After your or your loved one’s motorcycle accident, you may want the accident report as evidence for a legal case. You can get your accident report from the Kentucky State Police, or you can let a lawyer obtain it for you. The lawyer may be able to get the report more quickly, so you can begin your case right away.
In this post, we’ll discuss precisely how to get your motorcycle accident report in Kentucky and how a lawyer can help.
How Do I Get a Copy of My Accident Report in Kentucky?
The Kentucky State Police keep accident reports and make copies available to accident victims and their lawyers. There are a couple of ways you can obtain a report.
One method is to request the report from your local state police post. You can find the nearest post on the Kentucky State Police’s website. Another option is to make a request with the Kentucky State Police’s Official Custodian of Records. You can also have your lawyer do this for you.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-333-9999
What Do I Do if the Police Didn’t File an Accident Report?
You’ll have to file your own accident report with the Kentucky State Police if they didn’t file their own accident report. There are several reasons you may want to do this, including if:
- You, your loved one, or the other driver sustained injuries;
- Anyone passed away due to their injuries; or
- There was any vehicle damage exceeding a $500 repair cost.
You have only 10 days from the day of your incident to file the report. An online Civilian Collision Report website is also available if a police officer did not do so.
If You Neglect to Report Your Accident
If no one files an accident report and you neglect to report the accident altogether, you may face a fine and you may not have strong evidence for your claim or lawsuit for compensation.
Are Accident Reports Public Record in Kentucky?
Your accident report is accessible to you, an insurer involved in the case, and/or an attorney involved in the case. Since the report isn’t a public record, no one else can view it.
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Do You Need a Police Report to File an Insurance Claim in KY?
To file your insurance claim (or a lawsuit) in Kentucky, you need an accident report. There are other ways to help prove your case, but the report is still required by law.
Your accident report verifies that your accident actually occurred and contains important details and evidence. Without the report, you may not be able to establish the other driver’s liability and your legal immunity. An insurer or court may deny your claim for compensation without the report.
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How an Attorney Can Help You
An attorney can help you make sure your motorcycle accident report is on file with the Kentucky State Police and request a copy for your records. Additionally, an attorney can:
- Obtain other evidence for your case, such as your medical records and any traffic camera footage of the accident
- Acquire witness testimonies and expert statements as corroborating evidence
- Help you understand Kentucky’s comparative negligence system for distributing liability between parties and help you avoid any liability
- Establish the other party’s negligence and liability
- Help determine which damages you may be able to collect, such as medical expenses, property costs, pain and suffering damages, and others
- Determine the value of your damages and your case
- File your claim or lawsuit on your behalf
- Negotiate a settlement with an insurer or argue for a judgment with a judge and jury
On top of all that, an attorney can also help you meet any deadlines applying to your case. For instance, to file a vehicle accident lawsuit in your case, you have a filing deadline of only two years from the date of your accident or your last PIP payment, per Ky. Rev. Stat. § 304.39-230. In the event that a loved one passed away after their motorcycle accident, you usually have one year to act per Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.180.
Consult an Attorney from Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers
The lawyers at our firm have over 400 years of combined experience, and they’ve recovered $1 billion in settlements for their clients. We’re confident we can help you or your loved one recover compensation too, and we’ll start by obtaining the motorcycle accident report and going over the case with you.
Your case review will be free of charge, and if you hire one of our motorcycle accident lawyers, you won’t pay them unless they recover compensation for you. You have nothing to lose by speaking with us, so call us today for your free consultation.
Call or text 800-333-9999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
