded statement can be taken out of context and used against you.
• Avoid saying anything about fault for the accident. Stick to the facts of what happened.
• Push back on any claims the adjuster makes that you disagree with. For instance, if the adjuster says “I’m glad you’re feeling better” and you are not in fact feeling better, say so. That way, the insurance company can’t use your implicit agreement to downplay your injuries.

The best option, though, is to have an experienced lawyer talk to the insurance company on your behalf. Attorney Aaron Whaley is familiar with all their tactics, and he takes an aggressive stance on behalf of clients. Don’t talk to the adjuster after your accident. Talk to us first.

How the Whaley Law Firm can help with your car accident claim

The first element needed to win a car accident case is proof of fault for the accident. The Whaley Law Firm is familiar with what causes car wrecks in Kentucky and the most common types of car accidents that occur on our roads. We have the knowledge and resources necessary to prove fault in your accident. We collect evidence. We interview witnesses. We pore over police accident reports and medical records. We will get to the bottom of what happened – and hold the responsible party accountable.

We also spend a great deal of time listening to our clients’ stories and seeking to understand the full impact of the accident on your life. An attorney can help calculate the full amount of damages (financial compensation) you deserve, including:

• Medical expenses: everything from the ambulance ride to the emergency room to future surgery should be included in your claim. Hospital bills, doctor’s visits, follow-ups, physical therapy, surgery, medication, and even mileage to and from your appointments all need to be accounted for.
• Lost income: both the paychecks you lost if you missed work in the initial recovery period, and long-term lost earnings if your injury will affect your ability to work or qualify for advancement.
• Home services: the reasonable cost of maintenance, cleaning, childcare, yardwork, or anything else that you are no longer able to do because of your injury and thus need to hire someone.
• Modifications to your home or vehicle: if you have a permanent disability, you should get compensation to physical modifications to accommodate it.
• Pain and suffering: compensation for your physical pain, as well as mental anguish and emotional distress.
• Loss of quality and enjoyment of life, as well as loss of consortium – a legal term for damage to your relationships with your spouse and family due to the injury.

We will pursue compensation for all your losses, both in negotiations and, if necessary, in court. We also recognize how intensely personal a serious injury can be. That’s why we take pride in providing each of our clients the personalized, individual attention necessary to make things right.

After a car crash, make the Whaley Law Firm your first call

You can’t afford to go it alone after a car accident. You may think you can’t afford a lawyer, either – which is why we work on a contingency fee basis. You don’t pay us a cent out of pocket; we advance the costs to move your case forward, and we only get paid if and when we secure a settlement or win a verdict on your behalf. No fees unless you win. It’s that simple.

The key is to get us involved as soon as possible so that we can start our investigation and begin dealing with the insurance company on your behalf. If you’ve been in a bad crash, we can help you find the way forward. Contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced Louisville car accident attorney.