What to do if You Get in a Car Wreck During a Road Trip

Jul 15, 2021

Whether you get into a car accident near your Kansas City home or halfway across the country, the stress can seem unbearable. However, being in a car accident during a road trip throws new wrenches into the machine called “your family vacation.” Finding yourself stranded in a strange town, bruised and achy, and without a vehicle? Talk about a stressful situation!

Breathe deep, young Padawan—you’ll get past the ordeal by following our “Tow or No?” guide, as well as the sage advice below.

1. Get a Police Report

A common practice when you get into a car crash near home, acquiring a police report is even more important when you get into a collision on vacation. A detailed report of the scene could prove to be a vital piece of evidence if you ever go to court or seek payment from the other driver’s insurance company.

Once an officer has been sent to the accident scene, don’t admit fault or blame, and be sure to ask questions as to their processes and analyses. If something seems peculiar or you feel as though you’re not being treated respectfully, record all interactions with your handy smartphone.

2. Check State Insurance Laws

States define their own laws regarding auto insurance. For instance, Kansas is a no-fault state, which means that your own insurance will pay for damages to you and your vehicle after a crash. Cross the Kansas City line into Missouri, and you’re in an at-fault state, which means that the driver responsible for the car crash must pay, usually via their insurance carrier.

This can drastically change the way in which you speak to your insurance company and file a claim. Check the state’s insurance laws at www.dmv.org before contacting your agent.

3. Call Your Insurance Company

While most of us have love-hate relationships with our auto insurance companies, in situations such as these, the claims agents are on your side. Oftentimes, when an accident occurs away from your home, car insurance adjusters will seek to expedite claims, helping to alleviate some of your anxieties.

Your insurance company can also connect you with a contracted collision repair center near the crash. Because insurance won’t typically pay for a vehicle to be towed back to your hometown auto body shop, using a local body repair center is the best and easiest option. In addition to simplicity, having an insurance-approved collision center work on your car ensures your repairs are under warranty; should any issues occur down the line, you are likely covered.

Always check with your insurance agent for more details about collision repair warranties and your policy in general. (And if you need car accident repairs in Kansas City, tell your agent that your vehicle is in the capable hands of our McCarthy Collision Centers.)

4. Deal with a Totaled Car on Vacation

If the accident is severe enough, your car may be towed to a salvage yard and deemed totaled or unsalvageable. Bummer. In order to receive an insurance payout, you’ll want to make arrangements to stick around and sign away the title. Left too long at the junkyard, your vehicle may accrue “storage” charges that must be paid out of your pocket. Though, if you’ve been hospitalized, insurance companies will usually refund or pay these fees altogether.

Before handing over the title, you’ll need to go through all your belongings—this is where most people begin to panic—and find a way to store everything. If you have a rental car, you’ve got a rental trunk. ‘Nuff said. Otherwise, pack boxes and ship everything home via USPS, UPS, FedEx, or another service. Don’t leave anything to chance—most states have no laws requiring salvage yards, tow companies, or insurers to properly dispose of any personal information found.

Rather not leave your beloved car in a junkyard? You have the right to take it home, busted grille and all. The logistics can get messy if you go this route, but there are several creative options at your disposal:

Rent a U-Haul and tow it home on a trailer.
Hire a car transporter like uShip.
Buy a cheap used truck to tow it, then sell the truck to a used car dealer back home.
Put out a Craigslist ad to request a tow, with payment made on delivery.
Invent a teleportation pod and zap it into your garage.

5. Hire a Local Lawyer

Since insurance and traffic laws vary by state, you should consider hiring a lawyer within the state in which you had the accident. Their familiarity with the state laws makes them more capable of handling your case if it ever progresses that far. Of course, you have the right to choose a lawyer from your home state, or no lawyer at all – though this isn’t recommended.

6. Cut Your Vacation Short

While it isn’t the ideal scenario, ending your road trip early might be best. If that’s the case, be sure to track all your expenses, including costs paid for flights, buses, taxis, and rental cars. You’ll want to have receipts to have a chance of getting reimbursed by insurance.

Quality Kansas City Auto Body Repair is a Phone Call Away

Dealing with a car accident during your road trip was not on the agenda. With some quick thinking and support from your insurance company, you’ll hopefully be able to continue your adventure with relative ease. For quality collision repair near Kansas City, dial 1-800-NEW-AGAIN to get your car towed to one of our auto body shops. With 5 locations throughout the Kansas and Missouri areas of Kansas City, our McCarthy Collision Centers are here to help by offering free estimates, unbeatable prices, and the best customer service you could ask for.

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