Injured in a Car Wreck? Talk Directly With an Experienced Local Attorney.
A serious car wreck can change your life in seconds. You may suddenly be dealing with injuries, medical bills, missed work, damage to your vehicle, and an insurance company that is already investigating the claim.
At Bates & Slone Attorneys At Law, we represent people injured in car wrecks throughout Eastern Kentucky.
Our office is in Hindman, Kentucky, and we represent injured people and families throughout Knott County, Perry County, Breathitt County, Letcher County, Floyd County, Pike County, and surrounding communities.
When you contact Bates & Slone, you can talk directly with an attorney about your case.
Injured in a car wreck? Call Bates & Slone at (606) 785-5581 for a free consultation.
Nearly Three Decades Representing Injured Kentuckians
Experience matters when you have been seriously injured.
Attorney Timothy C. Bates has practiced law in Kentucky since 1997 and has spent nearly three decades representing injured people and their families.
Attorney Seth C. Slone has represented injured Kentuckians for more than a decade.
Together, Bates & Slone provides the personal attention of a local Eastern Kentucky law firm backed by decades of experience handling personal injury claims.
We understand Eastern Kentucky because we live and work here.
Why You May Need a Lawyer After a Car Wreck
After a wreck, the insurance company begins evaluating the claim almost immediately.
Its adjusters may investigate how the collision occurred, obtain statements, review medical records, evaluate your injuries, and determine how much the company believes it should pay.
You deserve someone looking out for your interests.
Bates & Slone can investigate the wreck, preserve important evidence, obtain available insurance information, collect medical documentation, communicate with insurance companies, and evaluate the full extent of your damages.
Our goal is straightforward: protect your rights and pursue the compensation Kentucky law allows you to recover.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Kentucky Car Wreck?
Every case is different, but depending upon the facts and the injuries involved, a person injured because of another driver’s negligence may have claims involving:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages and loss of income
- Impairment of the ability to earn income
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional suffering
- Permanent impairment or disability
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Property damage
- Other losses permitted under Kentucky law
In a fatal collision, certain claims may also be available to the deceased person’s estate and surviving family members.
We examine the facts of each case individually to determine what damages may legally be pursued.
The Insurance Company Does Not Decide What Your Case Is Worth
An insurance adjuster may tell you what the company is willing to pay.
That is not necessarily the same thing as the value of your claim.
The seriousness of your injuries, medical treatment, future limitations, lost income, available insurance coverage, liability evidence, and many other factors can affect the value of a Kentucky car-wreck case.
Before accepting a settlement or signing a release, make sure you understand exactly what rights you are giving up.
Once a claim is finally settled and released, you generally cannot return later and demand additional compensation because your injuries turned out to be worse than expected.
We Investigate the Wreck and the Available Insurance Coverage
A serious car-wreck case can involve much more than obtaining a police report and sending medical bills to an insurance company.
Depending upon the circumstances, our investigation may include:
- Police reports and investigative materials
- Photographs and video
- Witness statements
- Vehicle damage
- Medical records and expenses
- Employment and wage information
- Available liability insurance
- Underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage
- Other potentially responsible persons or businesses
- Expert testimony when appropriate
In significant injury cases, identifying all available insurance coverage and all potentially responsible parties can be especially important.
What If the Other Driver Does Not Have Enough Insurance?
A serious injury can easily result in damages greater than the at-fault driver’s liability insurance limits.
That does not necessarily mean the available recovery is limited to that driver’s policy.
Depending upon the circumstances and applicable insurance policies, you may have an underinsured motorist (UIM) or uninsured motorist (UM) claim.
Determining what insurance coverage is available is an important part of evaluating a serious Kentucky automobile-accident claim.
Kentucky No-Fault Benefits and PIP
Kentucky automobile claims can involve Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or basic reparation benefits in addition to a claim against the person responsible for causing the wreck.
These benefits can affect payment of medical expenses, lost wages, and other aspects of your claim.
The interaction between PIP coverage, liability insurance, health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, and UM/UIM coverage can become complicated.
We can help determine what coverage applies and how the different insurance claims should be handled.
What Should You Do After a Car Wreck?
Your health should come first. Seek appropriate medical treatment and follow your healthcare providers’ recommendations.
When possible, preserve photographs, videos, witness information, insurance information, medical records, receipts, and other documents related to the collision and your injuries.
Be careful about giving recorded statements, signing broad medical authorizations, or accepting an early settlement before you understand your rights and the extent of your injuries.
And remember that legal deadlines apply to Kentucky automobile claims. Waiting too long can result in the loss of an otherwise valid claim.
Serious Injuries Require Serious Attention
Bates & Slone handles car-wreck cases involving injuries ranging from relatively short-term injuries to catastrophic and permanent harm, including:
- Broken bones
- Neck and back injuries
- Head and brain injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Shoulder and knee injuries
- Permanent impairment
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Amputation and other catastrophic injuries
- Fatal injuries and wrongful death
The more serious the injury, the more important it becomes to understand not only today’s medical expenses, but how the injury may affect the person’s health, work, independence, and quality of life for years to come.
Car Wrecks Involving Commercial Vehicles
Some automobile collisions involve a driver who was working for a business at the time of the wreck.
Those cases may involve legal and insurance issues beyond an ordinary two-vehicle collision, including whether an employer or another company may also be legally responsible.
Bates & Slone investigates the circumstances of the collision to identify the people and businesses that may bear responsibility.
Do I Have to Pay an Attorney’s Fee Up Front?
No upfront attorney’s fee is required to hire Bates & Slone for a car-wreck injury case.
We handle personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. That means the attorney’s fee is paid from a recovery rather than being paid in advance.
We will explain the fee agreement and responsibility for case expenses before you hire us so you understand how the arrangement works.
How Long Do I Have to File a Kentucky Car-Wreck Claim?
Kentucky law imposes deadlines on automobile-accident claims, and determining the applicable deadline can depend on the particular claim and circumstances.
Do not assume that you have unlimited time simply because an insurance company is communicating with you or investigating your claim.
If you have been seriously injured, speaking with an attorney promptly gives the attorney an opportunity to investigate the collision and preserve evidence while it is still available.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kentucky Car Wrecks
Should I give the other driver’s insurance company a recorded statement?
You should be cautious. A statement given shortly after a collision can become important evidence later. You have the right to speak with an attorney before deciding how to respond to requests from another driver’s insurance company.
What if I was partially at fault?
Being accused of contributing to a collision does not necessarily prevent you from having a claim. Fault can be disputed, and Kentucky law allows responsibility to be allocated among the parties based upon the evidence.
What if the insurance company has already offered me money?
An early offer does not necessarily reflect the full value of your claim. Before accepting a settlement, consider whether the full nature of your injuries, future treatment, lost income, and other damages are known.
What if I was a passenger?
An injured passenger may have a claim even though the passenger was not driving either vehicle. Depending upon the circumstances, more than one insurance policy may potentially be involved.
Can I recover if the other driver was uninsured?
Potentially. Uninsured motorist coverage may apply depending upon the insurance policies and circumstances involved.
What if the other driver only has minimum insurance limits?
Additional coverage may sometimes be available, including underinsured motorist coverage. A lawyer can investigate the applicable policies and determine whether additional sources of recovery exist.
How much is my car-wreck case worth?
There is no reliable formula that determines the value of every case. The answer depends on the severity and permanence of the injuries, medical treatment, lost income, available insurance coverage, liability evidence, and many other factors.
Be cautious of anyone who promises a particular result before thoroughly investigating your case.
Local Lawyers. Personal Attention. Experienced Representation.
Bates & Slone is not a distant law firm advertising in Eastern Kentucky.
We are here.
Our office is located in Hindman, Kentucky, and our attorneys represent injured people throughout Eastern Kentucky.
We believe clients deserve to know the attorney handling their case, understand what is happening, and have someone available to answer their questions.
If an insurance company refuses to fairly resolve a claim, we are prepared to pursue the case through litigation.
Talk With Bates & Slone About Your Car Wreck
If you or a family member has been injured in a car wreck in Eastern Kentucky, contact Bates & Slone Attorneys At Law.
We can review what happened, discuss the available insurance coverage, explain your options, and help you decide what to do next.
Free consultation. No upfront attorney’s fee.
Call (606) 785-5581
Bates & Slone Attorneys At Law
79 W. Main Street
Hindman, Kentucky 41822
Serving injured people throughout Eastern Kentucky, including Knott, Perry, Breathitt, Letcher, Floyd, Pike, and surrounding counties.