Co-Counsel & Attorney Referrals
Refer serious Kentucky injury cases to a firm with the resources, trucking team, and track record to take them all the way , and treat your clients like they’re the only case in the office.
If you have a client with a serious Kentucky personal injury claim , a commercial trucking crash, a catastrophic injury case, or a claim that needs significant resources to develop , Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers offers formal co-counsel arrangements and referral relationships that are straightforward, compliant with Kentucky bar rules, and built around protecting your client relationship. Our team has the dedicated trucking division, the infrastructure, and a verified results record to take high-stakes cases from investigation through resolution.
Who This Page Is For
This page is written for attorneys , not injury victims. If you are a Kentucky attorney, an out-of-state attorney with a Kentucky claim, a general practice lawyer whose client was injured in a truck or car crash, or a firm that handles occasional personal injury cases but needs a co-counsel partner for complex matters, this is the right conversation to start.
We are not looking to take cases from referral partners. Our goal is to be the firm you trust for the cases that require depth , the ones where getting it wrong costs your client everything.
What We Handle , Case Types We Accept
Our firm concentrates on serious personal injury and wrongful death claims in Kentucky. The cases where referral relationships make the most sense:
Commercial Trucking Crashes
18-wheelers, semis, flatbeds, tankers, garbage trucks, delivery fleets. We have a dedicated trucking team with FMCSA regulation depth and the resources to go after carriers, brokers, and shippers.
Catastrophic Injury
TBI, spinal cord injuries, amputations, severe burns, and polytrauma. Cases requiring life-care planning, vocational analysis, and testimony from medical and economic professionals.
Wrongful Death
Fatal crashes, including occupational fatalities involving commercial vehicles. We handle survivor actions alongside wrongful death claims under KRS 411.130.
Multi-Defendant Cases
Cases involving employers, leasing companies, fleet managers, insurance stacking issues, and multiple liable parties that require sophisticated liability analysis.
Serious Car & Motorcycle Crashes
High-value automobile and motorcycle injury claims, including uninsured/underinsured motorist disputes, bad faith claims, and cases involving disputed liability.
Premises & Other PI
Slip-and-fall, negligent security, and other personal injury claims with clear liability and serious documented injury. We evaluate these case by case.
Our Trucking Team Capabilities
Most firms handle trucking cases. Few have a dedicated team built around them. The difference matters at the case development stage , when evidence disappears, logs get altered, and carriers retain defense counsel within hours of a crash.
Our trucking team works exclusively on commercial vehicle claims. When a trucking case comes in, we move immediately to:
- Send spoliation letters and preservation demands to carriers, brokers, and fleet managers
- Obtain electronic logging device (ELD) data, black box / ECM data, and fleet management system records before they’re overwritten , typically within 30 days
- Pull driver qualification files, drug testing records, and driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs)
- Identify DOT out-of-service violations and prior safety history through FMCSA’s SAFER database
- Retain accident reconstruction professionals and, where appropriate, trucking industry operations witnesses
- Investigate carrier insurance stacking , MCS-90 endorsements, umbrella policies, and broker liability under cargo and general liability arrangements
For attorneys whose clients were injured in commercial vehicle crashes, the single most valuable thing a referral partner can do is move on evidence preservation within 24–48 hours. We are set up to do exactly that.
Our Results Record , Co-Counsel Partners Can Point to This
- 40+ seven-figure recoveries since 2020
- Forbes Best-In-State 2025 , 1 of only 2 personal injury lawyers recognized from Kentucky
- Super Lawyers recognition 2017–2026 (consecutive)
- 1,000+ five-star client reviews, 4.9/5 average rating
- Courier Journal Community Choice , Best Personal Injury Lawyer 2025
- Full case results on our results page
How Co-Counsel Arrangements Work
Kentucky’s professional conduct rules , specifically SCR 3.130(1.5)(e) , permit fee sharing between attorneys when the arrangement is disclosed to the client in writing, the client provides informed consent, and the total fee is not increased. All of our co-counsel arrangements comply with these requirements.
What We Offer Referral Partners
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Formal written co-counsel agreement
Every arrangement is documented. The fee split, the division of responsibilities, and the client disclosure process are all set out in a written agreement before the case begins.
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Client disclosure handled correctly
We prepare the SCR-compliant client disclosure and make sure your client’s consent is documented. No gray areas, no ambiguous arrangements.
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Referral attorney communication
You get regular updates. Your client’s relationship with you is preserved. We don’t communicate with your client in ways that bypass your relationship.
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Referral fees where applicable
For cases where you are not participating in the work, a referral fee structure consistent with SCR 3.130(1.5)(e) is available. We can discuss what that looks like for your specific situation.
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Your client comes first
The Bigger Share Guarantee® applies , no increased litigation fees total contingency fee. Your client gets the right outcome on fees regardless of how the co-counsel split is structured between attorneys.
What Makes a Good Referral Case
Not every personal injury case is the right fit for co-counsel. Cases that make the most sense for a referral or partnership arrangement tend to share these characteristics:
- Serious, documented injuries , hospitalizations, surgeries, permanent impairment, or extended treatment
- Clear liability with a collectible defendant , commercial carrier, insured driver, or defendant with identifiable coverage
- Significant damages potential , medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering that justify the investment in case development
- Early in the process , the earlier we receive the referral, the better our ability to preserve critical evidence
- Kentucky venue , we practice statewide in Kentucky; we are most effective for cases that will be litigated in Kentucky courts
Not sure if it’s a good fit? Call us directly. A 10-minute conversation with one of our attorneys can tell you whether a case is worth developing further. There’s no obligation and no cost to that conversation.
Our Client Service Model , What Your Referral Gets
Every client who comes to us through a referral gets the same model as every direct client: a dedicated team of three , a top-rated attorney, a highly experienced case manager, and a dedicated legal assistant. That means your referral’s case is never sitting in a pile. There is a named person responsible for it every day.
Combined with 24/7 availability (no appointments needed), average 10-minute initial call response, and a results record your clients can verify on Google, the client experience is one you can stand behind when you send someone our way.
Meet the attorneys who would be handling your referral cases on our team page.
Questions Attorneys Ask About Referrals
Does Kentucky allow attorney referral fees?
Yes. Under SCR 3.130(1.5)(e), Kentucky attorneys may share fees if: (1) the arrangement is disclosed to the client in writing; (2) the client provides informed consent; and (3) the total fee charged to the client is not increased because of the referral arrangement. All of our co-counsel and referral agreements comply with these requirements.
Will my client know about the referral or co-counsel arrangement?
Yes , and that’s required by Kentucky bar rules. Under SCR 3.130(1.5)(e), the client must receive written disclosure and provide informed consent. We prepare the disclosure language and make sure the process is handled correctly. Most clients understand and appreciate when their attorney brings in additional resources for their case.
What types of cases are best for referral?
Commercial trucking crashes, catastrophic injury cases, and wrongful death claims are the best fit. We also take serious car accident and motorcycle injury cases. The earlier in the process the better , evidence preservation in trucking cases is time-critical. Cases litigated in Kentucky courts are our primary focus.
How do I start a referral conversation?
Call us directly at 502-888-8888 (Louisville) or 859-888-8000 (Lexington). Ask to speak with one of our attorneys about a potential co-counsel or referral matter. We can usually have an initial conversation same day. Alternatively, use the contact form on this page to send us the basic facts and we’ll follow up promptly.
What fee do clients pay under a co-counsel arrangement?
The total fee to the client is the same as any other Aguiar client , no increased litigation fees contingency, never increasing for litigation. The Bigger Share Guarantee® applies. The referral or co-counsel fee split is structured between the attorneys and does not increase the client’s cost.
Send a Referral Inquiry
Use the form below to send us the basic facts on a potential referral or co-counsel matter. An attorney will follow up promptly.