Do You Have To Call the Police After a Car Accident in Kentucky?

You just were involved in a car accident in Louisville, KY. These collisions don’t happen every day, so you’re not clear about what you should do. An important question you may be seeking an answer to is, “Do you have to call the police after a car accident in Kentucky?” We’ll address that and other steps you may want to take below.

When Kentucky Law Requires You To Report a Louisville Car Crash

State law, and more specifically KRS 189.635(4), requires you to report any accident occurring in our state to a local law enforcement agency or Kentucky State Police within 10 days when it results in one (or more) of the following:

• In excess of $500 in property damage or your vehicle becoming inoperable
• Causes injuries or death

Is Contacting Law Enforcement After a Minor Collision Unnecessary?

While the above-referenced requirements may make it seem like it’s only necessary to contact the police after a serious accident in Kentucky, who’s to classify crashes? Different people may view the severity of the crash differently, including the extent of property damage or injuries. This is why it may be in your best interest to report your accident no matter what to protect your interests.

What Should I Do If I’m Unsure Who Hit Me?

Kentucky State Police also outlines how you will still want to file a civilian crash report with them, even if you’re unsure who caused the crash that injured you or damaged your vehicle, so that there will be a report of what happened. Since it’s likely that you’ll be unaware of any information for the driver or the “unit 2” vehicle, you’ll likely need to include “UNK” for unknown in several of the corresponding blanks when filling out the form.

What Happens If You Don’t Report a Car Accident in Louisville?

At the very least, you risk having a $500 fine imposed if you fail to notify the police of your Kentucky car wreck. The reality is that you could have your driver’s license suspended for failing to do so, though.

Also, of course, if a future investigation into the crash reveals that any criminal activity occurred, such as drunk driving, a hit and run, etc., a motorist could face corresponding charges related to those, including, at worst, vehicular homicide.

The Purpose a Civilian Traffic Collision Report Serves

Kentucky is a “choice no-fault” state when it comes to car accidents. What does this mean? Generally, you’d file a claim with your own insurer if you had opted into the no-fault system and only be able to file one with the other driver’s auto carrier if your crash-related losses had exceeded your coverage limits and you were looking to recover additional compensation to pay for outstanding expenses.

This brings us to the police report. Insurers and attorneys both use these reports to determine liability for crashes. See, Kentucky is a pure comparative negligence state as well. When you pursue a defendant for compensation for your accident-related expenses, any amount you recover stands to be reduced your percentage of fault. So, you can bet on an insurer looking carefully at this collision report as, depending on what it says, it could impact how much they pay out on your claim and, conversely, the amount your attorney demands as compensation in your case.

Understanding the Difference Between Reporting a Crash to the Police and an Insurance Company

It should be noted that calling and reporting a Louisville auto accident to the police isn’t the same as and does not replace notifying your insurance company of your crash.

When you must report your accident to your insurer or file a claim with them varies depending on the auto carrier. Thus, you’ll want to carefully review your policy documents to find out what notification requirements are.

While reporting your car accident to law enforcement and an insurance company are two distinct tasks, remember that there is one detail each of these share. That commonality is that you’ll want to stick to the facts when making either of these reports. Always avoid discussing liability and injuries whenever possible.

What To Do After Filing Your Accident Report in Kentucky

So, you’ve summoned law enforcement to the crash scene to make a report or have made one with Kentucky State Police within 10 days of your collision. What do you do next?

Hopefully, you’ve been seen by a medical provider to assess whether you have any injuries. If you have been, you’ll certainly want to follow through with your doctor’s treatment plan until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI).

If your injuries are temporary or permanently disabling, leading to you missing work or requiring surgery to fix, consider reaching out to us at Thomas Law Offices to discuss what happened to you and any rights you may have to hold any responsible parties accountable for their actions. Consultations with our car accident attorneys are completely free.