Bardstown Kentucky Personal Injury Law Blog

There are many ways that people in Kentucky get to their destinations, but one of the most commonly used modes of transportation is an automobile. People drive their cars to work, to school, to get groceries, go shopping, run errands, go to different events, see friends and family and for many other reasons. Cars have made getting to various destinations much easier, but it is important that people drive their cars safely. When people do not, car accidents can occur and people can be injured as a result.

In 2018, there were a total of 158,171 car accidents in Kentucky. Out of the total number of accidents 670 of them were fatal accidents which resulted in 730 people losing their lives. There were also 23,591 accidents that resulted in injuries for those involved in the accident, which resulted in 34,774 people being injured. The remaining accidents resulted in property damage only.

It is an unfortunate reality that every day in Kentucky people are injured through no fault of their own because of the negligence of others. This can happen in a variety of ways. It could be a car accident, a pedestrian accident, a slip-and-fall type accident and in many other situations. However, no matter how the accident occurs, people can be left with significant injuries, which will require extensive medical treatment. This means that people could also have large medical bills and lose income if they are unable to work, creating a difficult financial situation in addition to the physical troubles.

People who find themselves in this unfortunate position due to the negligence of others may be able to receive compensation through a personal injury lawsuit, but they need to prove the injury was, in fact, caused by another party's negligence. In order to do this, they must first demonstrate that the other person owed them a duty of care. Then they must demonstrate that the other people breached that duty and that breach caused the injury. Finally, they must prove that they suffered economic damages as a result of the negligence.

Distracted driving has become one of the new buzz words of highway safety. Many states have responded to the increasing use of smart phones and similar devices by making distracted driving a crime. Unfortunately, the formal prohibition on the use of such devices is occasionally insufficient to prevent accidents and deaths.

A three-vehicle collision on I-64 in Franklin County on October 1, 2019 has been blamed on distracted driving on the part of the driver of a semi-trailer truck. According to Kentucky State Police, the driver of the truck was distracted by a video game on his cell phone mounted on his dash. The driver was unable to recognize that traffic ahead of him was slowing, and he was unable to stop in time. The semi rear-ended a Jeep, and both vehicles were pushed into a Ford Explorer. The semi left the roadway and traveled over a culvert and into the deep grass. The driver of the Jeep was pronounced dead at the scene. Police also said that the truck driver was not wearing his prescription corrective lenses in violation of his commercial driver's license.

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable users of the road because they have little to no barriers of protection in the event of a collision. This is why other road users, such as truck drivers, drivers of private vehicles and cyclists, have the responsibility to be especially cautious when pedestrians are on the road or the sidewalk.

If you have been involved in an accident involving a collision, the fault must first be established so a personal injury claim can be made. The fault will be attributed according to the circumstances. The following are some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents.