Having to deal with the outcome of a road accident is a generally unpleasant experience no matter what the consequences are or how harsh the result of a crash is, but having to deal with it in a country abroad might prove to be an even more toilsome episode. Therefore, knowing who to contact or what to do if the accident happens is what you should bear in mind before the actual misfortune becomes reality and when you come to the position that you must act as quickly as possible.
Accidents do happen and no matter how traumatic experience they can appear to be there are certain rules regarding the situation that follows the unpleasant event. Every accident which results in lives spared is not that big of a deal because, unlike vehicles, human beings have no spare parts and are not that easily assembled and brought to factory conditions easily. Hopefully, the most important thing you will ever experience regarding road accidents is the car failure and paperwork that follows.
Unfortunately, car accidents happen even when you go abroad, no matter if the reason for your visit to a foreign country is business or pleasure. What an average person expects from going abroad is the thrill of the unknown and mostly positive feelings are associated with traveling abroad. Well, since the occurrence of road accidents are not that seldom, there are certain things to bear in mind and come prepared with more than necessary knowledge that can save you if the time comes. The last thing you want to experience is a bad and wrong treatment in the country where you have come to enjoy and expand your views rather than wreck your car and pay for penalties of dubious origin.
What we have prepared for you is a list of things you should do first if you get involved in a road accident while you are abroad. Therefore, read carefully through the following lines and remember the basics that might prove to be a valuable asset for the future. Hopefully, you will not need the subsequent pieces of advice but it would be wise to be aware of just in case.
1. Seek Medical Assistance
Source: sterlingmedgroup.com
First things first, and that is the welfare of the participants in the accident. Whether you are home or abroad, this is the first and the most important rule to follow, and that is to secure that everybody is feeling safe. Securing the best possible care for the involved is to get in touch with a local medical institution or call an ambulance. That means you should learn about the contact number before you enter a vehicle in the first place.
On the other hand, if you find yourself unprepared and do not know how to react in a given situation, feel free to search for appropriate assistance online, where companies such as Eric Ramos Law, PLLC offer legal assistance and direct support no matter if you are home or abroad.
2. Call the Cops
Another thing you should worry about is the presence of the police. Since you should not move the vehicle or attempt to modify the accident scene the following step you should take is informing the legal enforcement about the situation on the road where misfortune occurred. Therefore, call the number and wait for the cops to get there and investigate.
3. Use Your Phone
Source: legalexaminer.com
The advantages of contemporary technological achievements are multiple and our mobile devices are certainly one of the most prominent representatives of a modern era. Therefore, feel free to take a picture of the newly created situation and secure that you have the evidence that could be used on your behalf in any potential trial. Also, you would like to have your phone close to your side since the hit and run opportunities happen more than ever and the help of your mobile device could be used to take a picture of the plates of the transgressor.
4. Different Type of Accident
If you are a part of a touristic route and get injured in a vehicle that crashes on its way to its destination, then you can ask for financial compensation. This is either arranged by personal or joint insurance tourists pay before they enter any foreign country. The amount of money is proportional to the injury and the potential injuries are to be instituted by local or doctor provided by a tourist company.
5. A Mutual Agreement
Source. ifpnews.com
If by any chance you share guilt with the other party that participated in the accident, feel free to propose any mutual agreement that could be accepted and beneficial for both parties. If you come to such an agreement, make sure you get the data of the second party and mark down what you need to get in touch for the following compensation and coverage of any additional expenses.
6. Cover the Details
Make sure you get as much detail as you can, especially if you do not speak the language of the country you are visiting. Think about the attributes of the car, the type, model, plates, any specific detail, etc. Secondly, note the details regarding the accident itself, that is, the exact time of the accident, any unusual road characteristics, whether it is passable or not, weather conditions, and any other important details that might help you prove your innocence and save you from the potential unpleasantness. When you cover everything, it becomes easy to talk about the circumstances of the accident and the recreation of the accident scenery is able to be more realistically reconstructed.
Although nobody leaves the country of their origin with intentions to crash a car or get involved in a road accident abroad, being familiar with the steps you should undertake if a situation arises as potentially misfortunate is what you should secure in order not to be misled by the local laws. Therefore, make sure you double-check the aforementioned suggestions and remember what to do in the case of an accident. We most certainly hope that you will not have to use that type of knowledge, but the motto we support is that it is better to be safe than sorry!
