What do I do if I have an accident in another state?

Whenever you get behind the wheel of your car, you know that there’s always the risk that you could be in a car accident. But you also know that it’s a slight risk.

This slight risk increases a little bit when you’re out-of-state and are unfamiliar with the area. You don’t know the streets; you aren’t accustomed to the flow of traffic or driving patterns; and even some of the road signs look different.

One of the most common questions customers ask about auto insurance is this:

What do I do if I have an accident in another state?

It’s a great question, which is why we’re going to answer it as thoroughly as possible here.

Here are 3 things you need to know if you have an out-of-state car accident:

1. You’re still covered under your insurance policy.

Most car insurance policies cover drivers wherever they travel across the United States, and some even extend as far as Canada. So if something happens on your coast-to-coast adventure, and you need to talk to your insurance agent, you are most likely covered. Of course, each policy has different limitations, so always make sure to know what these are before leaving the state.

2. The reporting process is the same.

The road signs and traffic patterns might be different, but for the most part, reporting an out-of-town accident should be just as easy as if you were closer to home. This means, if you’re a customer of Latorre Insurance, you’ll be working with an agent that you already know and trust to handle your claim.

3. Your tow and repair can also be covered.

Whether you’re just down the road or in Kalamazoo, our agents can always make sure your car is properly handled after an accident, and this might even mean helping you arrange for your car to be towed. If your car needs to be towed all the way back home, most insurance policies will pay for a portion of this tow, though this is determined on a claim-by-claim basis. The same goes for if you require out-of-state repairs to your car. This depends on your individual policy, but in many cases, your auto insurance policy will assist with these repairs, wherever you are.

Have any more questions about auto insurance? Contact us today!