What To Do If Your Auto Body Is Damaged While On A Road Trip

If your car is damaged while you're on a road trip, you might be unsure of what to do. After all, you might have planned ahead for all sorts of issues — such as a flat tire — but you might not have thought about dealing with something like auto body damage. These are some of the things that you should do if your auto body is damaged while you're on a road trip in another state.

Report It to the Authorities

In many states, drivers are required to report any type of auto accident to the appropriate authorities, so make sure that you do this. If you receive a citation, you will probably want to work with a local attorney to help you with the process. Make sure that you keep any paperwork that you receive from the local authorities; you might need it later on, after you head home.

Determine if Your Car Can Be Driven

Next, you should determine if your car can be driven. If you are just dealing with minor cosmetic damage to your vehicle, then you may be able to continue on your journey without having your car repaired right away. Instead, you can wait until you return home to have your vehicle fixed, and you can enjoy your vacation in the meantime.

Some forms of auto body damage can impact your ability to drive your car or could impact your safety. For example, if one of your bumpers is damaged, then it could put you and your passengers at a higher risk of being injured if you are involved in a car accident. If you are not sure of whether or not your car can still be driven, stop by an auto body repair shop to have an experienced technician look it over and give you professional advice.

File a Claim With Your Insurance Company

There is no reason to wait until you get home before you let your insurance company know about the incident. It is generally the best idea to let your insurance company know about your claim as soon as possible. They may be able to help you with things like towing, paying for repairs, and providing you with a rental car for the rest of your road trip. Otherwise, you can make arrangements to meet with an insurance adjuster and have your car's auto body damage repaired after you return from your road trip.

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