Kentucky requires all drivers to carry liability insurance for bodily injury in the amount of $25,000 per person and $50,000 total per accident. Another $10,000 in property liability coverage is required. If you purchased uninsured motorist insurance (UM), and you’re hit and injured through the fault of a driver who doesn’t have insurance, you’re allowed to make a bodily injury claim under your uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist insurance in Kentucky is optional. Given the fact that about 15 percent of all motorists in Kentucky are uninsured, having uninsured motorist coverage is highly recommended.
Underinsured motorist insurance
When you buy UM, you also get underinsured motorist insurance (UIM). If an insured driver is negligent and hits and injures you, and he or she doesn’t have enough coverage to cover your bodily injury damages, you can make a UIM claim with your insurer to try and cover your damages.
Making the claim
When you make a UM or UIM claim with your own insurer in Kentucky, it “steps into the shoes” of the person who caused your accident and injuries. Your own insurer becomes your opponent. You’re not going to be in good hands anymore, and you’re not going to be with a good neighbor. You can expect every element of liability and damages in your claim to be disputed. If you try to represent yourself in processing this claim, your insurer has you right where it wants you. It’s likely that you’ll make mistakes during the processing of your claim, and the law allows those mistakes to be used against you in the future. We don’t make those mistakes, so it’s far better to arrange for a free consultation and case evaluation with us. We’ll listen carefully to you and answer any questions that you have. We’ll then explain the UM and UIM claim process to you, and tell you what we think we can do for you.
Damages
UM and UIM insurance aren’t going to cover the repair or replacement of your vehicle. That’s what collision coverage is for, but they do cover bodily injury damages up to the limits of your coverage. Those can include damages like:
- Past and future medical bills and medical bills
- Lost earnings and future earnings
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of a normal life
- Funeral and burial expenses in the event of a wrongful death
Who is covered by UM and UIM?
Most car insurance companies allow for broad coverage on who might be insured under UM and UIM insurance. Those insured people are usually you and your spouse along with any blood relatives who are residents of your household. Most insurers provide coverage if you or one of those people are involved in an accident as a pedestrian, bicyclist or a skateboarder, even in the event of a hit-and-run.
Time limitations
The time period that you can bring a UM or UIM claim in is set forth in your coverage. Take notice of the fact that it could be as short as 30 days. That’s why you should visit with us sooner rather than later. Don’t sit on your rights, especially when it doesn’t cost anything to meet with us.
Contact a car accident lawyer today.
Contact us right away if you’ve been injured in an accident that was the fault of somebody else. Our job is to protect your rights and maximize any financial recovery that you might receive. We are experienced Kentucky car accident lawyers with a proven record of successful results. When you retain us, we will determine the amount of all your present and future costs arising from your accident, and present that figure to the responsible party or their insurer. If they don’t respond with a reasonable offer, we will go to trial and fight for you in court.
