London Auto Accident Lawyer
As our roads get busier and our drivers become more distracted, it can feel like we are more at risk of being involved in a car accident than ever. Recent statistics support this assertion, with the Kentucky State Police reporting that there were at least 158,171 car accidents in the state in 2018 alone, 34,774 of which involved an injury. Fortunately, it is possible for accident victims to recover compensation for their crash-related losses, whether through an insurer or through the court system, so if you were recently involved in an accident, you should think about speaking with an experienced London auto accident attorney in Kentucky who can walk you through your legal options.
Car Accident Injuries
The kinds of injuries that a person sustains in a car accident depend on a variety of factors, including:
- The age and health of the occupant;
- The size and type of the vehicles in which the parties were driving;
- The number of vehicles involved in the crash;
- The type of crash in question;
- The speed at which the parties were traveling prior to the collision; and
- Whether the parties were wearing seat belts.
How these factors apply in a specific case will depend on the circumstances of the crash. Someone who is involved in a rear-end collision, for instance, is more likely to sustain a neck injury, like whiplash, especially if the collision occurred at high speeds. A person involved in a sideswipe accident, on the other hand, may completely avoid injury, but will likely sustain significant property damage. Regardless of the circumstances, certain types of injuries tend to crop up again and again in car accident cases, including: broken bones, lacerations, head trauma, spine injuries, and internal injuries.
Liability for Kentucky Car Accidents
Kentucky is a choice no fault state, which means that drivers are required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance of at least $10,000 per person per accident to cover medical bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket costs. Under this system, accident victims must file claims through their own insurers if they are involved in a collision, regardless of who actually caused the crash. To step outside of this system and file a claim directly against another driver or responsible party, victims will need to prove that their injuries satisfy the state’s definition of severe, or demonstrate that their damages exceed the state’s minimum.
However, the Commonwealth also allows drivers to opt out of the no fault system, which means that a driver or passenger who is injured in an accident will still have the option of filing a claim against the at-fault driver without having to meet an injury or expense threshold. The downside of going this route is that it also opens up the accident victim to the risk of being sued. To reject PIP coverage, drivers must file a No-Fault Rejection form with the state’s Department of Insurance and demonstrate that they have sufficient bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage.
Do You Need Help with Your Car Accident Claim?
To learn more about the ins and outs of seeking compensation after a car accident in Kentucky, please call the dedicated London auto accident lawyers at Cessna & George Law Firm today.
