Car wrecks can have a significant impact on your life—unexpected medical bills, time off work, and perhaps permanent changes to your physical and emotional health. Factor in the Commonwealth’s complicated car insurance scheme, and it could be challenging to get the reimbursement you are entitled to receive.
You should not have to bear these burdens without assistance. A local motor vehicle collision attorney at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy can work to ensure you receive a Covington car accident settlement that provides appropriate compensation after a crash.
No-Fault Choice Could Complicate Claims Process
Under the Commonwealth’s no-fault process for motor vehicle accident claims, all registered vehicles must carry minimum liability insurance coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury to multiple people, and $10,000 for property damage. Vehicle owners have the option to increase their coverage at an additional cost.
Insurers must offer optional coverage for uninsured motorists and personal injury protection (PIP). The minimum PIP coverage is $10,000, but many insurers allow enhanced coverage up to $50,000. Kentucky Revised Statutes §304.39-060 allows vehicle owners to decline PIP coverage, but to do so they must file a notice with the Department of Insurance.
After an auto crash in Covington, each driver must submit the claim to their insurer for payment, regardless of who was at fault. Injured passengers file claims with the insurer of the vehicle they were riding in. If one of the vehicle owners rejected PIP coverage, that driver can work with a motivated Covington lawyer at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy to sue to claim medical benefits and could be sued if others were injured in the crash.
Claims Process in Covington
Once you file a claim with the insurer, the company will make a settlement offer. In some cases, especially when nobody suffered injuries, the offer might be adequate. On the other hand, if you have been injured, the offer might not cover all your losses. Then, negotiations ensue.
It is best to have a proactive attorney at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy handle negotiations for a settlement with an auto insurer after a collision. They understand how to calculate your actual damages, know the process insurance adjusters must go through to justify payouts, and could collect and present evidence supporting your case.
Most cases end in a settlement within a few weeks or months. However, if the parties are unable to reach a reasonable settlement, and you must file a complaint with the state Department of Insurance. The law permits people injured in a vehicle wreck to bring a lawsuit in certain specific circumstances.
Filing a Lawsuit after a Wreck in Covington
Reducing litigation after vehicle accidents is one of the benefits of a no-fault system. However, the law recognizes that the system will not always allow for adequate compensation when people sustain severe injuries.
In these cases, an injured person in Covington with PIP coverage could file a lawsuit seeking damages under the following circumstances:
- Their medical costs resulting from the injury exceed $1000
- They suffered a broken bone
- They sustained a permanent injury
- An injury suffered in the accident caused permanent disfigurement
Even after filing a lawsuit, your attorney at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy will continue settlement negotiations. A settlement is usually desirable because it avoids the expense, delay, and uncertainty of a trial. Once the parties agree, settlement proceeds are often in your hands within a month. If the case goes to trial and you win an award of damages, you might not receive your money for many months or even years.
Possible Compensation
A settlement or damages award could cover all the expenses you incurred in treating and recovering from your injury. It could reimburse income lost because of the injury, and any future loss of income attributable to it. Compensation also might include sums to acknowledge the injured person’s pain, emotional suffering, and other intangible effects of the injury.
Trust Your Car Crash Claim to a Covington Attorney
The no-fault system for securing compensation after a wreck can get complicated. It makes good sense to work with a professional who knows the process inside and out.
Make an appointment with a compassionate attorney at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy as soon as possible after your crash. They could help ensure that your Covington personal injury lawyers provides all the compensation you deserve.
