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Kentucky car accident laws
Is Kentucky a no-fault state? Partly. Kentucky lets drivers choose between no-fault and traditional at-fault coverage.
Kentucky gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 304.39-230(6)).
The legal minimum liability coverage in Kentucky is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $25,000 for property (25/50/25).
If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can still recover even if you were mostly at fault.
Quoted from Kentucky statutes and official pages, checked October 2, 2026 · not legal advice
The rules in one table
| Rule | Kentucky | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline to sue for an injury | Two years after the injury, or after the last no-fault (PIP) payment, whichever is later, for claims from a motor vehicle crash | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 304.39-230(6) |
| Deadline for vehicle damage | Two years from the time the cause of action accrued | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.125 |
| Deadline for a wrongful death claim | Two years after the death, or after the last no-fault (PIP) payment, whichever is later, when the death came from a motor vehicle crash | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 304.39-230(6) |
| Insurance system | choice no-fault; PIP required ($10,000 basic reparation benefits (PIP) per person). To sue: If you accept the no-fault limits (the default), you can sue for pain and suffering only if medical expenses exceed $1,000 or the injury involves permanent disfigurement, a fracture to a bone, a compound, comminuted, displaced or compressed fracture, loss of a body member, permanent injury, permanent loss of bodily function, or death. You may reject the limits in writing and keep full tort rights. | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 304.39-060(2)(b), (4); § 304.39-020(2) |
| If you were partly at fault | pure comparative. If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can still recover even if you were mostly at fault. | Hilen v. Hays, 673 S.W.2d 713 (Ky. 1984); see also Ky. Rev. Stat. § 411.182 (allocation of fault) |
| Minimum liability coverage | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per crash / $25,000 property | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 304.39-110(1)(a) |
| Dog bites | strict liability. A dog's owner is responsible for any damage the dog causes to a person, livestock or other property. | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 258.235(4) |
| Cap on pain-and-suffering damages | No general cap for injury cases | Ky. Const. § 54 |
Deadlines can be shorter or longer for minors, for injuries found later, and for claims against a government. A lawyer licensed in Kentucky can tell you the date that applies to you.
Next steps after a Kentucky crash
How to get a Kentucky crash report ($10 for reports obtained through the KSP web site; $5 for paper copies (502 KAR 15:010)).
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for Kentucky. Both take under a minute.
Questions
How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Kentucky?
Two years for an injury claim (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 304.39-230(6)) and two years for vehicle damage. Shorter notice rules can apply to claims against a government.
Is Kentucky a no-fault state?
Kentucky lets drivers choose between no-fault and traditional at-fault coverage.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault in Kentucky?
Kentucky follows pure comparative. If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can still recover even if you were mostly at fault.
What is the minimum car insurance in Kentucky?
The legal minimum liability coverage in Kentucky is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $25,000 for property (25/50/25).
Sources
- Deadline to sue for an injury (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 304.39-230(6)): apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=45816
(6) An action for tort liability not abolished by KRS 304.39-060 may be commenced not later than two (2) years after the injury, or the death, or the date of issuance of the last basic or added reparation payment made by any reparation obligor, whichever later occurs.
- Deadline for vehicle damage (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.125): apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=17867
413.125 Actions relating to personal property to be brought within two years. An action for the taking, detaining or injuring of personal property, including an action for specific recovery shall be commenced within two (2) years from the time the cause of action accrued.
- Deadline for a wrongful death claim (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 304.39-230(6)): apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=45816
(6) An action for tort liability not abolished by KRS 304.39-060 may be commenced not later than two (2) years after the injury, or the death, or the date of issuance of the last basic or added reparation payment made by any reparation obligor, whichever later occurs.
- Insurance system (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 304.39-060(2)(b), (4); § 304.39-020(2)): apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=30030
(b) In any action of tort brought against the owner, registrant, operator or occupant of a motor vehicle with respect to which security has been provided as required in this subtitle, or against any person or organization legally responsible for his or her acts or omissions, a plaintiff may recover damages in tort for pain, suffering, mental anguish and inconvenience because of bodily injury, sickness or disease arising out of the ownership, maintenance, operation or use of such motor vehicle only in the event that the benefits which are payable for such injury as "medical expense" or which wo…
- If you were partly at fault (Hilen v. Hays, 673 S.W.2d 713 (Ky. 1984); see also Ky. Rev. Stat. § 411.182 (allocation of fault)): law.justia.com/cases/kentucky/supreme-court/1984/673-s-w-2d-713-1.html
Such a review compels us to conclude that the pure form of comparative negligence is preferable over any of the variety of modified forms that have been suggested. [...] In such cases contributory negligence will not bar recovery but shall reduce the total amount of the award in the proportion that the claimant's contributory negligence bears to the total negligence that caused the damages.
- Minimum liability coverage (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 304.39-110(1)(a)): apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=46758
(1) The requirement of security for payment of tort liabilities is fulfilled by providing: (a) Either: 1. Split limits liability coverage of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for all damages arising out of bodily injury sustained by any one (1) person, and not less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for all damages arising out of bodily injury sustained by all persons injured as a result of any one (1) accident, plus liability coverage of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for all damages arising out of damage to or destruction of property, including the…
- Dog bites (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 258.235(4)): apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=12461
(4) Any owner whose dog is found to have caused damage to a person, livestock, or other property shall be responsible for that damage.
- Cap on pain-and-suffering damages (Ky. Const. § 54): apps.legislature.ky.gov/Law/Constitution/Constitution/ViewConstitution?rsn=58
Section 54 No restriction on recovery for injury or death. The General Assembly shall have no power to limit the amount to be recovered for injuries resulting in death, or for injuries to person or property.
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.