TLF Logo
Call To Schedule A Free Consultation

Putting Our Knowledge And Experience To Work

Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers in Kentucky and Ohio

Vehicle accidents are very unexpected and frightening events, often leaving behind a massive amount of physical, financial, and even emotional stress. For example, if you’re not working due to injuries from the crash, you may worry about paying unexpected medical bills and be under financial strain from a loss of income, all while dealing with the physical injuries you’ve sustained from the accident. If another driver caused the wreck, you shouldn’t have to shoulder this burden. With the help of an experienced auto accident attorney in Kentucky or Ohio, you may be able to receive compensation for your losses and damages.

Unfortunately, insurance companies will try to settle as quickly as possible and for as little as possible after a car accident resulting in injury. However, some serious injuries can require a lifetime of treatment or even the need for regular personal care. These types of injuries can include things like brain damage, paralysis, amputations, or severe burn injuries. In these cases, it is important that you fight to receive the compensation you deserve.

The car accident lawyers at The Lawrence Firm have more than 50 year experience helping victims and their families recoup damages after serious motor vehicle accidents in both the Cincinnati and Covington areas. If you or a family member is seriously injured in a wreck, contact a vehicle accident injury lawyer at The Lawrence Firm as soon as possible.

Common Causes and Types of Car Crashes

Car accidents can happen for a number of reasons. Some of the more common causes of crashes include distracted driving, highway hypnosis, fatigued driving, those driving under the influence of drugs, drunk driving, speeding, and reckless driving.

In addition to the many different causes of accidents, there are multiple types of wrecks that can occur. Common types of accidents include collisions at intersections, head-on collisions, rear end crashes, sideswipe accidents, and side impact or T-bone wrecks. It is helpful to know what type of accident you were involved in and the cause of it, as it may help you understand who is at fault and gauge how much you could be compensated for your injuries.

Internal Injuries from Car Accidents

The human body is very fragile, and a serious car wreck can leave it battered, bruised, and severely injured. Internal organs are particularly vulnerable to damage from motor vehicle accidents. Impacts involving the torso can result in trauma to parts such as the stomach, lungs, liver, or heart. These types of injuries frequently require surgical intervention.

Another type of internal injury is a traumatic brain injury or TBI. This type of brain trauma can be caused by a blow to the head during a crash or from being ejected from the vehicle. A moderate to severe TBI can pose a lifetime of physical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional challenges.

How is Fault Determined in a Car Accident?

The question of ‘Who is at fault?’ can essentially be determined in several different places – at the scene of the accident, in a police report, when insurance companies hash it out, via arbitration, or when a jury makes its decision in court. 

You may know for certain that your car accident was caused by the other driver’s negligence or reckless actions, but this must be proven in order to win your personal injury case. This is where a vehicle accident injury lawyer is of critical assistance. Our legal team at The Lawrence Firm will investigate the facts of your wreck to determine the exact cause of the accident and establish who is at fault.

What Is the Difference Between No-Fault and At-Fault Insurance States?

It is important to be familiar with whether your state is a no-fault or an at-fault insurance state. The main difference between the two pertains to whether or not you, as the victim, have the right to sue after a car accident. Who ends up paying for these damages is another notable difference.

Is Kentucky a No-Fault State?

If you live in Kentucky, you live in a “choice no-fault” state. What this means is that all Kentucky vehicles, save for motorcycles, must have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance on their auto policy and must first file accident claims through their own insurance. 

So what is PIP insurance? No matter who is at fault for the wreck, PIP insurance is used to pay such expenses as lost wages, medical bills, or even funeral costs resulting from a fatal car accident. It is worth noting, however, that drivers are allowed the choice to opt out of the no-fault system. If not, the ability to sue is waived by the driver and other occupants of the vehicle unless specific thresholds are met.

If the collision resulted in more than $1,000 in medical expenses or if the injured party experienced one or more of the following as a result of the accident, Kentucky law allows you to file a lawsuit against the at-fault motorist:

  • Permanent disfigurement
  • A weight-bearing bone fracture
  • Any bone fracture, whether compound, compressive, or displaced
  • A permanent injury
  • Any permanent loss of a bodily function

A Kentucky vehicle accident injury lawyer at The Lawrence Firm can help you in determining whether a lawsuit is possible after your car accident.

Is Ohio a No-Fault State?

What about Ohio? Is Ohio a no-fault state? Unlike Kentucky, Ohio is an at-fault state. In an at-fault state, those involved in a car wreck will make their initial claim through the at-fault driver’s insurance. This means Ohioan motorists don’t have to file a claim through their own insurance first. 

If the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough coverage, then the injured party’s own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage kicks in. This type of coverage is required in addition to your regular motor vehicle insurance. Contact a Cincinnati car accident attorney for guidance in suing for damages.

What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Car Crash Claim?

There are generally two types of damages that are available to victims of a car accident injury. These are economic damages and non-economic damages. A claim for economic damages involves easily quantifiable damages such as lost wages and medical expenses. Bills from healthcare providers, pay stubs, and other supporting documentation are used to demonstrate this loss as well as to establish a fair amount of compensation. 

Non-economic damages are things like pain and suffering and emotional distress. If the injuries you sustained in the accident impact your relationship with your family, loss of consortium may be another pursuable non-economic damage. Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages can be difficult to prove. However, that is not to say you cannot recover for these types of damages, only that it is typically harder to provide a quantifiable amount. As a result, these types of losses may require your attorney to secure the testimony of expert witnesses about your injuries.

Call the Car Accident Claim Lawyers at The Lawrence Firm Today

The Lawrence Firm, PSC, champions motor vehicle accident victims in northern Kentucky and southwest Ohio with law offices in Covington and Cincinnati. We handle all type of accidents, including car wrecks, commercial truck wrecks, bicycle accidents, and even boating accidents. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, we are ready to defend your rights across both states. Your experienced vehicle accident injury lawyer will investigate the details of your case and negotiate a settlement for you. They’ll also represent you in court if it comes down to it. 

Keep in mind, you will not be responsible for any legal fees unless we are successful in recovering financial damages or disability benefits on your behalf. To schedule a free consultation with one of our Ohio or Kentucky car accident lawyers, please contact us online or call us toll-free at 800-698-4054 today.

Practice Areas

You Pay No Fees Unless We Win!

We are happy to offer a free consultation to evaluate your case. If you hire us as your legal counsel, we will represent you on a contingency-fee basis. You will pay no attorneys’ fees unless we recover financial damages.