A motorcycle accident can put you on the ground in a heartbeat. You are immediately flooded with panic. How badly are you injured? Is your bike salvageable? Should you try to stand? The last question you should have to worry about is whether the other driver stayed at the scene to help. But all too often, the driver who caused the accident takes off.
Making a Claim Against an Unknown Driver
The Bluegrass State has a lot of qualities that attract motorcyclists. The scenery and the long, winding roads are a paradise for riders. Many bikers reside in Lexington so they can enjoy both city and rural backdrops. Unfortunately, the same dangers for motorcyclists anywhere in the world crop up in Kentucky too.
One of those tragic risks is being forced into an accident by a careless driver who leaves you injured and then motors away. The problem is highlighted in the shocking results from an AAA study that found over the course of a year, hit-and-run crashes occurred somewhere in the U.S. every 43 seconds.
There are ways to make an insurance claim and get help with your hospital bills even though the identity of the at-fault driver is a mystery.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Kentucky definitely has its problems with hit-and-run drivers. Kentucky State Police reported that in 2018, there were 12,436 hit-and-run incidents in the state. Those accidents left 861 people injured and 17 victims dead.
The problem is affecting safety on highways and jacking up insurance rates in every state. That’s the idea behind uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. If you have this coverage, you can still be covered for your injuries even though the driver at fault slipped away.
The problem with filing this type of claim with your insurance company is that the insurer will rarely pay anywhere near enough to cover your medical recovery and other losses. Your own insurance company will treat you as the enemy and with help from their lawyers try to weaken your case to receive compensation.
Do I Need an Attorney for an Uninsured Motorist Claim?
As unfair as it may sound, you will find that your own insurance company will try to pay you as little as possible in these cases. You will need your own attorney to fight for your rights in this matter.
So, if you think you have reason to file an uninsured motorist claim, you should not offer your insurance company a statement. By giving that statement, you’ll be giving up valuable rights that you won’t get back, and you can be certain that your insurer will try to use it against you in the future. Preserve and protect your rights, and talk to a Kaufman & Stigger Attorneys as soon as that insurance adjuster asks for a statement.
Contact a Lexington Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
Hit-and-run victims may feel as though they’ve already been taken advantage of when a driver left them behind at the accident scene. Talking to an attorney can make sure you avoid getting taken advantage of again, by your own insurance provider. Insurance company agents have years of experience and are good at their job which is to pay you as little as possible or nothing at all. You need someone just as experienced to help you level the field.
Talk to a Lexington Motorcycle Accident Attorney you can trust to be on your side and get you what is yours under the law. The attorneys at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, have that knowledge and a combined 100 years’ experience in helping clients get the results they deserve. To receive a free consultation about your case, contact Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC today.
