Steps to Take Following a Kentucky Car Accident

In 2016, one out of every 22 licensed drivers in Kentucky was involved in a car accident. How many of these drivers were prepared on how to respond after the crash? How many were ready to take steps that would protect their rights? Unfortunately, the answer is likely to be – very few.

At Becker Law Office, we want to help you avoid the costly mistakes that people often make after they are involved in an auto accident. We have prepared a helpful checklist that you can review and even print out to keep in your car in case an accident happens.

If you have any questions about this list or your ability to obtain compensation after you or a loved one has been involved in a wreck, please contact a car accident lawyer for assistance. We provide free consultations to those throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Indiana.

What to Do at the Scene of a Crash

When you have been involved in a wreck, be sure to follow these steps at the accident scene:

• Stop your vehicle immediately. (It is illegal to hit and run.)
• Check to ensure that you and all passengers in your vehicle are OK.
• Check to ensure that drivers in the other vehicle are OK.
• If no one is seriously injured, and if it is safe to do so, move the vehicle to the side of the road or to a safe location near where the wreck happened.
• Contact the police on your cell phone. You’ll want to ensure that you have an accident report written at the crash scene to help prove how the accident happened.
• Obtain the contact information and insurance information from the other motorists involved in the crash.
• Provide your contact and insurance information to the other drivers.
• Get the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and other contact information from any witnesses to the accident scene. This will be invaluable in case there is a dispute regarding who caused the car wreck.
• Contact your insurance company to report the accident. If necessary, find out where you should have your vehicle towed. (Before answering any questions from your insurance adjuster, don’t forget that they will try to undermine your claim)
• Take detailed photographs of the accident scene, including all involved vehicles, the damage to your car, debris on the road, road conditions and other environmental elements that may have contributed to the crash.

In a car accident case, you may need to prove that the other driver did something negligent and careless that was a direct cause of the accident. The evidence collected at the accident scene should help you to paint a clear picture of what happened.

The Importance of Seeing a Doctor

It is important that you go and see a doctor immediately after the accident even if you do not believe you were seriously hurt. For instance, whiplash and traumatic brain injury may not have symptoms that you can readily detect. However, these conditions must be treated right away. A doctor can diagnose these conditions and provide needed medical treatment. Going to the doctor right away will also help to give you the proof you need to show that your injuries directly resulted from your accident.

When getting medical attention after a crash, you should:

• Tell your doctor about all pain or discomfort you are feeling even if it seems minor.
• Get photos taken of your injuries to prove how severely you were hurt.
• Keep detailed records of medical bills incurred and of treatments and therapies made necessary as a result of your auto accident injuries.
• Undergo any recommended medical testing, such as X-rays or MRIs that will provide both a correct diagnosis and evidence of your injuries.
• Get a detailed diagnosis of the full extent of your injuries.
• Create a comprehensive treatment plan.

The more solid your medical evidence is, the easier it will be to prove your injuries and to secure full and fair compensation for car accident losses.

Protecting Your Legal Rights

Kentucky is a choice no-fault state. This means that drivers may sometimes obtain car accident compensation from a driver who caused their auto accident and may sometimes obtain payment of medical bills and lost wages from their own insurer through personal injury protection (PIP).  It is important to understand your rights both with a PIP claim and with a claim against a driver who caused your wreck.

To ensure your rights are protected after your Kentucky auto accident:

• Report the crash to the insurance company right away.
• Never apologize or admit fault.
• Contact an experienced attorney.

Call a Legal Professional for Help After a Kentucky Car Crash

A lawyer from Becker Law Office can help you to understand how to pursue a car accident claim and deal with the insurance company on your behalf. Our attorneys have extensive experience helping clients after car accidents throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Indiana.

The sooner you contact us by phone or online, the sooner we can begin seeking the car accident damages you deserve. Get started by getting in touch with us today.