What do you need to know if you are injured as a passenger in someone else’s car here in Shepherdsville, Mount Washington, Shelbyville, Taylorsville, Radcliff, Elizabethtown, Jeffersontown, or Louisville, Kentucky?
The experience of being injured in a car accident is traumatic for any of us. When you suffer injuries while riding in someone else’s car, it is natural to have a lot of questions about who is responsible for covering all of the past, present, and future medical costs, lost wages, and fair compensation for being forced to endure and recover from your injuries. It may seem a bit confusing, especially with Kentucky’s PIP insurance and establishing who shares responsibility (fault) for the accident itself.
My name is John Schmidt, and after more than 25 years of experience as a personal injury attorney serving Jefferson, Bullitt, Hardin, Spencer, Shelby, and Oldham counties in Kentucky, I can assure you to relax, an injured passenger in a Kentucky car, truck, motorcycle, or motor vehicle accident always has a valid personal injury claim.
Kentucky is a “no-fault” state, and a driver’s insurance will cover related medical costs after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. Our state’s minimum Personal Injury Protection or PIP requirement is $10,000 per person per accident. Kentucky drivers can “opt-out” of the PIP/no-fault system, which changes the rules regarding their ability to pursue other drivers for injury-related claims while facing their exposure to similar lawsuits when they are responsible for an accident.
The first source of recovery when you are injured as a passenger in someone else’s car is the insurance of the driver of the car you were riding in. Your own PIP or personal injury insurance may offer additional benefits. In many cases, especially those involving serious injury (fractures, medical bills over $1,000, or permanent injury), it is possible to file a third-party claim for valid claims exceeding $10,000. It may be necessary to file multiple personal injury claims with multiple insurance companies based upon the nature of your injuries and who shares responsibility (who is considered to be fully or partially “at fault”) for the accident resulting in your injury.
There are too many opportunities to make a mistake when pursuing rightful compensation. In addition, insurance representatives work to get injury victims to accept the lowest possible dollar amount as soon as possible after the accident. It can take months or even years before the extent of your injuries and actual medical expenses will be known. This is why an injured passenger should never attempt to handle their own personal injury claim(s) in Kentucky.
Does that mean if you are injured as a passenger in someone else’s car, you may have to file a lawsuit against a family member, co-worker, or friend? The driver of the car you were in may share some of the responsibility for your injuries and associated costs, but the claim is against their insurance company in the vast majority of cases, not them, personally.
We handle all communications with insurance representatives and responsible parties courteously and respectfully. We understand the importance of your relationships and are here to ensure you receive full and just compensation for your injuries and having to endure the experience.
We invite you to contact us via e-mail, schedule an appointment or call us today at (502) 509-1490 to get the important advice and counsel required to protect your personal injury claim and achieve full and fair compensation for having to endure and recover from your injuries.
