Kentucky drivers who are in an accident have legal responsibilities according to Kentucky Statute KRS 189.580. Drivers are first required to check on victims and call for medical care if someone is injured. They must also provide driver’s license and car insurance information upon request. Those in accidents may also be required to move their vehicles in certain situations.
What’s My First Responsibility After a Kentucky Car Accident?
Motorists traveling busy Kentucky Roads like New Circle Road in Lexington or I-264 in Louisville are first required to stop at the scene or near the scene of an accident. If their cars are not stopped by the collision, motorists must pull over as near the scene as possible without endangering other motorists.
Drivers also have a duty to check on the occupants of the cars involved to see if anyone is injured and then act to secure medical assistance. Kentucky motor vehicle statutes lay out specific instructions for motorists in collisions who should be looking to help injured occupants.
“(1) (a) The operator of any vehicle, whose vehicle, vehicle load, or vehicle equipment which is involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or resulting only in damage to a vehicle or other property which is driven or attended by any person, shall immediately stop and ascertain the extent of the injury or damage and render reasonable assistance, including the carrying, or making of arrangements for the carrying, of such person to a physician, surgeon, or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary, or if such carrying is requested by the injured person…”
KRS 189.580 explains there are additional responsibilities drivers have after causing or being involved in an accidents:
- Contact Authorities: Beyond arranging for medical care, drivers are required to contact the proper local authorities immediately and notify them of any accident that involves an injury or death. Drivers must also notify authorities if the collision leaves a vehicle inoperable. A call to 911 would satisfy this requirement.
- Move the Vehicle: If there are no injuries or fatalities involved in an accident on an interstate highway, a parkway, or an on-ramp or off-ramp, drivers are asked to move their vehicles to avoid blocking traffic if it’s safe to do so.
- Find the Owner: Drivers who strike an unoccupied car or damage property must seek out the owner of the property. If no owner can be found, the driver can either file a report with police, or leave a note with a name, address, and registration number.
- File a Report with Authorities: If for some reason, a law enforcement officer can’t respond to the scene of an accident that involves an injury or a fatality, drivers must report what happened. They’ll have 10 days to file a report with the Kentucky State Police. Drivers must also file this report if damage to a single vehicle in the accident is likely to cost $500 or more to repair. For information on filing, you can visit our page on how to file a Kentucky civilian collision report.
Do I Have to Provide Information to the Other Driver After a Kentucky Traffic Accident?
Yes. You’ll have to provide information to any investigating Law Enforcement Officer. That may be the Kentucky State Police, Louisville Metro Police, the Lexington Police, or someone from another agency.
The other drivers involved can also request your information. You can request theirs.
Those involved in a crash can ask for…
- the names of the driver, the people inside the vehicle
- the registration number of the vehicle
- the names and addresses of the people inside the vehicle
Drivers wouldn’t have to provide more than five of the occupants’ names inside their vehicles.
Contact a Kentucky Car Accident Lawyer After a Collision
At-fault drivers must follow Kentucky law after an accident, but they are also liable for the damage and injuries they’ve caused. Victims will need to be able to count on the driver’s car insurance company for help with medical bills and to survive financially while they can’t go to work. Unfortunately, car insurance providers can make it hard for victims to earn help while they heal.
If you have been seriously injured in a collision caused by a careless driver, contact a Kentucky Car Accident Lawyer to schedule a free and confidential consultation. We help victims and their families earn the money they need to fully recover in Lexington, Louisville, and across the entire state. You also don’t have to worry about affording our help if you need it. We don’t get paid unless we win your case. Then our fee comes out of the settlement money a car insurance company must provide.
