• By: Andrew Leonard, Esq.
Legal steps after a Kentucky car accident with an uninsured driver

In this article, you can discover…

  • What to do and how to respond when hit by an uninsured driver.
  • How uninsured motorist coverage works in Kentucky.
  • How an experienced attorney can help you pursue your claim.

If I Am Hit By An Uninsured Driver In Kentucky, What Are The First Steps I Should Take?

After your accident, the first step you should take is to call 911 and report the incident. Kentucky law requires that you report any accident that involves any injuries or property damage exceeding $500. If the other driver is uninsured, it is possible that you will need to file a claim with your insurance provider, but it is always wise to consult a qualified personal injury attorney on any steps you take following your accident.

Can I Still File A Claim If The Other Driver Is Uninsured?

You can file a claim even if the other driver is not currently carrying insurance. If another driver is responsible for your crash, you may be able to seek compensation from your own insurance provider through uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is required in Kentucky and will account for another driver’s lack of coverage by compensating you for any medical bills or property repair expenses you incurred as a result of your accident.

How Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Work For Me As A Driver In Kentucky?

Uninsured motorist coverage is a type of automotive insurance that is generally required in Kentucky unless a specific waiver is signed with your insurance company. This insurance serves to make up for another driver’s lack of insurance by covering your medical bills and property repairs in the event that you are in an accident with an uninsured driver. If you do not have uninsured motorist coverage, you will be forced to file a civil action in order to seek your damages and costs from the uninsured driver.

However, this can be difficult if the other driver cannot be identified or the individual does not have any assets. Uninsured motorist coverage seeks to ensure that you are taken care of in an accident with an uninsured driver.

Will Filing An Uninsured Motorist Claim Raise My Insurance Rates?

Under Kentucky Revised Statue (KRS) 304.20-045, your insurance company cannot raise your insurance rates if you are not found at fault for an accident. If your insurance company does choose to raise your rates, you can take steps to prevent this from happening.

While your rates cannot generally be increased for filing an uninsured motorist claim, it is not uncommon that your insurance company will try to find another way to justify charging you a higher premium. They may even attempt to assign you some of the fault in an effort to validate their claims.

When you are thinking of opening an uninsured motorist claim, it is important to work closely with your attorney to be sure that you will be protected from any fault that your insurance company may attempt to assign to you. If you are apportioned some type of fault in your accident, the insurance company may be trying to work around KRS 304.20-045 in order to raise your insurance premiums.

How Can An Uninsured Motorist Attorney Assist Me With My Claims?

Working with an experienced attorney can play a pivotal role in the success of your claims, as they are properly equipped to review your information and assess the value of your case. After your case’s value has been determined, your attorney can help you with securing the necessary funds to cover your medical bills, repairs, and other associated expenses.

Additionally, your attorney will work to negotiate with your insurance company on your behalf and ensure that you are not taken advantage of when it is time to make a deal.

Can You Describe A Circumstance Where You’ve Helped A Client Who Was Involved In A Car Accident With An Uninsured Motorist?

I once helped a client who was a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a wreck where she received life-threatening injuries. She was airlifted to a hospital, resulting in astronomical medical bills. Fortunately, she was carrying uninsured motorist coverage, which we were able to access to assist her with paying her bills.

We were able to negotiate her bills so that she could still receive recovery even though her uninsured motorist coverage was not particularly high. At the end of the day, she was able to avoid filing any type of bankruptcy for her medical bills and even walked away with money in her pocket which was very unlikely and a great outcome she was thrilled with.

Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?

For more information on How To Handle A Car Accident With An Uninsured Motorist, a free initial consultation with Attorney Andrew Leonard is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (270) 817-7221 today.

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