While the majority of crashes in Kentucky involve multiple vehicles, single-car accidents are still fairly common. Fortunately, those injured in these collisions can file a single car accident insurance claim to recover compensation for medical bills and related expenses.
Although you can recover compensation for personal injuries, getting the money you need to repair your vehicle may be challenging depending on your insurance coverage. Further, your medical bills and other expenses may surpass what’s covered by your insurance policy.
If another party was partially or wholly responsible for your single-car accident, you can seek compensation for vehicle damages and injury-related expenses that aren’t covered by your insurance policy.
In this blog, you’ll learn all about a single car accident insurance claim and seeking damages from an at-fault third party.
Does Insurance Cover Single Car Accidents?
Kentucky is a “choice no-fault” state, meaning that drivers have the option to choose between no-fault insurance or traditional fault-based insurance. Under the no-fault option, drivers in Kentucky must carry at least $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage as part of their auto insurance policy.
If you’ve suffered from injuries after a single-vehicle accident, you can file a claim with your own insurance policy to recover compensation for injury-related expenses, such as medical bills and lost wages. Additionally, if you were carrying passengers at the time of the accident, they can also file a claim with your insurance company to recover money from your PIP coverage.
Whether or not your single-vehicle accident insurance will cover your car’s damages will depend on your policy. You will be able to cover some or all of your vehicle damages if your policy includes collision coverage. That said, Kentucky does not require drivers to have this type of coverage, meaning if you only obtained the minimum amount of insurance coverage to drive legally, you likely do not have collision insurance.
What Can Cause a Single Car Accident?
While most single-car accidents are caused by driver negligence, it’s not uncommon for another party to be responsible. You can file a claim against the at-fault party to pay for expenses that aren’t already covered by your single car accident insurance claim.
Some common causes of single-car accidents that might enable you to recover compensation from another party include:
- Another Driver: Although you suffered from a single-car accident, another driver can still be responsible. For example, if a reckless driver forced you to swerve and crash to avoid a collision, their actions caused your accident.
- Pedestrian Negligence: A pedestrian may jaywalk and force a driver to swerve out of the way and crash to avoid them.
- Dangerous Cyclists: If a cyclist suddenly swerves into the path of a vehicle or makes an unexpected maneuver without proper signaling, the driver may have to take evasive actions to avoid a collision. This quick reaction can cause the driver to lose control of their vehicle, resulting in an accident.
- Poor Road Maintenance: An improperly maintained road can contribute to or cause a single-car accident, meaning that the state, city, or local municipality may be responsible. Some examples of road inadequacies that may cause an accident include potholes, debris, broken or missing guardrails, faded paint lines, damaged pavement, and loose gravel.
- Faulty Traffic Signals and Signs: A misleading or malfunctioning traffic signal may cause a driver to crash, and like with road maintenance, it’s the responsibility of the state or local government to ensure that these signals are working properly. A missing or damaged traffic sign, such as a stop sign, can also potentially contribute to or cause an accident.
- Vehicle Troubles: It’s a driver’s responsibility to ensure that their vehicle is properly maintained. But if a manufacturer sells you a car with faulty parts, they may be liable in the event of a collision. Some faulty vehicle parts that could cause an accident include brake systems, tires, steering systems, suspension, and throttle systems. Additionally, a mechanic working on your vehicle can install faulty parts or may fail to properly repair components, which may also contribute to or cause a single-car accident.
Seeking Compensation from Another Party After a Single Vehicle Accident
If another party was responsible for your single-car accident, you should seek damages to recover compensation for any expenses not already covered by your own insurance policy.
Unfortunately, insurance companies and the police are usually quick to blame the driver in a single-car accident, even if another party was responsible. To recover compensation, you’ll need to have substantial evidence that a third party was responsible for your accident.
Contact a Kentucky Single-Car Accident Attorney Today
If you’re struggling to recover the money you deserve after a single-car accident, you need an experienced car accident legal team in your corner to help you prove your case.
For expert single-car accident lawyers in Kentucky, contact McCoy & Sparks Attorneys at Law. You can get a free case consultation with our team by calling 844-459-9467, or you can contact us online here.