Kentucky Accident Blog

It Is Your Responsibility To Carry Insurance That Will Protect Your Family

Not carrying sufficient automobile insurance coverage can have devastating repercussions on you and your family if you are involved in a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident or bicycle accident. Should the accident not be your fault it is up to you to have coverage that will protect you and your family. If you are carrying the Kentucky minimum insurance coverage you are allowing the negligent driver that may cause the accident to handle that responsibility. In today’s’ tough economic times most people will not carry sufficient insurance coverage to financially protect YOUR family if you are seriously injured.

Last year I handled a case that illustrates what can happen in a situation where only the minimum liability limits are carried. A bus was rear-ended by a car. My client and eight others were injured in this accident. The driver of the car that hit the bus had the minimum insurance required in Kentucky. His liability coverage was $25,000.00/$50,000.00. This means that there was $50,000.00 to cover the nine injured people. That $50,000.00 had to be divided up among all of them. As a result many, including my client, did not get what they deserved and would otherwise have been entitled to in this case.

Once this $50,000.00 is divided up, each person may make a claim under their Underinsured Motorist Coverage. Unfortunately, my client did not own a car, so there was no Underinsured Motorist Coverage. Consequently, all that could be collected was a portion of the $50,000.00 for the pain and suffering.

We were able to get her medical bills paid through the Kentucky Assigned Claims Plan A school is only required to carry liability coverage so there was no Underinsured Motorist Coverage on the bus either.

Insurance companies, or their agents, sometimes push these low liability limits because they are trying to get you the cheapest rate possible. This also limits the insurance company’s exposure to liability in the event that you are in an automobile accident.  When choosing your policy limits, you need to look at your particular circumstances before deciding whether or not the cheap insurance is your best bet.  Like the old adage says, you get what you pay for. Do your homework and purchase the automobile insurance coverage that will financially protect your family. A good insurance agent will encourage this. It is smart to get several opinions and quotes before making your final decision.

I urge you to get the proper insurance coverage so that your family is protected if the negligence of another causes and accident and injures you. I sincerely hope this never happens to you, but make sure you have the protection you need. For more information on insurance go to my website and request a free copy of my book "What You Don't Know About Buying Car Insurance Can Hurt You".

Mike Schafer is a Louisville, Kentucky Attorney who practice concentrates in auotomobile, truck, motorcycle, bicycle and fatal accident cases. For additional information go to mikeschaferlaw.com