After a serious motor vehicle collision, individuals often worry about the possibility of financial ruin. The combination of medical bills, lost wages and vehicle repairs can often seem overwhelming. Fortunately, drivers carry an insurance policy designed to alleviate these financial concerns. What happens, then, if the driver who caused the accident does not carry an appropriate policy amount or carries no insurance at all?
While Kentucky has strict laws in place requiring drivers to carry a minimum level of insurance coverage, many drivers choose to ignore the mandatory requirements. Even though there are serious penalties associated with violating these laws, some drivers choose to get behind the wheel with no insurance or below-limit coverage. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a negligent driver to cause a catastrophic vehicle crash. Depending on the type of collision, the vehicles involved and the speeds at which they were traveling, vehicle occupants can suffer devastating consequences, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): The symptoms that indicate a TBI vary widely from person to person. People will likely suffer some level of cognitive impairment including memory trouble, speech difficulties and the loss of facial recognition ability. Additionally, a TBI can lead to personality changes, mood swings and emotional challenges.
- Spinal cord damage: Based on the vehicle impact, an injury involving the spinal column can result in a torsion injury to the spinal cord, or the partial or complete severing of the cord. This type of injury often results in paralysis. The paralysis can be paraplegia, hemiplegia or quadriplegia based on the severity of the damage and its position along the spinal cord.
- Fatality: A vehicle collision does not have to occur at high speeds to have catastrophic consequences. From highway crashes to those involving larger vehicles, drivers and passengers alike could be killed in the collision.
According to Kentucky law, drivers must account for another driver’s negligence in their own policies. From carrying uninsured motorist coverage in the event the at-fault driver has no insurance, to carrying an underinsured motorist policy to make up any gaps in the negligent driver’s coverage, drivers must protect themselves from financial trouble.
From life-changing injuries to the loss of a loved one, a motor vehicle collision can impact the entire family. Fortunately, individuals can avoid financial peril through an insurance claim. Even if the negligent driver is uninsured or underinsured, there are legal options for monetary compensation.
