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The problem of uninsured and underinsured drivers

On Behalf of | Sep 23, 2022 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

If you have been injured in a car accident caused by another driver, that driver’s insurance should help pay for your medical expenses and other losses.

That’s how it should work, anyway. In reality, insurance companies often fail to pay or pay less than they should. But many injured people in Kentucky face a problem that’s even worse: What can you do if the driver who was at fault has insufficient insurance or no insurance at all?

Requirements

Kentucky requires drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance. The minimum requirement of this insurance is $25,000 per injured person and $50,000 for all people injured in the accident. Unfortunately, because of the high cost of medical care, these amounts are woefully inadequate in many cases. They also won’t do much to help with lost wages and other non-medical losses that the injured face after an accident.

Unfortunately, many drivers don’t even carry the minimum level of insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute, almost 14% of Kentucky drivers are uninsured.

Protect yourself

To protect yourself from these headaches, you can carry underinsured/uninsured motorist insurance. This should be in addition to your basic policy. Your collision insurance will cover the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle after an accident, but it won’t cover your medical expenses. Comprehensive insurance can cover some or your medical expenses, but it won’t cover everything you lose in the aftermath of an accident. Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage can fill in the gaps.

What can you do?

If you have been injured in an accident caused by another driver, your own insurance may be able to cover many of your costs, but it may not be enough. You may consider filing a personal injury lawsuit to recover some of your damages.

An experienced attorney can advise you on your rights and legal options.