As a responsible Kentucky driver, you likely do everything in your power to avoid contributing to a crash. From performing proper maintenance on your vehicle to driving with caution, the things you do can impact how much risk you have on the road. Unfortunately, nothing you do can prevent someone else from causing a crash.
When that happens, the other driver should have insurance that covers your losses. Unfortunately, not all drivers carry insurance. A small but significant number of drivers in Kentucky don’t have insurance on their vehicles at any given time.
As if that weren’t frightening enough, it is also possible that the other driver may not have enough insurance to cover the costs of the crash. That could leave you with bills that far exceed the insurance settlement you receive.
How Kentucky auto insurance works
When you purchase car insurance, you are insuring against the liability you incur by driving. If you cause an accident, the other party can come after you for their medical expenses and the property damage that results. Your policy protects you from facing a personal lawsuit that could cost you thousands of dollars.
The people who sue you could go after your paycheck in an attempt to garnish it or even sue for some of the equity in your home if you have no other assets. The coverage included in your insurance policy protects you from those financial liabilities. However, your insurance has a maximum payout depending on the circumstances of the accident.
Many people purchase the state minimum coverage, which is relatively low. You may get into an accident with a driver who only carries $25,000 worth of personal injury coverage for one injured party or $50,000 for multiple people hurt or killed, and $25,000 worth of property damage coverage.
Unless you have uninsured and underinsured driver riders on your policy, your insurance company will not cover those losses that exceed the other driver’s coverage. Generally speaking, your only option will be to pursue a lawsuit.
You shouldn’t have to pay for the mistakes of an underinsured driver
Getting into an accident often leads to financial hardship. Between the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and the expenses involved in physical convalescence after injuries, you may experience losses that amount to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
You should not have to worry about that financial burden because someone else did not carry adequate vehicle insurance. Taking action by filing a civil lawsuit against the other driver is a smart decision that holds them accountable for what their lack of insurance costs you.
It may be time to have an attorney review your insurance coverage and recommend what additional riders or expansions in your policy you need for sufficient protection.
