Accident Injury Lawyers in Owensboro, Kentucky

Rhoads & Rhoads Attorneys at Law proudly serve our clients by seeking justice after debilitating injuries. Born and raised in Western Kentucky, founders Jerry and Tom Rhoads have provided legal services to the community for over 50 years and the Rhoads family has practiced law in Western Kentucky for over 85 years.  Rhoads & Rhoads now has several experienced and highly recognized accident injury lawyers and a well-trained, knowledgeable and empathetic staff focused on injury and wrongful death cases and litigation. 

As personal injury lawyers, we work hard to ensure you receive the outcome and compensation by way of an acceptable settlement or a verdict you deserve for all types of personal injury cases, including car accident injury, truck accident injuries or tragic wrongful death outcomes. We collaborate with expert witnesses to reconstruct scenes, identify short and long-term effects of an injury, estimate insurance and property claims to build your personal injury or wrongful death case. We thoroughly investigate the accident to gather eyewitness testimonies, available video or photographic footage, phone records, witnesses, and investigate and find any other existing and beneficial evidence. 

We use our decades of experience as personal injury attorneys to work through the personal injury process to pursue legal action. Overall, our long tradition of professional expertise has earned Rhoads & Rhoads attorneys the reputation for being tenacious, experienced personal injury lawyers who get the job done. 

Call our accident injury lawyers at 888-709-9329 to discuss your injury case today.

Car Accident Settlements

$3,375,000.00: Recovery for a man who suffered a  traumatic brain injury and pelvic injuries that he received in an automobile wreck.

$3,200,000.00: Recovery for a college student who suffered spinal injuries in a motor vehicle accident involving impaired driver.

$999,000.00: Verdict for a woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a motor vehicle accident involving a driver for a national pharmaceutical company.

$850,000.00: Recovery for a woman who suffered  leg injuries in a motor vehicle accident.

$600,000.00: Recovery for a 20 year old who suffered hip and leg injuries in an automobile wreck.

$571,000.00: Recovery for a minor child suffered leg injuries where a driver crossed the center line causing a collision on a state highway.

$570,000.00: Recovery for a woman who suffered a  foot injury resulting in chronic regional pain syndrome after a motor vehicle accident.

$350,000.00: Recovery/settlement for 95-year-old man killed by a negligent motorist.

Accident Injury Lawyers with Award-Winning Legal Expertise

Beyond convenience, we have the skills to back up our excellent reputation. 

Our exceptional personal injury skills and results have been recognized by national organizations and ranking institutions including:

• 2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms
• Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• 2023 Super Lawyers
• The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
• 2023 Messinger-Inquirer Readers’ Choice Platinum Law Firm Award
• 2023 Messinger-Inquirer Readers’ Choice Platinum Lawyer Award
• 2023 Owensboro Living Best Law Firm (Platinum)
• 2023 Owensboro Living Best Lawyer (Platinum)
• American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys “10 Best” Client Satisfaction  
• American Association for Justice
• National Organization for Social Security Claimants’ Representatives
• Kentucky Justice Association

We are honored to have received the recognition because it reflects what we care most about our commitment to our clients and our positive outcomes and compensation in personal injury cases. 

Personal Injury Experience from a Lawyer Near You

As we have had more success for our clients, our legal practice has grown.  We have two offices in Western Kentucky (Owensboro and Madisonville).  This ensures prospective clients from Owensboro, Madisonville, and surrounding counties have convenient, easy access to an excellent local legal team of personal injury lawyers. 

Why Choose an Attorney from Rhoads & Rhoads After a Car Accident

The bottom line? Our experienced attorneys provide outstanding and convenient legal services in multiple practice areas to the greater Western Kentucky community. If you were injured in a car accident, keep reading to learn about Kentucky car accident laws and how Rhoads & Rhoads has the right lawyer to help your claim.

Kentucky Car Collision Data: Fatalities and Serious Injury

In Kentucky, well over 100,000 car accidents occur annually. Recent Kentucky traffic reports noted a nearly 10% increase in the number of fatalities and serious injuries that occur each year due to car crashes.

Despite the overall rate of vehicular crashes decreasing over the past 5 years, the risk of death or severe injury is on the rise. 

Common Types of Car Collisions

Types of car collisions commonly seen in Kentucky include:

Head-on collisions happen when the front ends of both vehicles collide; these collisions often result in a valiant impact with high levels of force and have the highest rates of fatalities.

Side-impact or “T-bone” collisions include accidents when one vehicle crashes into the side of another, forming a “T” shape; these accidents also have a high rate of causing serious injury and death.

Rear-end collisions occur when one vehicle crashes into another from behind. These incidents are often caused by distracted or reckless drivers who are late noticing when the car ahead of them changes speed or stops.

Sideswipe collisions happen when one car is next to another and touches them in a swiping motion. Though these car or truck accidents have a lower risk for injuries, serious consequences or outcomes can occur when additional factors are introduced such as loss of control, excessive speed, rollovers, or secondary collisions.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention and Emergency Response After Accidents

No matter what type of accident you or a loved one are involved in, call for medical assistance right away. Your immediate safety is the most important concern. Sometimes, being involved in something as traumatic as a car crash can cause your body to go into shock, masking injuries or leading to undetected internal damage. 

Once medical professionals have been called, ask for police assistance. You will want to file a formal police report to document the car crash. If you are safe and able to do so, also gather contact and insurance information from the other driver or drivers. 

This is important for ultimately proving your personal injury case if you end up having significant injuries after being in an accident.

After your safety is ensured, contact a lawyer to discuss representation by calling 888-709-9329.

Following Through with Care Recommendations

Seeking professional healthcare can help minimize obvious injuries, detect unseen injuries, and possibly save a life. After your acute medical needs are met, be sure to follow the recommendations of your medical team. This may include follow-up appointments, additional treatments, diagnostic testing, physical rehabilitation, and more.

Though healthcare costs can be a concern when dealing with an injury, you want to maximize your recovery and well-being. For most personal injury cases, these costs may be included in a claim to help restore and maintain your quality of life after temporary or permanent injury. 

Establish a Paper Trail of Events with Your Car Accident Lawyer

Keep copies of all medical records or documents as you are working with your medical team, law enforcement, insurance adjusters, and any other accident-related officials or service providers. These forms are important as they will help you and your personal injury lawyer in the future on a few different levels.

First, having official documentation of events to share with your car accident attorney and legal team can help build your personal injury case. They can work to establish fault and function as an impartial record of the events and damages that occurred. However, if you do not have this documentation, your attorney can promptly obtain it. 

Secondly, these records will help you and your personal injury attorney to estimate the existing and future costs associated with injuries or damages incurred. They can support your claim when filing a case seeking damages from the insurance companies.

Common Injuries After a Car Accident

It is almost impossible to predict what can happen in the wake of a car accident. But your personal injury lawyer knows some injuries are especially common or likely to occur in a vehicle crash. 

Common resulting injuries or conditions can include:

• Musculoskeletal damage such as fractures, strains, sprains, tears, dislocations, and even traumatic amputations.
• Nerve damage or spinal cord injuries (SCIs) leading to pain, numbness, tingling, and even paralysis.
• Back and neck injuries including disc injuries, protrusions, herniations, or fractures. 
• Skin tears, lacerations, abrasions, bruising, hematomas, and more.
• Burn injuries from hot car elements.
• Psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more.

Many people in a car crash have suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBI) caused by the impact of the vehicles. Receiving a brain injury can be a life-altering diagnosis with a significant range in severity, at times requiring 24/7 support. Though recovery is possible, it can take months or years if or when it occurs. 

Secondary Effects of Being in a Crash

Common injuries or effects of a crash may also lead to additional, secondary consequences such as:

• Chronic pain due to musculoskeletal or nerve damage.
• Medical complications (such as infections, bleeding, etc.) due to the injuries sustained.
• Wrongful death related directly to the vehicular event, or due to secondary effects of injuries sustained.

Any level or number of medical and mental health conditions sustained in a car crash can create a number of unanticipated costs and life changes both immediately and even possibly for years to come. These costs and changes should be considered when filing a claim with your attorney.

Timelines for Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit with a Lawyer in Kentucky

Personal injury laws in the state of Kentucky do have a two-year statute of limitations on car or trucking accident cases. A statute of limitations refers to the maximum amount of time you have to either have you9r case settled or file a lawsuit after a car or truck crash. 

Kentucky law states that plaintiffs must file a personal injury lawsuit if desired within 2 years of:

• The date of the accident, or 
• from the date of the last person injury protections(“PIP”) payment made on your behalf by your own automobile insurance company or the company paying said benefit. 
• However, the statute of limitations is one (1) year to file a loss of consortium claim in Kentucky. 

Call our accident injury lawyers at 888-709-9329 to discuss your injury case today.

Qualifying for Filing a Car Accident-Related Suit with Personal Injury Attorneys

Requirements must be met to qualify for filing a car accident claim with an auto accident attorney in Kentucky:

• Medical bills exceed $1,000.
• The accident results in permanent disability or injury, loss of bodily function, fracture of a weight-bearing bone, or severe fracture (compressed, compound, or displaced) of any bone.

Kentucky is also considered a “no-fault” state, meaning it may require drivers to file personal injury protection claims through their own insurance to pay for the initial medical and sot (up to $10,000) whale pursuing legal representation with car accident attorneys against the at-fault party and/or their insurance company for other damages. 

Estimating Your Potential Financial Compensation

Skilled personal injury attorneys can help you to comprehensively place the value of your car crash case. Both financial and non-financial expenses can be included as damages in a fair settlement after an accident. 

People are often familiar with financial damages including compensation for:

• Medical bills such as ambulance services, hospital fees, physicians, treatment costs, medications, assistive devices, rehabilitation therapies, physical therapy, chiropractic care, diagnostic test, and  other medical treatment, including the cost of your future medical needs. 
• Property damage including the vehicle or any other lost items.
• Lost wages or pay from missed work.
• Hired caregivers or other household support.
• Impairment to your ability to earn money in the future

Kentucky also allows non-financial costs to be considered when valuing a personal injury claim which may include pain and suffering, mental anguish, changes to quality of life, and more.  This also includes claims for loss of spousal, child, or parental consortium (loss of spouse, parent or child).

Though money may not directly fix sustained damages, compensation can ease the stress or financial burden of an unexpected injury and everything you have to pay.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Choosing the right personal injury attorney when you’ve been injured can tremendously help your case and your peace of mind.

• An attorney can simplify the murky legal process and expedite your case as much as possible.
• If the insurance company refuses your claim, an experienced attorney will communicate with the insurance companies, defense attorneys, or other parties involved in the case.
• An attorney will understand the intricacies of Kentucky law and car accident options to maximize your chances of success and potential financial compensation.
• Most importantly, an attorney will reduce the time, stress, and emotional burden of your legal needs and insurance claims, allowing you to focus on healing and recovering after being injured.

Partner With a Western Kentucky Personal Injury Lawyer Near You

With over 50 years of experience in comprehensive legal representation and pursuing compensation for injury victims, the personal injury lawyers of Rhoads & Rhoads Attorneys at Law are proud to represent the needs of our Western Kentucky neighbors. Each personal injury attorney on our experienced legal team has an abundance of experience in personal injury and wrongful death litigation. Each attorney knows what it takes to successfully support our clients and takes pride in seeking out your rightful compensation and a top-notch settlement after being injured in a car accident. 

With our fee structure being contingency based, at our personal injury law firm, there is no upfront cost and no risk to you, the client. Whether your personal injury case involves proving someone else’s negligence for product liability with a defective product, a slip-and-fall, fighting for lost wages, or anything in between, our personal injury lawyers are here to help you receive fair compensation for your lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Get Your Free Consultation Today with a Personal Injury Lawyer

Don’t face the insurance company alone. Contact us today for your free case evaluation with a lawyer from our team. We look forward to partnering with you to pursue compensation for your property damage and pain and suffering. 

Call our accident injury lawyers at 888-709-9329 to discuss your injury case today.