Most of the times we travel out of state with our car and accidents sometimes happen. What you probably know is that if the accident happens within your state, your insurance company can cover your claims. But what if the accident happens out of your state, are you covered for the damages and injuries you’re struggling with. When you’re out of state and car accidents happen you need to understand how things are handled by your insurance company. You should educate yourself as you don’t know what’s may happen in the future.
How To Handle Out Of State Accidents
What you should first understand is that when you’re out of state for a trip no matter what the distance is, you’re still covered by the auto insurance policy you have. Most of the insurance companies in the United States cover out-of-state accidents and even within neighboring territories such as the Canadian provinces. It is, however, a good idea to check your policy and see which areas are covered for out of state coverage, this is important for individuals that often travel to across a state or country border.
While you’re still covered when you traveled out of state you should learn as much as you can about auto insurance laws in the states or countries where you’re traveling. This will help you plan better on the type of coverage you might need because requirements change from one state to another. If you’re an insured driver you should know the type of policy your state uses, like if they cover “no-fault” insurance or not. Some states that use the “no-fault” system include; Florida, Kansas, and Hawaii.
If you’re living within a state that uses the “no-fault” insurance system, when an accident happens and you’re injured, your insurance company will pay for all your claims, not your auto insurance. All states with “no-fault” insurance policy have the same policy and all claims will be processed in the same manner. For states that don’t use the “no-fault” insurance system, it is the responsibility of the driver who is at fault when the accident happens. It can be an expensive and lengthy process for the parties involved.
Important Steps To Take Before Going For Any Road Trip
Contact Your Auto Insurance
Before you begin your journey you should first contact your auto insurance company and find out whether you’re covered where you’re going or not. They will be able to provide you with the necessary information about coverage on the places that you’re traveling to.
Obey Traffic Laws
Check the traffic laws of the state you’re traveling to and ensure that they’re the same as yours, sometimes traffic laws vary from one state to another, you should keep an eye on road signs during your trip. If an accident happens and it was found that you broke a law your claims can be rejected.
Document The Accident Immediately
When you have an accident out of your state you should document things quickly as you may not remember as well as when the accident first happened. Here are some of the important things you should take note of;
* File a police report immediately and make sure that you get a copy it even if it’s by email.
* Get the contact details of the party involved and their insurance details, Takedown their plate number and vehicle details.
* Take a picture of the accident scene; you should take the picture of anything that’s within the surrounding such as street signs, location and anyone who is within the accident scene.
* Take contact details of eyewitnesses; write down their statements and any other relevant information that may be useful.
* And finally you should write down exactly what happened.
* If you’re injured badly and you need a doctor, you should do it right away. Don’t place your health at risk because you are in another state and are afraid that injuries will not be covered by insurance.
Consider Hiring A Lawyer
This is a good approach especially if you’re injured severely. You should consider hiring a lawyer in the state in which the accident happens. Just a quick search online with your phone can give a dozen to choose from. If you need any help concerning road trip accidents you should contact us at Massey & Duffy to help you make the right claim.