June is almost half over, and that means if you haven’t already finalized plans for your big summer vacation, you will soon. Whether you are flying halfway across the world to climb mountains or driving a few states over to visit Disney World or a national park, you’re probably concentrating on fitting in all the fun things you want to do. What you probably aren’t thinking about is what you should do if you are injured in a vacation accident. In order to prevent serious headaches later, there are one or two easy steps you can take to prevent vacation accidents and to make sure you know what to do if you are injured while on an out-of-state vacation.
If you are hurt in a vacation accident, whether you are out-of-state or out of the country, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention, just like you would if you were hurt at home. However, unlike when you are at home, your insurance may not cover you when you are on vacation. It all depends on your insurance provider and your policy, for both your health and auto insurance. In addition, if you are injured in an accident caused by someone else, you will likely have to follow the laws of the state you are visiting if you file a personal injury lawsuit, although you may hire a lawyer from your home state to represent you.
Review Your Insurance Policies Before You Leave Home
The most common type of vacation accident is a car accident. Dealing with an out-of-state car accident can be a challenge, especially if you are visiting one of the few states that does not require all drivers to have car insurance. Even worse, your own policy might not cover out-of-state crashes (some policies have limited coverage in other states). The best thing you can do to prepare for the possibility of a car accident is to go over your car insurance policy before you leave. Check to see what is covered and where. You may need to make adjustments to your policy, or possibly purchase temporary supplemental insurance for the trip.
The same is true for your health insurance, especially if you are traveling overseas. Most insurance policies will not cover treatment you receive while out of the country, which is why it is a good idea to invest in vacation insurance. If you are staying inside the country, most companies are obligated to pay for emergency services no matter where you are treated. However, insurance companies generally have strict rules regarding what counts as “emergency treatment”. Before you leave, call your insurance provider to find out where you are covered. It is also a good idea to find out what is not covered, especially if you are planning activities like rock climbing, skydiving or anything that might be considered a risk.
Our Missouri and Illinois personal injury lawyers can help if you were injured while on an out-of-state vacation. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation. The information provided by Walton Telken, LLC in this Blog is not intended to be legal advice, but merely provides general information related to common legal issues. This Blog, and the information contained within it, is Attorney Advertisement. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits.
