Frankfort Kentucky Personal Injury Blog

Survivor of duck boat tragedy wants vehicles banned

On behalf of Michael Hawkins of Michael L. Hawkins & Associates, P.L.L.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, August 16, 2018.

Duck boats are popular at many tourist destinations that Kentucky residents frequent. But, these duck boats have been involved in many accidents recently which is causing some people to question their safety. The most recent wrongful death accident has motivated some to demand that these vehicle be banned.

A recent accident in popular tourist destination, Branson, MO, has shed light on duck boats and whether they are safe to operate. The boats are vehicles that can drive on land and water, making them a unique and popular experience in areas all over the United States. But, a survivor of the Branson tragedy, where 17 people died when a duck boat capsized, is asking people to sign a petition to ban these vehicles. The survivor believes that the boats are unsafe and have design problems. She is asking federal officials to ban the vehicles in order to prevent more tragedies.

Good Samaritans, pedestrians and traffic crashes in Kentucky

On behalf of Michael Hawkins of Michael L. Hawkins & Associates, P.L.L.C. on Wednesday, August 15, 2018.

One of the major issues in Kentucky is that there are many people in relatively small areas. In cities, there are lots of people, but then the surrounding area is a stark contrast of countryside. Since people are living close together for the most part, there is a higher risk of getting into crashes and causing injuries to pedestrians, particularly in cities like Lexington and Frankfort.

Another major problem is that there are large interstates that pass through and connect these areas. They're corridors for transportation vehicles and commercial trucks, making them particularly hazardous. Pedestrians, even those who are Good Samaritans stopping to help those stalled on highways, have to be extremely careful not to get hit.

Tips to prevent boating accidents

On behalf of Michael Hawkins of Michael L. Hawkins & Associates, P.L.L.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, August 10, 2018.

Many Kentucky residents enjoy waters throughout the state. Fishing is a popular activity, along with water sports and boating. Most of the time, people are able to enjoy the waters safely, but occasionally, a fatal boating accident occurs that affects a family forever. Although there are some accidents that unfortunately cannot be avoided, it is important for boaters to keep in mind some important safety tips to prevent an accident.

First, boaters should wear life jackets on the boat, even if they can swim. If an accident occurs, a person could be knocked unconscious, land in the water and drown, if they are not wearing a life jacket. Drinking and boating is also a dangerous activity. Boating under the influence increases the risk of a boating fatality by over 30 percent. Speeding also can cause serious accidents.

Popular attraction blamed for making hundreds sick

On behalf of Michael Hawkins of Michael L. Hawkins & Associates, P.L.L.C. posted in Premises Liability on Friday, August 3, 2018.

Many families in Kentucky enjoy vacations in the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge area. They spend time in nature and exploring the area and the many activities that are offered. One of those activities is ziplining, but unfortunately it has reportedly made many of the customers sick this summer.

The CLIMB Works ziplining in Gatlinburg is a popular place for visitors to engage in an exhilarating experience. Unfortunately, hundreds have had an experience that leaves little to be desired this summer. At least 548 people have become sick with a gastrointestinal illness since June. This number is believed to be low as it is not clear how many family members have also become sick and not all visitors have been contacted.

Kentucky Driver Point System

On behalf of Michael Hawkins of Michael L. Hawkins & Associates, P.L.L.C. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, July 27, 2018.

Most of the time, drivers are safe and courteous. But, not everyone follows the rules, and these people often cause accidents that result in serious accidents. And, our state has a system to follow these negligent drivers, called the Kentucky Driver Point System.

The Kentucky Driver Point System is used to identify people who are habitually negligent with their driving. If a driver accumulates 12 points within two years, the driver can have their license suspended. If the driver is under 18, the accumulated points are 7 within 2 years.

Bicycle accidents can be serious

On behalf of Michael Hawkins of Michael L. Hawkins & Associates, P.L.L.C. posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, July 19, 2018.

Kentucky is known for its beautiful scenery and biking is popular among residents. Many bike for exercise, fun and commuting to work. Most of the time, bicyclists are able to share the road safely with other vehicles, but sometimes, a serious accident occurs.

There are many who choose to ride their bikes for pleasure or to commute. Cyclists are required to follow the rules of the road, including obeying traffic signals. But, despite following all traffic laws, cyclists can get involved in serious accidents. By their nature, bike riders are more vulnerable than motorists. They do not have the protection of a car, making it even more important to make sure they are paying attention when they are driving.

Taking action after a truck collision in Kentucky

On behalf of Michael Hawkins of Michael L. Hawkins & Associates, P.L.L.C. on Tuesday, July 17, 2018.

All collisions among cars have the potential to cause serious damages in terms of harm to property and injuries to people. While even low speed collisions can be serious, generally collisions with trucks and those occurring at high speeds cause more damage. This is because of the sheer force and the weight that commercial trucks carry.

If you have suffered an injury due to a collision with a commercial truck, it is important to understand how the law works in the state of Kentucky and how you can take action if you want to make a claim against the driver who caused the accident.

Who is liable for pool accidents?

On behalf of Michael Hawkins of Michael L. Hawkins & Associates, P.L.L.C. posted in Premises Liability on Thursday, July 12, 2018.

During the summer months, many Frankfort area residents visit pools. They are a refreshing way to spend hot Kentucky days. But, if a pool accident occurs at a public pool, who is liable for the accident?

These public pools are an asset to their community and allow residents the opportunity to cool down and have fun during the hot summer months. Most of the time, visitors remain safe at the pool, but occasionally, a pool accident occurs. When an accident occurs at a public pool, it is important to understand who is liable.

Compensation laws in Kentucky

On behalf of Michael Hawkins of Michael L. Hawkins & Associates, P.L.L.C. posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, July 5, 2018.

While most drivers in our state understand the importance of driving safely, sometimes, drivers make bad decisions. No one expects they will be involved in a serious car accident, but unfortunately, these affect hundreds of families every year. When the accident is serious, it can lead to many unexpected expenses. In these cases, it is important to understand car accident compensation laws.

Kentucky is a no fault state for insurance claims. Injured people can bring a claim to their insurance company if their injuries are more than $1,000 in medical expenses, they suffer from a broken bone, permanent disfigurement or injury or death. Our state is also a pure comparative negligence state where if the car accident case goes to trial, the judge will determine what percentage of fault each driver is at. So, if a person suffers $20,000 in damages but the judge finds them 90% at fault, their compensation would be reduced to $2,000. And, there is no cap on car accident claims, but there is a one year statute of limitations for filing a case for an injury to a person.

How does one show that a dog is vicious?

On behalf of Michael Hawkins of Michael L. Hawkins & Associates, P.L.L.C. posted in Animal Bites on Wednesday, June 27, 2018.

Many Frankfort area residents own a dog. Dogs are important members of families and usually friendly. But, occasionally, a dog can be a neighborhood terror. In these cases, an animal bite can occur that causes serious injuries. In a dog bite lawsuit, a person needs to show that the owner had prior knowledge their dog was vicious.

There are several ways a person could show an owner knew his dog was vicious or predisposed to a bite or attack and had "vicious propensities." One is that the dog is of a specific breed or size. The larger a dog, the greater a chance of a dog bite.

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