What to do when you have an out of town collision

/by

Nobody wants to get into an auto accident, especially when they’re out of town and far away from home. It’s something that can easily dampen your emotions and break you down mentally. Nevertheless, you can stop things from getting even worse and here we’ll show you how.

Steps you need to take after an out-of-town auto collision

Overall, here are the things you need to do right after you wreck your car in a road collision:

  1. Turn off your car and take the time to gather yourself
  2. Call 911 and let them know about your emergency
  3. Examine your body for wounds and injuries
  4. Check on your passengers if they are ok and still conscious
  5. If your car is blocking the road, try moving it to the side of the road at a safe distance from the traffic
  6. Leave your car and check on the other driver
  7. Snap pictures of the accident. Make sure to take both close-up and wide-angle photos to get a full view of the incident.
  8. Exchange insurance information with the other driver
  9. Take a photo of the person’s driver’s license
  10. If there are witnesses, get their names and phone numbers
  11. Don’t drive off until the police and first responders arrive at the scene
  12. Call your insurance company and let them know what happened
  13. Search for a nearby auto repair shop

Always Drive Safely

Safety is even more important when driving out-of-town, especially because you are not familiar with the roads. Use common sense to safely drive your way in and out of town, whether it’s Mexico or California. Here are a few tips to bear in mind always:

  • Familiarize yourself with the place’s laws and always follow every road and traffic sign
  • Never drive when you’re drunk. Call a taxi or Uber when you have too much to drink.
  • Always wear a helmet and other safety gear, if necessary, when you’re riding a motorcycle
  • Don’t forget to use seatbelts and ensure the children are also buckled up

Ensure your car is road-worthy

If you’re not driving a car for rent, make sure that your car is properly conditioned for the long road ahead. You need to do several maintenance checks before going on a road trip, but it varies from car to car. Generally, here are the essential checks you must always complete:

  • Inspect the tires and make sure they have enough tread
  • Ensure that all the car lights are functional
  • Make sure the car’s heating and air condition systems are running smoothly
  • Check if all fluid levels are good and that there are zero leaks
  • Test your breaks and make sure they are in proper condition.

Regardless of what you’re driving, it’s best to prepare in advance, drive safely, and observe all the rules of the road at all times. And in the unfortunate event where you get into a road accident, always call 911. It will also help if you know a local repair shop that you can trust to deal with the damages to your car.