After a car accident, you’re likely faced with damage to both you and your vehicle. If the crash occurred in a no-fault insurance state, you might not need to worry about your medical bills. However, the same can’t necessarily be said about car repairs at an auto body shop. That’s why it’s important to learn how living in a no-fault insurance state can affect your expenses after an accident.

What Is a No-Fault Insurance State?

If you have a car accident in a no-fault insurance state, your insurance company must pay your medical bills and other losses, such as a loss of wages and rehabilitation costs, regardless of who caused the accident. The purpose of no-fault insurance is to decrease the number of lawsuits that involve minor injuries due to an automobile accident. Instead of drivers suing one another, the insurance companies step in to pay the bills. Currently, there are a dozen states with no-fault insurance, including Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania.

How Does a No-Fault Insurance State Impact Your Policy?

A no-fault state is important for those who do not have health insurance because your auto policy will cover medical bills if you get into an accident, even if you caused it. The downside is your policy rates will be higher because your insurance company is taking on more of the financial burden. Also, if your medical bills cost more than your coverage minimum, you will need to use your health insurance or pay out of pocket. However, you could sue the other party in the accident if you believe they caused it. 

What Isn’t Covered by No-Fault Insurance?

Regardless of your coverage minimum, no-fault insurance does not take care of any physical damage to your vehicle. To get the money for repairs at an auto body shop, you would still need to use your collision insurance or file a lawsuit to prove the other party in the accident was at fault.

If your accident occurred in Kentucky, your insurance company should take care of any medical bills. However, since no-fault insurance states do not include payments for car repairs, call Crone’s Auto Body at (859) 356-1800 for help. They’re known for high-quality collision repair and automobile painting, and they will work with your insurance company to ensure the work is affordable. The auto body shop also provides free estimates, lifetime warranties, and rental cars so an accident doesn’t further prevent you from getting back to normal life. Visit them online to learn more about their services.