Accidents & Personal Injury

Published on: January 6, 2011

Kentucky Auto Accidents: What To Consider At The Time Of Minor Collisions?

If involved in an automobile accident in Kentucky, here are a few things to consider in minor collisions. These suggestions and issues are not applicable in all situations, including major collisions involving serious injury or death.

MOVING VEHICLES
Moving your vehicle once the accident has occurred, prior to the police arriving, is not recommended, even if you are impeding the flow of traffic. The reason for such is if you desire to have a police report taken related to the accident, the road and weather conditions, and assessment of fault, the police will likely not take one if the vehicles have been moved. If the vehicles have been moved prior to the police arriving, the police will likely only issue you and the other driver a civil report to fill out. Stories may differ after an accident, and it may be beneficial later to have a police report to substantiate your version of the events. Usually, if traffic is impeded, the police will arrive, take a look at the position of the vehicles, and then instruct the drivers to move the vehicles to allow for traffic to continue as normal. This will allow the police to be in a position to thoroughly complete a report.

CALL THE POLICE TO THE SCENE
If involved in an auto accident in Kentucky, one thing to consider is whether or not to have a police report taken. Many times when people are involved in minor auto accidents, one party will suggest that the parties just exchange information (including insurance information) and go on their ways. Either suggesting that they will work with their insurance companies to resolve the damages, or suggesting that they skip reporting the matters to their insurance companies and just pay for the damages out of their own pockets. This may not be a safe way to handle the situation and protect your interests. The reason being is that the other party:
(i) may not have current and up to date coverage, and thus be uncollectable from. If the police take a report, and the other driver fails to have insurance or gives the police false information, such will be documents and be beneficial to you later when trying to resolve the matter with that driver or your own insurance company.

Or
(ii) may change their story about what really occurred, the extent of the injuries involved, or the extent of the damage involved. If the other party is going to lie, its better that they are forced to attempt to do it immediately and to the police (lying to a police office, who is taking an official report, can be a crime). Additionally if stories are going to vary about what occurred, its better to have a police office take a report and potentially be a witness later to substantiate what he or she witnessed at the time of arriving upon the scene of the accident.
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Published on: January 3, 2011

Kentucky Apartment & Renter’s Insurance Coverage Is Important Fire Protection

By Ackerson Law Offices

Most apartment fires in Kentucky can be devastating on all the residents of the building affected. Legal questions that arise when bad things happen to renters include: (i) whose fault is it that a person was injured or killed, (ii) who caused the fire, or (iii) whose going to pay for the items damaged by the fire. Renter’s insurance acts the same way as homeowners insurance, except that you are not insuring the building, only its contents and your liability. Apartment fires not only destroy the contents of the apartments where the fire spreads, but also the contents of the apartments around the fire are damaged by smoke and water, due to the fire and the extinguishing of such. Apartment fires cause serious injuries and even deaths frequently in Kentucky.

Renters insurance is extremely affordable for residents of apartments, and can run as little as $15.00 per month for insurance protection for liability, contents, and medical bills. That’s less than what the average person spends monthly on their newspaper subscription. The coverage afforded for this reasonable monthly cost usually includes: (i) 100,000.00 in liability insurance protection, (ii) $25,000.00 in content protection, and even a medical pay provision for guests who are injured and need medical attention.
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Published on: December 23, 2010

Kentucky Motorcycle Insurance Coverage: PIP Insurance Is Important If You Have A Motorcycle Accident

By Ackerson Law Offices

PIP insurance covereage is important in Kentucky Motorcycle Accidents.

Kentucky law requires automobile owners to carry PIP coverage on their vehicles. PIP coverage is also referred to as No Fault Insurance. PIP/ No Fault Insurance covers the first $10,000.00 of insurance for medical bills and lost wages of people involved in accidents, regardless of whose fault the accident is. This insurance benefit coverage will enable the injured person to seek medical treatment and have it paid for from the PIP coverage. This is important in helping injured people to obtain medical care for their injuries related to the accident the accident, including coverage for lost wages while the person is injured.

Kentucky law does not require motorcycle owners to carry PIP/ No Fault Insurance. However, it is available, and the prices are affordable. The reality is that a person on a motorcycle, driver or passenger, is more likely to be seriously injured in an accident. Because serious injuries are likely in motorcycle accidents, PIP/ No Fault Insurance can be very important in securing medical treatment, paying for medical treatment, and covering lost wages (while off work from the injuries/accident). While motorcycle and auto owners shop for lower prices for their insurance coverage, it is important to remember that PIP/ No Fault Insurance will be included in the car and truck insurance, but not necessarily in the motorcycle insurance. Make sure that if you are motorcycle insurance shopping that you ask about the PIP/ No Fault Insurance coverage and its costs. The costs are low, especially in light of the benefits afforded. Not having PIP/ No Fault Insurance on your motorcycle should be considered as being penny wise and pound foolish.
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Published on: December 22, 2010

Kentucky Auto Accident Passengers Have Multiple Options Of Recovery

By Ackerson Law Offices

Passengers in vehicles that are involved in Kentucky auto accidents have multiple potential avenues to recovery for their injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. The question of who to seek recovery from boils down to two questions: (1) who is at fault, and (2) who has insurance.

If you are injured in an automobile accident in Kentucky, the first $10,000.00 of insurance available for medical bills and lost wages is covered by Kentucky No Fault Insurance, which all drivers are required to carry. That means if you are a passenger in a vehicle that is involved in an accident, regardless of whose fault it is, you are covered for the first $10,000.00 of insurance available for medical bills and lost wages through the insurance company of the car you are a passenger in. If the driver of the car you were in does not have insurance, then you would rely upon you own insurance coverage for the first $10,000.00 of insurance available for medical bills and lost wages. If you also do not have auto insurance coverage, then you would rely upon the insurance coverage of someone who has auto insurance and who resides in your household for the first $10,000.00 of insurance available for medical bills and lost wages. If you, the driver of the vehicle you were in, or the people residing in your household, do not have auto insurance, then you can qualify for the Kentucky Assigned Claims Plan, which would assign an insurance company to cover the first $10,000.00 of insurance available for medical bills and lost wages. This coverage is commonly referred to as PIP Coverage (Personal Injury Protection Coverage/No Fault Coverage).
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