Kentucky Car Insurance Requirements

Below is an updated list of most Kentucky car insurance requirements you will need to know if you happen to get into a car accident within the state of Kentucky:

Insured vs. Uninsured Auto Accidents

All Kentucky drivers are required by law to carry auto insurance which includes no-fault personal injury protection (PIP). This doesn’t mean that a driver is guaranteed to be insured if you end up in a car accident with them, however. Uninsured drivers unfortunately decide to break the law on a daily basis.

According to 2014 data compiled by the Insurance Research Council, it’s estimated that while nationwide trends for uninsured drivers do appear to be slowly going down, approximately 15-26% of Kentucky drivers still drive without insurance. Comparatively, Kentucky has a higher percentage of uninsured drivers than many other U.S. states, in fact.

Kentucky Insurance Requirements

Most insured Kentucky drivers should have uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage as part of their insurance policy. In a no-fault state like Kentucky, uninsured motorist coverage allows for a driver’s auto insurance policy to cover the costs of their medical bills plus the costs of any lost wages/other expenses if they happen to be involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. Underinsured motorist coverage allows for the same thing, except it includes drivers that are not fully insured instead of non-insured.

All insurance companies are required to offer UM/UIM coverage and in Kentucky it’s automatically included in most policies unless specifically rejected by the driver via written notice. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage does not increase an insurance premium by a large amount and it makes being involved in an accident with an uninsured driver 100% easier by covering the driver’s full range of expenses.

With basic, no-fault coverage, drivers in Kentucky are covered for up to $10,000 in medical costs regardless of who is at fault for the accident. In especially serious accidents, however, this amount may not be enough to pay for all of the driver’s medical bills. This amount also doesn’t cover the costs of lost wages or provide the driver with any extra compensation for pain and suffering. In a no-fault state, an accident victim could potentially receive compensation for these costs through the other driver’s liability insurance.

If you get into an accident with an uninsured driver and do not have uninsured/underinsured coverage, this changes. You would be unable to seek additional compensation from the other driver without legal aid, and your medical bills would have to be fully covered by your medical insurance. You would receive no compensation whatsoever for lost wages. This is why uninsured/underinsured coverage is vital.

Seeking Additional Help

The financial costs in a serious car accident can be astronomical when the compensation of lost wages, etc., is taken into consideration. Insurance companies often refuse to pay for everything that needs to be taken care of and tend to be especially particular when a UM or UIM claim is filed. If you’re involved in a car accident with an uninsured driver, it’s imperative to seek a car accident attorney or personal injury lawyer before waiting around to see what your insurance company is willing to pay for. Even UM and UIM coverage may not be enough to cover the costs of your recovery.

A Kentucky car accident lawyer like Tad Thomas of Thomas Law Offices can help you decide what the best course of action is and how you can receive the compensation you need to get back on your feet again. Uninsured driver insurance claims are complicated. You’ve suffered enough complications. Focus on recovering from the accident and leave any complications to us.