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Covington Personal Injury Attorney

Accidents that cause serious injuries can happen anytime, and usually when a person least expects them. Unfortunately, many people are injured each day due to the careless or negligent actions of another person, business, or entity. When this happens, the team at the Law Offices of Hendy | Johnson | Vaughn | Emery is ready to help victims. Our Covington personal injury attorneys have vast experience helping injured clients recover the compensation they are entitled to from those that caused them harm.

Why choose Hendy Johnson Vaughn Emery for your case?

After sustaining a serious personal injury caused by the careless or negligent actions of somebody else, you need assistance from an attorney with vast experience handling these cases. At Hendy | Johnson | Vaughn | Emery, we are here for you:

  • We focus entirely on personal injury law and nothing else, which has helped us become recognized as authorities in the field.
  • We are committed to consistent and transparent communication with every client. You will always have access to your attorney any questions and concerns about your case.
  • Our team has a proven track record of success, having secured billions of dollars in favorable verdicts and settlements for clients.
  • We take all Covington personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means our clients face no upfront or out of pocket costs for their case. Clients only pay legal fees after we secure the compensation they deserve.

How will an attorney help this case?

An attorney is going to be an invaluable resource for victims of personal injuries. In most cases, an injury victim does not have the resources, legal knowledge, or time to properly investigate their case and pursue the compensation they deserve. Our Covington personal injury attorneys will be responsible for handling every aspect of your case, including the following:

  • Securing all evidence from the incident. This can include any video surveillance from the scene, photographs, accident reports, eyewitness accounts, and more.
  • Ensuring that you are evaluated by a trusted medical professional who will fully assess your injuries and work to create a treatment plan.
  • Negotiating with every party involved to reach a compensation that is fair for all of your accident-related injuries.
  • Preparing to take a case to trial if the other parties refuse to offer a fair settlement.

Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?

Not all injuries and illnesses in Covington will entitle you to financial compensation from another person or party. Your accident must contain the elements of a valid personal injury claim. Most cases are based on the legal foundation of negligence. Negligence means that someone acted carelessly or irresponsibly, resulting in harm to others. 

A negligent person has breached a duty of care owed to the victim. A duty of care refers to a legal obligation to act in a way that a reasonable and prudent party would in the same or similar circumstances. A breach of the duty of care can mean any act or omission that falls short of the accepted degree of care. For example, a driver who gets behind the wheel while intoxicated has breached the duty to operate a motor vehicle safely and prudently.  

If one person’s breach of the duty of care results in injury or harm to another person, the victim can file a personal injury claim in Kentucky. The final element necessary is damages caused by the accident, meaning compensable losses suffered by the victim. These may include physical injuries, emotional harm, property damage, lost wages or medical bills.

How Can You Prove Negligence in a Personal Injury Case?

In a personal injury case, the burden or responsibility of proving negligence rests with the plaintiff (filing party). This means it is up to you or your personal injury attorney in Covington to prove your case. The burden of proof is a “preponderance of the evidence,” or enough proof to show that what you are claiming is more likely than not to be true. Meeting this evidentiary standard requires convincing evidence, which may include:

  • Police and accident reports
  • Photographs
  • Video footage
  • Medical records
  • Financial documents
  • Insurance documents
  • Cell phone records
  • Witness statements
  • Expert testimony
  • Proof of losses
  • Accident reconstruction

An attorney can help you preserve and collect evidence to support your personal injury claim, such as hiring highly qualified experts. If you are not sure who or what caused your accident, a lawyer can conduct a comprehensive investigation to determine fault and causation. You can trust an attorney to build the strongest possible personal injury claim on your behalf while you focus on recovering from a serious injury.

How do personal injuries occur?

There are many ways in which a person can be injured due to the negligent, reckless, or careless actions of another person. At Hendy | Johnson | Vaughn | Emery, our Covington personal injury lawyers regularly help clients who have sustained injuries in the following ways:

This is not an all-inclusive list of the ways a person can be injured. If you have been harmed and have questions about whether or not you have a viable personal injury claim, speak to a qualified Covington personal injury attorney before making any decisions moving forward.

When looking at this list of ways that people can be injured, we can see that there may be many liable parties. Anytime the actions of another person, group of people, business, or entity causes harm to another person, they can be held liable for any injuries and damages.

In general, when a duty of care is owed to another person, and that duty is breached, the party who breached their duty will be held liable. For example, all drivers owe a duty of care to those around them. If a driver chooses to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, they are essentially breaching their duty and can be held liable for any injuries they cause.

Who Pays for a Car Accident in Kentucky?

A common cause of injury in Covington is motor vehicle accidents. Every year, thousands of victims in Kentucky suffer serious and fatal injuries in car crashes. Kentucky is one of only three “choice no-fault states” in the country, which can make dealing with a car accident case difficult. 

 Under this unique rule, all drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. PIP covers a driver’s own medical bills and lost wages after an accident, regardless of fault. If a driver wishes to sue another party for causing a car accident in Kentucky, he or she must meet a certain threshold or have declined PIP protection upon purchasing the policy.

The tort threshold in Kentucky is necessary medical expenses in excess of $1,000 or an injury that results in a broken bone, permanent disability or disfigurement, or permanent loss of a bodily function. Unless a driver declined no-fault PIP coverage in writing, these are the only circumstances in which it is possible to hold another driver responsible for a car accident.

Most common injuries we help clients handle

There are various types of injuries that can occur due to the careless or negligent actions of another person. This can include physical injuries as well as emotional and psychological injuries. Our Covington personal injury lawyers regularly help clients who have sustained the following:

  • Broken and dislocated bones
  • Severe lacerations, puncture wounds, or amputations
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Open head injuries
  • Internal organ damage
  • Internal bleeding
  • Crush injuries

Victims of serious personal injuries often sustain emotional and psychological trauma as well. Injury victims could suffer from severe anxiety, heightened levels of stress, insomnia, fear, and more. It is not uncommon for personal injury victims to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of what has happened to them.

What is the time limit to file a personal injury claim?

Every state is responsible for setting a statute of limitations (time limits) that victims have to file a personal injury claim against a negligent party. Kentucky Revised Statutes section 413.140(1)(a) sets a one-year deadline to file a claim related to negligence. It is important that you contact an attorney as soon as possible as there are specific statute of limitations for each type of case which sets time limitations in which to file a lawsuit or your potential case will be forever barred. Please contact the attorneys at Hendy Johnson Vaughn Emery to discuss your potential case and the applicable statute of limitations.

How much compensation can you get for your case?

If you or somebody you care about has been injured in an incident that was caused by another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to significant compensation. At the Law Offices of Hendy | Johnson | Vaughn | Emery, we are going to investigate every aspect of your case so we can secure the compensation you are entitled to. This can include:

  • Coverage of past, present, and future medical expenses
  • Recovery of lost wages if you are unable to work
  • Loss of enjoyment of life damages
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Possible punitive damages against the negligent party

Unlike an insurance company, our attorneys want you to maximize your financial recovery, not minimize your payout. Discuss the potential value of your personal injury claim with our lawyers before you accept a settlement from an insurance provider. Once you say yes to a settlement and sign a liability waiver, you cannot reopen your case – even if you later realize it was worth significantly more than you received.

Tips for Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer

Not all personal injury lawyers in Covington are created equal. Finding the ideal fit for you and your case will take due diligence. It is worth the effort, however, as hiring the right attorney can make a major difference to the outcome of your case. Take the following steps to find the right lawyer for you: 

  • Ask for referrals. Ask around to see if a friend, family member or coworker has a personal injury attorney to recommend. If not, search for options using reliable sites, such as the American Bar Association.
  • Look for experience. Make sure the personal injury lawyer you choose has at least several years of experience in your specific practice area. Case results are a good sign, but remember this does not guarantee a positive outcome for your case.
  • Schedule a consultation. Most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations, where you can meet with the lawyer and get to know his or her personality, communication methods and representation style for free. You should feel comfortable with the attorney you choose.

The personal injury lawyer you select should have time to dedicate personal care and attention to you; your case should not be passed off to a paralegal or assistant. Trial experience and aggressive litigators are also beneficial, as this increases your odds of reaching a successful settlement with an insurance company and avoiding court.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Attorney Cost?

At Hendy | Johnson | Vaughn | Emery, we understand that clients who come to us for help are often in difficult financial situations due to their accidents and injuries. You may already be dealing with expensive medical bills, ongoing health care, lost wages and property damage. We wish to take away your financial stress after an accident – not add to it. That is why we operate on a contingency fee basis. 

With this payment arrangement, our clients pay $0 upfront and $0 if we do not win the case. We only charge an attorney fee if we secure our clients financial compensation during their personal injury cases. If a financial settlement or judgment award is collected, we will charge our fee as a percentage of the overall amount won. Contingency fees mean you accept zero financial risk of pursuing a claim.

Contact Our Covington Personal Injury Lawyers Today | Free Consultations

The attorneys at Hendy | Johnson | Vaughn | Emery are passionate about helping accident victims recover, rebuild and restore their lives as much as possible. We will help you pursue the justice and financial compensation that you deserve.

When you need a Covington or Louisville personal injury attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling toll free at 888-606-5297.