PERSONAL INJURY DEMAND LETTER — COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY

PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL — SETTLEMENT COMMUNICATION
PREPARED IN ANTICIPATION OF LITIGATION
Subject to Kentucky Rule of Evidence 408

CRITICAL DEADLINE WARNING: Kentucky has a ONE-YEAR statute of limitations for personal injury (KRS § 413.140) — the shortest in the nation. See Section X for details.

ATTORNEY INFORMATION

Law Firm: [________________________________]
Attorney Name: [________________________________]
Kentucky Bar No. (KBA): [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
City, State, ZIP: [____________________], Kentucky [________]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Facsimile: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

CLAIM INFORMATION

Date of Letter: [__/__/____]

Sent Via: ☐ Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested ☐ Regular U.S. Mail ☐ Email ☐ Facsimile

To:
Insurance Company: [________________________________]
Claims Adjuster: [________________________________]
Adjuster Address: [________________________________]
City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]

Claim Number: [________________________________]
Policy Number: [________________________________]
Insured (Defendant): [________________________________]
Claimant: [________________________________]
Date of Loss: [__/__/____]
Date of Birth (Claimant): [__/__/____]
Type of Claim: ☐ Bodily Injury ☐ Wrongful Death ☐ Property Damage ☐ Uninsured Motorist ☐ Underinsured Motorist ☐ PIP/BRB

I. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE

This letter constitutes a formal demand for settlement on behalf of our client, [________________________________] ("Claimant"), for personal injuries, damages, and losses sustained as a direct and proximate result of the negligence of your insured, [________________________________] ("Defendant"), arising from an incident that occurred on [__/__/____] in [________________________________], Kentucky.

This firm represents Claimant in connection with all claims arising from this incident. Direct all future communications to our office. Pursuant to Kentucky Supreme Court Rule 3.130(4.2), no contact should be made directly with our client.

This demand sets forth the facts, applicable Kentucky law (including no-fault/PIP provisions where applicable), Claimant's injuries and damages, and a specific settlement demand.

II. NO-FAULT / PIP ANALYSIS (AUTO ACCIDENT CLAIMS)

This section applies to motor vehicle accident claims only. Kentucky is a "choice" no-fault state under the Motor Vehicle Reparations Act (KRS § 304.39-010 et seq.).

A. No-Fault Status

☐ Claimant is subject to the no-fault system (did NOT file a rejection)
☐ Claimant has opted OUT of the no-fault system (filed a written rejection with insurer)
☐ This is NOT a motor vehicle accident claim (skip to Section III)

B. PIP / Basic Reparation Benefits (BRB)

Under KRS § 304.39-020, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) / Basic Reparation Benefits cover:
- Medical Expenses: Reasonable and necessary medical expenses
- Lost Wages: Up to $200 per week
- Replacement Services: Household and other necessary services
- Minimum Coverage: $10,000 per person per accident

PIP Benefits Received to Date:

C. Tort Threshold Analysis (KRS § 304.39-060)

For a claimant subject to the no-fault system, tort claims for pain and suffering and noneconomic damages require meeting the serious injury threshold:

KRS § 304.39-060(2): No person shall recover non-economic loss in a tort action unless the injured person has sustained injuries meeting one or more of the following criteria:

☐ (a) Medical expenses exceeding $1,000 — Claimant's medical expenses total $[________], which ☐ exceeds / ☐ does not exceed the threshold
☐ (b) Bone fracture — [________________________________]
☐ (c) Permanent disfigurement — [________________________________]
☐ (d) Permanent injury — [________________________________]
☐ (e) Death — N/A

Conclusion: Claimant's injuries ☐ DO / ☐ DO NOT satisfy the tort threshold under KRS § 304.39-060, entitling Claimant to pursue noneconomic damages in a tort action.

III. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

A. Incident Description

On [__/__/____], at approximately [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.:

Location: [________________________________]
City/County: [________________________________], Kentucky
Weather Conditions: [________________________________]
Road/Surface Conditions: [________________________________]
Lighting Conditions: ☐ Daylight ☐ Dusk ☐ Dawn ☐ Darkness ☐ Artificial Lighting

Type of Incident:
☐ Motor vehicle collision
☐ Rear-end collision
☐ Intersection collision
☐ Head-on collision
☐ Side-impact / T-bone collision
☐ Pedestrian accident
☐ Bicycle accident
☐ Motorcycle accident
☐ Trucking / commercial vehicle
☐ Slip and fall / Premises liability
☐ Dog bite / Animal attack (KRS § 258.235 — strict liability)
☐ Product liability
☐ Medical malpractice
☐ Other: [________________________________]

B. Narrative of Events

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

C. Police Report / Incident Documentation

Responding Agency: [________________________________]
Report Number: [________________________________]
Investigating Officer: [________________________________]

The official report documents:
- [________________________________]
- [________________________________]
- [________________________________]

Citations Issued to Defendant: ☐ Yes ☐ No
If yes, specify: [________________________________]

D. Witnesses

E. Evidence

☐ Photographs of accident scene
☐ Photographs of vehicle damage / hazardous condition
☐ Photographs of Claimant's visible injuries
☐ Surveillance camera footage
☐ Dashcam / bodycam footage
☐ Other: [________________________________]

IV. LIABILITY ANALYSIS UNDER KENTUCKY LAW

A. Negligence Standard

Kentucky negligence requires proof of: (1) a duty owed to the plaintiff; (2) breach of that duty; (3) that the breach proximately caused the injury; and (4) damages. See Pathways, Inc. v. Hammons, 113 S.W.3d 85 (Ky. 2003).

B. Defendant's Breach of Duty

☐ Failure to exercise ordinary care (KRS § 189.290)
☐ Failure to yield right-of-way (KRS § 189.330 et seq.)
☐ Following too closely (KRS § 189.340)
☐ Excessive speed (KRS § 189.390 et seq.)
☐ Violation of traffic control device (KRS § 189.338)
☐ Distracted driving / texting (KRS § 189.292)
☐ Driving under the influence (KRS § 189A.010)
☐ Failure to maintain safe premises
☐ Negligent entrustment
☐ Respondeat superior / vicarious liability
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Specific breaches:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

C. Kentucky Pure Comparative Fault

KRS § 411.182(1) provides:

"In all tort actions, including products liability actions, involving fault of more than one (1) party to the action... the court... shall instruct the jury to answer interrogatories... indicating the percentage of the total fault of all the parties to each claim that is allocated to each claimant, defendant, third-party defendant, and person who has been released..."

Kentucky applies PURE comparative fault:
- A plaintiff may recover even if 99% at fault — there is NO bar to recovery based on plaintiff's fault
- The plaintiff's recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault
- This is the most plaintiff-friendly comparative fault system

Application to This Case: Your insured bears [____]% of the total fault. Even if Claimant bore some percentage of fault, Claimant is entitled to a proportionate recovery. However, the evidence demonstrates that Claimant has little to no fault.

D. Joint and Several Liability — ABOLISHED

Under KRS § 411.182(2), each defendant is liable only for their proportionate share of fault. Joint and several liability has been abolished in most cases in Kentucky.

V. INJURIES AND MEDICAL TREATMENT

A. Summary of Injuries

☐ Traumatic brain injury (TBI) / Concussion
☐ Cervical spine injury (herniation, bulge, fracture)
☐ Thoracic spine injury
☐ Lumbar spine injury (herniation, bulge, fracture)
☐ Shoulder injury (rotator cuff tear, labral tear)
☐ Knee injury (meniscus tear, ligament tear, fracture)
☐ Hip injury (fracture, labral tear)
☐ Rib fractures
☐ Facial lacerations / scarring / disfigurement
☐ Dental injuries
☐ Wrist / hand / finger injuries
☐ Ankle / foot injuries
☐ Internal organ injury
☐ Soft tissue injuries
☐ PTSD / Anxiety / Depression
☐ Chronic pain syndrome
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Primary Diagnoses (ICD-10 Codes):
1. [________________________________] — [________]
2. [________________________________] — [________]
3. [________________________________] — [________]
4. [________________________________] — [________]
5. [________________________________] — [________]

B. Chronological Treatment History

Emergency / Initial Treatment

Date: [__/__/____]
Provider: [________________________________]
Facility: [________________________________]
Arrived Via: ☐ Ambulance ☐ Self ☐ Other
Treatment: [________________________________]
Findings: [________________________________]

Primary Care / Follow-Up Treatment

Specialist Treatment

Specialist: [________________________________]
Specialty: [________________________________]
Treatment Period: [__/__/____] through [__/__/____]
Treatment Provided: [________________________________]
Findings/Recommendations: [________________________________]

Diagnostic Imaging

Physical Therapy / Rehabilitation

Provider: [________________________________]
Treatment Period: [__/__/____] through [__/__/____]
Number of Sessions: [____]
Treatment Modalities: [________________________________]
Progress / Outcome: [________________________________]

Surgical Treatment (if applicable)

Date: [__/__/____]
Surgeon: [________________________________]
Procedure: [________________________________]
Outcome: [________________________________]

Pain Management (if applicable)

Provider: [________________________________]
Treatment Modalities:
☐ Epidural steroid injections
☐ Facet joint injections
☐ Nerve blocks
☐ Trigger point injections
☐ Radiofrequency ablation
☐ Medication management
☐ Other: [________________________________]

C. Current Condition and Prognosis

[________________________________]
[________________________________]

☐ Claimant has reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)
☐ Claimant continues active treatment
☐ Future surgery recommended: [________________________________]
☐ Permanent impairment rating: [____]% whole person

D. Future Medical Treatment

☐ Life care plan prepared by [________________________________] — enclosed.

VI. DAMAGES CALCULATION

NO DAMAGE CAPS IN KENTUCKY. Kentucky has no statutory cap on compensatory damages (economic or noneconomic) in personal injury or wrongful death cases. There is also no statutory cap on punitive damages. The Open Courts Clause of the Kentucky Constitution (Section 14) prohibits the General Assembly from imposing such limitations.

A. Past Medical Expenses (Itemized)

B. Future Medical Expenses

C. Past Lost Wages / Income

Employer: [________________________________]
Position/Title: [________________________________]
Rate of Pay: $[________] per ☐ hour ☐ week ☐ month ☐ year
Period of Absence: [__/__/____] through [__/__/____]
Total Days Missed: [____]

D. Future Lost Earning Capacity

Vocational Expert: [________________________________]
Economist: [________________________________]
Projected Loss Period: [____] years
Present Value: $[________]

E. Noneconomic Damages (Pain and Suffering)

No cap on noneconomic damages in Kentucky. However, for auto accident claims where the claimant is subject to the no-fault system, the claimant must meet the tort threshold (KRS § 304.39-060) to recover noneconomic damages.

☐ Physical pain and suffering (past and ongoing)
☐ Mental and emotional distress
☐ Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
☐ Loss of enjoyment of life
☐ Scarring and disfigurement
☐ Physical limitations and disability
☐ Loss of independence
☐ Inconvenience and interference with daily activities
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Narrative of Impact:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Noneconomic Damages Claimed: $[________]

F. Loss of Consortium

Spouse/Partner Name: [________________________________]
Impact: [________________________________]
Amount Claimed: $[________]

G. Property Damage

H. Out-of-Pocket Expenses

I. PIP Benefits Received / Offset (Auto Claims)

J. Summary of All Damages

VII. INSURANCE COVERAGE ANALYSIS

A. Defendant's Liability Coverage

Carrier: [________________________________]
Policy Number: [________________________________]
Bodily Injury Limits: $[________] / $[________]
Property Damage Limits: $[________]
Umbrella / Excess: ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unknown — Limits: $[________]

Note: Kentucky minimum liability coverage is $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 (KRS § 304.20-020).

B. Claimant's Coverage

Carrier: [________________________________]
Policy Number: [________________________________]

☐ PIP/BRB: $[________] (minimum $10,000)
☐ Uninsured Motorist (UM): $[________] / $[________] (mandatory at liability limits)
☐ Underinsured Motorist (UIM): $[________] / $[________]
☐ Medical Payments (MedPay): $[________]
☐ Collision Coverage: $[________]

UM Coverage: Under Kentucky law, UM coverage is mandatory and must be offered at limits equal to liability coverage. UM coverage cannot be waived.

C. Other Potential Coverage

☐ Homeowner's / Renter's insurance
☐ Commercial general liability
☐ Workers' compensation
☐ Health insurance subrogation / lien: $[________]
☐ Medicare / Medicaid lien: $[________]

VIII. PREJUDGMENT INTEREST

Under KRS § 360.040, interest on judgments accrues at six percent (6%) per annum, compounded annually, from the date judgment is entered.

For prejudgment interest, Kentucky courts may award interest on liquidated claims at the legal rate. Prejudgment interest on unliquidated tort claims is within the court's discretion.

Calculation:
- Liquidated economic damages: $[________]
- Rate: 6% per annum (KRS § 360.040)
- Period: [__/__/____] through present
- Estimated prejudgment interest: $[________]

IX. PUNITIVE DAMAGES

Kentucky has NO statutory cap on punitive damages. The Open Courts Clause of the Kentucky Constitution (Section 14) prevents the General Assembly from imposing a cap. Punitive damages are subject only to federal due process limitations.

☐ This case does involve conduct warranting punitive damages.
☐ This case does not currently involve a claim for punitive damages.

Standard (KRS § 411.184): Punitive damages require clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with:
- (a) Fraud — intentional misrepresentation or concealment
- (b) Oppression — conduct specifically intended to cause injury
- (c) Malice — either express ill will or reckless disregard for the rights of others

Assessment Factors (KRS § 411.186):
1. Likelihood at the time that serious harm would arise from the defendant's misconduct
2. Degree of the defendant's awareness of that likelihood
3. Profitability of the misconduct to the defendant
4. Duration of the misconduct and any concealment
5. Attitude and conduct of the defendant upon discovery of the misconduct
6. Financial condition of the defendant
7. Total deterrent effect of other punishment (criminal or civil)

If applicable, punitive damages are warranted because:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

X. SETTLEMENT DEMAND

Based on the foregoing analysis, Claimant demands:

$[________________________________]

This demand reflects the full value of Claimant's damages under Kentucky law.

Response Deadline: This demand shall remain open for [____] days, until [__/__/____].

XI. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS WARNING

CRITICAL WARNING — KENTUCKY HAS THE SHORTEST STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN THE NATION

General Personal Injury (Non-Auto):
KRS § 413.140(1)(a): ONE (1) YEAR from the date of injury.
- Date of Loss: [__/__/____]
- SOL Expiration: [__/__/____]

Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVRA):
KRS § 304.39-230(6): TWO (2) YEARS from the date of injury OR the date of the last basic reparation (PIP) payment, whichever is later — but no more than FOUR (4) YEARS from the date of the accident.
- Date of Loss: [__/__/____]
- Last PIP Payment: [__/__/____]
- SOL Expiration: [__/__/____]

Wrongful Death:
KRS § 411.130: ONE (1) YEAR from the appointment of the personal representative, but no more than TWO (2) YEARS from the date of death.

If this claim is not resolved prior to the applicable deadline, suit will be filed without further notice.

XII. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

Claimant expressly reserves the right to:

1. File suit in the appropriate Kentucky Circuit Court
2. Seek all damages including compensatory and punitive damages, prejudgment interest, costs, and attorney's fees where applicable
3. Seek punitive damages under KRS § 411.184 without statutory cap
4. Pursue additional parties
5. Pursue UM/UIM benefits if coverage is insufficient
6. Assert bad faith claims against the insurer under Kentucky common law (see Wittmer v. Jones, 864 S.W.2d 885 (Ky. 1993))
7. Claim additional damages discovered after this letter

XIII. MEDICAL RECORDS AND EXHIBITS INDEX

Medical Records and Bills

☐ Emergency room records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Hospital records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Primary care physician records — [________________________________]
☐ Specialist records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Physical therapy records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Chiropractic records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Pain management records and bills — [________________________________]
☐ Surgical records — [________________________________]
☐ Diagnostic imaging reports — [________________________________]
☐ Pharmacy records — [________________________________]
☐ Mental health treatment records — [________________________________]
☐ Medical narrative / causation letter — [________________________________]
☐ Life care plan — [________________________________]

Employment and Income Documentation

☐ Employer verification of lost wages letter
☐ Pay stubs / earnings statements
☐ Tax returns (prior 3 years)
☐ Vocational expert report
☐ Economist report

Incident Documentation

☐ Police report / incident report
☐ Photographs
☐ Witness statements
☐ Expert reports

Insurance Documentation

☐ Defendant's declarations page
☐ Claimant's declarations page
☐ PIP/BRB payment records
☐ No-fault rejection form (if applicable)
☐ UM/UIM information
☐ Health insurance lien documentation

Other

☐ Prior correspondence
☐ [________________________________]

XIV. SIGNATURE BLOCK

Respectfully submitted,

[________________________________]
Attorney for Claimant
Kentucky Bar Association No.: [________________________________]

[________________________________]
[Law Firm Name]
[Address]
[City], Kentucky [ZIP]
Tel: [________________________________]
Fax: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

XV. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

Kentucky Statutes

• KRS § 411.182 — Pure Comparative Fault (No Bar to Recovery)
• KRS § 413.140(1)(a) — Statute of Limitations (Personal Injury — 1 Year)
• KRS § 304.39-010 et seq. — Motor Vehicle Reparations Act (No-Fault/PIP)
• KRS § 304.39-060 — Tort Threshold (Serious Injury — $1,000 Medical / Fracture / Permanent)
• KRS § 304.39-230(6) — Auto SOL (2 Years from Injury or Last PIP, Max 4 Years)
• KRS § 411.184 — Punitive Damages (Clear and Convincing: Fraud, Oppression, Malice)
• KRS § 411.186 — Punitive Damages Assessment Factors
• KRS § 411.130 — Wrongful Death (1 Year from Appointment of Personal Representative)
• KRS § 360.040 — Interest on Judgments (6% Per Annum)
• KRS § 304.20-020 — Mandatory Auto Insurance (25/50/25)
• KRS § 258.235 — Dog Owner Strict Liability

Key Kentucky Cases

• Pathways, Inc. v. Hammons, 113 S.W.3d 85 (Ky. 2003) — Elements of negligence
• Wittmer v. Jones, 864 S.W.2d 885 (Ky. 1993) — Insurance bad faith
• Williams v. Wilson, 972 S.W.2d 260 (Ky. 1998) — Open Courts Clause protections

Official Resources

• Kentucky Legislature: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov
• Kentucky Department of Insurance: https://insurance.ky.gov
• Kentucky Courts: https://courts.ky.gov

This template is designed for use by licensed Kentucky attorneys. It must be customized to the specific facts and circumstances of each case. All statutory citations should be verified as current before use. This document does not constitute legal advice.