Kentucky state law places numerous restrictions on driving. Owning and legally operating a motor vehicle is a privilege, not a right. Only those who comply with state law can drive freely and without fear of consequence.
Drivers have to obtain a license, and they need to register their vehicles with the state. To register a vehicle, a driver will first have to provide proof of insurance. The state requires liability coverage so that if someone causes a crash, they neither face severe financial consequences nor cause them for other people.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of drivers who don’t follow the law requiring active insurance. What happens if you get into a crash with an uninsured driver?
There are many uninsured drivers on the Kentucky roads
People drive without insurance all the time in Kentucky. Kentucky ranks 17th in the nation for the number of uninsured drivers on the road. Based on 2019 data, you can expect roughly 13.9% of drivers to not have insurance.
These drivers sometimes don’t have enough money to pay for insurance. Other times, they just make a mistake about making their payment. Whether a driver openly admits that they don’t have coverage or has a policy that they allowed to lapse by mistake, you could be the one left with uncovered expenses. How do you protect yourself from a wreck with an uninsured motorist?
You can buy insurance to protect you from this risk
Given that you have a better than one in 10 chance of getting into a crash with a driver who does not have insurance, it is a smart move to protect against that risk. You can purchase uninsured motorist coverage and also underinsured motorist coverage to augment your liability insurance coverage.
Additional forms of protection allow you to make a claim against your own insurance policy when another driver doesn’t have coverage. If you got into a crash with an uninsured driver and did not have protection on your own policy, a civil lawsuit could be the answer. State law permits those hurt by others to file personal injury lawsuits in civil court.
Learning about your biggest financial risks after a motor vehicle crash can make it easier to protect yourself.