Being seriously injured by someone else’s error can turn your whole world upside down. Suddenly, instead of living your life the way you always have, you have to deal with the pain and trauma of your injuries and the event that caused them. People often think of the physical pain that an injured person experiences. But what about how your physical injuries and the change they’ve caused in your life affect you mentally and emotionally?

The emotional trauma of being seriously injured due to another’s actions is often significant. You’ve had to be as strong to push through the physical pain of your injuries. The actions of the negligent party could be seared into your memory, leaving you to deal with the psychological impact of that experience as it manifests itself in all areas of your life. You may not be able to enjoy the same activities that you used to love doing because of the emotional effect your injuries have had on you. You may not be able to work in the same job you held before you were injured because your injuries have limited your physical mobility or cognitive abilities.

Pain and emotional suffering don’t disappear with the snap of your fingers. You could have to go through extensive therapy just to try to get back to some semblance of normalcy. You can pursue justice for what you’ve had to go through and may continue to grapple with for the foreseeable future. You deserve to be compensated for your pain and suffering by the person who caused it all.

Pursuing Compensation for Your Pain and Suffering

If someone causes you serious injury, you can take legal action against them so you can recover your financial losses. You can also obtain compensation for the psychological and emotional impact that their actions and your injuries have had on you. You must prove that the responsible party’s actions led to your injuries and what your injuries have cost you, both financially and emotionally.

The main part of proving your case so you can obtain full and fair compensation for your injuries is to prove that the other party was negligent. To prove negligence, you need to show that the other party failed to take the reasonable amount of care they should have taken not to harm you, and because of their actions, you suffered injuries. You’ll also have to show that you’ve suffered losses as a result of your injuries. You need to be compensated for those losses.

One of those losses is your pain and suffering.

How to Prove Your Pain and Suffering

While it can be hard to assign a value to the very real physical pain and emotional suffering you’ve experienced, you can provide evidence of it.

Medical Records

When you received medical treatment for your injuries, the medical professionals who treated you documented everything about your injuries. Your symptoms, their examination of you, your diagnoses, and all medical procedures that were done and treatment that was provided are documented in your medical record. While written documentation can’t specifically speak to your personal, emotional, and mental suffering, it can paint a picture of the extent of your injuries and the medical care that was required to promote your recovery. Your medical record could give insight into the pain you’ve been suffering due to your injuries, especially if your injuries were severe.

Continued Treatment

It’s important that you continue receiving treatment for your injuries and follow the treatment plan prescribed by your doctors. This supports your entitlement to compensation because you’ve followed through with the treatment you need to recover from your injuries. By showing that you’ve had to continue receiving treatment for your injuries, you’re further supporting how serious your injuries were. You’re also providing evidence of the day-to-day struggles of dealing with your injuries and how dealing with your injuries long-term has caused you more pain and more emotional suffering.

Expert Testimony

Medical experts could provide written or oral testimony about your injuries. Using their experience, direct knowledge, and expertise, a medical expert can review your medical records and give their professional opinion on your injuries and the effect your injuries are likely to have had on you. A medical expert in the field of psychology or psychiatry may also be able to speak to the psychological and emotional impact of your physical injuries and the negligent party’s actions.

Your Journal

Another element that can be used to prove your pain and suffering is your journal. From the date of the accident, if you can, record in your journal how the accident and your injuries have affected your daily life. Include notes about your mental state, whether you can manage your usual activities, and how your life is different after the accident. Your journal can be convincing contemporaneous evidence for the judge or jury, should your case go to court.

Contact Sampson Law Firm to Help You Get Justice

The Louisville personal injury attorneys of Sampson Law Firm can help you seek compensation for your injuries. Call us today at (502) 584-5050 to schedule a free consultation.

Have you been involved in a truck accident? If so, you know first-hand what a terrifying experience it is to have your life upended by a commercial vehicle. Unfortunately, most truck accident victims don’t know that the key to getting meaningful compensation for their injuries may rest in the hands of the trucking company.

Most commercial trucks have black box devices in their vehicles. These devices may hold vital information that could impact your claim and prove that the truck driver’s negligence resulted in the accident. However, data like that is valuable. Trucking companies are not eager to voluntarily hand over information that may end up costing them money.

What type of information does a truck’s black box contain, and how can you gain access to it? At Sampson Law Firm, we want to give you a better idea of how a truck’s black box could impact your truck accident claim.

What Is a Truck’s Black Box?

“Black box” is a generic term for an electronic data recorder. Most commercial trucks have a black box installed in the vehicle. There are different types of black box data recorders. The two most common recorders are electronic control modules or ECMs and event data recorders or EDRs. These devices are each integrated into the engine of the truck. They are both computerized systems that record and store data about the physical properties of the truck.

Most ECM devices will also record data when a truck is involved in an accident or a near-accident. Although different models may record different information, in general, a black box will capture information about the following:

• Speed before a crash
• A sudden change in acceleration or deceleration
• The number of hard stops
• RPMs between stops
• If the truck’s brakes were applied
• When a truck’s brakes were applied
• Whether a truck was on cruise control
• If the truck was operating at, above, or below the speed limit
• Whether the driver was wearing a seat belt
• Tire pressure
• GPS location data

Some ECMs can also record communications and emails exchanged between the driver and the trucking company. Electronic Logging Devices, which are now standard on more commercial vehicles, can also capture information about a driver’s off-duty hours, sleeping berth hours, and how many hours the truck had been in operation.

How Can a Truck’s Black Box Data Help Me After an Accident?

The data captured and stored in a black box can be crucial to strengthening an accident victim’s claim for compensation. The data held within the device can provide clues to the cause of the accident and show whether negligence on the part of the truck driver is to blame. An ECM or similar device may reveal that a driver was operating their vehicle beyond their permitted hours of service or that they were speeding at the time of the crash. ECM data may also point to internal defects or malfunctions within the vehicle itself.

The black box is an objective and neutral witness to a crash. It doesn’t choose sides, and it can’t change its story to fit someone else’s narrative. However, gaining access to this information can be challenging. Technically, the data recorded on the black box is the property of the trucking company. Most newer data recording devices can only keep and store data for 30 days. The information is then deleted or recorded over. However, nothing is stopping a trucking company from losing or destroying that data at any time. Nothing except your attorney.

While the information contained in a black box recorder can be vital, it can only help your case if you have access to it. Getting access means consulting with an aggressive and experienced attorney immediately after a collision with a commercial truck. An attorney will often draft what is known as a letter of spoliation. This document is delivered to the trucking company and notifies them that they must preserve all evidence pertaining to the accident, including ECM or black box data.

Get in Touch with an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney Now

When you are involved in a significant truck accident, you don’t have time to wait to hope the trucking company and its insurer will offer you the money you deserve. The company will move swiftly to mitigate its losses and protect itself from a large payout. Act now and get an aggressive attorney on your side who will fight to earn you the money you deserve.

Did a negligent truck driver injure you? Then contact the Louisville truck accident attorneys of Sampson Law Firm today at (502) 584-5050 for a free case evaluation. We want to help you pursue the financial compensation you need to recover from your injuries.

Truckers and trucking companies are held to high standards of safety when they’re operating. Unfortunately, truckers and their companies do not always meet these standards, which require truckers to be well-rested, and this can lead to accidents. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), about 13 percent of accidents involving commercial motor vehicle drivers in a recent year involved fatigue on the part of the commercial driver.

Fatigue has an impact on driver performance, which can increase the chances of an accident. It is the responsibility of truckers and trucking companies to ensure that drivers are getting adequate rest, are not being overworked, and are taking the appropriate rest and meal breaks. Behaviors that can lead to fatigue for truck drivers include:

• Not getting enough sleep: Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep in order to be fully alert during the day. Circadian rhythms dictate that 12 am – 6 am and 2 pm – 4 pm are the times of the day in which drivers are likely to be drowsy. Studies by the FMSCA have found that driver drowsiness was highly correlated to times of day, so truckers should avoid driving at night if possible. Additionally, taking naps during the afternoon can be more effective than drinking coffee, and can keep alertness levels up.
• Working too much: Trucking companies and their drivers are required to keep service logs that help ensure that the drivers are not working too much in a given period of time. However, truckers are often under extreme pressure to meet deadlines and may end up taking longer shifts to deliver their cargo sooner. Having to be alert for shifts as long as 11 hours can lead to fatigue if truckers do not take regular breaks.
• Taking medication that leads to drowsiness: While driving, truckers should not take medications that cause drowsiness. Medications that cause drowsiness often have a warning label stating that users should not drive or operate machinery for a certain period of time after taking the medication. Over-the-counter medications, such as sleeping pills, allergy medicines, and cold medicines can also lead to drowsiness behind the wheel. According to a 2008 study by the FMCSA, about 17 percent of truckers were using over-the-counter medications at the time of a crash.
• Not knowing the signs of drowsiness: It is the responsibility of truckers to know themselves and understand what makes them drowsy. If you are yawning frequently, have heavy eyes, blurred vision, or have difficulty concentrating, it is probably time to take a break. Being awake for 18 hours is comparable to having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent, which is the legal limit in most states. Truckers who do not get adequate sleep and work longer shifts without stopping are more prone to drowsiness.
• Not eating a balanced diet: In addition to sleep, good nutrition is essential to long hours on the road. Truckers should avoid going to bed on an empty stomach or eating a very heavy meal just before bedtime. Truckers should stop for regular meals, and try to maintain as close to a normal meal schedule as possible to avoid disruptions to their sleep. Truckers should also not rely on stimulants such as coffee to keep them awake, as excessive caffeine intake can lead to insomnia and nervousness, neither of which is conducive to getting a good night’s rest.

If you or a loved one was involved in an accident with a large truck, some of these contributing factors to fatigue can be used as evidence in a claim. For example, truck drivers’ travel logs can be used to show the driver exceeded the legal limit on driving hours. Additionally, trucks often have black box recorders similar to those found in airplanes that can be used to understand what might have been going on in the cab prior to a crash. A qualified personal injury lawyer will know how to secure these pieces of evidence to determine whether fatigue was a contributing factor to the truck accident.

Contact Sampson Law Firm Today

If you have been involved in an accident involving a large truck that wasn’t your fault, you should hire a lawyer as soon as possible to help you with your claim. Driver fatigue is a leading factor in truck accidents, and gathering evidence of fatigue from trucking companies is an important part of your claim that a lawyer can assist you with. Call the Louisville personal injury lawyers of Sampson Law Firm today at (502) 584-5050 for a free initial consultation.

A car accident can be a violent and hectic event. You may need some time to get your thoughts in order and reflect on the details of the incident. Unfortunately, time may not be on your side when you are dealing with an insurance adjuster.

Insurance adjusters may want an immediate and complete account of the accident. They can disarm you with their friendly demeanor and polite and caring attitude. However, underneath the charming exterior, insurance adjusters have one job to complete. Their job is to prevent the company they work for from losing money by paying out large settlements. Their push for a quick and detailed summary of the accident can end up costing you money.

Before you find yourself on the receiving end of a claims call, the team at Sampson Law Firm wants you to consider this list of things to never say to an insurance adjuster.

Do Not Offer an Apology

Apologizing for an accident is one of the worst things you can do when you’re talking to an insurance adjuster. Saying that you are sorry in any form can be taken as an admission of guilt for causing or contributing to the cause of the accident.

Kentucky is a pure comparative fault state, meaning the damages you recover following an accident may be linked to your level of fault for causing an accident. The pure comparative fault rule technically only binds Kentucky court judgments. However, insurance adjusters take into consideration how a court would rule when placing a value on a claim. Saying you are sorry can, therefore, ultimately diminish the value of your claim.

You Aren’t “Fine”

It has become an automatic response for many people. When they are asked how they are doing, the immediate and easiest response is generally, “I’m fine.” These are two words that you do not want to use when talking to an insurance adjuster. If you are uncomfortable talking about the extent of your injuries or you have not seen a physician yet, politely decline to talk about your health. Downplaying your injuries or telling an insurance adjuster that you are fine will hurt your ability to seek compensation for your injuries. Remember, you do not have to disclose your medical information to an insurance adjuster.

Do Not Speculate

When talking to an insurance adjuster, supply only the facts. Do not speculate or offer opinions about what you think caused the accident. Avoid saying:

• I think
• Maybe
• The other driver must have been…

It is always best to avoid giving an insurance company an oral statement or letting them record your call as their official account of the crash. If the insurance company wants an official record of the crash, talk to your attorney and allow them to help you communicate with the insurer. A written statement is also more appropriate than an oral statement. Be sure everything is factual and accurate. Embellishments or statements of opinion can hurt the value of your claim.

Don’t Say “Yes” to the First Settlement Offer

Since insurance companies are out to improve their own bottom line, you can be sure that the insurance adjuster’s first settlement offer will be quite low. Do not accept it, no matter how desperate you may feel for a cash infusion at the time.

First, if the offer is made soon after the accident, your injuries may not have fully manifested yet. What if you agree to a settlement offer right away and then it turns out that you have a concussion or a neck injury that only comes to light weeks after the accident? If you’ve accepted their settlement offer, you won’t be able to get the insurance company to pay for the medical care you need for those conditions.

Second, if you accept the first low-ball offer the insurance company makes, you can be sure it won’t adequately compensate you for any future medical care you may need, or any future loss of income that results from the accident. You need the assistance of a knowledgeable attorney to help you accurately assess the value of your claim. Your attorney will know how to take into consideration all your medical expenses, lost wages, accident-related property damage, and intangible losses to arrive at a number that will provide fair compensation for your injuries.

Contact a Kentucky Car Accident Attorney Today

These rules are a great jumping-off point for navigating the confusing ordeal of talking to an insurance adjuster post-accident. Want to make communication with an insurance adjuster even easier? Get in touch with an experienced Kentucky car accident attorney immediately.

At Sampson Law Firm, we can help manage all communication between you and the insurer. Our legal team can also collect evidence that will support your claim as we negotiate for the maximum compensation possible. To talk to one of our skilled car accident attorneys, call (502) 584-5050 for a free and confidential consultation.

After being in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligent actions, you’re probably in pain from your injuries and in shock from what you’ve experienced. And understandably so. You’ve just gone through a potentially life-altering event and may face the upcoming weeks and months dealing with a difficult recovery from your injuries and mental trauma from the accident. The last thing you’re probably thinking about is what you should and shouldn’t do about your ability to obtain compensation in an insurance claim or lawsuit.

If you weren’t to blame for the accident, you should be compensated for what you’ve suffered and what you may continue to go through for some time. While it may be difficult to consider, it’s important that you protect your right to be compensated by the person who harmed you. You don’t want to inadvertently do anything that can negatively impact the compensation you may be owed.

One thing you should be mindful of after you’ve been injured in an accident is posting on social media.

How Your Social Media Posts Can Compromise Your Claim

You should try your best to refrain from posting on social media after an accident. Anything you post on social media could be used by insurance companies, defense lawyers, or the party responsible for the accident to state that you were more responsible for the accident than you claimed, your injuries weren’t as severe as you claimed, or to question the veracity and validity of your claim.

For example, if the insurance company finds that you posted something on social media that is contrary to what you stated in your claim, the insurance company may use your post to try to show that your claim wasn’t valid. Or if you claimed to suffer a severe neck injury in the accident, but post a video of you dancing, the responsible party may use that as evidence that your injury was not as severe as you claimed.

Seeking Compensation for Your Injuries

You can pursue compensation for the injuries you sustained in an accident if the accident was entirely or partially caused by the actions of someone else.

After the accident, one of the first things you should do is hire an attorney. An attorney can help you navigate the process of filing a personal injury claim – and if necessary, a lawsuit – to help you potentially obtain compensation for your injuries. Once you hire an attorney, your attorney will investigate the accident to help determine what caused it and your injuries and who was at fault. Determining who injured you and finding evidence that demonstrates that you were harmed in the accident are vital to the validity and strength of your claim or case.

In most cases, you or your lawyer can file a claim with your own insurance company to apply your PIP (personal injury protection) benefits to your accident-related medical expenses.

After that, you and your attorney can turn to the insurance company of the at-fault party. Your lawyer will negotiate with the insurance company for you to get compensation that is equal to the value of your claim. The value of your claim is a total of the objective and intangible losses that you’ve suffered as a result of the accident.

If the insurance company does not agree to compensate you fully and fairly for your injuries, then your attorney may move forward to try to get you the compensation you deserve by filing a lawsuit on your behalf.

Insurance Companies’ Investigation into Your Claim

To understand how your social media posts can hurt your personal injury claim for compensation, it’s helpful to know the true purpose of insurance companies and the tactics they may use to deny you fair compensation for your injuries.

Insurance companies care about their profits and their bottom lines. It’s profits that drive insurance companies when they are handling claims. Their objective is to reduce the amount of money they have to pay out in claims while holding onto as much profit as possible.

So, when insurance companies investigate accidents after receiving claims for injuries their policyholders have caused, their goal is to limit their financial liability. They want to pay you the least amount of compensation possible. Insurance adjusters (insurance company employees who handle accident investigations and claims) will try to find evidence that they can use to either deny your claim or reduce your compensation.

Kentucky is a pure comparative fault state, meaning that your compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault you had in the accident. Insurance adjusters seek to find evidence that you were more responsible for the accident to reduce how much they may have to pay you or to claim that you aren’t owed compensation at all. This is why they will be reviewing all your social media accounts. They’ll try to find anything they can use to reduce the value of your claim.

Call the Personal Injury Lawyers at Sampson Law Firm for Help With Your Claim or Case

If you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, contact the Louisville personal injury lawyers at Sampson Law Firm for help pursuing compensation that you may be entitled to. Call us today at (502) 584-5050 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Injuries and fatalities can occur in any type of motor vehicle accident. However, when a collision involves a large truck, the consequences can be catastrophic. Even if a small car and commercial truck crash into each other at low speeds, the smaller vehicle occupants can sustain severe injuries requiring emergency medical care.

According to statistics from 2019, 4,119 people died in large truck accidents, but only 16 percent of the fatalities were the occupants of a large truck. The occupants of passenger vehicles made up 67 percent of the deaths that year.

Despite wearing your seatbelt, following all traffic laws, and taking the precautions necessary to keep yourself safe, you could cross paths with a dangerous truck driver. Avoiding an accident is nearly impossible if someone else behaves recklessly at the wheel.

Trucks Are Massive

One of the biggest differences between an accident between two cars and one with a commercial truck and a compact car is the size and weight. The typical passenger car can weigh around 3,000 to 5,000 pounds. A tractor-trailer can weigh as much as 80,000 with a fully loaded cargo container. When the two vehicles collide, the entire weight of the truck is behind the force of the impact. It can cause significant property damage and injuries.

Truck drivers can face challenges while maneuvering a long and heavy truck around other vehicles. A greater stopping distance is necessary to bring the truck to a complete stop. “Stopping distance” is the total distance it takes to recognize a perceived danger, step on the brakes, and stop your vehicle. If a truck travels at 65 miles per hour, the driver needs at least 200 yards to bring it to a complete stop.

Bigger Blind Spots

Commercial trucks have larger blind spots than passenger cars. Most non-commercial vehicles have a blind spot on either side. However, a large truck, such as a tractor-trailer, has a blind spot on all four sides.

The blind spot in front of the cab of a truck can extend out as much as twenty feet. The blind spot behind the back of the trailer can be up to thirty feet long. On the left side of the truck is a blind spot that starts at the rear of the cab and extends along the side of the trailer towards the back. The right side of the truck has a blind spot that starts at the back of the cab, extending out two lanes and towards the back of the trailer.

Whenever a trucker needs to merge onto a highway, turn right or left, or change lanes, they’re supposed to check every blind spot. Since commercial trucks sit higher off the ground than small cars, the truck driver could drive over another vehicle in their way while changing lanes or pin someone between their truck and another car while taking a turn.

Obstacles Created by the Cargo

Many people store personal belongings, such as clothing or cell phone chargers, in their vehicles. However, the items they keep in their cars aren’t usually as hazardous as the cargo truck drivers transport on the back of their commercial trucks.

Some large trucks contain massive items, such as machinery and furniture. Others carry flammable materials and hazardous waste. Cargo could fall off the truck during a collision, injuring the driver and occupants of other vehicles.

Sharp objects can become projectiles, loose cargo can end up in the middle of the road, creating obstacles for motorists, and toxic substances can cause burn injuries or spark a fire.

Truck Accidents Cause More Devastating Injuries

It’s possible for the victim of a car crash to suffer severe or even life-threatening injuries. However, accidents involving commercial trucks can be much worse.

The most common injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Crush injuries
• Broken bones
• Psychological and emotional trauma
• Paralysis
• Loss of limb
• Burn injuries
• Permanent disability
• Spinal cord damage

Proving Fault Can Be a Time-Consuming Process

Typically, with other auto accidents, one of the drivers involved in the collision is at fault.

It can be an uphill battle to determine who should be held liable for a truck accident. That’s because multiple parties can be involved in the case. Although the truck driver was at the wheel when the crash occurred, another person or company’s actions could have contributed.

The trucking company could be at fault for knowingly hiring an unqualified driver or failing to maintain all trucks adequately. The cargo loading company could be responsible if employees exceeded the maximum weight limit allowed on the trailer.

Contact Us

If you were involved in an accident with a commercial truck and believe the truck driver or another party’s negligent actions caused it, contact Sampson Law Firm right now to discuss your case and learn about your legal options.

Our legal team can determine who should be held liable and help pursue the maximum compensation possible in your case. We will fight by your side for the justice you deserve.

Call (502) 584-5050 today for your free consultation.

A new season can bring dangerous conditions and various hazards motorists didn’t face during the summer months. Autumn can present a range of obstacles for drivers.

Although many people think the conditions faced during winter in cold climates are the most dangerous, the fall can create unique challenges. Multiple factors can increase the risk of a car crash when summer turns to autumn.

You might know traffic laws and follow them explicitly. However, it’s often difficult to avoid potentially dangerous situations if you don’t know about them. If you encounter hidden hazards, you could end up in an accident and suffer severe injuries.

It’s necessary to take the appropriate precautions to keep yourself and others safe on the road. Follow the tips below to prevent an autumn car accident.

Perform Routine Maintenance on Your Car

Maintenance is crucial to the upkeep of any vehicle. If you don’t bring your car in for an oil change, tire rotation, or inspection to locate potential problems, a part or system could cause the entire vehicle to malfunction. If you lose control, you can end up on a collision course with another driver, pedestrian, or stationary object, such as a telephone pole.

Schedule an appointment with a mechanic or dealership. They can top off your fluids, put more air in your tires, and check for faulty parts or defects. If there’s damage to your vehicle, they can repair it immediately. They can also replace a part recalled by the manufacturer.

Reduce Your Speed in Dangerous Conditions

Temperatures stay mild in Kentucky during the fall. Typically, you don’t see snow or ice until the winter months. However, you can still face dangerous conditions.

Motorists can face hazards during heavy rain and severe thunderstorms. The roads can become wet, making the pavement slippery. If you exceed the speed limit or drive recklessly, your car could skid out of control and crash into a nearby vehicle or ditch. Heavy rainfall can lead to flooding, causing a car to hydroplane. Downpours can also cause visibility issues.

Leaves can fall to the ground when the seasons change, covering up defects in the road. A pile of leaves can hide a pothole, tree branch, and other debris. If you’re driving too fast and run over any of these hazards, you could get a flat tire or swerve into an occupied lane or oncoming traffic.

Stay Alert Near Other Cars

The roads become more congested during autumn. That’s because residents return from summer vacation and children go back to school. When there are more vehicles on the road, the likelihood of an accident increases.

Commuting each day means you can cross paths with an inattentive or distracted motorist. Although you can take precautions to remain safe, there’s nothing you can do to prevent others from behaving recklessly at the wheel.

You should focus on your surroundings at all times, even if you’re driving only a couple of miles from home. If you encounter a speeding driver, get out of their way and try to maintain some distance from them. If you see someone drifting towards your lane, try to merge into a different lane or slow down so you can avoid an accident.

Proceed with Caution Near Schools

School is already back in session when fall comes around. You will likely encounter more buses on the roads if you drive anywhere in the morning or afternoon. Instead of taking the bus, some kids walk, which means you’ll see an increase in pedestrian traffic.

Thoroughly check for children crossing the street at every crosswalk. You should always slow down and proceed with caution. If you’re not paying attention, you may not see a kid already in the middle of the street.

Traffic laws require every motorist to reduce their speed when approaching a school zone during specific times of the day. If you see flashing lights, slow down and observe the area carefully for children. If you speed through the school zone and lose control of your car, you could crash into a child pedestrian on the sidewalk.

Nighttime Driving is Safer with Headlights

Turn on your headlights whenever you drive at night. The end of Daylight Saving Time means it gets dark earlier in the day. Your lights can help you see pedestrians, other vehicles, and hazards on the road.

If your headlights stay off, you won’t be able to see what’s happening around you. Additionally, other drivers won’t see your car.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney from Sampson Law Firm

Since 1997, our legal team has represented accident victims needing guidance and support during the most difficult times in their lives. We understand how traumatic it can be to suffer injuries because another person chose to drive recklessly. You can depend on us to fight by your side until the end and seek the compensation you deserve.

If you were injured in a car accident in Kentucky due to someone’s negligent actions, call Sampson Law Firm at (502) 584-5050 for a free consultation.

A West Virginia resident and construction worker Michael Perschitti, 47, lost his life on Friday, January 13 around 11 a.m. at the construction site of the new University of Kentucky Student Center on the Avenue of Champions in Louisville, Kentucky.

Perschitti was involved in an accident at the construction site and died as a result of multiple blunt force trauma following the accident. Perschitti was employed by Lexington-based Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal, a press release stated. In a statement issued by UK Police Chief Joe Monroe the same day, he said, “UK Police currently has an open investigation into the incident that appears to have been an accident. We are conducting interviews of individuals who were on the roof with the worker in addition to working with the Fayette County Coroner’s Office.”

The Sampson Law Firm knows how painful construction accidents can be for families, especially those who lose a loved one. Our thoughts are with the family of the victim as they recover from their loss.

Kentucky reported that it recorded 810 fatalities due to vehicular accidents in 2016. Seven individuals lost their lives in vehicular accidents all over Kentucky over the New Year’s eve weekend.

Kentucky State Police troopers said among the biggest factors of fatal vehicular accidents in the state were driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and distracted driving, mostly because people used cell phones while driving. Trooper Bernie Napier noted the importance of “Paying attention to your surroundings and to what other drivers around you are doing, because if you’re driving along and paying attention, you might see the guy next to you who’s on his cell phone and you might know to be a little more cautious because you don’t know what he’s going to do.”

Napier encouraged parents to install an application on their children’s phones that automatically shuts down the texting features of a cell phone if the cell phone is inside a vehicle going beyond a certain speed. Over 200 of the 810 people who died in car accidents were between the ages of 16 and 29, troopers said.

Our attorneys at the Sampson Law Firm provide legal services in Louisville and other areas of Kentucky. We help our clients pursue personal injury accident claims against individuals or parties who have caused harm because of their negligent or reckless actions. Call our offices today at (502) 584-5050.

A single vehicular crash that transpired on Blackwater Road (Kentucky Route 1803) in Laurel County, Kentucky on Thursday, December 15 at around 7 a.m. resulted in the death of 66-year-old Marydell Road in London resident Donnie Ray Smith, who was considered the county’s 13th fatality of the year.

Investigators have suggested that the man had been traveling east on Blackwater and left the road briefly while on a curve, overcorrecting and going into the opposite ditch, rolling several times. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

A Barbourville woman who was killed on November 30 along Kentucky Route 229 during a single vehicular accident had been the last fatality for the year until Smith’s death. Other fatalities included a pedestrian getting struck by an oncoming vehicle, three that involved an all-terrain vehicle, and one that involved a motorcycle. The fatality count was nearly double that of the previous year.

Our most sincere condolences from Sampson Law Firm go out to the victim and his loved ones.