Many of us have been injured by someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior. Maybe you have been in a car accident or slipped and fell in a grocery store. Were you assaulted or sexually abused? Injured at work or by a doctor’s negligence?
In any of these situations, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. A personal injury claim is a lawsuit that alleges wrongdoing resulting in harm to the person. These injuries come under the branch of law called torts, which can be intentional or negligent. There are an estimated 400,000 personal injury claims
What you need to know about filing a personal injury claim is that there are time limits involved. Kentucky is especially limited when it comes to deadlines. For car accidents, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a claim and receive compensation for damages. For all other types of personal injury, you have just one year. Therefore, if you wish to move your case forward and receive compensation, you can’t procrastinate. You need to act quickly.
If you think that you can prove liability and damages, then you most likely have grounds to file a personal injury claim. Although this can be intimidating, working with an experienced personal injury lawyer can make the process much easier.
Steps to Take
Besides hiring a lawyer, you should also:
- Seek medical treatment. See a doctor after an accident, even if you feel fine. Although you may not experience any immediate pain, you could potentially find yourself in extreme pain later on. Refusing medical treatment will look bad and make it so the insurance company will deny your claim.
- Gather evidence. Get evidence of your damages and proof of the accident. Get witness contact information. Take photos and get any available surveillance video. Record lost earnings and keep all receipts related to the accident. Get detailed medical records that show the extent of your injuries.
- Negotiate a settlement. Once your damages have been tallied, your lawyer can start the negotiations with the insurance company and help you get a fair settlement. You will likely have to go back and forth multiple times until you reach a fair settlement. If negotiations don’t get you anywhere, then you may need to file a lawsuit. You will then need to go to court and rely on the outcome of a trial.
Contact Us Today
Have you been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence? If so, you need to act quickly. You have two years for car accidents and just one year for other personal injury claims.
Noakes Law Group can help you with your personal injury case. We are skilled negotiators who often reach fair settlements out of court, but we also have trial experience that you can depend on. Schedule a consultation with our office by calling (502) 289-5398 or filling out the online form.