I Was In a Car Accident On My Road Trip: What Do I Do Now?
Road trips are a common form of travel. Since many people have been hesitant to travel by plane or other forms of public transportation, they have become especially popular during the past two years. Road trips are a great way to explore, but they carry a degree of risk.
Road trips often involve driving long hours and traveling unfamiliar roads, both of which make a car accident more likely. When a car accident happens on a road trip, there are certain steps that should be taken. Here the car accident lawyers at Zucker & Regev, P.C., serving Brooklyn, NY, and surrounding areas, advise drivers what they should do following a road trip car accident so that they have the chance to pursue compensation for accident damages.
File A Police Report
When an accident occurs, the first thing that drivers should do is attend to any injuries. If there are no injuries, or once injuries have been treated, there are certain actions that drivers should take to ensure they are prepared for the aftermath of a car crash, which includes determining accident liability and calculating accident damages.
The first step is to file a police report. When an accident takes place during a road trip, the police report needs to be filed with the authorities where the accident occurred, even if that is not where the driver lives. It is important that a report is filed so that local authorities can evaluate the circumstances of the crash and make their own report regarding accident liability.
Exchange Information
Following a car crash, it is vital that drivers exchange information with other involved drivers. Information that should be exchanged includes driver’s license, license plate number, insurance, and contact information. Make sure to take note of where the driver lives, because this may affect where or how car accident damages are pursued.
Gather Evidence
As long as it is safe to stay at the scene and drivers do not have injuries that need to be treated, we encourage them to gather evidence from the accident scene. Evidence that is fresh from the scene of an accident is extremely helpful when it comes to recreating the accident to determine its cause and liability.
Important pieces of evidence that should be gathered, if possible, include:
- Photographs of the accident scene
- Photographs of involved vehicles (including areas of damage)
- Notations regarding accident location and road and/or weather conditions at the time of the crash
- Contact information for any accident witnesses
Contact Necessary Parties
Once drivers are away from the scene of the accident and in a safe place, they should contact necessary parties to alert them of the collision. Most importantly, drivers should contact their insurance provider. On a road trip, drivers are often traveling in a rental vehicle, or with some type of rental trailer. If this is the case, the rental company also needs to be notified.
Hire A Car Accident Lawyer
Even if car accident liability seems straightforward, we recommend that accident victims hire a lawyer. Knowledgeable car accident lawyers, such as those at our Brooklyn law firm, understand local laws and can help drivers maximize compensation for accident damages. Car accident lawyers are especially beneficial when an accident takes place out of state because they can determine whether a lawsuit should be filed where the accident occurred, or in the liable party’s home state.
Get In Touch
If you have been involved in a car accident while on a road trip, the car accident lawyers at Zucker & Regev, P.C. can help you navigate the aftermath of the collision and pursue the financial compensation you may be due for accident damages. To discuss your case with our legal team, send us a message online, or call our Brooklyn law firm at (718) 624-1211.
