If you’ve recently sustained injuries in a Bowling Green, Kentucky, truck wreck, you understand this all too well. At Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC, a Bowling Green truck accident lawyer will gladly explain your legal options. If you hire us, we’ll fight for proper compensation. Call us at (859) 550-2900 for a free case review.
Large commercial trucks have the potential to cause serious harm. The consequences of a truck wreck may include high medical bills, loss of income, long-term pain, and more. If someone else caused the accident that injured you, you may seek compensation for your accident-related losses by filing an insurance claim or lawsuit against the at-fault party or their insurer.
Due to the complexities of Kentucky’s laws in regard to compensation for crash victims, navigating your legal options can prove overwhelming. Our Bowling Green personal injury lawyers are ready to help you.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in Bowling Green, Kentucky?
No federal or state agency tracks the rate of truck accidents in Bowling Green or Warren County. However, some data regarding truck crash rates in Kentucky is available.
According to Kentucky’s 2021 Traffic Collision Facts book, trucks played a role in 10,105 wrecks in Kentucky that year. Of those wrecks, 129 resulted in fatalities.
In Warren County in 2021:
- 4,825 wrecks occurred
- 20 individuals lost their lives in wrecks
- 1,067 individuals sustained injuries in wrecks
It’s not clear the extent to which trucks contributed to Warren County wrecks in 2021. The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that large commercial truck crash rates have increased in recent years. Thus, truck collisions might be growing increasingly common throughout Kentucky.
Common Causes of Bowling Green Truck Wrecks
Truck wrecks can occur for various reasons. They include:
- Driver inexperience
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Basic negligence or carelessness, like ignoring traffic signs and signals
- Mechanical failure
- A trucker driving on a road that doesn’t accommodate a vehicle of that size
- Hazardous road conditions
Investigating a wreck to determine the cause may be necessary. Identifying the cause of a truck wreck is key to identifying the liable parties.
Insurance in Kentucky
Kentucky is a “choice no-fault” state for motor vehicle crashes. When registering a motor vehicle (other than a motorcycle) in Kentucky, drivers usually have to buy Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. Regardless of who causes a wreck, a driver would file a claim with their own insurance to seek compensation for their losses in Kentucky. PIP benefits cover medical expenses, lost wages, and some out-of-pocket expenses.
However, motorists can opt out of the no-fault system by providing a written rejection when they purchase their policy. That means they can sue the at-fault party for any losses suffered in the crash, and the at-fault party has the right to sue them, as well.
The injured motorist who has PIP coverage can also take legal action against at-fault parties when their injuries or losses are serious enough to meet certain thresholds under Kentucky law. Specifically, you can file a claim or lawsuit against a liable party if a collision resulted in any of the following:
- Up to at least $1,000 in medical bills
- Permanent injury
- Broken bones
- Amputation
- Permanent disfigurement
- Permanent loss of a body function
- Death
Compensation Available After a Bowling Green Truck Crash
The injuries a large commercial truck can cause may be quite serious. They could leave you in need of costly medical care or ongoing treatment throughout your life.
Your injuries may also prevent you from working. Paying for medical care may be an even greater challenge if you’re unable to work because of your injuries.
Medical bills and lost wages are examples of economic losses. These are losses resulting from a collision that have a specific dollar value. You may seek compensation for them when filing a claim or lawsuit. Doing so might require estimating the potential cost of future medical bills or other future economic losses resulting from the crash.
Other losses a wreck may cause don’t have exact dollar values. Examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
These are non-economic losses. You could also seek compensation for them after a loss. Doing so often requires applying specialized formulas to assign a monetary value to an intangible consequence of a wreck. An experienced attorney will know how to assess the total value of all your accident-related losses.
What About Punitive Damages in a Kentucky Truck Wreck Case?
Punitive damages can only be awarded in court. A jury in Kentucky may award punitive damages if evidence shows a defendant acted with “oppression, fraud, or malice” when harming you. The function of punitive damages is to punish careless or malicious parties. Theoretically, punishing a defendant for their wrongdoing will deter them from engaging in similar wrongdoing going forward.
Potential Liable Parties in Kentucky Truck Wreck Cases
To pursue the full amount of compensation for which you may be eligible, you will have to determine who is liable. Potential liable parties in a truck crash case include:
- The driver
- The trucking company
- Any company involved in loading cargo
- Any company involved in maintaining the vehicle
- The designer or manufacturer of the truck
- Government agencies responsible for addressing hazardous road conditions
Sometimes, multiple parties share fault. You may file multiple claims or lawsuits accordingly in these circumstances.
How a Bowling Green Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You
You don’t have to seek compensation alone after a truck wreck. A Bowling Green, Kentucky, truck accident law firm could help you by:
- Reviewing your case and explaining your legal options. The initial case review with a lawyer is often free. Thus, it gives you a no-cost, low-pressure way to get a basic idea of how you may proceed.
- Investigating the crash. Lawyers have the resources to interview witnesses, secure footage of a crash (if available), and even re-stage crash conditions when necessary. Conducting such an investigation can help identify liable parties. It can also generate evidence you need to show a wreck resulted from someone else’s actions or carelessness.
- Valuing your claim. A lawyer can determine how much compensation you deserve by adding up your losses, estimating the cost of future losses, and using specialized formulas to determine the cost of non-economic losses. An attorney can never guarantee you will receive an exact sum. However, they can help you account for all relevant losses when seeking compensation.
- Claim administration. Your lawyer can complete paperwork, handle correspondence, submit paperwork by deadlines, and handle all other administrative tasks related to your claim. A lawyer’s help can free up time so you can focus on your recovery.
- Negotiating with the insurance company and/or the defendant’s lawyers on your behalf. When you file a claim or lawsuit, the insurance company or liable party won’t typically be eager to pay what you deserve. An attorney can negotiate on your behalf for an appropriate settlement.
- Going to court and presenting your case to a judge or jury. The ideal goal is to secure a fair settlement without going to trial. Sometimes, going to court is the only way to pursue the compensation you’re owed. A lawyer can explain whether a trial is the right choice in your case. Although a lawyer can’t determine whether a jury awards punitive damages, they can request them and present evidence showing a defendant acted in such a way that punitive damages are warranted.
Your lawyer can also answer your questions about steps you may take to improve your odds of winning a case. For instance, an attorney may advise you to stay off social media while your case is pending so you don’t inadvertently harm your claim.
How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Crash Lawsuit in Kentucky?
Kentucky law allows you to file a truck wreck lawsuit within two years of the crash. You’ll be unable to file a lawsuit if you miss the deadline. Protect your rights by speaking with an attorney soon.
Can You Afford a Truck Crash Attorney?
Because a lawyer can’t guarantee a specific settlement, you might fear you can’t afford to hire one. Why add another bill to an already long list of bills?
That’s a natural concern. However, it’s important to know that you don’t have to worry about whether you can afford a Kentucky personal injury attorney after a truck collision.
Many Kentucky personal injury attorneys enter into contingency fee agreements with their new clients. That means they don’t charge upfront fees for their services. Instead, their fee is a percentage of the payout a client receives.
Here at Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC, we work on a contingency fee basis. You will not have to pay anything up front, and you don’t pay us if you don’t get paid.
Contact a Bowling Green Truck Accident Lawyer Today
A truck wreck can affect your life in almost countless ways. Receiving the compensation for which you’re eligible can help you adjust in the aftermath.
Your chances of receiving fair compensation are greater with legal representation. At Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC, a Bowling Green, KY, truck accident lawyer is prepared to offer the representation you deserve now. Learn more about what we can do for you by contacting us online or calling us at (270) 517-2014 for a free case review.