What to Do If You're Involved in a Car Accident in Another Country

While nobody likes to dwell on the negative aspects of life, it's important that you make sure you're prepared for any eventuality. When it comes to setting up your home abroad, this includes making sure you're prepared in case you ever end up in a car accident on foreign soil.

To make the process as hassle-free as possible, read on to find out exactly what you should do if you're ever involved in a car accident while you're abroad.

Make sure you have insurance in place

First things first -- before you drive so much as a mile abroad, make sure you have insurance that will cover you in the event of an accident. As it is illegal to drive without car insurance, it's crucial you have this sorted before you arrive at your destination.

Depending on the country you're moving to, your UK car insurance policy may provide a sufficient level of cover. This is the case if your insurance company is authorised to provide cover there, so you should contact them well in advance of your move to find this out - if the country you're moving to isn't under their jurisdiction, you'll need to take insurance out with a local company. If this is the case, always compare several different quotes before taking out a policy, just as you would at home. As making sense of these policies is often hard enough in your first language, it's a good idea to enlist the help of a native speaker of the local language when comparing policies.

Get prepared

It's important to be as prepared as possible in case you ever are in a car accident, as the process is only made more complicated if you're a foreigner.

Firstly, you should carry your licence and any relevant paperwork in the vehicle with you at all times in case you ever need to exchange insurance details with another driver. You should also note down any phone numbers you may need, such as your insurance company's.

Unless you're already an advanced speaker of the local language, you should also take the time to learn some common phrases you may need in the event of an accident. Your safety and that of anyone else involved is always the priority, so you should make sure you know how to ask for help first and foremost. Specific terms relating to car insurance will be useful for more advanced speakers.

What to do after an accident

If you end up in a car accident, the first thing you need to do is check if you or anyone else involved is injured. If this is the case, the emergency services should be contacted immediately.

If no one has been injured, you should move your car off the road if possible to prevent it from becoming an obstruction. Leave your car and approach any other drivers who were involved, calmly taking their name, address, telephone number, and insurance details. At this point you should also note down the registration number, make, model and colour of the other vehicles involved - ideally, you'll be able take a photo on your phone.

In most countries, any accidents must be reported to the police within 24 hours of the incident. You should also inform your insurance company as soon as possible, even if you do not want to make a claim - not doing so may affect your policy.

Stick to these tips and, if you're ever unfortunate enough to be involved in a car accident while abroad, you'll know exactly what to do.