Kentucky Fatal Vehicle Accident Lawyers
Helping Louisville and Lexington families after the wrongful deaths of their loved ones
Motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of fatalities in Kentucky and across the United States. Worse, almost every fatal accident is preventable. When people drive recklessly, while intoxicated, or aggressively, they can be held liable for their actions. When manufacturers put defective vehicles on the market, they must be held responsible for putting profits ahead of people.
At Wilt Injury Lawyers, our Kentucky fatal vehicle accident lawyers are skilled at holding negligent drivers and other parties liable for taking the life of your loved one. We understand that no dollar value can be placed on someone’s life, but our attorneys work to secure justice for your family. We have a strong record of wrongful death awards. Contact us in Lexington or Louisville today to learn more.
How can we help today?
- How common are fatal vehicle accidents in Kentucky?
- What types of vehicle accidents caused the most fatalities in Kentucky?
- Which acts of negligence can lead to fatal vehicle accidents in Kentucky?
- Who is liable for a fatal vehicle accident in Kentucky?
- Can I file a wrongful death claim for a fatal accident in Kentucky?
- What damages can I seek from a fatal accident claim?
- Do you have a fatal vehicle accident lawyer near me?
How common are fatal vehicle accidents in Kentucky?
The Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) reported 780 deaths on public roads in 2020:
- 35% of the fatalities involved collisions between two cars
- 28% involved collisions with fixed objects
- 13% involved collisions with a pedestrian
- 1% involved fatal hit-and-run accidents
This represents a 5.5% increase in total road fatalities from 2019.
Kentucky is part of a national trend. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports nearly 43,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2021. That’s a 10% increase from the 38,824 fatalities reported in 2020. The estimate is also the highest number of traffic deaths since 2005. Each fatality represents a human life lost and a devastated family.
What types of vehicle accidents caused the most fatalities in Kentucky?
Per the KTC, the following caused the most deaths in Kentucky in 2020:
- Collisions with moving vehicles: 283 deaths
- Collisions with fixed objects: 213 deaths
- Other non-collision: 135 deaths
- Collisions with pedestrians: 96 deaths
- Non-collision overturned: 15 deaths
The most deadly fatal collisions between two vehicles in Kentucky were:
- Angle collisions: 40.1% of all fatal accidents
- Head-on collisions: 37.8% of all fatal accidents
- Rear-end collisions: 9.2% of all fatal accidents
- Sideswipe collisions: 5.5% of all fatal accidents
All other collisions (excluding backed-into accidents, which resulted in no fatalities in 2020) accounted for 7.4% of all fatal accidents.
Which acts of negligence can lead to fatal vehicle accidents in Kentucky?
Common causes of fatal vehicle accidents include:
- Driver intoxication
- Driver distraction such as texting while driving
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Aggressive driving
The KTC reports the leading causes of fatal truck accidents (listed by the most deaths) were improper load securement, defective brakes, and improper loads.
Who is liable for a fatal vehicle accident in Kentucky?
Liability is determined by multiple factors, and there may be multiple liable parties. Generally speaking, those parties can include:
- Drivers
- Owners of vehicles
- Employers
- Trucking companies, brokers, and shippers
- A seller of alcohol
- The manufacturers of defective vehicle parts
- Other applicable third parties
Can I file a wrongful death claim for a fatal accident in Kentucky?
When a loved one dies in a fatal Kentucky vehicle accident, the personal representative of the estate can file a wrongful death claim. The parties entitled to the proceeds of any settlement or verdict are usually the spouse, child, and/or parents. The priorities are set forth in the Kentucky wrongful death law.
- If the decedent had a spouse and no children, the spouse gets the proceeds.
- If there are a spouse and children, the spouse gets half, and the children get half.
- If there are children and no spouse, the children get the proceeds.
- If there are parents but no spouse or children (such as when a child dies), the parents get the proceeds.
- If there are no parents, children, or spouse, then the estate gets the proceeds.
Please contact our Kentucky fatal accident lawyers as soon as possible, as there are time limits for filing your claim.
What damages can I seek in a fatal accident claim?
We know that no financial award can ever replace your loved one. What compensation can do, however, is ensure that your family is secure for the future, and help you protect your home. It can also ensure that the person or entities who caused the fatal accident are held accountable for their actions.
Under Kentucky law, you may seek the following damages:
- Medical expenses incurred by the deceased
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of income and earning potential
- Loss of guidance and support
- Loss of companionship and love
- Pain and suffering
- Lost household services and care
- Attorney and court fees
Do you have a fatal vehicle accident lawyer near me?
Wilt Injury Lawyers meets the families of fatal accident victims at our offices in Louisville and Lexington:
We’ll guide you through this difficult time and be your voice with the insurance companies and others. Our lawyers will answer all your family’s questions and explain each step of the claims process. If you cannot travel to us, we can arrange a phone or video conference.
Speak with our respected Kentucky fatal vehicle accident lawyers today
At Wilt Injury Lawyers, our lawyers have obtained numerous settlements and verdicts in wrongful death cases for millions and hundreds of thousands of dollars. We are skilled at showing how the accident that caused the death of your loved one happened and who should be held responsible. While many personal injury cases do settle, we always prepare your case for trial. Please call or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.