Vacations are always a fun time to relax and unwind with family and friends after working tirelessly to make ends meet. When the vacation period approaches, one is usually filled with excitement, and you start planning where you want to visit, the means you will use, and even the places you intend to stay.
Being involved in a vehicle accident might be derailing, stressful, and full of confusion, mainly because you are in a foreign country, do not know anyone, and likely aren’t familiar with the laws of the country you are visiting. Contacting a law firm in Dallas, Texas, can help you with how to go about dealing with your accident. Here is what to do when involved in a car accident while on vacation.
What to Do When Involved in a Car Accident While on Vacation
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
After a car accident, it’s always important to seek medical attention for you and your passengers. You might think you are okay due to lack of visible injury but later discover you suffered internal injuries. Seeing a doctor will ensure you get all the necessary tests to determine you are safe. You will also require a medical report if you will be filing a lawsuit.
Before traveling, ensure you activate your international health insurance, as this will make it easier to get a health facility that will attend to your injuries.
Document Everything
Collecting evidence immediately after the accident is important. Take pictures of both of the involved cars and also the contact information of the other driver. Take pictures of your injuries before the police come. Once the police arrive at the scene, they will make an official report. If the incident happens while traveling in FL, you can access the Florida car accident report online with some of the collision’s information, such as your car’s VIN, the ZIP code, and the date. This report can be useful in case you file a claim with your insurance company or have to take your case to court.
Contact Your Travel Insurance Company Provider
Activating your local insurance company is an important step to do before leaving for vacation abroad. According to Heimanson & Wolf, LLP, it’s crucial to contact the insurance provider right after the accident as there could be certain perks in your policy that you are not aware of. Using your insurance coverage can save you a lot of money and allow you to continue your holiday if you have not been injured.
Contact Your Rental Car Company
Car rental companies engaging with foreigners usually provide guidelines to renters in the event of an accident. You must, however, notify the rental company of the accident and request a replacement vehicle. Don’t disclose to the other driver that you are driving a rented car. Otherwise, you risk jeopardizing your position if the driver decides to use the rental company’s insurance.
Keep Calm and Collected
You are likely to lose your cool after an accident, especially when there is a language barrier, which will impede your ability to act reasonably. You might be frightened and concerned about all of the passengers involved. However, it would be best if you don’t leave the accident scene until you are confident that you can do so safely.
In this scenario, you might find yourself making incriminating statements that will jeopardize your chances of getting acquitted for the accident.
Contact a Local Attorney
Regardless of how big or minor the accident was, contacting a local lawyer is generally the best thing to do. Because different countries have distinct laws, you cannot rely on your knowledge of traffic laws.
Find a good lawyer and schedule a session to see if you can get them to take over handling the case. An experienced attorney will explain your rights and assist you in taking legal action if she or he believes the vehicle rental firm has unfairly charged you additional fees.
