accidents

08.24.2021

My Vehicle Was Damaged in a Wreck… What Do I Need to Know?

By Kyle Roby, Partner Kyle Roby English, Lucas, Priest and Owsley, LLP All too often I get calls from people who have been rear-ended by a distracted driver. Most of the time, when no one was injured with only damage to the vehicle, there is not a need for a personal injury attorney like me to get involved, but I am always happy to provide information on how one should proceed after being rear-ended and provide a warning for potential pitfalls that may arise. What often complicates matters is when the person that rear-ended the vehicle does not have insurance, leaving the person who got hit to fix their car out of their own pocket. In these situations, whether you are trying to seek payment for damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance company or your own to get your car fixed, this can be an extremely frustrating experience. Here are five tips that I often share to help ease your frustration: Read More

08.04.2021

Will The Insurance Company Pay for My Injury if the Wreck is My Fault?

What is disputed liability and what impact does it have in the state of Kentucky? By: ELPO Law Attorney J.A. Sowell (jasowell@ELPOLaw.com; 270-781-6500) Disputed liability is a term used by insurance companies when negotiating bodily injury claims made against their insured after there is an injury resulting from… Read More

11.30.2020

What You Need to Know About Safe Driving During Winter Weather

By ELPO Law Attorney Jessica Shoulders According to the Federal Highway Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), each year, 24 percent of weather-related crashes occur on snow, slushy, or icy roadways, and 17 percent of all vehicle crashes occur during winter conditions.  With winter approaching, it is important to know what you can do to reduce your chances of being involved in a winter weather related crash and what to do if you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being involved in one. Snow and ice reduce pavement friction and vehicle maneuverability, causing slower speeds, reduced roadway capacity, and increased crash risk. Heavy snow and sleet can also reduce visibility. Lanes and roads are obstructed by snow accumulation, which reduces capacity and increases travel time delay.  If you encounter any of these road conditions, the following tips from AAA and the NHTSA can help you avoid a crash: Read More

07.21.2020

Five Things You Need to Know After a Car Wreck

By Kyle Roby, Partner Kyle Roby If you follow ELPO Law on social media (facebook.com/ELPOLaw; @ELPOLaw) or subscribe to our ELPO eNewsletter (click here to subscribe), you are familiar with articles with tips on how to protect your family with car insurance or what happens if you are involved… Read More

05.19.2020

Car Insurance: Is My Family Really Protected?

By J.A. Sowell, Attorney J.A. Sowell Reprinted from SOKY Happenings article 4.30.20 Picture this – it is Monday evening. You are driving down Campbell Lane with your two children in the backseat headed to grab a quick dinner after soccer practice. As you approach the intersection with Scottsville Road, you have the green light. Then, out of nowhere, a pick-up truck unexpectedly tries to turn left in front of your vehicle. Despite going the speed limit and paying attention to the road, there is nothing that you can do to avoid the collision. Boom! The pick-up truck rams into your vehicle, causing it to spin out and incur significant damage. You and your kids sustain neck and back injuries from the impact. The other driver is clearly at fault. No big deal, though… his insurance will surely cover the property damage, as well as the medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering you endured, right? Well… maybe. According to the Insurance Research Council, there is a 13% chance that the driver who hit you does not have any insurance at all – even though Kentucky law requires every driver to maintain a certain level of insurance coverage. There is also a good chance that while the driver has car insurance, he only carries the minimally required coverage, which may not be enough to fully cover the damages you sustained from the accident he caused. So, what can you do to make sure your family is protected in a situation like this? You can prepare for these unimaginable situations by obtaining uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your automobile insurance policy. Read More

03.02.2020

Jury Awards Over $7.1 Million to ELPO Law Clients in Truck Wreck

English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley, LLP (ELPO Law) announced today that a jury has awarded over $7.1 million to ELPO Law clients who were involved in a truck wreck in 2017. Kyle Roby Charles Basham and Jeff Basham have been in the towing and truck wreck business all of their… Read More

01.15.2020

What Happens If You Are in an Accident While Riding in an Uber?

By Kyle Roby, Partner Kyle Roby Most of us use the ride sharing service Uber when we need a ride because our car is in the shop or we are planning an evening out on the town. When you call for an Uber, the last thing on your mind is… Read More

09.05.2017

Kentucky Court Reverses Summary Judgment When Basic Reparations Benefits Were Not Timely Paid

Kentucky is a "no fault" insurance state. While this does not mean that a person hurt by another person's negligence can never seek compensation following a motor vehicle accident, it does provide that certain minimum benefits must be available to those who purchase automobile insurance, without regard to fault. The idea is that injured individuals who suffer only minor injuries will have their medical expenses paid through their own personal injury protection (PIP) or basic reparations benefits (BRB), thus discouraging lawsuits. Read More

07.07.2017

Who has duty to enforce big rig size limits on Kentucky’s roads?

Generally, when someone is hurt due to another party's negligence, the injured person has a right to seek fair compensation in a court of law. When the alleged breach of duty was by a governmental entity or government employee, however, different rules apply. At common law, the government could not be held liable for injuries caused by negligence. This was because of the "sovereign immunity" doctrine, which held that "the king can do no wrong." While it is now possible to file suit against the government and be awarded money damages under some circumstances, such cases tend to be much more difficult than if the defendant had been a business or individual without government ties. Read More

05.05.2017

Tennessee Court of Appeals Reverses Summary Judgment in Tractor-Trailer Accident Case

Because of the disproportionate size and weight between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles, people in the smaller vehicles tend to suffer more serious injuries in a tractor-trailer accident. However, as a recent case illustrates, truckers also can be injured - especially when both of the involved vehicles are 18-wheelers. Read More