What to Do If You’re Involved in a Car Accident While Traveling

What to Do If You’re Involved in a Car Accident While Traveling

Getting into a car accident in an unfamiliar place can be one of the scariest of life’s experiences. Your next steps can impact your future for years to come, so you need to make the right decisions from the beginning.

At Hill & Moin, our car crash attorneys strive to be reliable guides for our clients. You can turn to us for advice whenever you need to take legal action after a motor vehicle accident.

Our help starts now. Consider the practical tips shared below, and contact us as soon as you can to schedule a free consultation. You can reach us at (212) 668-6000 or by leaving us a brief message. 

Take Immediate Action After a Car Accident

Car accidents can leave vehicles in dangerous positions. Leaving your vehicle in the oncoming traffic lane, for example, could lead to another crash.

Don’t leave the scene or risk more injuries. Instead, move your car to safety nearby, if possible.

If you cannot immediately move your vehicle, then put on your hazard lights, engage the parking brake, and turn off your engine. Once safe to do so, take the following steps or delegate these important actions to someone you trust.

File a police report

Seek emergency medical help for yourself or anyone else who needs immediate treatment. You can report the accident to the local police anywhere in the United States by calling 911.

Each state has its own rules, but New York law requires you to report any car crash:

• Involving a fatality
• Causing injuries to any person
• Killing or injuring a domestic animal
• Damaging property (e.g., a parked vehicle, a fence) if you cannot inform the owner
• Requiring a vehicle to be towed
• Causing over $1000 of accident damage

Even if your accident does not fit these criteria, you should still make a police report and see a doctor. Why?

Consider the following reasons:

• A police officer’s objective assessment of the damage can help you prove that you deserve compensation for the costs of mechanical and body repair that you wind up seeking, especially since your rights might vary greatly between states
• An emergency responder or a doctor might notice symptoms of injuries that are not readily apparent to untrained eyes
• Some medical conditions become more serious if left untreated
• Mechanical damages might not be evident without a close inspection by a professional
• If you are unaware of the local reporting requirements, it is better to contact the authorities than risk breaking the law

Additionally, the reporting rules for accidents differ depending on where you are. If you fail to report an accident lawfully, you could lose your driving privileges, which could affect your ability to make an insurance claim. Why take the chance?

Collect information

A personal injury lawsuit must be supported by evidence. Exchange information with all involved motorists, passengers, and eyewitnesses. When accidents happen out of town, it can be difficult or impossible to return to the location later.

Gather as much contact information and details as possible at the scene, including:

• Photos and videos of the accident scene, focusing on damage to all involved vehicles, visible injuries, and relevant features of the accident scene (e.g., missing traffic signs, skid marks, patches of snow and ice)
• The insurance information and driver’s license number of the other driver
• The make, model, color, and license plate numbers of the other vehicles
• The name and badge number of the police officer responding to the accident
• The vehicle ID and route number if the accident occurred on public transportation

Start a file of all the documentation related to the auto accident. Keep copies of your medical records and any expenses related to medical care: like prescription drugs, assistive devices, and travel costs for appointments.

Consult a Car Accident Lawyer

The medical bills and repair expenses after an accident can quickly drain your finances. A personal injury settlement from the negligent party can help you meet your financial needs, yet getting a fair sum from his or her insurance company is often much too difficult to accomplish without professional assistance.

Before you talk to your insurance company, you need to understand how what you say impacts your potential claim. A careless statement could even void your insurance policy.

On the other hand, hiring an experienced lawyer to communicate with insurance companies on your behalf can ensure your claim is processed both correctly and on time.

Visiting a law firm can be intimidating. Yet, the family-like atmosphere at Hill & Moin can put you at ease. Our satisfied clients appreciate how our compassionate lawyers explain their legal options and pursue maximum compensation for their serious injuries.

You can begin without cost or obligation. Send us a message with your contact information, or call our office to schedule a free consultation.

In the United States, there are several types of travel and auto insurance. If you decide to hire our attorneys, we can help you reap the maximum benefits from the following types of insurance coverage.

Understand Your Insurance Features

Private health insurance policies, either paid out of pocket or by an employer, can also offset the high costs of medical care. The United States does not cover citizens while they are abroad. Therefore, many traveling Americans rely on special insurance policies specifically for travelers or expats.

Did you buy a travel insurance policy before your trip? These policies can include different features, such as the following.

Trip cancellation

When your trip is canceled, these benefits cover reservations like flights, train tickets, and hotels. Some plans still compensate even if you cancel because a close family member got sick.

Travel disruption

If there are changes to your trip before or during your travels, disruption benefits can offset your financial losses.

Travel health insurance

Some general travel insurance companies cover medical bills from overseas treatments, or you may need to purchase separate policies that make direct payments to foreign hospitals. Otherwise, you might need to pay for medical treatment out of pocket.

Medical evacuation

If you are in a place that does not have modern healthcare facilities, medical evacuation coverage can cover the costs of emergency transport to a more well-equipped hospital.

What if you get into a car accident in a rented vehicle? Travel insurance policies sometimes offer rental car coverage as a benefit or an add-on feature. In other cases, you have to purchase a separate plan or take advantage of credit card perks.

Rental car insurance

You can file a claim with your travel insurance company if you get into an accident while traveling when it is covered by your policy.

Many packages include a collision damage waiver (CDW) for the damage or theft of rental vehicles. CDWs pay for vehicle damage or theft. Some rental companies otherwise offer policies that cover any financial responsibility for damages or losses related to the car you borrow.

If you did not buy a rental or travel policy, should you be panicking? Not necessarily, as you will discover in the next subheading.

Credit card benefits

Some credit card companies automatically provide travel insurance for related expenses paid for with your card. A lawyer can review your card agreement for medical care coverage and other car accident losses.

No-fault insurance

Most states require drivers to carry insurance on their motor vehicles. New York, New Jersey, and several other states operate under no-fault systems. In these locations, no-fault insurance pays car accident-related medical bills for you and your passengers. You would receive these funds regardless of who caused the accident.

If your expenses are low, you might not need to seek damages from the other driver. However, you can pursue additional compensation if your policy amounts are insufficient.

At-fault insurance

In at-fault states, the person who caused the accident matters greatly. When an accident happens, insurance companies investigate who caused it. They might review the accident report, interview witnesses, and collect other important evidence. The driver determined to be at fault will be the one whose insurance pays for the damages.

What if more than one driver is partially responsible for severe injuries or vehicle damage? In some states, the insurance companies split the costs based on the percentage of fault.

Drivers can be found at fault for many reasons. Some common causes of car accidents include careless or illegal driving actions.

Below are a few examples:

• Reckless driving: Operating a vehicle in a dangerous manner, such as speeding or ignoring traffic laws
• Distracted driving: Driving while not paying full attention to the road or other motorists
• Driving under the influence: Operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs

If the damages exceed policy limits, motorists can rely on uninsured driver’s coverage.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage

Suppose you got into a car accident on Staten Island and the driver left without stopping to exchange information. Uninsured motorist insurance policies could protect you in this case, by paying for the expenses that the at-fault driver should have covered.

You can file an underinsured motorist claim if the at-fault driver has insurance but his or her policy limits are too low to cover all of your costs. This accident protection supplements the liable driver’s policy, covering any remaining costs for medical bills or property damage once policy limits are reached.

File a claim with an insurance company

In the eyes of a collision survivor, the purpose of an insurance company is to protect you from financial harm after a car accident. Unfortunately, many companies focus on making a profit rather than on paying out compensation to policyholders.

Hill & Moin is a law firm that understands the system. Since our attorneys know the law, they can use it to serve clients struggling to get what they deserve from money-hungry insurance companies. At times, we need to take cases to trial; in most instances, our successful negotiations result in a fair out-of-court settlement.

Discuss Your Personal Injury Recovery SolutionsⓇ

If you have been involved in a car accident, make sure to prioritize your immediate safety. If you have followed our advice, you will have gathered evidence and filed an accident report with the police. Even with these critical tasks completed, there is still one step to take.

Learn your legal rights. Consulting a professional for guidance can be the turning point in your quest for justice.

To ensure you receive the compensation you deserve, reach out to our law firm today. Contact our experienced accident lawyers now to schedule a consultation at (212) 668-6000, and a member of our team will be happy to assist you. Don’t worry about your rights!