Reviewed by Larry Forman, Attorney.
Bardstown Road is one of Louisville’s busiest and most varied streets. It runs from the Highlands bar and restaurant district through Douglass Loop, Buechel and Fern Creek toward Bullitt County, changing from a crowded two-lane neighborhood street into a wide suburban corridor full of shopping centers. That mix of pedestrians, buses, bikes, turning traffic and fast suburban stretches makes it a frequent site of crashes.
Why Bardstown Road sees so many crashes
- Constant turning traffic. Dozens of business driveways, side streets and left turns across traffic. See left turn accidents and the intersection crash guide.
- Pedestrians and nightlife. The Highlands draws crowds on foot, especially at night and on weekends. See pedestrian accidents.
- Parked cars and cyclists. Street parking means car doors opening and cars pulling out. See bicycle accidents.
- Buses. TARC routes stop frequently along the corridor. See TARC and school bus accidents.
- Interstate interchanges. Traffic merges at the Watterson Expressway and the Gene Snyder Freeway. See Spaghetti Junction crashes for how interchange crashes work.
- Speed and rear-end crashes on the wider suburban stretches. See rear-end collisions.
Who investigates a Bardstown Road crash?
Inside Louisville Metro, LMPD usually responds. Crashes in other jurisdictions along the corridor may be handled by another agency. See how to get a Louisville accident report.
Evidence to look for
- Business and doorbell cameras, which are everywhere along the corridor and often record over footage quickly
- Bus cameras, if a TARC bus was nearby
- Witnesses on the sidewalk and in nearby shops
- Photos of the lane, signals and any blocked sight lines
- Your dashcam. See evidence to preserve after an accident.
Who pays after a Bardstown Road crash
- Unless you rejected it in writing, your own PIP (personal injury protection) coverage pays up to $10,000 of medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault. See how Kentucky PIP works.
- The at-fault driver’s liability insurance pays for losses beyond PIP. To recover pain and suffering from an at-fault driver, Kentucky’s no-fault law generally requires more than $1,000 in medical expenses, or an injury such as a fracture, permanent injury, permanent disfigurement or permanent loss of bodily function (KRS 304.39-060).
- Your uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage helps when the other driver has little or no insurance. See uninsured vs. underinsured motorist coverage.
Kentucky uses pure comparative fault: your share of fault reduces your recovery but doesn’t bar it (KRS 411.182). See what to do if you were partly at fault.
What to do after a crash on Bardstown Road
- Move to a safe spot if you can and call 911.
- Get medical care, even if you feel okay.
- Photograph the vehicles, the intersection or driveway and any cameras on nearby buildings.
- Get witness names and phone numbers.
- Get the report number.
- Talk with a lawyer before giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer.
Deadlines
Most Kentucky motor vehicle injury claims must be filed within two years of the crash or the last PIP payment, whichever is later (KRS 304.39-230). Use our statute of limitations calculator.
We help people hurt along Bardstown Road
Forman & Associates helps people injured in the Highlands, Fern Creek, Mount Washington and across Louisville. Larry Forman has tried 50+ jury trials, and we prepare every case as if it may go to trial. See our car crash lawyer page.
Bardstown Road accident FAQs
Who is at fault in a driveway crash on Bardstown Road?
Usually the driver pulling out of a driveway or business must yield to traffic on the road, but every crash depends on the facts and evidence.
How do I get camera footage from a business after a crash?
Ask the business right away and write down who you spoke with. A lawyer can send a preservation letter so the footage isn’t recorded over.
Hurt in a Bardstown Road crash?
Tell us what happened. The consultation is free. Get a free case evaluation or call (502) 931-6788.
This post is general information about Kentucky law, not legal advice. Every case is different.
