Auto Insurance Claims in Kentucky: Guide

Kentucky Car Insurance Claims: Deadlines, Limits & Your Rights

Kentucky is a choice no-fault state that follows pure comparative negligence, with minimum liability limits of 25/50/25 ($25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident / $25,000 property damage). Kentucky is a choice no-fault state. Drivers can opt out of the no-fault system. PIP is required unless rejected. Pure comparative negligence applies. Minimum coverage is 25/50/25.

How fault works in Kentucky

Kentucky is a choice no-fault insurance state, which means you elected either a no-fault or a traditional tort option when you bought your policy, and which one you chose controls whether you recover through your own PIP coverage or by pursuing the at-fault driver. Check your declarations page before you file.

Your compensation is reduced by your share of fault, but you can recover even if you were mostly to blame — a driver found 90% at fault can still collect 10% of their damages. That makes Kentucky one of the more forgiving states for partially-at-fault drivers.

Filing deadlines (statute of limitations)

Miss the deadline and you permanently lose the right to sue — adjusters know this and may run out the clock, so calendar these dates the week of your crash:

Statutory basis: One-year statute (among the shortest in the US). KRS 304.39-230 for motor vehicle accidents. Two-year statute. KRS 413.125.

Minimum coverage required in Kentucky

Every Kentucky driver must carry at least:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $25,000 property damage liability
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is not required in Kentucky — but it's worth adding, since it pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is required in Kentucky — your own policy pays your medical bills first.

These are legal minimums, not recommendations; they often fall short of the cost of a serious crash.

Know your rights when dealing with adjusters in Kentucky

Kentucky is a one-party consent state, so you may legally record your own calls with an adjuster as long as you are part of the conversation — useful for keeping an accurate record of what the insurer promised.

Kentucky gives you both a common-law bad-faith claim and a statutory unfair-claims-practices remedy, which is strong leverage when an insurer drags out or underpays a legitimate claim.

How to file your Kentucky claim, step by step

1. Make the scene safe and call 911. Get to safety, check for injuries, and report the crash. A police report is one of the strongest pieces of evidence you can have.
2. Document everything. Photograph all vehicles, the road, signage, and visible injuries; collect the other driver's insurance and license details and any witness contacts.
3. Get medical care promptly. See a doctor even if you feel fine — gaps in treatment are the first thing insurers use to argue your injuries aren't serious.
4. Notify your insurer. Report the crash quickly to satisfy your policy's notice rules, but stick to the facts and avoid speculating about fault.
5. File and track the claim. Submit your claim, keep a written log of every call, and don't accept the first offer without checking it against your actual damages.

Where to get help in Kentucky

If an insurer won't deal fairly, your regulator is Kentucky Department of Insurance. You can file a complaint at https://insurance.ky.gov/ppc/new_default.aspx. General information: https://insurance.ky.gov.

Key takeaways for Kentucky

• Kentucky is a choice no-fault state using pure comparative negligence.
• You generally have 1 years to sue for injuries and 2 years for property damage.
• Minimum liability limits are 25/50/25.
• UM/UIM is optional but recommended. PIP is required.
• Your regulator for complaints is Kentucky Department of Insurance.

Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change — confirm current rules with Kentucky Department of Insurance or an attorney licensed in Kentucky. Last reviewed June 2026 · InsurifyAI Knowledge Hub.