Car Insurance

Even the safest, most cautious drivers end up in automobile accidents from time to time. Being prepared to handle such emergencies can make the difference between a difficult situation and a nightmare.

Before Your Road Trip Begins

Take care of these tasks well ahead of your trip:

• Make sure your car and medical insurance are current and adequate for your needs. Inadequate covering can be almost as disastrous as no coverage at all.
• Take all contact information with you: the name of your insurance carrier, telephone numbers, insurance cards, your doctor''s phone number and persons to contact in case of emergency, in case you''re incapacitated. Keep it all in one convenient, easy-to-access place, such as your car''s glove compartment.
• If you''re traveling to Canada or Mexico check on their insurance requirements before you go. Ask your agent whether your health or automobile insurance plans will cover you in case of emergencies in those countries.
• If you''re renting a car, be sure to get additional coverage if you''re not covered by your own car insurance.
• Make sure your license plates and registration are up-to-date and that they won''t expire while you''re traveling.

If An Accident Happens . . .

First things first: Check on the physical condition of everyone involved. If anyone is in danger, take action to remove him or her from a dangerous situation. Otherwise, call for help immediately. Once help is on the way, provide assistance to anyone with injuries, to the best of your ability.

When it''s safe to do so, exchange names, addresses and insurance information with the driver of the other vehicle. Be sure to record the time, date and place of the accident.

Keep a disposable camera in your car. If possible, take pictures of the accident scene, your car, the other car (including the license plate) and any people who were in the other car.

Make written notes of the weather conditions, the road conditions and any other issues that may have caused or contributed to the accident.

If you haven''t done so at this point, call the police so that an officer can come to the accident site to make a report. However, if no officer is on site, such as in cases in which damage is limited to a few dents or when weather conditions are critical, go to the nearest police station to file any necessary reports. Cooperate fully with the local police. Contact a lawyer if the situation warrants it and seek appropriate counsel.

Remember: Drive defensively and sensibly at all times, but know that accidents can and do happen. If you''re involved in an accident, keep cool, record all the information you can and take responsibility accordingly.