Road trips are a great way to unwind, explore, and experience new adventures. While they induce satisfaction and joy, traveling, especially long distances, may pose risks of car accidents. Weather and road conditions, driver behavior, and vehicle malfunctions all contribute to auto crashes during a road trip.

It is, then, crucial for all drivers and other vehicle occupants to acquire auto insurance when traveling. This not only protects you financially in case of a car accident but can also bring comfort, knowing that you are covered by insurance’s other benefits, such as towing, roadside, and vehicle repair assistance.
This blog will help you understand how auto insurance protects you and your vehicle and what to do if a negligent driver hits you during a road trip.
Importance of Having Adequate Insurance Coverage
The goal of having insurance is to cover you financially in case of an accident. In most cases, your insurance provider can pay for the damages of a crash, such as medical bills, vehicle repair costs, and lost wages. On the other hand, a driver’s insurance provider should cover your damages if they cause the collision.
In most, if not all, states in the United States, drivers must obtain auto insurance before having the right to drive on roads and highways. For instance, in California, drivers must have minimum insurance requirements of $15,000 for injury or death to one person, $30,000 for injury or death to more than one person, and $5,000 for property damage.
Aside from your legal obligation and financial responsibility, having insurance, especially during road trips, can provide emergency assistance. Insurance typically covers vehicle repairs, towing assistance, and roadside aid. Having vehicle insurance with emergency assistance coverage gives you peace of mind and guarantees that assistance is only a phone call away, regardless of what happens on the road.
However, is fulfilling the liability minimum requirements enough to cover you from accidents? Such coverage will help with the financial burden of a crash but will only be applicable under certain conditions. What happens if an at-fault driver flees the scene after causing damages? Other insurance coverage, such as Uninsured Motorist Coverage, can be beneficial in such cases.
While obtaining the minimum required insurance helps in case of a car accident, understanding the importance of having adequate insurance and considering other types will give you greater confidence and ease, knowing you have all the coverage you need in whatever kind of collision.
Types of Insurance Relevant to Road Trips
You have plenty of options when choosing the right insurance when traveling. However, there are specific types of insurance that may significantly cover you in case of a car accident during a road trip.
- Liability insurance is typically required for all drivers when traveling. It usually covers the medical bills and property damage incurred in an accident for which you are held liable.
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage – When a driver without insurance causes an auto collision, uninsured motorist coverage assists in covering your medical expenses and repair costs. Underinsured motorist coverage, on the other hand, can be used when the driver does not have enough coverage to pay the damage expenses. Depending on the policy, such insurance can cover medical bills and property damage costs.
- Personal Injury Protection – No matter who is at fault in a vehicle crash, personal injury protection, sometimes called no-fault insurance, helps pay for damage like medical bills, lost income, or funeral fees.
- Medical Payments – Following a car crash, medical payments coverage assists in covering your and other passengers’ medical expenses. This can be used regardless of who caused the collision. If you were a pedestrian in a car accident, you are also covered by such insurance.
- Rental car insurance – Rental car insurance is coverage that a rental car company provides to its customers for an added price. There are several types of coverage options for your rental, including liability coverage, loss damage waiver insurance, personal accident insurance, and personal effects coverage.
Depending on your purpose, having several and adequate insurance coverage can help protect you and your passengers in a car accident, regardless of how it happened and who caused it.
Can My Insurance Cover the Damages of a Car Accident During Travel?
Auto insurance can cover the damages of a car accident during road trips, such as medical bills, vehicle repair costs, lost wages, and others. However, depending on the circumstances of the crash, the other party’s insurance can also pay for your damage costs, mainly if they caused the collision.
Other Driver’s Liability
If another driver acts negligently, resulting in a car accident, they may be liable for the damages. This means that their insurance coverage should pay for the damages you incurred. They should still pay the costs out of their pockets if they lack insurance.
You must file a car accident claim against the at-fault party when receiving compensation for the damages. In such an instance, you must prove the following conditions:
- The driver had the duty to ensure everyone’s safety.
- They failed to fulfill this duty.
- Their negligence resulted in a car accident.
- The accident caused you injuries and other damages.
For example, you decided to go on a California road trip with your family. While traveling, a distracted driver hit you, and you sustained leg injuries. Since it was their duty to avoid distractions while driving and ensure everyone was safe, their violation resulted in a crash. They should be liable for your injuries and other damages in such a case.
Note that when pursuing a case against the liable party, you must have the necessary evidence, such as accident scene photos and videos, witness statements, and police reports, to prove that their actions caused the crash. What happens if you fail to secure proof at the accident scene? In the example mentioned, a California car accident lawyer can help collect evidence and prove liability.
Your Liability
If you are liable for the accident, you have to cover the damages of the involved parties. In such an instance, your insurance coverage, such as liability coverage, can pay for the damages. On the other hand, you may or may not file a car accident claim if you are partly liable for an accident, depending on the jurisdiction of the state.
For example, if you are 20% liable for a car accident in California, you may receive 80% restitution. Note that this depends on the state you are in. So, it is essential to understand the jurisdiction of the state where the accident happened, especially during road trips, to determine if you have the right to compensation even if you are partly responsible for the crash.
Rental Car Accidents
In a rental car accident, you must understand specific legal considerations before filing a car accident claim. While rental car companies typically provide insurance options, multiple parties may be held accountable for the rental car accident depending on the specifics of the situation:
- Renter’s Liability—Renters are usually responsible for any damage they cause while operating a rental car. The rental car driver will probably use this insurance policy to cover your damages if they hit you. If they caused the collision, they are not eligible to use their rental car insurance.
- The Car Rental Company – The car rental company may be liable for the damages under specific conditions. For instance, the car rental company neglected to maintain the vehicle’s condition while still renting it out, or they knew the renter might cause an accident by not adhering to traffic laws based on their driving history.
Overall, understanding who caused the accident is crucial when determining which insurance should cover the damages of a collision during a road trip. A competent legal expert can help examine the specifics of your case, determine who is responsible for the accident, and negotiate on your behalf.
Takeaway
While road trips can greatly help your overall well-being, especially when you need time to relax and unwind, they can also result in a rather tragic experience in the case of a car accident. This is why it is crucial to obtain adequate insurance coverage, which can provide peace of mind and comfort, knowing that you are covered in case of a car accident.
Similarly, you must determine and prove liability to receive compensation for the damages of a car accident during a road trip. If a negligent driver hits you while traveling, contacting a car accident lawyer can assist in building your case and protect your rights against insurance companies that try to reduce your settlement or dismiss your case.
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