Coping With a Car Crash Abroad: What You Need to Know and Do
Whether you are on vacation or on a work trip, traveling to another country should be something that is fun and filled with new experiences. One of the worst things that could possibly happen while you are over there is to find yourself injured in a car accident. What should you do when you find yourself in this position? Fortunately, much of the things remain the same, but there are a few things that might be slightly different. Here is what you need to know and do when you are involved in a car crash abroad.
Call An Attorney
When you are able to, it is recommended that you call up your attorney and ask for advice on the situation. Laws in the country you are in might be different, and giving your attorney a call can allow them to tell you if things are different where you are. An attorney can also help you if there are going to be legal proceedings as a result of the accident. According to these legal experts, you need to be equipped and prepared to deal with either suing the other driver or getting sued. The sooner you inform your attorney about what has happened, the sooner they can start working on your case and getting all the paperwork together. This can help you greatly, regardless of what position you were in, in regards to the accident. You should always be calling up your attorney when you find yourself in a car crash.
Call EMS
If you get into a minor car accident locally, you might look to just settle things with the driver there and not inform EMS about what has happened. When you are in another country, however, it is generally advised that you activate EMS and have them come, regardless of the severity of the injuries. As laws are different in the country, the last thing you want to worry about is breaking a law by not calling them to the scene. Typically, these services will be helpful too and will provide you with important advice that can guide your next steps. It is better to be safe than sorry, especially when you are dealing with a car accident in a different country.
Document the Accident
If you are able to, you should start gathering as much evidence and information about the accident. From the other driver, you should be getting their driver’s license, insurance policy, name, and phone number. This is important as you have to have a way to contact them and their insurance company later down the line. Once you have done that, get your camera out and start taking as many photos of the accident as possible. Take pictures of your car, along with the other drivers and the license plate. All of this can help determine who was at fault and also protect you from insurance fraud.
Finally, take a look around and see if there is anyone who witnessed the accident. If the other driver was at fault, you don’t want to find yourself in a position where it is their word versus yours. By finding a witness or two who can vouch for you, you can win a legal battle that much easier. What happens if you are rendered unconscious at the scene? If that is the case, EMS is going to be on the way and they will provide you with all the documentation that you and your attorney need. You can never collect too much evidence at the scene of an accident.
Get Medical Attention
Once you are able to leave the accident, it is time to head over to a doctor to get medical care. Even if you don’t think you are injured, there might be hidden underlying injuries that the accident caused. Doctors will be able to diagnose you and confirm if the injuries were a result of the accident. This will help in a legal battle, especially when it comes to the other driving covering your medical costs.
Finally, you don’t have to worry about medical bills. In most countries, you will have some form of travel insurance that will cover it. Along with that, you might have some health benefits from work that will help. Your main priority should be getting better, not saving money.
These are all important things that you have to know and do should you find yourself in an accident. The road to recovery might be long, but you at least want to set yourself up to return to normalcy as quickly as possible. Listen to the words of professionals you involve, and give yourself time to rest up.
