Pikeville Truck Accident Lawyer

Large trucks are difficult to maneuver; and when loaded with freight, they may take 20 to 40 percent longer to stop than a car, and smaller vehicles are no match for a big truck in a crash. It’s no wonder that an accident with a truck may result in catastrophic injuries and even death. Survivors may face mounting medical bills and expenses when they are unable to work, and their lives and those of their families may never be the same.

If you or a loved one has been injured or someone has died in a vehicle accident with a truck that was caused by another party’s negligence or fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses through insurance or a lawsuit. However, Kentucky laws for personal injury are complicated, and there are federal laws involved to further complicate a case. Trucking companies and their insurers and lawyers will attempt to deny claims or get you to settle for the lowest amount possible. Going up against them is not something you should attempt on your own, but an experienced Kentucky truck accident lawyer can fight for your rights and a fair settlement.

Pikeville attorney Billy Johnson of the Johnson Law Firm is both compassionate and aggressive when going after the negligent parties and holding them accountable for the damage done. Let Billy handle all legal hurdles involved with winning compensation, so you can focus on recovering and putting your life back together.

Why Choose Our Pikeville Trucking Injury Lawyer

There are many personal injury attorneys, and it is important to find one you not only can trust, but who has the experience skills and resources to fight for the settlement you deserve. Here are some reasons why we feel you should choose the Johnson Law Firm:

• We are experienced. Attorney Billy Johnson is highly skilled and aggressive when going after the negligent parties, and has been helping victims of truck and car crashes since 1998.
• We get results, including a $24 Million Settlement in a recent truck wreck case on first day of trial.
• We are local and know Kentucky courts, judges and systems.
• We take a personal interest in each client. Billy Johnson won’t turn your case over to a less experienced personal injury attorney or paralegal; he gets to know your case inside out and works tirelessly for you. We have helped many satisfied clients, and you can read their testimonials here.
• We are certified and respected for the work we do. Billy Johnson has been recognized by the organizations that include:
  • Super Lawyer
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • National Trial Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • Instrument Rated Pilot
• We offer free consultations to get you started and there are no fees to you unless and until we win your case.

Compensation Our Kentucky Law Firm for Trucking Cases May Recover

After a truck accident that was not your fault, Billy Johnson will fight for a settlement that provides payment for all your physical, emotional, and financial losses that resulted from the crash. These are called damages, and may include:

Economic damages — for calculable monetary losses, such as:

• Medical, hospital, and therapy expenses
• Lost wages and loss of potential future earnings if you cannot work
• Property damage
• Costs of modification to your home or vehicle, such as to accommodate a wheelchair

Non-economic damages — for less tangible losses that do not have a specific dollar value but negatively impact your life, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium, companionship, and enjoyment of life
• Mental anguish and emotional distress
• Disability
• Wrongful death

Punitive damages. In rare cases involving a defendant’s gross negligence or malicious intent to harm, you may also receive punitive damages. These are intended to punish the at-fault party for conduct considered especially outrageous or egregious and to deter others from acting similarly.

The amounts of damages you may be awarded in a successful lawsuit can range from thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the individual circumstances of the case. In general, the greater your costs and the more severe and permanent your injuries, the higher the settlement.

Pikeville Kentucky Truck Injury Lawyer Must Prove Negligence

Winning your case means proving that another party, the defendant in the case, was negligent and at fault for causing the accident. To prove negligence, our team would have to demonstrate the existence of the following legal factors:

1. Duty — The defendant owed you a duty of reasonable care not to cause harm.
2. Breach — The defendant breached this duty by actions or failure to act.
3. Cause — This breach of duty caused the accident.
4. Damages — You suffered injuries and damages as a result.

Proving negligence in truck accident cases is complicated, because there are both state and federal laws that come into play. Truck drivers must be in compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, including commercial driver’s license standards, safety fitness procedures, financial responsibility for motor carriers, hours of service for drivers; and inspection, repair and maintenance of vehicles. Drivers who violate regulations, or who are in a hurry, fatigued, or impaired, may be held negligent for violating these requirements.

In addition, there are often other parties involved in the crash who may be at fault and liable for damages. For example:

• Trucking companies may have been negligent in hiring, supervising, or training drivers, or companies may have pressured drivers to exceed maximum hours-of-service regulations
• Maintenance personnel may have failed to properly inspect, maintain and repair the truck.
• Cargo companies may be responsible for improper load securement that could allow shifting and cause a crash.
• The municipality or company responsible for road maintenance may be held liable if faulty road conditions are responsible for the accident.
• The manufacturer of the truck or its parts may be found liable if the parts were faulty.

Proving fault is especially important because according to Kentucky Revised Statutes section 411.182, the amount of damages you can recover is reduced by the same percentage you are found to be at fault for causing the crash. Our attorneys will investigate to find all potentially liable defendants and make sure they are included in the lawsuit as they all may have insurance and assets which can go toward a settlement.

How Our Pikeville Truck Accident Attorney Works for You

Trucking companies and their insurers have high-powered lawyers on their side. After an accident, trucking companies quickly send an investigation team to find the best ways to limit their financial losses and may attempt to get you to make oral or written statements that can be used against you. That is why it is so important to have a reliable truck accident attorney on your side as soon as possible.

When you have the Johnson Law Firm on your side, we will start working for you immediately. We will:

• Meet with you to discuss the individual circumstances of your case, determine who the at-fault parties may be, and estimate what kind of settlement we should be fighting for.
• Investigate the accident and gather evidence such as videos and photos of the crash, road conditions and vehicle damage, and by interviewing eyewitnesses and first responders, examining the truck’s black box information and the truck driver’s cellphone records, and looking into past safety and hiring records.
• Hire accident reconstruction experts and experts in how your injuries will affect you into the future to testify on your behalf.
• Deal with insurance companies and aggressively negotiate for a fair settlement.
• Take your case to court and advocate on your behalf if necessary.

We will be there at every stage of the legal process, from handling discovery, filing pretrial motions, presenting evidence and making closing arguments, to filing an appeal if appropriate.

Get Help from Our Truck Accident Attorneys in Pikeville

If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident, get help from a strong and experienced Kentucky truck accident attorney who knows how to go up against trucking and insurance companies and get results.

Attorney Billy Johnson has decades of legal experience helping families just like yours. He knows the ins and outs of a courtroom, and he has successfully secured large settlements and jury awards on behalf of his clients across Kentucky. He will aggressively fight for your rights and seek the financial compensation you deserve.

We work on contingency, which means we get paid only when you get paid. Call the Johnson Law Firm at 606-437-4488 today for a free, no-obligation consultation.