Car accidents are often the last thing on most people’s minds when they head off on vacation. However, they do happen and it’s wise to know the steps you should take should you be involved in a collision outside of your state. A car accident that happens while on vacation can be a very stressful experience. Not only do the laws differ but you’re also away from the area that you are familiar with. Here are the steps to take if you have a car accident while on vacation:
Follow the Standard Procedure
The first thing to keep in mind is that initially you’ll need to follow the same procedure on vacation as you would if you had an accident in your state. This means:
• Checking for injuries and phoning 911
• Contacting the police to file a report
• Communicating with the other driver(s) to exchange contact information
• Contacting your insurance company (if applicable).
If the accident occurred in a rental vehicle, you will also need to contact your rental vehicle provider and follow their procedures.
Contact a Lawyer
The next thing you need to do is contact a lawyer that specializes in car accidents such as Horst Shewmaker. This may seem pointless but if you were not at fault in the accident, you may be able to claim financial assistance from the other party to pay for your expenses. In addition, not all car accident injuries are evident immediately following the accident, and it can be hard to tell what the financial implications will be later down the road.
On the other side of this, an accident attorney can also help you deal with any potential scam artists that may try to paint you as the at-fault driver even if you weren’t. Car accidents are incredibly stressful things to experience and you definitely want someone in your corner to help prevent things from getting worse.
Do make sure to contact a local attorney in the state that you are visiting. They will know the local laws, and the area, and will be able to deal with your case even if you reside out of state.
Consider Your Travel Plans
If you weren’t badly injured in the accident, you’ll next need to figure out your future travel plans. If you were driving a rental car when involved in the crash, you will need to speak to your provider and sort out a replacement. If, however, you were in your own vehicle, you’ll either need to rent a replacement or have the vehicle towed and fixed – the latter may only be possible if you were close to home when the incident occurred. Of course, if you were badly injured by the crash, you’ll want to focus on getting better rather than resuming your vacation and may want to head home.
Car accidents are never nice and they’re definitely not something you want to happen on vacation. However, knowing what to do should one happen is wise.
Note: This article is a reference and it is NOT meant to be a legal advice.
Featured image credit: Pexels.com.
