Single Vehicle Accident
Our law firm was called by the family of a young girl who was a passenger in a truck that lost control on the Kentucky highways resulting in her tragic death. For passengers, single-vehicle accidents can be deadly. This young woman was not wearing her seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle onto the highway and killed instantly. This is also an example of a driver operating the vehicle at a high rate of speed and losing control of the vehicle. The photo below is an actual case handled by our office.
Single-vehicle collisions are most often the result of a driver who was negligent in operating his or her vehicle which results in loss of control of that vehicle. A Bowling Green single-vehicle accident causes damage to only one vehicle. It can also be caused if someone else pulls in front of your vehicle and you drive off the road and hit an object such as a tree or an animal that may run into the road causing the driver to lose control.
When A Driver is Liable For a Single Vehicle Accident
When the driver of the vehicle causes the crash through their own negligence, such as speeding or distractions such as radio or cell phone, aggressive driving, and operating the vehicle too fast for road conditions such as snow or ice some of the examples when drivers will usually be held responsible for the collision.
When Insurance Will Pay in a Single Vehicle Collision
There are several types of insurance coverage that will pay if you are injured as a passenger in a single-vehicle collision that is the fault of the driver.
- Personal Injury Protection: The vehicle that you are in is primary coverage for payment of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) which is afforded to people injured in car accidents in Kentucky. This is a special insurance available only in a few states in the country. Personal Injury Protection minimum limits of $10,000 can be increased by the insurance holder if desired. Personal Injury Protection benefits will pay medical expenses, prescriptions, lost income, replacement services such as home care, and even a portion of funeral expenses. In most circumstances, your attorney can reserve these benefits for your personal use such as wages so they do not get used up by the medical providers. When the case is settled Personal Injury Protection is usually paid by the party at fault. It should not come from your settlement.
- Liability: This is the basic policy that pays for your injuries. The amount that you collect on bodily injury depends on the extent of the policy. In Kentucky, the minimum policy limits required for owners of vehicles is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. This amount can be increased by the insured. There are many aspects to the amount of coverage that you can collect on liability in addition to the limits to include the extent of your injuries, your medical expenses if your injuries are permanent, and your type of treatment. Consideration can also be given to if you had these injuries previously, considered pre-existing conditions.
- Uninsured Motorists: In the event that the driver of the at-fault vehicle did not have insurance you may be able to collect on your own insurance policy if you have a vehicle with uninsured motorist coverage. This pays similarly to bodily injury as the amount is based on the limits of that policy and the extent of your injuries.
- Underinsured Motorists: In the event that the driver of the vehicle had insurance but not adequate coverage, such as only $25,000/$50,000 coverage, and your injuries are valued greater than that amount you may be able to collect on underinsured motorists on your own vehicle where you have insurance and/or members of your household who may likewise have insurance.
Call Our Law Firm if You Have Been Injured in a Single Vehicle Accident
If you have been injured in a single-vehicle accident and the driver of the vehicle is at fault we are ready to help. Please understand that we will be collecting from the insurance company and not the driver personally. We travel to our injured clients when they cannot come to us and once called we begin working immediately on your case.
