Unrealistic expectations lead to disappointment, if not outright conflict. You need to know what to expect before you start making demands of another party, especially if you might end up in court.
Given that you have made payments on your Kentucky motor vehicle insurance policy for years without ever making a claim, you expect protection after a crash. What you expect from the insurance company and what they can or will actually provide you with may differ significantly.
What amount of compensation can you expect from the insurance company after a crash?
When you are at fault
If you are the one who caused the crash, then your liability policy will pay for the losses suffered by other people. You can expect that the insurance company will reimburse the other party for their expenses, up to the policy limit for your coverage. The other driver will only be able to take you to court if you have insufficient insurance and were either obviously negligent or in violation of traffic laws at the time of the crash.
If the other driver is to blame
If you are not at fault for a crash, then your insurance policy may play very little role in your protection. You will first have to make a claim against the liability coverage of the driver at fault for the collision.
You can make a claim for the cost to repair your vehicle and to get treatment as well as to replace your lost wages, but you face the policy limits paid for by the other driver. They may only have what the state requires, nothing more.
When you have exceptionally high costs
If the other driver is to blame and you suffer a catastrophic injury or massive damage to your vehicle, you may be in a position to make a claim against your own insurance coverage. Underinsured motorist protection and collision coverage could play a role in your protection following a crash caused by a driver without enough coverage to fully pay your expenses.
If you don’t have that extra coverage, then you may need to look into a civil lawsuit against the driver at fault for the crash or a third party with liability. Making sense of the protections available after a car crash can help you protect yourself and cover your costs.
