HOW DO MY MEDICAL BILLS GET PAID AND CAN I GET MY LOST WAGES WHILE I AM RECUPERATING FROM MY INJURIES?

If you were injured in an automobile accident, your no-fault auto coverage (also known as Personal Injury Protection “PIP”) will pay for certain losses up to the limit of your no-fault protection.  Our attorneys can assist you in coordination of your no-fault benefits so that medical bills, wage losses and even the cost of replacement services can be paid quickly by your own insurance carrier.

In our experience we have found that most automobile owners carry the minimum no-fault benefit of $10,000.  In the case of serious injuries, the minimum coverage is often used up very quickly.  As no-fault premiums are inexpensive, we recommend that you check with your insurance agent to see if increased no-fault coverage makes sense for you.

WHAT IF I AM IN A CAR WRECK AND AN INSURANCE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE ASKS ME TO GIVE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE ACCIDENT?

 
We recommend that you consult an experienced attorney right away.  Our clients never give statements to insurance adjusters who are present.  We also do not advise signing a release for your medical records until we have reviewed and edited the document.

 
HOW SOON AFTER I AM INJURED DO I HAVE TO BRING SUIT?

 
In Kentucky, for personal injury, the statute of limitations is one year from the date of injury or from the date you knew or reasonably should have known that a particular event caused an injury.

 
In automobile accident cases, the time to file a lawsuit is two years from the date of the accident or two years from the date of the last no-fault payment, but in no event more than four years from the accident date.

 
We advise clients to seek legal counsel, however, as soon as possible after the injury, as crucial evidence can be lost.

IF I FILE A CLAIM WILL I HAVE TO GO TO COURT?

In our experience, very few claims achieve maximum recovery without filing suit.  Once litigation is commenced, however, the vast majority of cases are settled before trial.  It is generally necessary that most claimants submit to a deposition. 

A deposition is an examination taken under oath before a court reporter at our office.  At Dykeman & Rosenthal our attorneys will prepare you for your deposition and instruct you regarding every aspect of your testimony.  We have found that when our clients have been made ready to testify at their depositions, the settlement value of the case is increased dramatically.

In the rare circumstance that your claim does go to trial, your deposition will have proved an excellent rehearsal for your participation in your case.  If a trial becomes necessary, our years of experience which includes teaching other lawyers how to try lawsuits, allow our firm to provide you with skilled and persuasive advocacy.