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What happens if at-fault driver does not pay?

On Behalf of | Jun 3, 2022 | Litigation

After an accident, people generally accept that the driver responsible for the accident should pay compensation.

After serious car accidents, a resident of the Northern Kentucky suburbs might need this compensation to cover medical bills and other costs as well as lost income. They also deserve reimbursement for the emotional and non-financial costs of an accident.

When things are working the way they would ideally, a negligent driver will pay for all of these costs, even if they run into the millions of dollars.

However, most drivers simply do not have this kind of money to pay out-of-pocket, even if they sold most of their property. Furthermore, most careless drivers may elect after an accident to file for bankruptcy protection with success.

Finally, while Kentucky drivers are supposed to carry automobile liability insurance, many drivers violate this law.

A driver may also have chosen to carry insurance in the minimum required amount, which is far less than what would compensate a victim after a major accident.

The bottom line is that it is one thing for a victim to hold a negligent driver legally responsible in court. It is quite another actually to get payment from that driver. Without payment, an injured victim is in a financially difficult spot.

When an at-fault driver does not pay, a victim has other legal options

If faced with this sort of situation, Campbell County and Kenton County victims should remember that there are other legal options available for getting the compensation they need and deserve.

One, Kentucky’s laws require automobile insurance companies to offer drivers what is called no-fault coverage as well as coverage against uninsured and underinsured drivers.

If a victim has these coverages, they should strongly consider filing a claim with their own insurance company in order to obtain these benefits.

As with any other dealing with an insurance company, a victim should strongly consider having professional legal assistance when filing a claim.

Also, depending on the circumstances of an accident, other people or businesses may be legally responsible to pay compensation to the victim.