When on a road trip, it can be difficult dealing with the legalities of a car accident in a state that has different rules. If you aren’t at fault for a car accident and need to prove that you shouldn’t be held liable for any damages, it can be difficult to initiate a claim on your own. According to personal injury lawyers Roberts & Jeandron, you should speak to a local attorney to get the help and advice you need. Here is what you should do if you were in an accident while traveling.
You should call 911 to get the paramedics and police on the scene. The EMTs will take care of the injured, and the police will investigate the accident and file an official report. The police report will have details of what happened in the accident, which can be useful in your settlement claim.
One of the best and most reliable forms of evidence is photographs. You will want to take pictures so that your attorney can later analyze the pictures to help them find out what happened. Take pictures of the damage to each vehicle and the surrounding area where the accident happened.
You must get the contact and insurance information from the other driver. Also, get the contact information of any eyewitnesses so your attorney can reach out to them to get their testimonies.
Your insurance company should know about your car accident because your policy may cover you wherever you go depending on the type of coverage you have. If you were driving a rental car, you should call the rental company and let them know you were in an accident.
Reach out to a local attorney in the state, and preferably, the region where the car accident occurred.
The traffic laws in another state might differ slightly from your own, so it helps to have local expertise to guide you on what you should do. There may be ways you are considered at fault that you didn’t realize, or there may be additional damages you are owed because the other party broke traffic rules you weren’t aware of.
If you have damages such as medical bills, lost income, or pain and suffering, it may be time to seek a settlement. You can do this with the help of a local attorney who can investigate your claim and help discover how much you are owed in compensation. Reach out to one if you got into a car accident while traveling.
