Louisville Car Accident Attorneys Serving Jefferson County and Surrounding Counties in Kentucky
In 2013, Kentucky saw 123,258 traffic collisions reported on public roads, with another 22,716 occurring in parking lots or on private property. These accidents resulted in 22,868 injuries and 590 fatalities (Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts, 2013 Report). Car crashes are a major source of personal injury and wrongful death in Kentucky; sadly, most accidents would not have happened if the driver responsible had been more careful. In Louisville, the attorneys at Ewing & Willis help accident victims and their families hold negligent drivers accountable for their negligence and collect a fair amount of compensation for their injuries and expenses.
Recovering compensation for an auto accident in Kentucky often involves the interplay between both no-fault and fault-based insurance.
Auto Accident Recovery Under Kentucky No-Fault Insurance Laws
Under Kentucky’s no-fault insurance system, you can recover up to $10,000 on your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance (or more if you carry higher coverage) for medical expenses, lost wages and other out-of-pocket expenses, without having to prove that the accident was the other driver’s fault. However, you may be able to sue the at-fault driver, if your damages exceed the insurance amount and one of the following criteria apply to you:
- You incur more than $1,000 in medical expenses
- You suffer a certain type of fracture
- Your injury causes permanent disfigurement
- Your injury is permanent
- Your injury results in the permanent loss of a body function
Suing the At-Fault Driver for Damages
If your injury meets one of the criteria above for a serious injury, or if you had previously rejected no-fault insurance, then you may be able to proceed with a claim or lawsuit against the driver responsible for causing the accident. The other driver should be carrying at least $25,000 in liability insurance for bodily injury damages, as required by Kentucky law. Sometimes the other driver’s insurance is inadequate, and sometimes the other driver is uninsured, despite the law requiring insurance. In these situations, your own uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may be used.
Get Help with Louisville Car Accident Claims
Making a claim against the other driver means negotiating a settlement with their insurance company, and taking them to court if a fair settlement can’t be reached. At Ewing & Willis, our lawyers are experienced courtroom litigators. We prepare your case for trial from the very start and are always ready and willing to go to court if necessary to get the best result. If you need help accessing no-fault insurance benefits or obtaining a recovery from a negligent driver in a Louisville car accident, contact Ewing & Willis for a free consultation with dedicated and experienced Louisville personal injury attorneys.
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