A traumatic car accident can change your life forever. Not only will you be dealing with physical injuries but with financial and emotional stress as well. Do NOT let your pain go unheard. At Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP, our Lexington personal injury attorneys have been dedicated to providing innocent victims the care and legal guidance they need for over 125 years. Our team of Lexington car accident lawyers knows how to fight hard and fast against negligent drivers and their insurance companies.
If you are ready to start on the road to recovery, then give us a call right now at (859) 550-2900, fill out a contact form, or chat with us live to schedule an appointment with one of our compassionate and experienced Lexington car accident lawyers.
Have You Been in a Car Accident?
Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP is a Lexington institution of legal support for our clients. Since 1890, we have earned over 100 verdicts each in excess of $1 million. This level of success has earned us rankings among the “Best Lawyers in America,” the “Leading Firms and Lawyers in America,” and the only Kentucky firm to be named in National Law Journal’s “50 Most Elite Plaintiff’s Firms in America.” These outstanding achievements may sound good, but more importantly, they represent our greatest achievement – billions of dollars in compensation for our clients.
Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP has the track record that reflects the results you want when you pursue compensation for your car accident claim. Whether we settle with the insurance company or take your case to court, when you select Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP, you know you are getting the best. We know how to deal with the insurance companies, and we are not afraid to take a case to court because we will not rest until you get the maximum compensation available to you by law.
The most obvious reason to utilize the skill of Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP in your claim is that we do not charge anything for an initial consultation, so there is zero risk in giving us a call. At your initial meeting, we will review the elements of your case in detail so that you can make the best-informed decision about how to proceed.
Even if you are not injured in a car accident, the confusion and frenzy following one can leave you both physically and mentally drained. However, it is important that you take certain steps following a car crash in order to start the process of developing a strong claim.
The first thing you should do is call 911 to report the accident. An officer will arrive at the scene to perform an investigation and write a collision report. If they don’t show up, you must fill out the report yourself within ten days.
Try to remain as calm and as mindfully aware as possible, then take these steps:
Trust Our Team of Lexington Car Accident Lawyers
When you hire one of our Lexington car accident lawyers, we’ll begin our extensive investigation into your crash. We’ll start by requesting a copy of the collision report to determine how the accident occurred and who caused it. Oftentimes, the investigating officer on the scene will note in the report who they believe was at fault. The insurance company might dispute their findings, but we can use it as a baseline for proving liability.
Evidence is vital in any accident investigation. We’ll locate all the evidence we need to show that the other driver caused the accident, and you suffered injuries and losses as a result. We’ll also obtain the insurance policies of every potentially liable party in your accident to explore all avenues for compensation.
In Kentucky, there’s a choice no-fault system when it comes to car crashes. That means you must turn to your own auto insurance first to recover a settlement for your expenses. PIP, personal injury protection, is coverage on every driver’s policy that provides upfront payment of costs associated with medical care. You can use this form of insurance up until the limit you chose to purchase. Basic coverage is $10,000, but you can choose a higher limit.
Since basic PIP is usually not enough to cover all losses, you could file a claim with the liable driver’s auto insurance company as long as your injury meets at least one of the following thresholds:
Some people choose to reject PIP, so we’ll need to look over your policy before filing the claim. If you rejected it, we can use other forms of insurance to compensate you for your medical bills and suffering endured after the crash.
Understandably, when filing a car accident case, you will be concerned about the amount of compensation you can receive for your injuries. We understand the financial burden that many injury victims face; severe injuries can mean piling medical bills and an inability to return to work.
Because of this, we will seek to recover full damages for your suffering. Damages are all the losses associated with an accident and injury. Our dedicated and compassionate team of Lexington attorneys will help to secure compensation for but not limited to:
The above damages are only available in a liability claim with the at-fault driver’s auto insurance company. When you file a PIP claim, you can only pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and out of pocket expenses.
Another form of available insurance is UM. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage provides a settlement when the liable motorist doesn’t have auto insurance, or the coverage isn’t enough to cover all your damages. It’s not a legal requirement in Kentucky; however, all auto insurance companies offer it to their policyholders. If you chose to purchase it, you could seek the following damages in a UM claim:
If you, tragically, happen to lose your loved one in a car accident, our experienced Lexington attorneys can also help to recover damages for:
Kentucky statute 411.130 defines wrongful death as a person’s death that someone else’s wrongful act or negligence caused. There’s a one-year statute of limitations for wrongful death. That means you must file a lawsuit within one year of your loved one’s death to be eligible for compensation.
The only individual allowed to pursue a wrongful death case is the personal representative of the deceased’s estate. Either your loved one named a personal representative, or the probate court will need to assign someone. The damages recovered will get distributed to the estate and the following surviving family members in order of eligibility:
When out on the road, we all are under the duty of care to drive responsibly to avoid an accident. However, when a negligent driver fails in this duty, they become legally responsible for any incident that takes place.
Individuals injured as a result of the at-fault driver’s behavior have a legal right to compensation.
Unfortunately, car accidents can occur for any number of reasons including:
Because the legal aspects of a car accident can become complex and convoluted, especially when multiple vehicles are involved, it is in your best interest to seek the guidance of a qualified Lexington car accident lawyer who can effectively uncover who the at-fault party is.
At Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP, our team of Lexington car accident attorneys understands that every car accident is a unique case that requires skill and innovation to overcome any challenges that may arise. As trial attorneys, our team members are not afraid to take your case to litigation in order to get you the recovery you deserve.
Every one of our members is experienced and brings to the table their own valuable perspective and skill set. Because of this, we are able to handle a wide range of car accident cases, including:
The team at Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP has recovered billions of dollars of compensation for our clients. Our track record speaks for itself and we are ready to put our skills to the test for you.
Contact us today at (859) 550-2900 for a free consultation.
Serving Car Accident Victims in Lexington, KY
Studies have shown that the victim’s location within the vehicle at the time of the accident has a direct impact on the type of injury they sustain. Aside from this, there are additional factors that can affect the type of injury endured, including:
Just as every accident occurs under particular circumstances, the type of injury suffered will vary as well. While not every crash will require those involved to seek medical attention, more serious ones can cause permanent damage and even result in physical or emotional disability.
Because of the speeds and force associated with auto accidents, victims may deal with serious injuries that can include but are not limited to:
If you have been injured in an accident in Lexington, it is absolutely crucial that you seek medical treatment immediately.
The Lexington car accident lawyers at Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP understand that serious injuries come with a hefty cost. From medical bills to time missed from work, your financial situation can change drastically. Because of that, our attorneys will work diligently to ensure that you recover everything that is owed to you.
Getting hurt in a motor vehicle crash can put a financial strain on anyone. You’re already figuring out how you’re going to pay your medical bills and support your family even though you can’t work. We don’t want to add to your burden, which is why we take cases on contingency. That means you don’t have to pay upfront fees or costs to receive legal representation. We won’t collect our legal fees unless we recover the financial compensation you deserve. If we lose your case, you won’t have to pay us.
We Specialize in Handling Serious Car Accident Cases
The Lexington Police department does an excellent job of summarizing accident statistics on an annual basis. This lets us know the leading causes of car accidents in the region, as well as the most dangerous intersections in our area.
In a review of the car accidents that occurred in the Lexington area in 2017, the highest factors were driver inattention, out-of-control driving, and failure to yield. One of these factors likely played a part in your accident, and at Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP, we strongly believe that the responsible parties should pay.
The 2018 Lexington Police Department traffic report indicates that running red lights is a major problem causing many injury accidents. The most dangerous intersections in Lexington for red light disobedience include:
These intersections each saw 6-7 injury collisions over the course of the year. This data shows us that we need to display extra vigilance while proceeding through these areas. If you have been harmed in an accident in any of these intersections, please do not hesitate to call us at Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP for a free consultation to review your claim.
When it comes to accidents that occur at intersections, the Lexington Police Department indicates that the most common cause is overwhelmingly the failure to yield the right of way. The other common factors include overall inattention and then a collection of other factors that each make up less than 2% each, including drug and alcohol use, unsafe speeds, driving out of control, driving improperly, and several other factors.
When you experience an injury accident in an intersection, it is imperative that you collect information about the specific circumstances that were involved because this will be valuable evidence in your case. Contact us at Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP to review this information and to create a legal strategy for your case.
Lexington police highlighted alcohol collision data for 2017 in their most recent report, showing that of the 5,350 alcohol-related collisions, 137 resulted in fatalities. If you suffered the loss of a loved one due to an alcohol-related accident, please accept our most sincere condolences. Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP is available to assist you with a wrongful death claim for your loss so that you can recover damages for medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, as well as to establish a financial legacy for your family member. They may be gone, but they will never be forgotten.
If you decide to file an insurance claim for compensation for your damages, you should do so as soon as possible. Some claims take years to resolve, and if the insurance company decides they don’t want to pay the maximum amount you deserve, you’ll need to move forward with a lawsuit. Lawsuits come with strict deadlines, and if you don’t comply, you’ll lose your right to pursue compensation and hold the at-fault driver accountable for their actions.
It’s crucial that you pay attention to the state’s statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit. You’ll only have one year from the accident date to sue the other motorist if it resulted in injury or death. If you’re filing a lawsuit to recover damage to your vehicle or personal belongings, the statute of limitations is two years.
Whether you’re filing a claim or lawsuit, you should also pay attention to the pure comparative fault rule. This reduces your compensable damages by the percentage of fault you share. For example, if you incurred $100,000 in damages, but it’s discovered that you were 20% to blame for the crash, you would only be allowed to seek a maximum of $80,000 in compensation.
Most car accident cases hinge on the legal theory of negligence. Negligence refers to one party’s failure to provide a reasonable degree of care to another to avoid harming them. If you want to file a lawsuit against the other driver for their negligent actions, you must prove the following elements exist:
Lawsuits are complicated procedures, and your Lexington car accident lawyer can handle each step, so you don’t have to worry about doing anything yourself.
Prepare documents – We’ll begin by preparing all legal documents necessary to file with the civil court system. We’ll include a Complaint that explains what happened, how it occurred, and the actions we’re taking against the at-fault driver. We’ll also prepare a Summons to serve the defendant notifying them of their obligation to show up in court.
File – We’ll file all the documents we prepared and hire a process server to track down the defendant and provide them with the documents.
Discovery – The discovery process involves requesting the defense attorney for evidence they found during their investigation and information from the defendant.
Depositions – We might schedule a deposition to interview the liable party under oath and ask them questions associated with the case.
Mediation – Sometimes, we can meet with the opposing side in an attempt to reach a settlement agreement and avoid going to court.
Trial – If we’re unable to settle the case, we’ll move forward with trial proceedings.
We Will Fight for the Compensation You Need to Recover From Your Injuries
We’ll begin the insurance claims process by filing with your PIP insurance. We’ll need to file the claim and submit evidence that you sustained injuries in the crash. We’ll also negotiate with the adjuster for the full limit listed on your policy.
If we can file a liability claim with the at-fault motorist’s insurance company, we’ll follow the same procedure of collecting evidence and negotiating a settlement. Liability claims are a bit more complex because there are more damages available, and we must prove fault. We’ll use the evidence we found during our investigation to show that you deserve the maximum compensation available.
When you are involved in a car accident in the Lexington, KY area, you have a number of choices to make. First, you need to decide whether to pursue a claim at all. Next, you need to consider whether you should utilize an attorney for your claim. Many people feel that they can manage a claim without the assistance of an attorney, but this is simply not the case. In nearly all circumstances, you will be better off with a skilled attorney by your side. Here are 10 reasons to consider a call to Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP:
When you are making the important decision as to whether you should take on your accident claim by yourself or with the help of an attorney, the choice should be clear: Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP wins cases for our clients. Our success rate is supported by our long-standing presence in the legal community in support of injured victims here in Kentucky. Choose the firm that can get you results. Choose Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP.
When facing a life-changing auto accident, you deserve justice. You deserve attention. You deserve to have your voice heard. We work with a supporting team of medical experts, engineers, investigators, accident research specialists, and other professionals to deliver the results you deserve.
Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP fights for those without a voice. Contact us today at (859) 550-2900 for a free consultation.
If you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident, chances are you have numerous questions about your legal rights and options. We want to answer all of your questions and can do so at a free consultation. In the meantime, we’ve answered some of the questions we see most often.
Couldn’t be more please with my experience with Hare, Wynn, Newell and Newton! I changed my case representation to them after a poor experience with another lawyer and was incredibly happy that I did! Mr. Jonathan Fannin did a superb job on my case resulting in a quick and favorable settlement in my favor. He was in constant contact with me and I was immediately informed on anything going on with my case. Cannot say enough about Hare, Wynn, Newell and Newton! I would highly recommend them!
Brian Vines did exceptional work for me. Would definitely use this law firm again.
I had an excellent experience with this very professional law firm. Brian and Matt were very professional and approached my personal injury case with diligence and urgency. They were very good to work with and worked hard to provide me the maximum settlement. I would highly recommend this firm and would use them again if needed.