If you have been injured by another driver’s negligence in a car accident, you will attempt to settle the matter through a car accident claim that you file with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. And while you are not required to have an experienced car accident lawyer in your corner, it is almost certainly in your best interest to do so.
Obtaining just compensation that covers your physical, financial, and emotional damages in their entirety is so important to your ability to fully recover that having professional legal counsel on your side is generally the best path forward.
At Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers, no fee is ever earned until we get the settlement you deserve.
Your Car Accident Lawyer’s Role
Your dedicated car accident lawyer will help guide your claim toward its best possible resolution to get maximum recovery. Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers take the following steps:
- Photographing all relevant evidence with witnesses
- Building your strongest claim in careful defense of your legal rights and in determined pursuit of your rightful compensation with liability (proving fault) and damages
- Skillfully negotiating with the insurance company for the compensation to which you are entitled
- Preparing for suit (in the event that the insurance company refuses to negotiate fairly and settle in good faith) or scheduling mediation
- Get you the medical treatment you need
- Help you settle your property damage claim without charge
While you focus on regaining your health and well-being post-accident, your skilled car accident lawyer will take on the insurance company and will passionately advocate for your claim’s optimal outcome.
You Are Vulnerable
It must be noted that the insurance company for the person at fault is working for their insured, not you. Additionally, the insurance company recognizes not only that you are not well versed in the legal complexities of car accident claims but also that you are about as vulnerable as you can be for all the following reasons:
- You’ve been injured by someone else’s negligence and must cope with the physical and emotional pain and suffering involved.
- You are facing mounting medical expenses.
- Your wages may be dwindling.
All of this is on top of the fact that you’ve suffered property damage to your vehicle (if you even have a vehicle left to drive). It’s a lot, and it leaves you in a terrible position to take on the insurance company, which is arguably quite skilled at bulldozing injured claimants like you. Leaving the insurance company to your practiced car accident lawyer is one of the best moves you can make.
Your Damages
In order to reach your most complete recovery, you are going to need to recover compensation for your damages in their entirety, and this involves accurately calculating these losses and getting you to good doctors for recovery and to document your injuries.
Medical Expenses
If you have been seriously injured in a car accident, you can experience immense medical costs, and this is especially true if your injuries require ongoing health care and/or if they are closely associated with secondary health concerns. Some of the most common medical expenses include:
- Emergency treatment and transportation
- Surgical care and follow-up care
- Hospitalization
- Medical procedures, treatments, and tests
- Care from doctors, specialists, and other medical professionals
- Prescription medications
- Pain management
- Rehabilitation
- Physical and/or occupational therapy
- Adaptive physical devices
- Home health care
- Anticipated future care needs
It’s important to have the full measure of your medical costs included in your car accident claim, and this is something that knowledgeable car accident lawyers are well suited to address.
Lost Earnings
While you address regaining your health and well-being, you will likely experience a decrease in your earnings, which can prove especially daunting in the face of your sky-high medical expenses. Additionally, if your injuries interfere with your ability to do your job or to continue advancing your career, they can leave you facing a decrease in your earning potential, which can prove financially devastating.
Our injury attorneys will reserve PIP benefits so we can get your wages paid while you are off work due to your injuries.
Pain and Suffering
The pain and suffering associated with a terrifyingly violent car accident can be far-reaching and can prove especially difficult to overcome. In fact, the psychic pain that you endure can interfere with your ability to enjoy life to the fullest (the way you did before the accident) and should be accurately addressed in your car accident claim. Some of the most common symptoms and side effects of this pain and suffering include:
- Serious mood swings
- Increased irritability
- Increased anxiety, which can include debilitating panic attacks
- Fear of getting back behind the wheel to drive
- Bouts of depression
- Emotional lability that can include crying jags
- A tendency to push others away and to self-isolate
- Sleep disturbances that can include night terrors and/or nightmares
- Inability to concentrate
- Racing thoughts
- Accident flashbacks
While assigning a value to your medical expenses and lost earnings is generally straightforward, doing so in relation to your pain and suffering is far less so.
Calculating the Value of Your Pain and Suffering
There is no predetermined calculation method for pain and suffering in the State of Kentucky, but insurance companies and courts often use what is known as the multiplier method. This means that the total amount of your economic damages – those damages you can assign a value to, like your medical expenses and lost earnings – may be multiplied by a number that ranges from 1.5 to 5. The number used depends upon factors like the severity of your injuries, the amount of time it requires you to recover, and how profoundly your injuries affect your ability to engage in the activities that made up your pre-accident life. The more serious the accident, the higher the multiplier number will be.
All of this adds up to a lot of complications – complications that are best left in the capable hands of your accomplished car accident lawyer.
Don’t Wait to Consult with an Experienced Kentucky Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured by another driver’s negligence, reaching out for professional legal guidance earlier rather than later is always in your best interest. The experienced Kentucky car accident lawyers at Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers understand the gravity of your situation and are committed to applying the full force of their considerable skill in pursuit of your claim’s most favorable resolution.
For more information, please don’t wait to contact or call us at 888-782-9090 today.
