There are many reasons you might be traveling through Georgia over the summer. Maybe it’s to get to youth baseball tournaments. Maybe you’re passing through on a road trip. Maybe you’re visiting the Peach State for a vacation, hitting multiple spots of interest.
Regardless of what brings you to Georgia, if you find yourself in a car accident here, but you live in another state, there are some things you need to know.
Hitting the road for sports like travel baseball
When you’re part of a travel baseball team, you spend a lot of time on the road. You’re often headed to a tournament every weekend in the summer, the business time to travel. July and August are actually the two months when people tend to drive the most miles.
Whether you’re headed nearby for a weekend tournament, or across state lines, accidents can happen, especially if you’re heading to a new location on unfamiliar roads. Even if you’re not from Georgia, local laws apply, which means you’ll need a Georgia-based attorney to give you proper support.
At Watson Injury Law, we’re uniquely equipped to help because we’ve been there. As proud travel baseball parents, our founder, Matthew Watson, and his wife, Amber, our Operations Director, know what those long drives, early mornings, and last-minute hotel changes are all about. Combining that knowledge with our experience in Georgia personal injury law, we’ve handled cases for travel ball families already and are ready to help you too.
Taking a road trip
Summer is the best time for a long road trip, and you may find yourself driving through a bunch of different states as you explore. With long stretches of highway driving to get from destination to destination, there’s an increased risk of the unexpected, and you may find yourself in a car accident. This can be stressful to handle away from home when you’re in your own car, but even more so if you’re driving a rental.
The team at Watson Injury Law can serve as your local contact in Georgia, handling the nuances of statewide personal injury laws so you don’t have to try and figure things out on your own.
What to do after a car wreck
No matter where you are, what to do after you’re in a car accident is the same.
- Dial 911
- Check yourself and those with you for injury
- Collect information from those involved and any witnesses and document the accident with pictures
- Speak carefully, providing factual information only
- Remain on the scene until you speak to law enforcement
- Seek medical treatment, if necessary, immediately
- Contact your insurance company
- Consult with a legal expert in the state of your accident
What happens when you wreck a rental car
Whether or not you opted into rental car insurance, the steps to take after a rental car accident are pretty much the same as if you were in your own car. Beyond that, you will need to contact the rental company and have them come collect the car if it’s no longer drivable. If you can drive it, take it back immediately.
You will most likely have to complete an incident report with the car rental company, detailing damages and injuries. You may still want to contact a legal expert in the state of your accident to ensure you’re protected against any costs from the rental company that might be the responsibility of the at-fault driver, and to help you collect any damages you’re due from the car wreck.
Support after a car accident out-of-state
Even though you’re not at home, when you have an out-of-state car accident you don’t have to deal with it alone. Our team at Watson Injury Law are experts in Georgia personal injury law. We understand the legal complexities and the emotional and logistical challenges that come with an accident while you’re far from home. If you find yourself in Georgia, needing legal support after a car accident, give us a call. We’re here to help.