When an Accident Happens

Chances are, even the most cautious drivers on the road will be involved in some kind of automobile accident in their lifetime. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are more than 6.3 million vehicle crashes per year-with nearly 2 million of those resulting in an injury. Even small fender-benders can be stressful and emotional. Being smart when an accident occurs can keep you safe both physically and financially.

Immediately following an accident, first check to see if any passengers are seriously injured and, if possible, move your RV off the road or as much out of traffic as possible. It's a common misconception that you're not allowed to move the vehicle from the exact place of the accident, but it's not true. You do need to stay at the scene, but you also need to move the RV out of traffic to protect yourself and others from further accidents-in some states it's the law to move your vehicle if it's blocking traffic and you're able. Once you have safely moved the vehicle out of the road, do a more thorough check of the health of the passengers. Dial 9-1-1 on your cell phone if anyone is injured.

If there aren't any injuries, your next step should be to call the police to report the accident. Even if the incident seems minor, a police report will help protect your rights if you end up making an insurance claim.

To ensure your RV is seen by motorists passing on the road, set out emergency devices like electric flares or light sticks. In two-lane situations, place one device 10 feet in front of your vehicle, one 100 feet in front and one 100 feet behind. On four-lane roads, place one device 10 feet behind your vehicle, with additional ones behind the first in 100-foot increments. If your vehicle has no lights and is on or near the road at night, place a device near the rear. Burning flares are now illegal in many states due to fire hazard and possible damage to the road surface.

It's very important that you not lose your temper at the scene of the accident. It's understandable that you might be upset about damage to your vehicle or yourself; however, it's in your best interest to keep your cool. Anger will just escalate an already stressful situation and you can be held liable for verbal or physical abuse to the other driver.

If there's another driver involved in the accident, it's very important in your exchange that you do not discuss the accident, who's at fault or the liability limits of your insurance. Such information can be legally binding and used against you in court. Don't take any offers from the other driver to settle on the spot. You could be sued for the same damages later. Exchange vital information, including names, addresses, phone numbers, license plate numbers, insurance policy numbers. You may even want to draw a diagram illustrating what occurred in the accident. Be as thorough as possible. If there are witnesses, you should take down their names and phone numbers as well. If it comes down to your word against the other driver's, a witness can help swing a decision in your favor.

Many drivers these days are keeping incident kits in their RVs so they're prepared if an accident occurs. An incident kit should include:

When you've arrived at your destination for the day, whether it's your home or a campground, take time to write down everything you remember about the incident while it's still fresh in your mind. Be sure to note both weather and roadway conditions at the time of the accident. Then call your insurance company to report the incident. Even if you believe the accident was minor or that you're not at fault, reporting the incident immediately will keep you completely covered. Most insurance policies contain a stipulation that if a claim is not reported promptly, coverage could be denied. So even if you are away from your home on an extended trip, don't wait until you return home to file the claim and have the damages repaired. If it's not convenient to have the damages repaired immediately, you can usually wait until the trip is over to complete repairs, but file the claim as soon after the incident as possible.

If the other driver is making a claim against you, advise all persons making the claim to go through your insurance company. It's best not to have any personal contact. If the claims made against you exceed your insurance liability insurance, you may want to retain a lawyer.

When you're a frequent driver, accidents become more likely. They can be stressful, but having a plan and being prepared ahead of time can help protect you, your vehicle and your pocketbook.