Personal Injury Attorney in Louisville

Knowing when to contact a personal injury lawyer is as important as understanding how much an attorney can help. Let's take a look at different scenarios that could require an attorney's attention. 

You Suffered Serious Injuries 

Have you or a loved one sustained severe injuries that require medical treatment, hospitalization, surgery, or long-term care? If so, was the injury caused by someone else's actions or inactions? It's likely that you may have a valid personal injury case requiring an attorney's intervention. 

The Insurance Provider Disputes or Undervalues Your Claim 

The same applies if the insurance carrier denies or undervalues your claim; you need a personal injury lawyer to advocate for your rights. Also, in cases where liability (fault) is disputed, that alone can complicate the claims process. For this reason, you need a lawyer to help build a strong case on your behalf.

The Accident Involves Multiple Parties

Some accidents may involve multiple parties, making it difficult to determine who is liable. Even after determining liability, you'll need a lot of resources to hold each one of these parties responsible. That's yet another reason to consider working with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

The Insurance Company Refuses to Negotiate

The insurance company refusing to negotiate isn't something new. We've seen that script before. If you have a valid claim but the insurance provider won't hear any of it, they may be acting out of bad faith, a scenario our bad faith insurance claim attorneys can handle.

You Don't Have Enough Evidence to Support Your Case

A lack of sufficient evidence to support a claim shouldn't rule you out of possible compensation for your injuries or losses. Some accidents may make it impossible for the injured to gather evidence, especially if they suffered life-threatening injuries. In such a situation, Morgan and Morgan has powerful legal resources to conduct thorough investigations and put all pieces together before filing a claim. 

You're Unsure if You Have a Valid Case

It's understandable that you may be uncertain about the strength or validity of your personal injury case. That's because this could be your first time seeking compensation for your injuries or losses. No matter the circumstances, it's best to have your case evaluated by a legal professional specializing in personal injury law. They will let you know whether you should proceed with the case, including when and how. 

Did you know that personal injury lawyers are not the same? Some are better equipped and more qualified than others. So as you look for a legal professional to represent you, don't believe just any billboard or advertisement you come across.

You should do your homework and ensure that the attorney you choose to represent you is the best person for this role. So, how do you find the right attorney for you? While there are many different things you may want to look at, we've narrowed it down to four of the most important ones, saving you time in the process. 

Experience 

You deserve a personal injury lawyer with a significant amount of experience handling cases similar to yours. Find out how long they've been practicing personal injury law in this state and if they specialize in your specific type of case, such as a car accident, slip and fall, dog bite, etc. 

Resources 

Assess the resources available to them or the law firm they work for. Do they have what it takes to handle the case, or will they settle for anything because they can't afford to build a strong case for you or your loved one? You deserve a lawyer with the necessary staff, financial resources, and access to expert witnesses or investigators to thoroughly investigate your case, gather evidence, and build a strong legal argument on your behalf.

Results 

What's their track record of success in the personal injury realm? Have they won any cases in the past? If so, what is their win percentage? If they have won several cases in the past, do they have the results to show? 

Normally, personal injury attorneys and law firms in general are usually proud of their achievements. A winning attorney won't shy away from showing their results because, after all, results matter. 

Reputation 

You should also consider the lawyer's reputation. What are they known for? Do they fight aggressively for their clients? Just to give you an idea of how important a lawyer's or law firm's reputation is, Morgan and Morgan is the largest injury firm in the United States. That alone sends a strong message to the other party when it comes to these kinds of cases. They know that if they don't agree to cooperate with us, we have the power and resources to fight to the very end of the rope. 

In order to recover damages, you must first ensure you have a valid claim. For the claim to be valid, it must satisfy the following elements.

Duty  

Here, the attorney will establish whether the defendant owed you a duty of care. In other words, they'll find out whether the defendant had a legal obligation to act reasonably and ensure your safety or well-being in a specific situation.

Breach  

The second element requires showing that they failed to act in a reasonable manner, deviating from the standard of care expected in that particular situation. This breach of duty can be due to negligent actions, recklessness, omissions, or intentional misconduct.  

Injury

You can only file a personal injury claim if you or a loved one suffered an actual injury or harm as a result of the defendant's breach of duty. This injury can be physical, emotional, or both.  

Damages

Finally, you must prove that you incurred damages as a result of the injury. Below, we've covered some examples of damages you may be able to recover with the help of an experienced lawyer in Louisville. 

The damages you may be able to recover with the help of a reputable attorney may fall into three main categories, as discussed below. 

Economic Damages

These are the financial losses you have suffered due to the injury. They may include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income  
• Lost earning potential 
• Property damage 

Non-Economic Damages

These damages do not have a specific monetary value. Their main purpose is to compensate the injured for the physical and emotional impact of the injury. They may include: 

• Pain and suffering 
• Loss of enjoyment of life 
• Loss of consortium
• Permanent disfigurement

Punitive Damages

Unlike economic and non-economic damages, punitive damages are not awarded in all personal injury cases. The only reason the judge or jury may award you punitive damages is if they determine that the defendant was particularly reckless or malicious. 

In Louisville, for example, punitive damages may only be awarded in situations where the defendant acted toward the plaintiff with malice, oppression, or fraud. If the case does not meet this standard, then the plaintiff may only recover economic and non-economic damages, regardless of the nature of their injuries.

Kentucky has one of the shortest deadlines for filing a personal injury claim. In most cases, you'll have only a year from the time of the injury to take legal action against the liable party. For a property damage claim, you only have two years to sue.

The exact value of your personal injury case will depend on its particularities. To learn more, contact us for a free case evaluation. 

Most personal injury lawyers, including the team at Morgan and Morgan, work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if they win the case. Learn more about the benefits of the contingency payment system here.

Morgan and Morgan is America's largest injury firm. With an army of over 1,000 attorneys, we can never run out of resources to fight for you or a loved one. Although we have recovered over $20 billion as compensation for the injured since 1988, the fight is far from over. You may be next in line for compensation. 

Contact us today to learn more about your options.