Prestonsburg Personal Injury Lawyer
A personal injury is an injury caused by negligence. It could be an action, inaction, or the malicious intent of another person. For example, you could be injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver; you could slip and fall at a hotel swimming pool; or you could be burned by a defective kitchen appliance. There are a myriad of ways that you can suffer a personal injury caused by someone else’s recklessness or negligence.
The courts recognize your right to file a lawsuit to recover financial damages from defendants who caused your injury. Defendants can include vehicle drivers, insurance companies, employers, manufacturers, property owners, medical personnel, animal owners, and a whole host of others.
To show negligence on the part of the defendant, your attorney will have to prove:
- Duty
- Breach
- Causation
- Damages.
In a nutshell, this means that your Prestonsburg personal injury lawyer will have to prove that the defendant 1) had a duty to ensure your safety, 2) breached this duty by acting recklessly or failing to act, 3) caused you actual harm, and 4) caused you to suffer damages and financial setbacks as a result.
Causes of Personal Injuries in Prestonsburg
A Prestonsburg personal injury attorney explains different ways you can be harmed.
Slip & Fall
Shoppers, tourists, and pedestrians can slip, trip and fall in stores, hotels, concert venues, and elsewhere, sustaining serious injuries. Slip and fall accidents are also common at swimming pools, in parking garages, and on sidewalks.
Car, Truck & Motorcycle Accidents
Kentucky roadways are the site of thousands of car crashes and motor vehicle accidents each year, often resulting in injuries and even death. Vehicle crashes can be caused by distracted or impaired drivers, inclement weather, or roadway debris.
Work Injuries
Laborers can get injured at the worksite due to broken machinery, defective equipment, poor safety precautions, wobbly scaffolding, or other unsafe practices.
Premises Liability
Premises liability comes into play when a visitor to another person’s home, business or property is injured due to an obvious hazard or dangerous condition. A property owner and/or operator has a duty of care to ensure that visitors are safe.
Products Liability
Product manufacturers can be held liable if a toy, appliance, or other product has a design or manufacturing defect that inflicts harm on unsuspecting consumers.
Wrongful Death
If a loved one dies in a car accident, as a result of abuse at a nursing home, or due to a severe fall or other accident, surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim to recover damages.
Other Types of Personal Injury Claims
There are many other types of personal injury claims, including dog bites and animal attacks, abuse and neglect cases, boating and watercraft accidents, burn injuries, asbestos exposure, poisoning and other catastrophic injuries.
Common Accident Injuries
Many severe personal injuries can result from slips and falls, work injuries, and vehicle crashes in Prestonsburg. Some common injuries include:
- Concussion
- TBI and brain injury
- Broken bones
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Cuts, abrasions, and puncture wounds
- Burns
- Organ damage
- Paralysis
- Wrongful death.
Choosing the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in Prestonsburg, KY
Billy Johnson Law Firm is a compassionate and caring group of attorneys.
The skilled attorneys at our law firm fight hard to get the justice our clients deserve. We are aggressive with opponents and compassionate toward our clients. We understand that you’ve been through a traumatic experience and your family may be scared and suffering. We’ve helped countless clients walk through the frightening experience of being severely injured due to another party’s negligence. We’ll stand beside you every step of the way. To learn more about our legal team, you can see our attorney bios here. You can read testimonials from our happy and satisfied clients. You can also review our successful verdicts and settlements.
Damages You May Be Entitled To
A skilled personal injury attorney in Prestonsburg will fight aggressively for you.
There are a variety of damages you may be entitled to depending on the nature of the accident, the severity of your injuries, and who was at fault.
Economic Damages
- Medical expenses (current and future)
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning potential
- Property damages
- Funeral and burial expenses (wrongful death)
Non-Economic Damages
- Shock and mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium (loss of companionship for your spouse)
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
Punitive Damages (does not always apply)
Punitive damages are in addition to economic and non-economic damages, and they are sometimes imposed by a judge who wants to punish a defendant for negligence that is especially egregious or for a previous record of safety violations. Punitive damages are meant to warn other potential offenders who might be tempted to do the same thing.
Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Claims in Prestonsburg
Because all personal injury cases are different, it’s best to talk to a knowledgeable injury lawyer in Pikeville as soon as possible in order to protect your rights. Every case has a statute of limitations, which is the legal term for how long a victim has to file a lawsuit after the accident or injury has occurred. Once the time period ends, you can no longer file a claim. In most personal injury cases, the deadline is one year from the time of your injury. The Kentucky civil statutes of limitation are detailed in KRS Chapter 413: Limitation of Actions.
These statutes tend to be strictly applied by the courts, and a few days can make all the difference in whether a claim is heard or dismissed. There are many factors that may affect which statute of limitations is applicable, and there are numerous exceptions. If you are uncertain whether you still have time to file a claim, talk to a Prestonsburg personal injury lawyer for more information.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Prestonsburg Personal Injury Lawyer?
A Prestonsburg personal injury attorney at Billy Johnson Law Firm works on contingency, which means that we don’t get paid until you get paid. Your legal fees are paid by the defendant as part of a settlement agreement or jury award. If for some reason your claim is not successful, then you owe us nothing. You don’t have to worry about up-front money to hire an attorney to represent you.
Contact Billy Johnson Law Firm Today
If you’ve been hurt in a personal injury accident, you don’t have to go it alone. Let a skilled and experienced Prestonsburg personal injury lawyer fight for the compensation you deserve. At Billy Johnson Law Firm, we are committed to getting you justice! To find out about how we can help, call us at 606-437-4488.