What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Bardstown, KY?

In the immediate moments after a car accident, you could feel disoriented and overwhelmed. That is understandable, but you still need to act to preserve your safety.

Here’s what you need to do:

Check for Injuries

As mentioned above, the first thing you need to do is check for injuries. If someone is in your car and hurt, you should not attempt to move them unless they are in immediate danger from a fire.

Secure Your Vehicle

If you can still drive your car, move it off the side of the road to avoid oncoming traffic and prevent additional collisions.

Call 911

After you’ve moved your vehicle and secured the scene as best as you can, you should call 911. When the police show up, they’ll take over traffic management and prepare an accident report. That report can become a vital bit of evidence in your future claim.

Document the Scene

If you’re able, take as many photos and videos of the accident scene as possible.

These should be from every angle, can include the surrounding environment, making note of road and weather conditions, as well as any traffic signs or lights.

Exchange Information

You need to exchange information with the other driver. You can take photos of their driver’s license and insurance card. If they refuse to provide that information, you can wait for the police to collect it for their report.

However, under Kentucky law, drivers are obligated to provide that information.

Identify Witnesses

If there are witnesses, you need to collect their information as well. It could also help to get a quick video of what they witnessed to preserve their memory.

The following day after your accident, you need to seek medical attention if you haven’t already. You might initially feel fine, but certain injuries can have delayed reactions.

That’s why you want a doctor to perform a thorough examination. This will also help establish the link between any subsequent injuries and the accident.

Here’s what else you need to do in the days after an accident.

Report to Bardstown Police Department

Sometimes the police won’t report an accident if the damage is minimal and there are no immediate injuries. However, you should still file a civilian collision report with the Bardstown Police Department to establish the record.

Notify Your Insurance Carrier

Your auto insurance policy will most likely have a clause that obligates you to report any significant accident to them. This doesn’t mean you are filing a claim the next day, but it puts them on notice. Before you file an official claim, you’ll need to get a sense of your injuries and the extent of damage to your car.

Kentucky follows a pure comparative approach for car accident claims. Under these guidelines, you are entitled to seek compensation in an accident even if you’re partially to blame for the accident. Of course, it would be better to avoid any blame.

That’s where the skilled attorneys at McCoy & Hiestand, PLC come into play.

When we agree to help someone with a car accident claim, it is because we are confident that the person was the victim of another driver’s negligence. The at-fault party should be held accountable. We devote all the resources of our office to help our clients secure the compensation they are due for lost wages, medical expenses, and car repairs.

We’ll take the information you’ve gathered at the accident scene and build on that to develop a strong claim. Once we have the evidence and calculation of your damages, we’ll send a demand letter to the relevant insurance company and begin the negotiation process.

Our goal is to lock down that settlement, but if we face resistance, we have no problem filing a civil lawsuit. Being served with a lawsuit notice is a powerful motivator.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault and are unsure of your next steps, we want to hear from you.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.