Car Accident Report Information
"I was in a bad car wreck that caused me to break my leg and be hospitalized for several days. Billy and Brittney came and met me with and my family in the hospital. From day one, they hit the ground running, and they never stopped working at full-speed on my case. The settlement that Billy got us changed our lives. We paid off all of our debt. We have been able to remodel our home, buy new vehicles, help out our kids financially, and save for what might come in our future."   - Kathy H.    |    TESTIMONIALS FROM CAR ACCIDENT CASES

Car Crash Reports are Important

After a car accident, it is important to obtain a car accident report, as it provides valuable documentation and evidence that can be instrumental in resolving both insurance claims and legal disputes. These reports provide a record of the accident and information that may be used as evidence to show how it happened; this can help when you are trying get compensation for the damages you received, whether through insurance or a lawsuit.

If the accident caused injuries and damages, it is a good idea to hire an experienced car accident attorney who can not only take care of obtaining the accident report for you, but also handle all legal requirements and hurdles to help recover fair compensation for the damages you received.

What is a Car Accident Report?

In almost all vehicle accident situations, the police should be called to investigate and file a car accident report. Kentucky law requires that a report must be filed if an accident results in injuries, death, or at least $500 damage to vehicles or property.

The car accident report is a document that records information about the accident which can be helpful to your attorney in determining what the investigating officers think happened to cause the accident. Some accident reports go into greater detail than others, but most contain:

  • The date, time, and location of the crash
  • Name, address and telephone number of all people involved (including passengers and witnesses)
  • Driver’s license number and birth date of all drivers involved
  • Make, model, year, registration number and license plate number of the vehicles involved
  • Contact information for each driver’s insurance company
  • Vehicle damage and estimated repair costs
  • Any property damage not part of the vehicle
  • Date, time and location of the accident
  • Weather and road conditions at the time of the accident
  • Traffic control devices at the scene of the accident (stop signs, traffic lights, etc.)
  • A diagram of the accident and written description
  • Whether any tickets or fines were issued and, if so, for what reason.

How Car Crash Reports are Filed and Obtained

Accident reports are filed by the law enforcement agency that responds to the wreck, and this is determined by whether the road is public or private, state or county. The investigating officer files the accident report with the Kentucky State Police (KSP) and, after a few weeks, the report is available on-line, in person, or via U.S. Mail.

If for any reason a law enforcement officer did not conduct an investigation in such a situation, the operator(s) of the car(s) involved must file a Civilian Traffic Collision report within 10 days. You should also file a Civilian Traffic Collision report if the police are not called to a non-injury accident, because you may need the report to convince the claims adjuster that it was their insured who caused the accident or to be used as evidence if there is a lawsuit.

There are several ways to obtain a car accident report in Kentucky:

  • Online Request: You can order a report through the Kentucky State Police Online Civilian Traffic Collision Reporting website. You’ll need to provide the case number, report date, and the last name of the car owner. The fee for an online report is $10.
  • In-Person Request: You can visit a designated Kentucky State Police location with your photo ID, case number, other driver’s details, and the date and location of the collision. The fee for an in-person request is $5.
  • Mail Request: Send a written request to the KSP post where the accident occurred. Requests should provide the same information required for an in-person request and should include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer for the $5 processing fee.
  • Local Police Department: If the state police didn’t respond to your accident, contact your local police station to find out who is handling your car accident investigation.
  • Third-Party Websites: Some cities, like Louisville, allow purchasing accident reports through websites like https://www.buycrash.com.

Only authorized parties can obtain reports. This includes drivers, passengers, parents of minors involved in the accident, and insurance companies handling the claim.

How Car Accident Reports Are Used

Car accident reports serve several important purposes and are used in various ways. Among them are:

  • Insurance claims: Insurance companies often utilize police accident reports when processing claims and determining fault, as the report provides an objective account of what happened. Kentucky is a no-fault state for insurance; however, you can bring a claim against the at-fault driver if the accident caused over $1,000 in medical expenses or caused one of the following:
    • Permanent disfigurement
    • Weight-bearing bone fracture
    • Compound, compressed, or displace fracture of any bone
    • Permanent injury
    • Permanent loss of a body function.
  • Legal proceedings: In some situations, the police report can be used as evidence in a lawsuit, although it may not always be admissible in higher courts due to hearsay rules.
  • Providing evidence. The officer’s observations, diagrams, and notes in the report can help establish which driver was at fault for the accident, provide information about injuries that were sustained and damage to property for personal injury claims, and provide vital information such as date, time, location, vehicle details, witness statements, and road conditions that helps reconstruct the accident scenario.

Be aware that police reports are not binding, so if you disagree with a report’s information, an experienced Kentucky car wreck attorney can challenge the conclusions made as well as correct any factual errors.

Get Help After a Car Accident

Kentucky car accident laws are complicated, and while you may be entitled to compensation for your damages, not all vehicle wrecks can be resolved peacefully — you may find you need legal representation. Accident reports are a key piece in any accident litigation, and obtaining them can be frustrating. The skilled and experienced Kentucky car accident attorneys at the Johnson Law Firm diligently pursue these reports and carefully examine them to ensure our clients’ interests are protected.

In addition, attorney Billy Johnson can determine responsibility and the extent of damages, establish your claim, and handle all legal requirements, court filings, investigations, and negotiations involved with recovering the full financial compensation you deserve. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your car accident and determine the best way to move forward. Call us today to get started.

GET HELP NOW 606-437-4488

Attorney Billy Johnson

William “Billy” Johnson grew up in the Dorton area of Pike County, Kentucky, and early on decided to stay in the beautiful Appalachian mountains. Like many others in Eastern Kentucky, Billy’s dad worked as a coal miner, a hard job but one that taught his son how to meet challenges head on and persevere. Attorney Billy Johnson has years of experience helping injured clients with claims such as car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, wrongful deaths, work injuries, and more. [ Attorney Bio ]

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