Car Accidents on Vacation

What to Do When Your Car Accident Happens on Vacation

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Vacation is the perfect time to relax, forget about the stress of daily life, and make memories. Unfortunately, car accidents don’t stop just because you’re away from home—and in fact, you may be at greater risk of an accident if you’re driving somewhere that’s unfamiliar to you. Vacation crashes can be even more stressful than collisions close to home, and it’s important to know your rights and what to do.

Injured in a holiday collision? It’s time to talk to the team of Biloxi car accident attorneys at Reeves & Mestayer. Call us at 228-374-5151 to set up a consultation now.

Steps to Take Immediately After a Crash

The steps you take after a crash are essentially the same, regardless of whether it happens at home or on vacation. We recommend:

  • Checking for obvious injuries: Before you report the accident, check yourself and other vehicle occupants for obvious injuries. This allows you to give a heads-up to the 911 operator so they can send an ambulance if necessary.
  • Calling the police: Call the police right away to report the accident. Don’t let the other driver talk you out of calling—they may want you to settle the claim without insurance, which puts you at a major disadvantage. You need a police report to seek compensation.
  • Taking photos: Take photos and video footage of the crash scene. This is especially important when you’re on vacation, since you may not know the area and you may not be able to identify it on a map when you pursue a claim. Make sure your photos include street names, local businesses or homes, and other identifying information.
  • Seeking medical care: Get checked out as quickly as possible. If you have severe injuries, they will likely take you by ambulance to the nearest hospital. If your injuries are less urgent, you can ask the police at the scene for the nearest urgent care or emergency room.

The Legal Process After a Vacation Accident

The process you go through for your personal injury claim will be determined by where the accident occurred, not your home state. Imagine, for example, you’re from Mississippi, and you vacation in Alabama. Mississippi is a comparative negligence state; if you’re partially at fault for an accident, you can still recover compensation in court. What you receive is just decreased proportionate to your share of blame. 

By contrast, Alabama is a contributory negligence state. That means that if a jury finds that you are at all to blame for an accident, you receive nothing. Seeking guidance from an attorney in the state where the accident occurred is crucial—that may mean looking for recommendations, reaching out to the state’s bar association, or reading reviews.

The good thing about working with an attorney local to your vacation area is that you can return home and continue the process without much disruption to your daily life. They’ll handle communication with the insurance companies, investigate the crash, and work on your case.

Getting the Medical Help You Need

It can be challenging to get medical care when you’re away from home. You aren’t familiar with local clinics and hospitals, and it’s likely you’ve never checked your insurance coverage to see what they cover at out-of-state facilities. However, it is crucial that you seek medical care where the injury occurred. 

Waiting until you return home can cause your injuries to worsen, actually resulting in higher medical bills. Additionally, the other party’s insurance company may wonder about the severity of your injuries if you wait that long to get checked out. Their reasoning: if you waited days or even weeks to talk to a doctor after an accident, your injuries can’t possibly be severe enough to warrant compensation. It’s unfair, but it is how they operate and think.

Start a Personal Injury Claim with the Team at Reeves & Mestayer

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, it’s time to set up a consultation with Reeves & Mestayer. We’ll help you build a case and fight for what you deserve. Reach out online or call us at 228-374-5151 to set up a meeting with our Biloxi personal injury team.