After a motor vehicle accident of any kind, you should file a crash report. By law in Kentucky, you are required to file a report of your crash with the Kentucky State Police within 10 days of the incident if there was more than $500 worth of damage done. If you call the police and they come to the scene and file a report, then you don’t need to file one on your own.
When you file a crash report about an accident that caused injuries or other damages, it creates documentation and proof that the collision happened. This will help you down the road if you choose to take legal action against the driver who cause the accident, a negligent company, or an insurance company who is refusing to give you payment for your damages.
You shouldn’t have to go through the legal process alone. A car accident lawyer from the Law Office of Todd W. Burris can help you recover what you’re owed from the party responsible for your collision.
How to Obtain Your Crash Report
Once you file your crash report, the police will keep it on file. You might never need to see it again, but if you ever need proof or documentation of the crash, you will need to know how to get a copy of your crash report. In Kentucky, when you file a civilian crash report online, you get the option to save the document. If you’re filling it out because police didn’t arrive on the scene, then you should make sure you save a copy for yourself.
If you forgot to save a copy of your report or police arrived on the scene to document the incident, then you need to contact Kentucky State Police Headquarters to file a written request for a copy. You’ll need to send the written request that includes your name, the date of the collision, and the county or city it occurred in to the headquarters and allow 3 business days for them to process the request.
If you weren’t the one who filed the report, and an officer was at the scene to make a report, then you will likely have access to the file or will be sent a copy of the report in the mail. They’ll take your name and address so that you can receive a copy. If they don’t send it, you might have to call and ask or send a written request like is mentioned above.
If you can’t get your crash report those ways, or you need it quickly, or you want a file saved to your computer, then you can also purchase a copy. This company’s site allows you to search for your report so that you can buy a copy.
Now that you know how to get a copy of a crash report in Kentucky, let’s take a look at why you might need it in the first place.
Why You Might Need Your Crash Report
Having a copy of your crash report in your records is beneficial even if you’re not choosing to take legal action. This way, if anything happens, you have documentation of the accident, when it happened, and what damages were caused. A police report can also help you when talking to your insurance company. Even though the crash report won’t tell exactly who was at fault, it can help an insurance company make a decision about who was at fault.
If you do choose to take legal action, then the crash report will be necessary for your car accident lawyer so that they can build you a strong case. Your attorney will use your crash report to investigate what happened and prove that your injuries and other damages align with what is reported in the document.
Our Car Accident Lawyer Is Here to Help
Getting into a collision is stressful enough. When you need to work to get a copy of your crash report, it can feel like another tough step that you don’t have the energy for. At the Law Office of Todd W. Burris, we get it. We understand that you’re going through a lot and everything feels like it’s piling up. That’s why we’re here for you.
When you have one of our Lexington car accident lawyers on your side, you can feel some of the weight lifted off your shoulders because we’ll handle the legal side of things. This can help ease the stress for you so that you can focus on what really matters—healing. Reach out to our office today so that we can get started working for you right away.
