After a Louisville car accident, most people assume their insurance company will walk them through the claims process. You pay your premium so that if a crash ever happens, your insurer will step in and handle the details. Instead, many people end up unsure about what they should do first, what information is needed for their State Farm claim, or why the adjuster is already asking questions that feel rushed or confusing.

As a car accident lawyer in Louisville, KY, I hear from people who expected a simple claims process but are now dealing with pain, medical bills, transportation issues, and uncertainty about what their insurance company will cover. A big part of that confusion comes from Kentucky’s no-fault rules and how State Farm reviews injuries, property damage, and early documentation.

This blog explains how a State Farm claim works in Kentucky, how no-fault rules apply, what to expect once an adjuster becomes involved, and the issues that come up most often when people file these claims.

How Kentucky’s No-Fault System Affects Your State Farm Claim

Kentucky uses a no-fault system, which requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Basic PIP provides $10,000 per person for medical expenses, part of income lost, and related out-of-pocket costs. These benefits come from your own insurance company, so State Farm pays them even when someone else caused the crash.

Drivers may opt out of the no-fault system by filing a written rejection with the Department of Insurance before an accident. Someone who opts out gives up PIP benefits but keeps unrestricted rights to pursue claims against an at-fault driver.

If you did not opt out, Kentucky limits when you may pursue a personal injury claim. Your injuries must meet at least one of the following thresholds in KRS 304.39.060:

• More than $1,000 in medical expenses
• A broken bone
• A permanent injury
• Permanent disfigurement
• Death

Meeting at least one of these thresholds moves your case outside the no-fault system and gives you the right to pursue a personal injury claim. People often consider this option when medical bills exceed PIP, symptoms worsen, or State Farm begins questioning whether the crash caused the injuries.

What You Should Do After a Louisville Car Accident Involving State Farm

When a State Farm claim starts off on the wrong foot, it’s usually because of gaps or confusion in the early documentation. These steps help protect both your health and your claim.

Contact the Police

A police report carries weight in a State Farm claim. Kentucky law requires a report for crashes involving injury, death, or $500 or more in property damage under KRS 189.635. If officers didn’t respond, you may still file a Civilian Collision Report under the same statute.

Get Medical Attention

I always tell clients to get evaluated as soon as possible, even if they “feel fine.” Many injuries show up hours or days later. When treatment is delayed, State Farm often questions whether the crash caused the pain. Early medical records create the timeline your personal injury claim relies on.

Document the Accident Scene

Photos, videos, and basic details can make a big difference later. Even a few images help counter low property damage arguments. Useful documentation includes:

• Photos of the vehicles, skid marks, the roadway, or debris
• Photos of visible injuries
• The other driver’s State Farm card or other insurance card
• Witness names
• Short videos showing traffic flow or vehicle positions

If you didn’t document anything, there may still be dash camera footage or nearby businesses with surveillance video.

Filing a State Farm Claim and What Happens Next

Once you have the basic information from the crash, you can report the claim to State Farm. Most people file before they ever think about speaking with an attorney, so here’s what the process looks like and how to avoid the issues that often come up later.

How to File the Claim

• Call State Farm’s 24-hour reporting line. The representative will collect the accident details and assign a claim number. Write it down as you’ll use it for repairs, rental car questions, and medical payment requests, or
• File online or through the State Farm app. This lets you upload photos, receipts, and documents directly, reducing the chances of anything being misunderstood in a phone call.

Information to Have Ready

• Your State Farm policy number
• Date, time, and location of the crash
• Other driver’s insurance information
• Police report number
• Photos or videos from the scene
• Early medical records if you’ve been evaluated

State Farm relies heavily on these early details because they compare your first report to later medical records and damage estimates. Consistent information helps reduce disputes as the claim moves forward.

What Happens After You File

• The adjuster contacts you. They may ask for a recorded statement. You do not have to give one. These statements lock you into early descriptions before you understand the full extent of your injuries.
• Your vehicle damage is reviewed. State Farm may send an estimator, refer you to a preferred shop, or request photos. You may still choose your own shop. Low valuations often affect rental coverage or whether your car is labeled repairable or a total loss.
• Your medical treatment is reviewed. Adjusters examine your timeline of care. Delayed treatment, gaps in care, or symptoms that appear later may lead them to question whether the crash caused the injuries.
• If the other driver was at fault, State Farm may pursue reimbursement from that driver’s insurance company. This internal process does not affect your right to pursue a personal injury claim once your injuries meet a legal threshold under KRS 304.39.060.

Once State Farm completes this initial review, the claim moves from paperwork and documentation to questions about how the crash happened and who may be responsible. This is where Kentucky’s comparative negligence rules become important.

Kentucky’s Comparative Negligence Law and How It Applies to Your Case

If your injuries meet one of Kentucky’s thresholds under KRS 304.39.060, your case moves outside the no-fault system and into Kentucky’s pure comparative negligence framework under KRS 411.182. This law reduces your financial recovery by your share of responsibility for the crash. For example, if you are found 10 percent at fault, your compensation is reduced by 10 percent.

State Farm often raises comparative negligence when the collision involved a rear-end impact, multiple vehicles, or distracted driving. When the insurance company suggests you share some responsibility, this law determines how much you can still pursue. Once liability becomes part of the discussion, many people reach out to a Louisville car accident lawyer because these disputes directly affect the value of a personal injury claim.

Problems You Might Face With a State Farm Claim

Most people contact me after they’ve already opened a State Farm claim and something isn’t going the way they expected. These are the issues I see most often.

• Low Property-Damage Estimates. State Farm may undervalue the repair cost or total-loss value. When that happens, rental car coverage and repair timelines can become immediate problems.
• Pressure to Settle Too Early. Adjusters sometimes reach out before you finish medical treatment. Once you accept a settlement, the claim closes, even if your condition later worsens.
• Questions About Your Medical Treatment. State Farm reviews treatment dates closely. Gaps in care or later-appearing symptoms often lead the adjuster to question whether the crash caused the injuries.
• Rental Car Delays. I often hear from clients who can’t get clear answers about rental car coverage or who are told the rental will end before their car is repaired.
• Disputes Over Lost Wages. Even with documentation, State Farm may challenge how long you were out of work or whether your job duties prevented you from returning sooner.
• Attempts to Place Some Responsibility on You. Comparative negligence becomes a key issue once your injuries meet the legal threshold. I’ve seen State Farm suggest a client carried part of the responsibility even when the police report points to the other driver. This reduces the value of the personal injury claim.

When these issues start piling up, many people are unsure how to respond or what State Farm is allowed to ask for. That uncertainty often leads people to reach out to a Louisville car accident lawyer for guidance and support.

When State Farm Isn’t the Good Neighbor You Expected: Call Emery Law Office

When State Farm challenges your injuries or drags out the process, you need a lawyer for a car accident who understands how these insurance companies operate. At Emery Law Office, I work with car accident victims each day, and I know the tactics insurers use to reduce or deny injury claims.

You shouldn’t juggle paperwork, adjusters, and settlement pressure while you’re in pain. My law office handles the insurance process so you can focus on your recovery. I’ve represented injury victims across Kentucky facing mounting medical bills, lost wages, and long-term effects from motor vehicle accidents.

If you’ve searched online for an “injury lawyer near me,” you’re in the right place. My firm offers free consultations and a free police report review to help you understand your next steps. Each case is handled on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we win for you.

Get a team working for you. Call (502) 771-1529 or fill out our confidential online form to speak with a car accident lawyer in Louisville, KY who will stand up to State Farm and fight for fair compensation on your behalf.

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The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.

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