No one expects to get into a car accident, but statistics say the average driver will be in three to four car crashes during their driving career. Drivers and passengers need to know what to do immediately after a car accident. There are legal requirements and steps to take to protect your rights if you are injured.
If you have been injured in a car accident in Kentucky that was not your fault or only partially your fault, an experienced personal injury attorney at Morgan Collins Yeast & Salyer can assist you. Our car accident attorneys focus exclusively on helping Kentucky car accident victims. Our law firm doesn’t represent insurance companies. We help real people, and surviving family members demand justice and fair compensation. Our clients are people just like you.
The best time to learn what injury victims should do after a car accident is before an accident occurs. Anyone injured in a wreck should take the following steps after a motor vehicle collision.
First Acts: Immediately After A Car Accident
Check for injuries
Immediately after a crash, calm yourself and check to see whether you have been injured. If you are able, check the condition of others in your vehicle and in any other vehicle involved in the crash. If anyone is injured, phone 911 to request an ambulance.
Report the Accident
By law in Kentucky, you must contact police if a car accident causes injury or death or makes your vehicle undrivable. You are also required to provide assistance if there are serious injuries, or your assistance is requested. Phone 911 to request police and/or an ambulance.
Secure the Scene
If there are injuries or a fatality, do not move your vehicle. Instead, turn on hazard lights, and wait for law enforcement officers to arrive. If you have emergency flares or cones, place them so passersby are alerted to the crash scene. Otherwise, move your vehicle to the shoulder of the road, if possible. If you cannot move your vehicle, immediately move you and your passengers to a safe area while waiting for the authorities to arrive.
Cooperate with Police and Others
Gather and provide to others involved in the accident if requested:
- Your vehicle’s registration number
- Insurance information
- Names and addresses of the vehicle owner, driver, and passengers.
The police will collect and share the registration and insurance information of the drivers of the vehicles involved in the accident. If another driver asks to exchange information, you are required to provide it.
Do not argue with others involved in the car wreck. Try to proceed calmly. If necessary, state that you have contacted the police and prefer to wait for them to deal with the crash. When the police arrive, cooperate with them and answer their questions truthfully.
First Acts: What Not to Do
Don’t Panic
Take deep breaths and try to focus on what needs to be done.
Don’t Refuse Emergency Care
If you are injured and emergency responders want to take you to the hospital in an ambulance, cooperate and go with them.
Don’t Discuss the Accident
Cooperate but stick to the facts when answering police questions.
Gather Evidence and Document the Accident
If you are physically able, you can take steps to support a potential personal injury claim. Try to:
Take Photos or Video
Get photos to depict:
- The position of the vehicles involved in the crash
- The damage to vehicles.
- Crash debris (skid marks, broken glass, pieces of the vehicles involved)
- Your injuries and your passengers’ injuries
- The accident’s location
- Road conditions that may have contributed to the crash (standing water, overgrown foliage that blocks sight lines, downed road signs, construction cones)
- Any actions by the other driver that might indicate fault or impairment.
Get Witness Names
Get full names and contact information for all witnesses, including your passengers. If possible, get them to state their information on video, spelling out email addresses and uncommon names.
Document What Happened
As soon as things have settled down, record an account of what happened — where you were going, how the accident occurred, and what happened to you. It can be in writing or an audio or video recording.
Get the Police Report
Ask the police officer how to get a copy of the accident report. The driver-information form police give you should have a report number and instructions. Ask so they can confirm this information. Get a copy of the report as soon as possible.
After the Accident: Follow-Up Steps
Seek Medical Attention
If you did not go to the hospital directly from the accident scene, see a doctor for medical treatment within 24 hours of the car wreck. Some major injuries – traumatic brain injury and internal organ injuries – may not cause visible symptoms initially. The doctor’s diagnosis of your injuries establishes a medical record of your injuries and treatment. Medical records are crucial if you file a personal injury case. Afterward, follow the doctor’s orders. Not getting recommended medical care or skipping follow-up appointments with medical professionals implies that you have not been hurt. This can undermine accident claims.
Contact an Experienced Attorney
After being injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need to understand your legal rights. You need to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer who handles car accident claims and personal injury lawsuits. You might have the right to bring a personal injury lawsuit against those whose negligence led to your injuries. This is usually another driver, but it could be other parties, too. A car accident lawyer with Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer can assess your accident and potential for a legal claim during a free consultation. If our law firm can pursue a claim, we’ll do it at no charge unless and until we recover compensation for you.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Most auto insurance companies require their policyholders to provide prompt notification of car accidents. You may be able to file a simple notification online to provide the basic details of the collision. If you speak with an insurance company representative, decline to record a statement. If you have severe injuries, do not downplay them. Don’t blame yourself or anyone else for the accident. Do not sign anything or accept any kind of payment. A settlement offer made by an insurance carrier before you have fully recovered from your car accident injuries is unlikely to cover all of your costs and losses.
Keep Things to Yourself
If you pursue a claim or are considering one, you should not discuss online the details of the accident, your injuries, or a potential claim. Insurance adjusters working to minimize or deny insurance claims will grab onto anything that may indicate you were not as badly hurt as you say or that you were at fault. You should stay off of social media, too. You should decline to discuss a potential or ongoing insurance claim with anyone other than your lawyer, doctor, or spouse.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Kentucky State Police Online Civilian Collision Reporting: If law enforcement personnel do not respond to a car accident, each driver is required to file a written report with the Kentucky State Police within 10 days of the accident.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, including:
- Driver Services
- Maps / Resources
- Citizen Services
- Business Services
- Highway Safety
- State / Regional Projects
- County Data
- News
- Contact
More from our pages for car accident victims …
- The Car Accident Claim Process In Kentucky
- How Medical Bills Are Paid After A Car Accident in Kentucky
- How To Deal With Auto Insurance Carriers Under Kentucky Rules
- Bad Faith Insurance Claims in Kentucky
- When You Should Hire A Car Accident Attorney
Contact Our KY Car Accident Lawyers
If you have been injured in an auto accident in Kentucky that was not your fault, you might be entitled to pursue a personal injury claim and demand compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, and more. You may be wondering what your personal injury case is worth. Call now to review your legal options with a KY personal injury attorney at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer. Our car accident lawyers have extensive legal experience and a thorough understanding of Kentucky’s complicated no-fault car insurance system. Our law office can help you file a claim for Personal Injury Protection coverage of your initial medical bills while our legal team pursues maximum compensation from the other driver who caused the car wreck.
Contact our Lexington personal injury lawyers 24/7 at (877) 809-5352 to schedule a free consultation. Our personal injury law firm has offices in Lexington, Somerset, Manchester, London, North London, Hazard, Paducah, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, and Princeton. We handle personal injury cases across Kentucky and focus on helping those with severe injuries. Call us now!
