Going on a cross-country road trip is one of the most exciting vacation ideas, especially if you’re someone who likes to move at a slower pace and really take in everything you see. As vaccines for COVID-19 continue to roll out and travel restrictions are loosening for the fully vaccinated, you might see this as the perfect time to gather your luggage and embark on the trip of your dreams. Maybe you’ve always wanted to pay a visit to Las Vegas, and you’ve decided to gather some friends in an RV and head to the great state of Nevada. You’ll have a lot of time to appreciate nature during rest stops, check out some national parks, and build a campfire or two along the way.
Of course, you don’t want to get ahead of yourself. Before all that, you still need to take care of packing for a trip out West. Road trips tend to be spontaneous by nature, so you’ll need to pack for the unexpected in addition to basic road trip essentials like a first aid kit, toiletries, snacks, sunscreen, sunglasses, coolers, and a water bottle. You’ll almost certainly be hiking during a trip out West, so make sure you bring some hiking boots with your backpack in addition to your regular shoes. The desert gets cold at night as well, so if you’re planning to stay out, you’ll want to bring a jacket or sweater and make sure you have a reliable flashlight.
Unfortunately, as we all know, there’s no way to plan for everything or to bring every one of the essentials. At every moment, a road trip is at risk of being interrupted by a car accident. Here’s what you’ll need to do if you’re injured in an auto accident during your road trip.
Get immediate medical attention.
There’s nothing more important than your health, so once the accident scene has been examined for injured parties, they need to be the top priority. If you find yourself injured, you or an able person at the scene will need to make use of the first aid kit you brought. If the collision happened in a city or town, it will be easier for you to get to a medical center, but this will be a necessary step even if the car accident happened out on the highway.
Even if you believe you only have minor injuries, it’s still imperative to be seen by a medical professional after a car crash. Signs of some injuries, such as concussions, may not be obvious, and symptoms may be delayed. You need to be checked out for your own safety, and to establish medical records that prove that your injuries were, in fact, sustained during the accident. This may be important later on.
Collect evidence of the event.
With any car accident, it’s important to collect as much relevant evidence as possible, both to support your claim to the insurance company and to support your car accident case in court, if it comes to that. It’s ideal to take photographic or video evidence at the scene, but if this proves impossible, you can take photos of vehicle and property damage later. It’s also worthwhile to return to the scene to photograph any street signs, skid marks, or anything else that could add context to the event. If there is a police report, this will be a handy piece of evidence, as will any statements from witnesses of the vehicle accident.
Hire a car accident lawyer.
If you suffered serious injuries due to the negligence of another driver or criminal action on their part, such as drunk driving, then it’s only fair that you pursue the maximum compensation that you’re due. Remember that car laws differ from state to state, so an experienced Las Vegas car accident attorney can help you with your personal injury case in Nevada. An accident attorney can help you pursue fair compensation for medical bills, lost income, as well as pain and suffering.
Before meeting with an attorney for a consultation, it’s crucial to bring as much evidence and information from your doctor as possible. Car accident attorneys often work on a contingency basis, which means you’ll only pay a percentage of your compensation upon a successful outcome. While this can be great for claimants, it does mean that these lawyers will need to be convinced that a car accident case is strong to incur the risk.
