If you have any question in your mind like “Does Car Insurance Cover Accidents In Other States?” Then Yes, your car insurance will cover you if you get into an accident in another state.
Most car insurance policies in the United States provide coverage for accidents that occur in other states, even if the state has different car insurance requirements. The coverage limits may vary depending on the policy and the state where the accident occurs.
In this article, we will provide all the necessary information about Car Insurance Coverage of Accidents In Other States, coverage limits increase or decrease as per that state law regulation, what will not cover at this situation, and auto insurance law about No-Fault state and Tort State.
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Table of Contents
What happens if i get in an accident out-of-state?
If you get in an accident out-of-state, you should exchange information with the other driver, seek medical treatment, and collect as much evidence as possible.
You should call emergency responders and police immediately after the accident, even in seemingly minor accidents, to document the scene, and identify liable parties.
Virtually all car insurance policies in the United States will cover you no matter what state you’re in, but the coverage limits may vary depending on the policy and the state where the accident occurs. If you are injured in an accident caused by an out-of-state driver, you would file your lawsuit in the state where the accident occurred or the state where the defendant (the at-fault driver) resides.
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Things to do Immediately after the accident:
- Safety first: Check yourself and others involved for injuries. If anyone needs medical attention, call emergency medical services right away.
- Exchange information: Gather details from the other driver involved, including names, contact information, insurance companies, and license plate numbers. Take photos/videos of the scene and damage from different angles, if possible.
- Inform/Call to Police: No matter whose fault it is, don’t be afraid to tell the police. It is very important to report the incident, this legal document will help you in filing a law suit or dealing with a law suit against you.
- Get contact name/number information of witness: If there are any local people present nearby during the accident, who are helping you in saving time from the accident, then request them to testify about what they saw in the accident.
- Contact your insurance: Inform your car insurance company about the accident as soon as possible. They’ll guide you through the next steps and handle the claims process.
- Seek Legal Advice: Keeping in mind who is responsible in this accident, consult a lawyer with knowledge of law whether they should file a law suit, or how to deal with the other driver if he files a law suit against you.
- Repairing Your Vehicle: You can generally choose a repair shop in the state where the accident occurred or bring your vehicle back to your home state for repairs. Your insurance company can provide guidance on preferred repair facilities.
Generally, collision and comprehensive insurance covers your car. If the other driver is found to be at fault in the accident, then the liability insurance of that driver will cover the damage to you and your vehicle. But for this you will have to file a lawsuit and the legal case will have to be won. Then whatever financial loss you have incurred will be reimbursed.
If you want to know in detail what type of car insurance covers what, then you must read this article.
Out-of-state car accident jurisdiction
If you are not able to understand in which state the lawsuit should be filed, then let us know the rules as per Onmyside, in such a situation where can you file the lawsuit?
- If the driver/motor owner who caused the accident to you is from the same state where the accident took place, then you can file a law suit in that state.
- If the driver/motor owner who caused the accident to you is from another state, then you can file a law suit in the state where the accident occurred or in the home state of the driver/motor owner.
How long does car insurance cover accidents in other states?
The period for which car insurance covers accidents in other states depends on the car insurance company. In the USA, whenever you go on a trip or vacation to another state for a few days, weeks or months or are passing through there, your car insurance company definitely covers it1.
In this situation, if you are in any other state for more than a month, then inform your insurance company once. If you are shifting to another state, then contact the insurance company for change of address. The time period is up to 90 days.
Out of state car insurance coverage
Most car insurance policies also provide coverage in all 50 states and other US territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam and American Samoa. In different states, car insurance coverage works under no fault and tort state policy.
Like California is a fault state or a tort state. In this state, in case of an accident, the liability insurance of the motor owner who is responsible for the accident bears the damages and losses of the other motorist. In Florida, which is a no-fault state, in case of an accident in this state, no matter which driver is at fault, both the drivers’ own insurance policies will be liable for the damage.
In this way, if a person from a no-fault state involve an accident in a tort state, the car insurance policy will be applicable on him as per the laws of the tort state. And if a person living in a Tort state has an accident in a no-fault state, the car insurance policy will be applicable on him as per the law of the no-fault state.
FAQs
if a covered auto is involved in an auto accident in another state what happens to the limits?
If a covered auto is involved in an auto accident in another state then your core coverage generally remains valid and minimum coverage requirements will adjust, example: if your home state requires $25,000 per person in liability coverage, but the accident state requires $50,000, your insurance will usually cover up to $50,000 to meet that state’s minimum.
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