It’s a great American tradition to spend time traveling in the winter. If you have children, they’re on winter break, and those uninterrupted weeks provide the perfect space in which to take a vacation and make some new treasured memories.
Traveling in the winter can be such a pleasure. The problem, though, is that when you’re out traveling, everyone else is out traveling, too. And even if you aren’t able to leave home, each winter, your city may fill up with tourists, visitors from out of town, here to see their parents or to see our beautiful desert landscape. And tourists, unfamiliar with local streets and customs, are far more likely to cause an accident than locals.
So, what do you do if you get in an accident with an out-of-towner? Here are some tips from a longtime auto mechanic in Phoenix.
Stay calm
You need to stay calm. Remember that if the person is from out of town, they probably communicate differently than you, and they’re almost certainly feeling confused, scared and embarrassed. This is doubly true if the person is not just from another state, but from another country. Do your best to establish a line of communication if you can.
Exchange contact information
Get the contact and insurance information from the other driver. If the other driver is a foreigner, they are probably in a rental car, which is probably insured in one form or another by the rental company. When it’s all said and done, your insurance company might have to do a bit of legwork to collect if the person is not from this country, so you want to make sure to gather as much information as possible—ask witnesses for their contact information if you can. Also, make sure to get copies of the police’s accident report.
Take a lot of photos
Take pictures of all vehicles involved. Take pictures of any injuries. Take pictures of any debris that’s broken from the car, and of any collateral damage done to any nearby guardrails, poles, storefronts, etc. The more raw data you have, the easier it will be to get out of this with a fair deal from your insurance company.
Get legal help
Hopefully your insurance company, armed with the information you provide them, will be able to work out most of the details on your behalf. However, if the person is from out of state, or out of the country, it makes it much easier for that person’s insurance to cause problems in the negotiation process. If you sense this is happening, contact a personal injury attorney. They’ll help guarantee you are dealt with in good faith. Your main goal is to get your life back to normal, and to do that you need your auto repair and any medical bills paid for.
Work with a mechanic in Phoenix that your insurance company trusts
If you get into an accident with an out-of-stater or with a foreigner, it can certainly make it more difficult for you to get the thumbs up you need from your insurance to allow a mechanic to repair your automobile, but if you follow this advice, you should be able to manage it in the end. Here at S & J Auto Repair & Rental, we are trusted by numerous insurers, and are well known for providing the best service at the fairest prices. Insurers love that! So, if you’re in need of an auto mechanic in Phoenix this winter, you know who to call!