Frequently asked questions.

Yes. The first conversation with Justin is free, whether it is a personal injury matter, a criminal charge or a question about a will or an estate. You will get a straight answer about whether you have a case, what the next step is and what it would cost.

You talk to Justin. Gooch Law is a one-attorney office by design. The person who takes your call is the person who reads the police report, argues the motion and negotiates with the insurance adjuster.

On a contingency fee. There is no upfront cost, and the fee is a percentage of what is recovered for you. If there is no recovery, there is no fee. Criminal defense and estate work are billed on a flat fee or an hourly basis that Justin explains before any work starts.

No. Consultations, document review and case updates can happen by phone, video call or secure email. If you prefer to meet in person, the office at 1039 E Burnett Ave in Louisville is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Sooner than most people think. Many Kentucky injury claims must be filed within one year, and criminal cases move on the court's schedule, not yours. Evidence, witnesses and video footage disappear fast. Calling early costs nothing and keeps your options open.

Three: personal injury (car, truck and motorcycle accidents, slip and fall, medical malpractice, wrongful death, dog bites), criminal defense (DUI and traffic, drugs, assault, theft, white-collar and juvenile matters) and wills, estates and probate. If your matter falls outside those, Justin will tell you and point you to someone who handles it.

Primarily in Jefferson County: Jefferson District Court and Jefferson Circuit Court in Louisville, plus the surrounding Kentucky counties. Justin is admitted in Kentucky and before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.

Please share only the basic information needed to request a consultation, and do not send confidential documents or sensitive case details through the website. Sending a request does not create an attorney-client relationship. Justin will explain the next steps, including how information is handled, before you share more.

Injury cases are handled on a contingency fee. Justin's fee is a percentage of the settlement or verdict, agreed in writing at the start. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fee. Case expenses are explained in the engagement letter before anything is spent.

It depends on the type of case. Many personal injury claims in Kentucky must be filed within one year of the injury. Claims arising from a motor vehicle accident generally have two years from the date of the accident or the last no-fault (PIP) payment. Medical malpractice and wrongful death claims follow their own rules. These deadlines are strict, so call early and let Justin confirm the one that applies to you.

Not before you talk to a lawyer. Adjusters are trained to ask questions that reduce what the company pays. You can be polite, confirm the basic facts and tell them your attorney will be in touch.

Kentucky uses pure comparative fault. Your recovery is reduced by your share of the blame, but you can still recover even if you were mostly at fault. Insurance companies routinely overstate a claimant's share; part of Justin's job is to push back with the evidence.

Nobody can tell you honestly on the first call. The value depends on your medical bills and future care, lost wages, the permanence of the injury, pain and suffering, the available insurance and how liability is disputed. What Justin can tell you early is whether the case is worth pursuing and what evidence will drive its value.

Say that you want a lawyer and then stop talking. Do not explain, do not consent to searches, do not try to clear it up. Then call Gooch Law. If a family member is in custody, call the office and Justin will explain bond, arraignment and what happens next.

No. Investigators, prosecutors and judges expect it, and a prosecutor takes a represented defendant more seriously. Justin spent two years as an Assistant Jefferson County Attorney; nothing about hiring counsel surprises the other side.

Sometimes, and it is often reduced even when it is not dismissed. The stop, the field sobriety tests, the breath or blood test procedure and the timing all have to be done correctly. Justin reviews each step. Kentucky DUI penalties are serious and escalate with prior offenses and aggravating circumstances, so the details matter.

Not necessarily. Kentucky allows expungement of many misdemeanors and some Class D felonies after a waiting period, and dismissed charges can often be expunged sooner. Ask Justin about eligibility once your case is resolved.

It depends on the charge and the court. Justin quotes a flat fee or an hourly arrangement in writing before any work starts, so there are no surprises.

If you have children, own a home or want any say in who receives what, yes. Without a will, Kentucky's intestacy statutes decide, and the result is often not what the family expected. A will also names a guardian for minor children and an executor you trust.

For most Kentucky families: a will, a durable power of attorney for financial matters, a healthcare surrogate designation and a living will directive. Some situations call for a trust. Justin walks through what your family actually needs rather than selling a package.

Probate is the court-supervised process of proving a will, paying debts and distributing the estate. In Jefferson County it runs through the District Court's probate division. Straightforward estates typically take several months to about a year; contested or complicated estates take longer. Justin handles the filings and deadlines so the family does not have to learn the process in the middle of a loss.

Often, in part. Assets with beneficiary designations, jointly owned property with survivorship and assets held in a trust pass outside probate. Kentucky also has a simplified process for small estates. Whether that fits your family is a planning question Justin can answer in one meeting.

Wills can be challenged on grounds such as lack of capacity, undue influence or improper execution, and executors can be held to account for how they handle an estate. These cases have short windows and turn on evidence, so call before the estate is distributed.