Recover Lost Wages Even If You’re Unemployed At The Time Of An Auto, Car, or Truck Accident.

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Edward A. Brutscher
Recover Your Lost Wages

Recover Your Lost Wages

Kentucky law provides for the payment of PIP benefits when you’ve been injured in an auto, car or truck accident.  This includes payment for lost wages up to a statutory amount.  Proof of lost wages is submitted to your insurance carrier, who then pays you your lost wages.

However, there is no condition placed on the time these lost wages occur.  So, while you might be unemployed at the time of the accident, you might still be entitled to lost wages if you’re prevented from working in the future because of your injuries.

In today’s economy it is likely that someone will be laid off or unemployed at the time they suffer injuries in a car accident.  However, if they later accept employment or if they are hired back to their old job, they can recover lost wages if they are prevented from working because of their injuries.  It makes no difference that they were laid off or unemployed at the time of the accident.

Make sure if you’re injured in an accident and suffer lost wages that you submit those lost wages to your insurance company for payment under the applicable PIP coverage.  This includes lost wages inccured at a time or date after the accident.

Posted in Lost Wages, PIP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Recover Lost Wages Even If You’re Unemployed At The Time Of An Auto, Car, or Truck Accident.

Are You Protected By Minimum Car Insurance Limits?

Posted on June 4, 2009 by Edward A. Brutscher
Are You Protected By Minimum Coverage?

Are You Protected By Minimum Coverage?

You often hear commercials about buying car insurance.  Many times these commercials offer to “get you insured for the minimum” or something similar.  What exactly is meant by “minimum” car insurance?  Will minimum car insurance limits protect you?

Kentucky law requires that all registered vehicles on the roadway carry “minimum coverage.”  In Kentucky, that coverage is $25,000.00.  This insurance provides protection for the  person causing an accident, while at the same time providing a recovery for those injured by a car accident.  If you’re at fault, minimum coverage will pay for the damage you have done.  If you’re the injured person, minimum coverage will compensate you for your injuries.

However, minimum coverage means exactly that, minimum.  It provides the least amount available.  This may not be enough.  If the person’s medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering are more than the $25,000.00, then cars carrying minimum insurance are “underinsured”.  If your car is underinsured your personal assets, like your home, personal property, or bank accounts might not be protected.  That’s because your insurance company is only required to pay as much as you’ve purchased.  You are responsible for any damages over that amount.

So, while you may be “legal for less” according to Kentucky law, you might not carry enough insurance to protect yourself.  What can you do?  You can purchase insurance in amounts above the minimum.  Most insurance companies provide coverages of $50,000.00 or $100,000.00 per person, which offer far more protection for more money.

If your purpose is to be legal and you don’t have any assets , then the minimum coverage may be enough.  However, to protect yourself against “underinsured” driver’s who purchase minimum coverage, purchase your own “underinsured” motorists coverage from your own insurance company.

Posted in insurance | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Are You Protected By Minimum Car Insurance Limits?

Things You Should Know About “Full” Coverage

Posted on May 26, 2009 by Edward A. Brutscher
Does Your Insurance Policy Really Provide Full Coverage?

Does Your Insurance Policy Really Provide Full Coverage?

When I ask my clients about the amounts and types of coverage they have, I am often told that they have “full” coverage.  While I suspect this might be true, you should know that “full” coverage may not mean what you think.  Here are some things you should know.

“Full” coverage  typically means that your car, truck, or auto has liability coverage and collision or comprehensive coverage.  What’s the difference?  Liability insurance protects you in the event you’re in an accident that is your fault.  If someone is injured or their property damaged, your liability coverage will provide protection and pay compensation to the injured person.  In Kentucky, it is mandatory that all motor vehicles carry at least $25,000 in liability coverage.

Collision coverage will pay to have your car fixed, if it is damaged in an accident with another car.   Comprehensive coverage will pay to have your car fixed, if it is damaged by something other than an accident, say a falling tree branch, theft, or vandalism.

None of these coverages protect you in the event you are injured by an uninsured driver or a driver who carries insufficient insurance.  Uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage are coverages that you purchase to protect yourself.  Be sure to tell your insurance agent that you wish for these coverages to be included on your policy.  Don’t accept claims that you’re “fully” covered.  Make sure to specifically ask for these types of coverages and make sure they are provided by your agent.  If your current policy does not offer these benefits it might be wise to call you agent and have them included.

Posted in insurance | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Things You Should Know About “Full” Coverage

Should You Avoid PIP Deductibles?

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Edward A. Brutscher
Should Your PIP Coverage Contain A Deductible?

Should Your PIP Coverage Contain A Deductible?

Kentucky law allows insurance carriers to offer PIP benefits subject to a deductible up to $1,000.00.  Like other deductibles, the PIP deductible is co-insurance you must pay first on any claim filed under that coverage.  So, if your injured in an auto, car, or truck accident and you seek medical care, you are required to pay your deductible up to the maximum amount before your insurance begins paying.

PIP deductibles, like health insurance deductibles, are appealing because they reduce the insurance premiums people pay on their auto, car or truck.  You might be tempted to save a few dollars on your bill and get the deductible, thinking you’ll never use it.  This might be a mistake.

The chances that you might be injured in an auto, car or truck accident are far greater then your chance for any other type of injury.  Medical bills from these types of injuries are usually in excess of the $1,000 deductible, leaving very few times when you avoid paying the full amount of the deductible.  Ultimately, you’re left with $1,000 in medical bills, which may be more than you can afford at a time you can least afford it. If you’re injured in a second accident within that policy year, you’re subject to another $1,000 deductible.

If you chose to have a deductible, make sure you understand the consequences.  If you are unsure a deductible has been applied, read your declaration page provided with your insurance policy.  This page outlines the coverages and premiums contained in your policy and should alert you to the need to pay a deductible if you use your PIP coverage.  Make sure you determine if a deductible is a wise financial decision.  If the cost without the deductible is less than the deductible per year, you might be better off without it.

Posted in PIP | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Should You Avoid PIP Deductibles?

Renting A Car For Vacation? Buy The Insurance!

Posted on May 15, 2009 by Edward A. Brutscher
Rental car insurance kentucky accident information attorney

Renting A Car On Vacation?

Summer is almost here and many will chose to take a vacation.  Whether you are looking to rent a car after flying to your destination or you rent a van or other passenger vehicle for a long trip, you might want to buy the insurance offered by the rental car company.  Many driver’s assume that their insurance will cover them if they are involved in an accident while driving a rental car.  Driver’s often opt to rely on their own policy and forgo paying the additional charge for rental insurance.  This may be a mistake.

Many policies of insurance exclude coverage for rental vehicles, including property damage to the vehicle you’ve rented.  Accidents can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage and bodily injury.  The small sums you are required to pay for additional insurance, while renting a vehicle, are well worth the cost.  Don’t put yourself at risk.  Read your policy to make sure you know what is covered.  Or you might just want to buy the insurance to be safe.

Posted in insurance | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Renting A Car For Vacation? Buy The Insurance!

If I Am Involved In An Auto, Car, Or Truck Accident, How Will My Medical Bills Be Paid?

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Edward A. Brutscher
Who Pays My Doctor Bills After An Accident?

Who Pays My Doctor Bills After An Accident?

If you’ve been involved in an car or truck accident in Kentucky and receive injuries, there are multiple sources for payment of your medical bills. The first and most likely resource is basic reparations benefits, better known as PIP.  Each Kentucky insurance company that writes insurance in the state must make available $10,000.00 in PIP benefits to its insureds.  If you are injured in an accident involving a car or truck, you are entitled to up to $10,000.00 for reasonable and necessary medical bills.

You can also purchase additional coverage, called additional or added reparations benefits (ARB’s).  These benefits provide coverage for medical bills and other economic losses in excess of the $10,000.00 in standard PIP.  Once the $10,000.00 is spent, medical providers bill the additional coverage.

If you are a pedestrian, you are entitled to PIP from the car or truck that hit you.  If you are a passenger, you’re entitled to PIP from the driver’s insurance.  If the driver doesn’t have insurance, you can get PIP under your own car or truck policy.  If you don’t have a car insurance, you can get PIP from the Assigned Claims Plan, but you must qualify first.

You can also use private health insurance, public health insurance, such as Medicare or Medicaid, or private pay to get the treatment you need.  Those companies will often reserve the right to recover their payments from any proceeds you get from a lawsuit.  If you don’t have health insurance, many medical providers will offer treatment conditioned on being paid from any money you recover in a lawsuit.

Like lost wages medical expenses above the $10,000.00 in PIP are recoverable against the person at fault.  Often it is your obligation to repay any private or public health insurance company out of your settlement proceeds.

Remember, if you’ve incurred medical bills in excess of PIP, will need future medical bills paid, or will suffer long term impairment from your injuries, you should consider retaining a qualified accident attorney to help resolve excess medical bills and liens.

Posted in PIP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on If I Am Involved In An Auto, Car, Or Truck Accident, How Will My Medical Bills Be Paid?