The Duncliffe
Law Office
Experienced Attorneys in Georgetown, KY

Kentucky has been a “no-fault” state since 1974. Under the former “pure fault” system, no compensation changed hands until the very end of the case. Persons who were injured and out of work had no insurance funds immediately available to replace their lost wages and pay medical expenses.

If you are injured in an automobile collision, you should immediately apply for “PIP” funds from the company, which insures the vehicle in which you were riding. A statute, KRS 304.39-241, allows you to “direct” your no-fault benefits between items of wage loss and medical expenses

With the assistance of a knowledgeable attorney, an injured person can “stretch” no-fault dollars with careful management, negotiation of medical fees and coordination of no-fault benefits with an individual’s health insurance benefits.

At the Duncliffe Law Office, we provide these skilled services to our injured clients as a part of their representation.

Everyone should consider purchasing underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) in limits of at least 100,000/300,000 per occurrence.

UIM is an optional coverage in Kentucky, which means the insured must request this coverage. It is not a mandatory coverage.

UIM protects you when the at-fault driver is insured, but it does not have enough insurance (underinsured) to fairly and reasonably compensate injured victims.

UIM is very cheap. Companies such as State Farm, Progressive, Allstate, SafeAuto and others sell UIM coverage with $100,000/$300,000 limits at very reasonable prices. One year's coverage may only cost you the price for dinner for two at Applebee’s. In return, you and your family can obtain up to $300,000 in UIM protection.

Every Kentucky auto insurance policy has a $10,000 no-fault Personal Injury (PIP) limit. It pays medical expense and wage loss. Unfortunately, this statute was enacted in 1974 when $10,000 bought far more medical treatment than it will today. There were no MRI scans in 1974, a service which typically costs between $900-1,800.

How times change!

Added no-fault is sold in units of $30,000, $40,000 and even $100,000. The additional cost of added no-fault insurance is also quite affordable - usually under $100 for a year's worth of $30,000 in added no-fault coverage.

This coverage is very cheap. You can buy it from your own company. If your vehicle is destroyed or must be repaired, debates often arise over who should pay for your rental car and for how long.

The other driver’s insurer will typically not want to pay very much, so having your own insurance provides you the best protection.