Out-of-state car accidents: A quick guide

Getting into a car accident is a stressful enough situation in itself, but if you’re out of state for work or vacation, it’s even worse. New rules and laws may apply, insurance may hit a few snags, and on top of that, you have to figure out whether or not you can make it home. That’s why the body shop at Toyota of Orlando has put together this quick guide on how to deal with a car accident out of state. Read on!

Luckily, you treat out-of-state car accidents pretty similar to ones in your hometown, albeit with a few small tweaks. Here’s what the experts at our Orlando Toyota Collision Center recommend.

How to deal with an out-of-state car accident

Step #1: Check to see that everyone is OK. Was anyone in your car harmed during the accident? Your first step before you do anything else should be to check yourself and all of your passengers for injuries. Once you’ve done that, you should move your car off the road if possible. If you can’t, remove yourself and your passengers to a safe spot on the side of the road that’s far away from oncoming traffic.

Step #2: Call police to have them come to the scene. You’ll need police documentation of the car accident for your car insurance company regardless of whose fault it was. You can call 911 or the local non-emergency number to request that an officer come to the scene of the car accident. Be sure to get their name and a copy of the accident report before they leave the scene.

Step #3: Document everything with photos and video. Now’s the time to break out your phone and document EVERYTHING. Be sure to get photos/videos of the damage to both cars and the scene of the accident. You’ll also want to write down a detailed account of what happened while it’s fresh in your memory, as well as get the names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident. Further, get the name, contact info, and insurance info of the other driver, as well as the make, model, color, and license plate number of the other vehicle.

Step #4: Decide if your car can make it home or not. If you have your own car out of state and you get into a car accident, can you make it home with the sustained damages? If it was a fender bender, you likely can. However, you definitely want to get your Orlando Toyota checked at a body shop when you get back to your hometown to ensure there aren’t any hidden damages or issues that you didn’t notice. And if you notice an issue while on the road, stop at your nearest mechanic to have things checked before you go any farther.

Step #5: Contact the right people. Regardless of if it’s your car or a rental, you’ll definitely need to contact your insurance company to let them know about the accident so you can get the repair process started. If it’s a rental car, you’ll want to contact the rental agency as well. And if you borrowed a car through a rental service like Turo, you’ll want to contact the owner of the vehicle to determine the next steps.

 

Schedule repairs at Toyota of Orlando today

Need repairs after a car accident? Whether you’re out of state and visiting Orlando or live locally, we’ve got your back. Contact Toyota of Orlando today at (407) 298-6006 or stop by and see us at 3575 Vineland Road!

Posted in Toyota of Orlando's Tips | No Comments »