Murphy’s law says that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Unfortunately, this often proves to be the case while road tripping. No road trip seems to be complete without some form of mechanical issue or being pulled over. Hopefully, these will be the worst of your worries. A car accident can become very complicated when you are traveling far from home. The following is a quick guide on how to get through this unfortunate circumstance.
Document Everything
As soon as everyone involved in the accident is safe, you need to start documenting. Take pictures of everything. Take pictures of the road conditions, all sides of both cars, and any personal injuries. You will need to call the police and report the incident. If you are out in the countryside, it may take time for help to arrive. When officials get there, you will want to be prepared with a clear explanation. It can take time for your brain to sort through all the details of what just happened, so start taking note of what led up to the crash.
Dealing with Insurance
How much the crash will cost you depends on who is at fault, and your insurance. You should never just assume that you were at fault. Even if you were slightly distracted, the accident could have been caused by the actions of the other driver. Many people tend to assume that they caused the accident and begin to apologize. If you do this, you run the risk of being assigned fault for the accident. You don’t want that. Of course, you shouldn’t lie to avoid responsibility, but you should let the officials determine fault.
In order to be compensated for the crash, you will need to file an insurance claim. An insurance claim is an official document where you submit the details of what happened and explain why you are owed you some type of compensation. If your claim is accepted, compensation will be paid by the other driver, their insurance company, or your insurance company. Compensation is not limited to repairs to the vehicle, it can also cover medical expenses if you or your passengers are injured. Depending on the type of compensation, you may have to make additional claims.
Court Issues
Law requires that all drivers have at least a basic insurance package that will pay damages if they are at fault in an accident. Sadly, not everyone obeys this law. If the other driver has no insurance, you will likely have to go to court in order to have your expenses paid. This can be a huge hassle. These court battles tend to be slow and uncertain in their outcome. Even if you win, you could end up receiving nothing. These problems are compounded if you were traveling.
If you are in a different state, you will have to hire two lawyers, one in the state where the crash occurred and one in your home state. Together, they will handle the complexities of dealing with a case involving diversity jurisdiction. Thankfully, you should be able to return home. If your lawyers do their job, you shouldn’t have to testify in court. But if you do, you will need to travel back to the state where the accident occurred to testify.
Is it Totaled?
A totaled car can be tough in a normal accident. If you are out on a trip, you can get stuck. Depending on your policy, your insurance company may pay for a rental. If not, you’ll need to get one yourself. Keep track of expenses though, you may be able to force the other driver to compensate you.
Trip Cancellation?
Is your vacation ruined? It doesn’t have to be. If you are in good health and if you can get ahold of a rental car, you can continue your trip. You will need to spend a few hours on the phone with the insurance company, but you should have time during your drive. If you miss reservations due to the delay caused by the accident, keep track of these expenses. You can include them in your claims.
A car accident is not fun no matter when or where it happens. But you don’t have to let it ruin your trip. Keep calm, follow the rules of common sense, and you can be back on the road again in no time.
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