3 Things You Did Not Know About Personal Injury Laws and DUI Car Accidents in Louisville
If you have been injured in a car accident in Louisville, especially one caused by a drunk or impaired driver, you may already know that you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries. However, the truth is that many Louisville drivers and their families are surprised to learn just how much Kentucky personal injury laws can do to secure justice for the victims in the aftermath of a serious or fatal car accident. Whether you are recovering from a DUI crash or any type of serious collision, understanding the laws that protect you can help you make better decisions and secure the compensation you deserve. Here are three important things you may not know about personal injury laws in Louisville.
1. Louisville Car Accident Victims Have a Limited Time to File a Lawsuit Under Kentucky Personal Injury Laws
One of the biggest surprises for personal injury victims, including DUI car accident victims, is how quickly time passes after an accident. Between medical appointments, insurance adjuster phone calls, car repairs, and missed work, many people do not realize that Kentucky has a short deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Under Kentucky laws, you generally have one year from the date of the accident to file a claim against the at fault driver. This time limit applies to many types of personal injury claims, including injuries caused by drunk drivers.
If you miss this deadline, you may lose your ability to take your case to court altogether, no matter how strong your evidence is. Insurance companies know this and often try to delay or discourage victims from moving forward. Speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer early in the process can help ensure you meet important deadlines and preserve your right to pursue compensation.
2. You Can Recover Compensation Even If You Were Partially at Fault
Another perhaps lesser-known aspect of Kentucky law is its pure comparative negligence rule. This means that even if you were partly responsible for the accident and your injuries, you can still recover compensation for your injuries. Your total compensation is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found 20 percent at fault and your damages totaled fifty thousand dollars, you could still recover forty thousand dollars.
This rule is especially important in DUI cases because impaired drivers often cause unpredictable and severe collisions. Insurance companies may try to shift blame onto the injured victim to reduce what they have to pay. Knowing that you can still recover compensation even if you did something minor to contribute to the accident ensures you do not give up your rights too quickly.
3. You May Be Entitled to More Than Just Medical Bills and Lost Wages
Many accident victims believe that a personal injury claim only covers medical expenses and lost income. However, Kentucky personal injury laws allow injured DUI car accident victims to recover a much broader range of damages. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, reduced earning capacity, and long-term disability. In DUI crashes, where the at fault driver acted recklessly or illegally, victims may also be able to pursue punitive damages, which are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior. Speaking with an experienced Louisville personal injury lawyer after a serious car accident happens is the best way to determine how much you may be owed for your DUI car accident injuries under Kentucky laws.
Getting Legal Help in Louisville
If you are in the Louisville area and you need legal help with your DUI car accident case, contact the experienced Louisville personal injury lawyers at Haney Law, PLLC. Contact Haney Law, PLLC today and speak with a lawyer about your case now.