After an accident, even if you have not been injured, you will probably need to adjust your plans and update your travel itinerary. That could involve canceling accommodation reservations and making new bookings, as well as updating anyone you are planning to meet up with about your change of plans.
According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, car accidents in the United States happen every sixty seconds.
Seeing as laws and insurance policies differ from one state to another, you need to know what to do if you are involved in a car accident while traveling.
Contact the authorities
The first thing to do when involved in any kind of car accident is to notify the local authorities as soon as possible.
The police can block off the accident. Also, a police report will be written, which can be accessed later if you need it to gain damages from your insurance company or proceed with an auto accident lawsuit.
When you or another person at the scene of the accident contacts the authorities, an ambulance can be called to come out, as well as the police, to quickly help any injured parties.
Exchange information and take photographs
When you are involved in a car accident, remember to exchange contact information with the other driver and anyone else involved with the accident. You will need the other driver’s information for insurance purposes.
You, or someone else at the scene of the accident, should also take photographs.
The more evidence you collect, the easier it will be to prove who was at fault and claim damages. You should photograph the cars from various angles, the surroundings, and any injuries.
Seek medical evaluation immediately
Even if an ambulance has not been called because there are no noticeable injuries, you should always seek medical evaluation immediately after a car accident.
Just because you do not notice any injuries, it does not mean you have not been injured. For instance, you could have internal damage that you are unaware of.
It is always best to err on the side of caution, so get evaluated by a medical professional as soon as you can after a car accident happens.
Contact your insurance provider
You need to contact your insurance company after being involved in a car accident. If you have travel insurance, you should also contact your travel insurance provider.
You should let your insurer know if you have been injured and if you intend to contact a lawyer.
Get advice from a lawyer
With minor car accidents, you may not think it is necessary to contact a lawyer, but it makes sense to contact one for advice anyway; especially if you or someone else in the car has been injured.
If the other driver was at fault, you could have cause for a lawsuit and be able to cover some of the expenses you incurred due to the accident.
Figure out how you will complete the rest of your journey
When your car is undrivable, you will need to figure out how you are going to complete the rest of your journey and/or get back home.
Depending on your insurance policy, you could get a rental car straight away. In other cases, you may need to look at other options for renting cars or using public transport.
Update your travel itinerary
Once all the most important things have been taken care of, such as seeking medical attention and contacting your insurer and a lawyer, you will need to consider the rest of your trip.
After an accident, even if you have not been injured, you will probably need to adjust your plans and update your travel itinerary.
That could involve canceling accommodation reservations and making new bookings, as well as updating anyone you are planning to meet up with about your change of plans.
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