A friend told me once that Kentucky is a no fault auto insurance state Can you please tell me what that’s all about? Is that beneficial?

Carrie

Bowling Green, KY

First things first. You know how, generally, insurance companies or you yourself can go after the driver at fault to try to recuperate financial damages? Well, with no-fault car insurance, your insurance company will protect you regardless of whose fault the accident was. Yes, even if it was YOUR fault. Hence the phrase “no fault.” So, why doesn’t everyone take out no fault insurance, you may ask. First, it’s because not all states offer this kind of insurance. Your friend is right. Bowling Green, Kentucky is a no fault area because the state of Kentucky is a no fault state. There are only twelve states that have no fault systems, I think. What’s more, in Kentucky, you can actually choose between the traditional type and the no fault type.

Another reason why some people choose tort insurance (traditional) over no fault is because, as with everything, there are two sides to this kind of insurance. Your insurance company will already indemnify you, so your capacity to sue the other driver for damages is therefore limited. One advantage that I can see about no fault is that of faster payments for injuries and the possibility of getting cheaper premiums because the costs of determining who is at fault is done away with. However, others argue that it promotes reckless driving since people are indemnified even if it was they who caused the accident