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Kentucky driving lesson · Emergencies & Crashes

After a collision

A 3-minute lesson from the Kentucky course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Emergencies & Crashes
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
61, 62

If you're involved in a collision, Kentucky law requires you to stop, find out whether anyone is hurt or anything damaged, and give reasonable help. What you do and write down in the next few minutes matters for everyone's safety and for insurance.

If you're in a collision:

  • Stop at or near the scene
  • Stay with the vehicle until an officer arrives and has questioned everyone
  • Non-injury crash: move the damaged vehicles to the shoulder (KRS 189.580(1)(b))
  • Get names and addresses of everyone involved and of any witnesses
Handbook p. 61 ↗
Move damaged vehicles to shoulder (state law)
State law: move damaged vehicles to the shoulder if there are no injuries

Record for each other driver and vehicle:

  • Name, address and driver license number
  • License plate number, VIN, make, model and year
  • Insurance company name and phone number
  • A list of damages, with photographs
  • Exactly what happened immediately before and after the collision
Handbook p. 61 ↗

Know the rule

If you hit a parked vehicle and can't find the owner, leave a note where it can be seen with your name, address, driver license number, license plate number, and the date and time.

Handbook p. 61 ↗

Civilian collision report

Civilian collision report
QuestionAnswer
When is it required?Damage over $500 and no officer investigated
Where is it filed?With the Kentucky State Police
DeadlineWithin 10 days of the collision
HowOnline through the KSP portal, or mail a paper copy
An officer investigated?Do not file a civilian report
Handbook p. 61 ↗

Know the rule

Kentucky law requires any driver in a collision to immediately stop, determine the extent of injury or damage, and render reasonable assistance—including carrying or arranging transport for an injured person who clearly needs, or asks for, medical treatment.

Handbook p. 62 ↗

Helping the injured:

  • If possible, call emergency medical personnel and notify law enforcement
  • State the crash location clearly and correctly
  • Move a victim only in a life-threatening emergency—otherwise wait for an EMT or ambulance
  • Keep the victim warm with a blanket or coat
Handbook p. 62 ↗

Put it into practice

You bump another car in traffic; no one is hurt. Move both cars to the shoulder, trade names, license numbers, plates and insurance details, photograph the damage and stay until police arrive. If no officer investigates and damage exceeds $500, report it to KSP within 10 days.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

In a non-injury collision, Kentucky law (KRS 189.580) generally requires that you:
  1. Immediately exchange only phone numbers
  2. Move the vehicles to the shoulder
  3. Call a tow truck before doing anything else
  4. Leave vehicles exactly where the crash occurred

Answer: Move the vehicles to the shoulder

For a non-injury accident, KRS 189.580(1)(b) requires moving the damaged vehicles to the shoulder.

Handbook p. 61 ↗
A collision causing property damage of more than $500, not investigated by law enforcement, must be reported to KSP within:
  1. 24 hours
  2. 48 hours
  3. 10 days
  4. 30 days

Answer: 10 days

You must file a written report with the Kentucky State Police within ten days if damage exceeds $500 and no officer investigated.

Handbook p. 61 ↗
If your vehicle strikes a parked vehicle and you cannot locate the owner, you should:
  1. Leave a note with your name, address, license number, and plate number
  2. Wait at the scene for up to 24 hours
  3. Leave a note with only your phone number
  4. Report it to your insurer within 10 days

Answer: Leave a note with your name, address, license number, and plate number

If you cannot locate the owner, leave a note with your identifying information at the scene.

Handbook p. 61 ↗
Kentucky law requires a driver involved in a collision to render reasonable assistance, which may include:
  1. Arranging for an injured person to receive medical treatment
  2. Nothing, unless a police officer is present
  3. Only providing your name if asked
  4. Filing paperwork within 30 days

Answer: Arranging for an injured person to receive medical treatment

The law requires the operator to stop, assess injuries, and render reasonable assistance, including arranging medical care.

Handbook p. 62 ↗
When injured victims are at a collision scene, you should generally:
  1. Move them into your own vehicle for transport
  2. Move them away from the vehicles immediately
  3. Help them walk to the roadside
  4. Wait for EMS unless life is at risk

Answer: Wait for EMS unless life is at risk

You should only attempt to remove a victim in a life-threatening emergency; otherwise wait for EMS.

Handbook p. 62 ↗
You should complete a civilian collision report even if a law enforcement officer already investigated the crash.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

Do not complete a civilian collision report if the collision was already investigated by a law enforcement officer.

Handbook p. 62 ↗
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