1. Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, nursing home abuse, civil rights violations, catastrophic injury cases, premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car collisions, motorcycle vs. truck collisions, hit-and-run motorcycle accidents, drunk driver vs. motorcycle accidents, distracted driver accidents, left-turn accidents involving motorcycles, intersection motorcycle accidents, rear-end collisions with motorcycles, wrongful death from motorcycle accidents, traumatic brain injuries from motorcycle crashes, spinal cord injuries, road rash injuries, permanent disfigurement cases
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, accident reconstruction coordination, witness interviews, police report analysis, insurance claim negotiation, uninsured/underinsured motorist claims, personal injury protection (PIP) claims under Kentucky MVRA, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, comparative negligence arguments
Background: The firm was founded by Matthew C. Minner and Brian M. Vines and has been practicing personal injury law in Kentucky for decades. The attorneys hold AV-Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell and have been recognized by Super Lawyers. The firm reports having recovered over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for clients. Matthew C. Minner graduated from law school and has over 20 years of legal experience. The firm is admitted to practice in Kentucky, Alabama, and multiple U.S. District Courts. The attorneys are members of the Kentucky Bar Association.
Location: 325 W Main St, Suite 210, Lexington, KY 40507
Contact: (859) 550-2900 | https://www.mvmlaw.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation offered. Contingency fee arrangement available (no fee unless compensation is recovered). Available 24/7.
2. Thomas Law Offices
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, nursing home abuse and neglect, medical malpractice, product liability, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, birth injuries, construction accidents
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car accidents, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving motorcycle collisions, failure to yield accidents, intersection crashes, lane change accidents, left-turn motorcycle accidents, wrongful death claims, catastrophic injury cases, permanent disability cases
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, liability determination, insurance claim filing and negotiation, accident reconstruction, expert witness coordination, medical record analysis, settlement negotiations, trial representation, wrongful death litigation, damage calculation for lifetime medical needs, lost wage and earning capacity analysis
Background: Founded by Tad Thomas in 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky. Tad Thomas graduated cum laude from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University in 2000 and obtained his undergraduate degree from Georgetown College. Prior to founding the firm, he served as Assistant Deputy Attorney General for Kentucky and directed the Office of Civil and Environmental Law. Mr. Thomas is a frequent lecturer on trial skills, ethics, and technology at legal associations nationwide. The firm has expanded to offices in Louisville, Lexington, Cincinnati, Columbia (Missouri), and Chicago. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis.
Location: Louisville headquarters with service to Lexington and Central Kentucky
Contact: (502) 473-6540 | https://www.thomaslawoffices.com
Consultation: Free case evaluations offered. Contingency fee basis (no upfront fees).
3. Goeing Law (formerly Goeing Goeing & McQuinn PLLC)
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, auto accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, personal injury, premises liability, product liability, construction accidents, explosion accidents, farming accidents
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions with negligent drivers, motorcycle accidents caused by defective parts, road hazard motorcycle accidents, drunk driving motorcycle crashes, distracted driving accidents, lane switching accidents, left-turn collisions, wrongful death from motorcycle accidents, catastrophic injury cases
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, accident reconstruction, expert witness coordination, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, product liability analysis, premises liability claims, wrongful death litigation, comparative fault analysis under Kentucky law
Background: Founded by brothers M. Stanley Goeing and Matthew S. Goeing. M. Stanley Goeing graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2005 and earned his undergraduate degree from UK in 2002. During law school, he served as an intern for U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer B. Coffman and was a member of the Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Law. Matthew S. Goeing graduated from UK College of Law in 2008 with an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from UK in 2005. He previously clerked in the U.S. District Court and worked as an associate at Dykeman & Rosenthal before co-founding the firm in 2011. The firm reports over 40 years of combined legal experience and has recovered millions in settlements and verdicts for clients. Members of Kentucky Bar Association, Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, and American Bar Association.
Location: 300 East Main Street, Suite 150, Lexington, KY 40507
Contact: (859) 253-0088 | https://www.kylawpractice.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation offered. Contingency fee arrangement available.
4. Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, nursing home abuse and neglect, medical malpractice, wrongful death, premises liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bites
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle crashes, motorcycle vs. car collisions, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, hit-and-run accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving accidents, reckless driving accidents, road hazard accidents, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injury cases, spinal cord injury cases
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, liability analysis, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, medical record review, expert witness coordination, lost wage calculation, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death litigation, bad faith insurance claims
Background: Ross F. Mann is the founder and lead attorney. He is a native of Lexington and graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Prior to founding his firm, Ross began his career defending insurance companies in personal injury cases, giving him firsthand knowledge of how insurers evaluate and handle claims. He later worked at a national nursing home litigation firm before building a nursing home litigation department at a regional Kentucky/Tennessee firm. Ross is a graduate of Lexington Catholic High School (1999), University of Michigan (2004) where he earned a football scholarship and lettered on three Big Ten Championship teams, and Capital University Law School (2009) where he earned the Freeman Scholarship for Excellence in Constitutional Law. The firm reports having recovered over $80 million in jury verdicts, including multiple 8-figure results. Ross has handled more than 1,000 nursing home cases since 2012. The firm is a member of the Kentucky Justice Association and the American Association for Justice.
Location: 501 Darby Creek Road, Unit 48, Lexington, KY 40509
Contact: (859) 413-3900 | https://www.rossmannlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contingency fee basis.
5. Peterson Law Office
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, nursing home abuse, premises liability, product liability, work injuries, dog bites, brain injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car accidents, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving motorcycle crashes, intersection accidents, wrongful death claims, catastrophic injury cases, product defect motorcycle accidents, road hazard accidents
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident reconstruction coordination, medical record analysis, expert witness coordination, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death litigation, insurance bad faith claims (USCPA), comparative negligence analysis
Background: Founded by Justin Peterson, a native of Lexington, Kentucky. Justin Peterson graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2008 (J.D.) and from the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in Economics and Finance in 2005 (Magna Cum Laude). Prior to founding Peterson Law Office, he was a partner/shareholder at a large insurance defense law firm in Lexington, where he represented insurance companies and their insureds in complex litigation. This experience provided him with insight into how insurers evaluate and handle claims. He has tried multiple civil and criminal cases to jury verdict with successful results. Mr. Peterson serves as General Counsel for the Lexington Legends and coaches tournament of champions trial teams at UK College of Law. Awards include the inaugural University of Kentucky College of Law Outstanding Trial Advocate Award and the Powell Medallion at the American College of Trial Lawyers National Trial Competition (2007, 2008). Regional Champion at ACTL Regional Trial Competition, Sixth Region (2007, 2008). The firm recently partnered with Whiteford, Taylor & Preston to expand resources.
Location: 2424 Harrodsburg Road, Suite 205, Lexington, KY 40503
Contact: (859) 788-3509 | https://www.justinpetersonlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contingency fee basis.
Motorcycle Accident Laws and Regulations in Kentucky
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Kentucky has a one-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from motorcycle accidents, as provided in Kentucky Revised Statutes Section 413.140(1)(a). This deadline runs from the date of the accident or from the last no-fault payment (payment by automotive or health insurance for medical bills or lost wages). Missing this deadline results in the loss of the right to file a lawsuit.
Statute of Limitations for Property Damage Claims: Property damage claims in Kentucky generally have a two-year statute of limitations.
Fault vs. No-Fault Insurance Status: Kentucky is a “choice no-fault” insurance state. Drivers can opt-in or opt-out of the no-fault system. Under the no-fault system, drivers must have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, and they cannot sue for non-economic damages unless their injuries meet certain thresholds. Drivers who opt out of the no-fault system preserve the ability to file tort claims against at-fault drivers but also expose themselves to being sued.
Comparative Negligence Rules: Kentucky follows a pure comparative fault rule. This means that even if a plaintiff is found partially at fault for their injuries (even up to 99%), they can still recover damages. However, the damages award will be reduced by the plaintiff’s percentage of fault. For example, if a motorcyclist is found 25% at fault and has $100,000 in damages, they would recover $75,000.
Minimum Motorcycle Insurance Requirements: Kentucky requires motorcyclists to carry liability insurance with the following minimum coverage: $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury (or a combined single limit of $60,000), and $10,000 for property damage. Collision insurance is optional but recommended to cover damage to the motorcycle itself.
Helmet Law: Kentucky has a partial helmet law. Helmets are required for: (1) operators and passengers under 21 years of age, (2) anyone with a motorcycle instruction permit, and (3) anyone who has held a valid motorcycle license for less than one year. Riders 21 and older who have been licensed for at least one year are not required to wear a helmet. Helmets must meet USDOT standards.
Eye Protection Requirements: Kentucky does not have a mandatory eye protection law for motorcyclists, though eye protection is recommended for safety.
Lane Splitting/Lane Filtering Laws: Kentucky does not have a law explicitly legalizing or prohibiting lane splitting. The practice is not expressly permitted, and law enforcement may cite motorcyclists for unsafe operation if lane splitting is done dangerously.
Motorcycle Licensing Requirements: Individuals must obtain a motorcycle instruction permit before obtaining a full motorcycle license. Applicants under 18 need a parent or legal guardian to sign the application. A written test and vision test are required. Kentucky offers the Motorcycle Safety Education Program (MSEP), and completion of an approved rider education course may waive the skills test requirement.
Motorcycle Equipment Requirements: Motorcycles must have a functional headlight, taillights, rearview mirrors, brakes, turn signals, muffler, and must be fully registered and licensed.
No-Fault/PIP Requirements for Motorcyclists: Under the Kentucky Motor Vehicle Reparations Act (MVRA), motorcyclists may be entitled to basic reparation benefits (BRBs) for medical expenses after an accident. However, to recover damages for pain and suffering, injured parties must meet threshold requirements: at least $1,000 in medical expenses, a bone fracture, permanent injury, or death.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Kentucky requires insurers to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. Rejection of this coverage must be explicit.
Damage Caps: Kentucky does not impose caps on economic or non-economic damages in personal injury cases. Punitive damages may be available in cases involving gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Helmet Use as Evidence of Comparative Negligence: Under Kentucky’s pure comparative fault rule, failure to wear a helmet when not legally required could potentially be used by defendants or insurers to argue that the motorcyclist contributed to their head injuries, potentially reducing the damages award.
Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations: The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in Kentucky is one year from the date of death. Eligible claimants typically include the personal representative of the deceased’s estate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the statute of limitations for filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Kentucky?
A: Kentucky has a one-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from motorcycle accidents under KRS 413.140(1)(a). This means you must file your lawsuit within one year from the date of the accident or from the last no-fault payment. If you fail to file within this timeframe, you will lose your right to pursue compensation through the courts. Because Kentucky has one of the shortest limitation periods in the country, it is important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible after an accident.
Q: How does Kentucky’s pure comparative fault rule affect my motorcycle accident claim?
A: Kentucky follows a pure comparative fault system, which means you can still recover damages even if you are found partially at fault for the accident. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are awarded $100,000 in damages but found to be 30% at fault, you would receive $70,000. Unlike some states that bar recovery if you are more than 50% at fault, Kentucky allows recovery even if you are 99% at fault, though your award would be reduced accordingly. Insurance companies often try to assign blame to motorcyclists, so having an attorney can help protect your interests.
Q: Do I have to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle in Kentucky?
A: Kentucky has a partial helmet law. You must wear a DOT-approved helmet if you are: (1) under 21 years of age (as an operator or passenger), (2) operating with a motorcycle instruction permit, or (3) have had your motorcycle license for less than one year. Riders 21 and older who have been licensed for at least one year are not legally required to wear a helmet. However, failure to wear a helmet could affect your injury claim if you sustain head injuries, as insurance companies or defendants may argue that your injuries would have been less severe had you worn a helmet.
Q: Is lane splitting legal in Kentucky, and how does it affect accident liability?
A: Kentucky does not have a specific statute that either permits or prohibits lane splitting (riding between lanes of traffic). Because there is no law explicitly legalizing the practice, lane splitting is generally discouraged. If a law enforcement officer believes you are riding between lanes in an unsafe manner, they may issue a citation. In the event of an accident, if you were lane splitting and the other party claims your action contributed to the collision, it could affect your ability to recover full compensation under Kentucky’s comparative fault rules.
Q: What happens if the at-fault driver in my motorcycle accident is uninsured or underinsured in Kentucky?
A: Kentucky requires insurance companies to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which protects you if the at-fault driver does not have adequate insurance to cover your damages. If you purchased this coverage as part of your motorcycle insurance policy, you can file a claim with your own insurer to recover damages. Additionally, if you have not opted out of Kentucky’s no-fault system, you may be able to access personal injury protection (PIP) benefits to cover immediate medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of fault. Consulting with an attorney can help you identify all available sources of compensation.