And while you may enjoy a different winter environment and a sunnier state, the out-of-state unfamiliar surroundings and roads may be problematic and confusing. The lack of familiarity may make it more likely that you’ll be in an accident than when you are home, causing a costly mistake regardless of who the at-fault driver is.
Before You Hit the Road to the Sunbelt, Desert, or Beach, Be Sure You Have Enough Auto Insurance Coverage
With adequate “no-fault” insurance, otherwise known as “Personal Injury Protection” (PIP), and enough “underinsured/uninsured” and liability coverage, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about when you are involved in a car accident outside Minnesota. If for any reason you encounter resistance from your insurance company or the at-fault driver’s insurance company to cover your damages, you may need the assistance of Sieben Edmunds Miller’s crack attorney team to demand that your rightful damages are paid.
If you have sufficient Minnesota auto insurance and your car accident circumstances are covered by your policy, you are entitled to the same damages as if you had an accident in your home state. Thus, there is no reason you shouldn’t receive compensation for your car accident, no matter where it happened.
So, if you have an auto insurance policy in Minnesota and suffer an accident out of state, you are protected by your policy’s coverage. Because of this, when you report an out-of-state accident to your insurance company, you shouldn’t encounter any obstacles in recovering damages.
In the event that you need to have your car repaired at a collision shop in the area where the accident occurred, your insurance company should assist you with securing and covering the cost of a tow truck, auto body repairs, and locating and sending an adjuster–even if you’re thousands of miles from home but still on North American land or territories.
What You Should Know About Coverage Before You Leave Town
With adequate Minneapolis insurance coverage after an out-of-state (or in-state) car accident, you are entitled to have your medical bills paid, a percentage of wage losses, payment to a substitute household/errand worker, extra child care costs, among other expenses. The areas of adequate insurance coverage are:
“No-Fault” or Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Minnesota law requires that a licensed vehicle have $40,000 in PIP coverage: $20,000 for medical expenses and $20,00 for non-medical expenses.
Uninsured and Underinsured Driver Coverage If the at-fault driver doesn’t have any insurance or is underinsured, this coverage provides a minimum of $25,000 for injuries to or for one person’s fatality and $50,000 for injuries to or the death of two or more persons.
Liability Coverage in Out-of-State Car Accidents
If you are at-fault and want to protect your assets, the Minnesota State statute requires that you have insurance in the amount of $30,000 for one person’s injuries and $60,000 for injuries to others. This is a minimum. It is advisable to carry larger limits to protect yourself and the difference in premiums that you pay is often very small and can increase your coverage dramatically.
What to Do When Your Car Accident Occurs Outside Minnesota
Regardless of where your accident occurs, it’s critical that you immediately or as soon as possible do the following things:
- Call 911
- Allow EMTs to evaluate you
- Insist the police take a report
- Seek medical attention if necessary
- Take photos of the accident scene if you are physically able
- Acquire witness names and contact information
- Notify your insurance company
- Do not admit fault
- Call an Attorney
The Deadline to File Your Out-of-State Car Accident Claim Will Vary Depending on Jurisdiction
Just as if your auto accident occurred in Minnesota, you will face a statute of limitations. This means that you must resolve your claims or initiate a lawsuit within a prescribed period of time. If you don’t meet these deadlines, you will likely be barred from pursuing your claims. If you’re not sure what deadline applies to your situation, your MN auto accident attorney can help sort that out so that you file in time. But regardless of the filing deadline, you should file as quickly as possible.
Though you may have adequate car insurance coverage, out-of-state accident cases may raise unique issues. Every car accident case is different, and an outside Minnesota wreck may have different limitations, conditions, or laws that will impact your claim.
If you had Minnesota vehicle insurance coverage and had an out-of-state car accident, especially if you or a loved one suffered injuries, you should be covered. It’s important that you pick up your phone and call Sieben Edmunds Miller law firm so we can help you negotiate and maneuver through the claims process. It is even possible that a claim may be raised with your own insurance company and can be venued right here in Minnesota. When you contact us, we’ll discuss what happened and what your rights are under the circumstances of the crash. Our phone number is (651) 994-6744. Or email us your case details. You’ll receive a fast response so that we can schedule a free consultation and case evaluation. We want to help ease your worries and look forward to speaking with you.
