If you're traveling abroad, and are involved in a car accident, the way that you will handle car insurance claims will depend upon the country you're visiting and your insurance company's policy for foreign accident claims. Some companies have offices and representatives in the foreign country you visit so that you can file your claim there. However, most American insurance companies will require that you file your claim once you return to the US.
Filing Claims for Foreign Auto Accidents
Regardless if you file your claim in the foreign country or wait until you return to the US to file, the steps to filing your claim are pretty similar to those in the US. First, you'll need to make sure that the police arrive at the scene of the accident and make a police report. You also need to make sure you get the names, addresses and phone numbers of any potential witnesses. Unlike the US, physical addresses of the witnesses will be very important as the insurance company may choose to contact the witnesses by mail.
Being you are visiting a foreign country, you may have a camera with you. If you do, make sure to take pictures of the accident scene, your automobile and any injuries to yourself or your vehicle's passengers.
The most important thing to consider when filing a claim for a foreign automobile accident is to simply contact your insurance company and ask them to provide you with a step-by-step description of how to file the claim. Most the time, insurance claim insurance companies handle foreign accident claims rather quickly and efficiently. Generally speaking, how fast the claim is handled will depend upon you.
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