In order to legally drive a motor vehicle on public roads in Ohio or Kentucky, drivers must obtain liability insurance coverage. This requirement protects people from the financial devastation that can follow a motor vehicle crash. Insurance can cover expenses such as hospital bills or the cost of replacing a vehicle after a collision.
Accidents are often incredibly expensive. There’s emergency medical care, vehicle repairs and lost wages. In some cases, injuries cause disfigurement or disability, requiring plastic surgery or physical therapy. Unfortunately, some people choose to get behind the wheel of a vehicle without legal insurance coverage. Others only purchase the minimum amount of insurance, as required by state law, which may not offer sufficient protection.
Different states have different requirements
Every state has different requirements for motor vehicle liability insurance. In Ohio, the lowest possible policy allowed provides just $25,000 in property damage coverage and $25,000 for personal injury or death with one injured party, and $50,000 for personal injuries sustained by two or more people. It doesn’t take much imagination to see how quickly medical costs could surpass those amounts. Many new vehicles and even well-cared for older vehicles could cost well over $25,000 to replace or fully repair.
In Kentucky, the minimum amount of personal injury coverage is the same. It’s $25,000 for one injured party or $50,000 for two or more injured people. However, policies only need to cover $10,000 in property damage. That level of property damage coverage will only cover mild to moderate vehicle damages. A few surgeries or weeks of physical therapy would also be sufficient to use up all the personal injury coverage.
Extra coverage can protect you from future losses
When you’re renewing your motor vehicle insurance, it may be time to add uninsured and underinsured driver coverage. These policy riders extend extra protection in the event that you get into a crash with someone who doesn’t have insurance or who only carries the bare minimum. The extra cost to you won’t be much, but the peace of mind and protection it offers can prove invaluable.
Chances are that if the other driver doesn’t have the financial stability to maintain adequate insurance on his or her vehicle, there won’t be much available to you for compensation, either. You could pursue damages through a civil lawsuit, but it could be many years before you ever receive the compensation you deserve.
Carrying extra insurance to offset the potential risk of a crash with an uninsured driver can protect your financial future. While you can’t control how others drive or what happens on the road, you can at least know you’re covered, no matter what happens.