Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Another State

As a car owner, you can get in a car and drive anywhere across the country. Therefore, it is not uncommon for individuals to take vacations, day trips, or even required work trips and find themselves involved in car accidents in other states. If this has happened to you, you may feel stressed, confused, or overwhelmed, thinking about what to do or how to handle this situation in an unfamiliar place.

Nine steps to take after a car accident in another state

Just like car accidents that occur in your state, there are certain steps you must follow after being involved in an accident in another state. Below, we will review the nine steps you should take after an out-of-state car accident.

1. Ask if anyone is injured: The first step you should take is to ask if anyone is injured. This includes your passengers, other drivers, and their passengers. However, before doing this, it is important to check yourself for injuries and determine whether you are able to physically move and communicate with your passengers or others involved.
2. Move your vehicle out of traffic’s way: If you are able to, you should move your vehicle out of traffic’s way as quickly as possible. This ensures that no further accidents occur. However, if your vehicle is badly damaged or your injuries are too severe, you should avoid moving your vehicle.
3. Dial 9-1-1 and let the operator know about the accident: The next step you should take is to dial 9-1-1 and let the operator know about the accident. They may ask you questions, such as where the accident occurred, who is involved, what type of injuries have occurred, whether or not you need an ambulance and more.
4. Report the accident to the police officer: When the police officer arrives at the scene, you should accurately explain what happened, where you were going, why you are visiting the state, and what type of injuries you and your passengers experienced. The officer will be writing a report based on everything you tell them. Therefore, it is crucial that you remain honest and transparent but never admit any type of fault when speaking to them.
5. Exchange information with other drivers and witnesses: Even though you may be annoyed or frustrated with other drivers involved, it is important that you take the time to exchange information with them. This includes name, phone number, address, insurance policy information, driver’s license number, license plate number, and more. If you see nearby witnesses who may have seen your accident, you can also exchange contact information with them.
6. Start documenting the scene: Before you leave the accident scene, you should take a few photos or videos of the vehicles involved, the roadway, your injuries, and any nearby businesses or street signs. These photos and videos can be used to show where your accident occurred, what type of damage the vehicles sustained, how severe your injuries initially were, and whether poor road or weather conditions played a part. Since you likely do not know much about the area you are visiting or traveling through, you may need to rely on these photos and videos to help you remember certain information in the future.
7. Seek medical treatment: Even if you think your injuries are minor or you feel completely fine, you should still seek medical treatment at a nearby hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office. This ensures that you get the proper check-up and treatment you need and that a medical professional documents your injuries. Although you may be unfamiliar with the area you are in, you can do a quick Google search or ask the officer where the nearest hospital is located to get a physical examination or check-up following the accident.
8. Notify your insurance company: Within the first day or two, you should notify your insurance company about the out-of-state accident. Even if you are not at fault, you should still let them briefly know what happened, what state and city you were in, who was involved, and what injuries occurred. Remember to never say anything to your insurance company that could be used to place blame on you.
9. Hire a lawyer in the state where the accident happened: Even though you do not legally have to hire a lawyer, it is strongly recommended that you do so, especially when dealing with a complex and challenging out-of-state accident case. You may have your favorite lawyer who helps with all your cases. However, since this accident occurred in another state, you should hire a lawyer in the state where the accident occurred. Lawyers must be licensed in a state in order to practice there, so the odds are you will need to hire a local.

How do I know which state’s laws I need to follow?

If your crash occurred in another state, that is the state’s laws that you must follow. This is very important to be aware of because the laws in other states may be very different from the state you currently reside in. Therefore, when you file an accident claim, you will be subject to the law of the state in which the accident occurred. This also means that you must follow the statute of limitations in the state where your accident took place. These time limits on claims are strict, so you won’t want to wait to reach out to an attorney.

Do not forget that some states are fault states, and some are no-fault states

When navigating an out-of-state accident claim, do not forget that some states are fault states, and some are no-fault states. This means that if you were involved in a collision in an at-fault state, you could pursue compensation from the parties who caused your collision. However, if you were involved in a collision in a no-fault state, you may need to contact your own insurance company to determine how you can obtain any compensation.

If you suffered injuries in an accident in Illinois or Missouri, the car accident attorneys at Glisson Law are here to legally assist you. We have more than 25 years of experience representing residents and out-of-town clients who have been involved in accidents in our area. Therefore, when you work with us, you can rest assured, knowing that we can handle any difficult or complex situation that arises to help you reach a positive outcome in your case. Please call our office or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation at our office today. We are based in Alton, but we proudly serve Belleville, Edwardsville, Springfield, St. Clair and Madison Counties, all of Southwestern Illinois, and Missouri.