The holidays are a busy time for all, and a car accident is never on the list of things to do. However, an increase in traffic due to holiday traveling means that accidents will happen, and they can happen out of a driver’s home state.

First of all, don’t panic: your insurance policy will cover you in all 50 states no matter if they are a fault or no-fault state. Out-of-state accidents are a common occurrence, so insurance companies typically follow the protocol of adjusting your coverage limits to meet whatever is required in the state the collision occurred. Every auto insurance has a minimum they must meet for liability, but that can differ greatly when comparing property damage and personal injury. If a part of your policy is higher than the minimum, they will not decrease it, but leave as-is.

The biggest change will be how a state defines fault. Minnesota, for example, is a no-fault state, which means that the PIP (personal injury protection) is required for insurance policies and will pay for the driver’s injuries regardless of who is at fault. A fault state will instead determine who is responsible for the collision, and their insurance company will be held responsible for paying for injury and damages.

Luckily, you can follow the same standard procedure that you’ve always had to follow for a car accident.

  • Pull off the road onto a shoulder, if you can, to where you’re out of traffic.
  • Check all occupants for any injuries. You’ll need to let the emergency operator know if you have anyone with injuries so they can prioritize sending an ambulance as well.
  • Call 911 and let them know you’ve been in an accident. Try to gauge your surroundings to the best of your ability or reference your GPS when they ask for your location.
  • As you wait for police, check in with the other car and assess your vehicle for damage. Take photos to document the damage you see on the car and the state of the roads around you.
  • Exchange information with the other car. Regardless of what state you are from, it’s essential to get this info. Get their name, insurance policy number, make/model/year of their car, contact info, and the license plate number.
  • Once the police arrive, you’ll need to get their name, badge number, and the case number. Give them your statement, which could be important if you’re in a fault state.
  • After all of the general procedure has been followed, call your insurance company to start your claim. They’ll be able to help walk you through how this will go since you’re in another state, and they can also recommend a repair shop nearby.

We are proud to serve the Southern Twin Cities and any visitors who happen to have been in a collision near our Eagan location. Call Superior Collision Center for expert auto body repair.