2 Seriously Injured in Single-Car Accident in Boyd County, Kentucky
On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, the driver of a pick-up truck left the roadway and struck an embankment and a tree, according to state police. The crash happened on Kentucky Route 716 in Boyd County, Kentucky. A driver and a passenger were injured and flown to a hospital for medical treatment. There is no information, at this time, about how the driver lost control of his vehicle. The accident took place in the afternoon and the weather was good.
What Insurance Coverages are available to an injured passenger in a car, truck or motorcycle accident?
In the above accident, it seems obvious that the driver of the vehicle is at fault in this single-car accident. I can imagine some circumstance where the driver may not be at fault- the passenger did something to distract him or a phantom vehicle forced him off the road. However, assuming the driver is at fault, it will be important for the attorney for the passenger to locate all available insurance coverages to provide compensation for the passenger. These coverages include the following:
1. PIP coverage. PIP insurance is Insurance that pays for medical bills, partial wage reimbursement and for some reimbursable expenses. The passenger is entitled to this coverage from the insurance on the truck he or she is riding in at the time of the accident. If the pick-up truck is uninsured, then the passenger can use PIP coverage from their own vehicle or the vehicle of a resident relative even though these vehicles were not involved in the accident. If the passenger does not own a vehicle and does not live with a relative that owns a vehicle, he or she can obtain PIP coverage from the state of Kentucky through the Assigned Claims Plan.
2. Liability Coverage for Personal Injuries. If the pick-up truck is insured, then it will have “liability” coverage that will compensate the injured passenger for pain and suffering and other damages related to the injuries suffered in this accident. The minimum liability limits required in Kentucky is $25,000.00, but, hopefully the at fault driver has larger limits to compensate the passenger.
3. Underinsured Motorist Coverage. The reporting of this accident indicates the passenger suffered serious life-threatening injuries, because the report indicates that the passenger was flown to a hospital for treatment. Normally, auto accident victims are flown to a hospital only when they have life-threatening injuries that require immediate medical attention. If the passenger’s injuries are serious and they have a significant personal injury claim, it is likely that the liability insurance for the driver will not be sufficient to fully satisfy their claim. In this circumstance, the passenger can make a claim for
“underinsured motorist benefits.” This claim can only be made if the passenger has this coverage available to them. Kentucky law does not allow the passenger to use underinsured motorist coverage that may be on the pick-up involved in this accident. The passenger can find this coverage on their own vehicle or, if they do not own a vehicle, on the vehicle owned by a resident relative.
CONTACT KENTUCKY AUTO ACCIDENT LAWYER
If you are involved in a car, truck or motorcycle accident, you will require the services of an experienced Kentucky auto accident attorney to investigate the cause of the accident and maximize all benefits available to the victims and their families. Matthew Troutman, a Kentucky auto accident lawyer, of the Troutman Law Office has been handling auto accident claims, almost exclusively, since 1986 and has the experience and talent to obtain the best result for the victims in the above car accident.
If you need legal assistance due to a motor vehicle accident, contact Kentucky auto accident attorney Matthew Troutman directly at 502-648-9507 or 859-696-0001 and he will meet with you in the hospital, your home or wherever is convenient for you. He will give you direct access through his cell phone and guide you through the difficult process necessary to obtain the best result possible for you in your car accident claim. To learn more about Lexington car accident attorney Matthew Troutman and the Troutman Law Office, click here.