Traveling abroad is not unlike when driving in your home country. There are always things that you should do if you get into an accident. It can sometimes be a little more complicated because of the language and cultural differences, but many of the actions to take are either similar or the same to back home.
Here are 5 tips on what should do to if you happen to get into an accident in your car while on vacation abroad.
1. Check Yourself (and Any Passengers) for Injuries
When traveling in a hire car, then you should check for injuries to yourself. Then look at any passengers to assess if they have any urgent care needs.
It’s usually advisable to exit the vehicle if it’s been severely damaged. With certain kinds of damage, there’s a fire risk present. Therefore, quickly assess if the car sustained a small bump or has been impacted in a serious way where it’s a valid reason to exit and move a distance away.
2. Take Photographs/Video of the Incident
It’s always useful to take photographs and/or videos on your smartphone. Any serious accident will need to be investigated by the insurance companies on both sides. The photos of tire marks on the ground, damage to both vehicles or other objects (such as with a tree or building), and physical injuries will be valuable later.
A car accident lawyer will also find this information useful because it can help prove who was the guilty party should it not be yourself and the other side disputes it later. Investigators will examine pronounced tire markings, which confirm recent braking patterns, and vehicle damage with paint transference as clues as to what transpired.
Also, if there’s a dash-cam in the car, that’s valuable in front or front-side collisions too.
3. Get Medical Assistance
Even if you don’t appear to be seriously injured, it’s always a good idea to get checked out at a hospital. There’s the possibility of internal damage, which isn’t always immediately visible. Get checked anyway and ask for a copy of the medical reports for future reference.
At this point, you should have emergency contact numbers for your travel insurance. They will have a list of hospitals locally that are within their network.
4. Contact a Lawyer
According to Ryan Zavodnick, a lawyer in Philadelphia who specializes in car accident cases, “Getting in touch with a lawyer who specifically deals with car accident claims in the U.S. state that you’re in should be a top priority.” They deal with local and state laws, know what to do with accidents, and how to deal with them.
When you’re in a foreign country and visiting the U.S. on vacation, it’s natural that you won’t be aware of the correct procedures to follow. That’s what a local lawyer is there for, among other things.
5. Report the Accident
It’s necessary to report the accident to the local police. Calling up your insurance company is a good idea too. Exchange details with other parties like another driver if they were in an accident with you.
Also, any witnesses who saw the accident (or recorded it on their phone) are good contacts to take down. Ask if they can send you a copy of the video they recorded.
When getting into a car accident abroad, it’s sensible to follow basic steps to ensure you’re covered, protected, and get the help that you need.