Kentucky Accident and PIP Doctors

Kentucky’s PIP

Enacted in 1975, Kentucky’s Motor Vehicle Reparations Act, commonly known as the No-Fault Law, is designed to streamline the recovery of costs after an auto accident. The law has two main components: Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage and limitations on the right to sue and be sued (also known as tort rights).

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage

Kentucky mandates that all motor vehicles, except motorcycles, carry basic PIP coverage. This coverage is designed to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other related costs, regardless of who is at fault in the accident. Here’s how it works:

• Basic PIP provides up to $10,000 per person, per accident.
• The insurer of the vehicle involved in the accident is responsible for paying PIP benefits, whether the injured person was in the vehicle, or a pedestrian struck by it.
• Optional higher PIP benefits and deductibles are available if you wish to increase your coverage.

Filing a PIP Claim

If you’re injured in a car accident, you would typically file a PIP claim under the insurance policy of the vehicle you were in at the time of the accident. For pedestrians, PIP benefits would come from the policy covering the vehicle that hit you.

If you own the vehicle but do not have insurance, you are not eligible for PIP benefits. However, if you are a passenger in an uninsured vehicle, you may still be able to seek coverage under other insurance policies. If no other policies are available, you can file a claim through the Kentucky Assigned Claims Plan.

To contact the Kentucky Assigned Claims Plan, you can reach them at:

• Address: 10605 Shelbyville Road, Suite 100, Louisville, Kentucky 40223
• Phone: 502-327-7105
• Email: kyauto@kaip.org

For more information on how Kentucky’s “no-fault” system works, contact your insurance provider or talk to your doctor.

Understanding Limitations on Your Right to Sue and Be Sued

In Kentucky, anyone who registers, operates, maintains, or uses a motor vehicle is automatically subject to certain legal limitations in exchange for the ability to receive basic Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. These limitations, also known as “thresholds,” restrict when you can file a lawsuit or be sued for damages, including claims for pain and suffering.

Thresholds for Legal Action: You or the injured party can only bring a claim or lawsuit if the injury meets at least one of the following criteria:

• Medical expenses exceeding $1,000
• A broken bone
• Permanent injury or disfigurement
• Death

If these conditions are not met, the injured party cannot recover medical expenses, lost wages, or compensation for pain and suffering from the at-fault party.

Verifying No-Fault Rejection

If you wish to reject basic PIP coverage, and therefore the limitations on your right to sue, this must be done in writing on a No-Fault Rejection form. The Kentucky Department of Insurance can verify your no-fault rejection status if you submit a written request using the No-Fault Rejection Verification (NFV-1) form, along with a $5 fee.

What Happens if You Reject PIP Coverage?

By rejecting PIP coverage, you are also rejecting the legal thresholds that limit your ability to sue or be sued. Keep in mind:

• You will no longer be eligible to receive basic PIP benefits unless you later “buy back” the coverage.
• Your liability insurance premium may increase since others can sue you for injuries that don’t meet the PIP thresholds.

If all members of your household reject PIP coverage, you must include Guest PIP in your policy to provide coverage for passengers and pedestrians.

For more information or to obtain a no-fault rejection form, contact your insurance agent.

Motorcycle Owners and Kentucky PIP Coverage

Motorcycle Owners – Stay Informed! Basic Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage is optional for motorcycles in Kentucky. If you choose not to purchase basic PIP coverage, neither you nor your passengers are eligible to receive PIP benefits from any source in the event of an accident.

Additionally, if you opt out of purchasing PIP coverage, you are still subject to certain legal limitations. Specifically, you may be restricted in your right to sue or be sued for damages unless you file a no-fault rejection form. Without this form, you will be unable to recover the first $10,000 of a motorcycle injury claim from the at-fault party.

Protect Your Rights:

• No PIP Coverage? Be aware of the legal limits.
• No-Fault Rejection Form: If you don’t file this form, you waive your right to recover the first $10,000 in injury claims.
• Need more information? Contact the Kentucky Department of Insurance at 800-595-6053 (within Kentucky) or 502-564-3630 (outside of Kentucky). You can also visit their website at insurance.ky.gov.

Understanding these details is essential for protecting both yourself and your rights in the event of a motorcycle accident. Stay informed, stay protected!

Kentucky Pip Doctor Locations

Alexandria
Ashland
Bardstown
Berea
Bowling Green
Buechel
Burlington
Campbellsville
Cannonsburg
Corbin
Covington
Coxs Creek
Cynthiana
Danville
Douglass Hills
Edgewood
Elizabethtown
Elsmere
Erlanger
Fairdale
Fairdealing
Fayette
Fern Creek
Flaherty
Flatwoods
Florence
Fort Campbell
Fort Knox
Fort Mitchell
Fort Thomas
Frankfort
Franklin
Georgetown
Glasgow
Grants Lick
Harrodsburg
Hebron
Henderson
Highland Heights
Highview
Hillview
Hopkinsville
Independence
Jeffersontown
Keavy
La Grange
Lawrenceburg
Lebanon
Leitchfield
Lexington
London
Louisville
Lyndon
Madisonville
Mayfield
Maysville
Middlesborough
Middletown
Monticello
Morehead
Mount Sterling
Mount Washington
Murray
Newburg
Newport
Nicholasville
Oak Grove
Oakbrook
Okolona
Owensboro
Paducah
Paris
Pikeville
Pine Grove
Piner-Visalia
Pleasure Ridge Park
Portland
Princeton
Radcliff
Richmond
Russellville
Shawnee
Shelbyville
Shepherdsville
Shively
Somerset
South Williamson
Spottsville
St. Dennis
St. Matthews
Taylor Mill
Valley Station
Versailles
Villa Hills
Wilmore
Winchester