Protecting Against an Accident in Northern California's Wine Country

October 31, 2010

No Shortage of Hidden Dangers in Napa

There is nothing more beautiful than taking a scenic weekend drive through Northern California's wine country. Sitting just an hour north of San Francisco, Napa Valley is one of the state's most popular tourist destinations, bringing in more than five million visitors each year.

However, what was meant to be a relaxing getaway to Napa can quickly become a traveler's worst nightmare. All it takes is one car accident to ruin a vacation and the two main roads in and out of Napa Valley - Silverado Trail and Highway 29 - provide lots of opportunities for tourists and locals alike to become victims of motor vehicle accidents.

If you are visiting the area for the first time or making a return trip, it is important to stay alert and take some precautions in case your vacation ends up with you in the emergency room.

Take Care Driving

From curvy two-lane roads to drunk drivers to wildlife darting out into traffic, you need to drive defensively when navigating wine country's roadways.

You should take special care to avoid speeding and pay attention to signs announcing "do not pass" zones, dangerous curves and deer crossings. Additionally, you should watch for cars, delivery trucks and other vehicles pulling into and backing out of unmarked roads and driveways off of Silverado Trail.

Wine country also attracts its fair share of hikers and bicyclists that can create an additional headache for those unfamiliar with the area. Keep an eye out for them and slow down when you see them. In California, bicyclists have an equal right to use the roads so do not expect them to pull completely off the road so you can pass.

The weather also can create problems. When it rains, tight turns and curves will become that much more dangerous as your car tries to keep traction on the wet roadway.

The best advice to prevent an accident while traveling in Napa is to slow down, take your time and drive safely.

Don't Leave Home without Insurance

If you are involved in an accident and need medical attention, it will be expensive if you do not have insurance. One trip to the emergency room can result in a $1000+ bill. If you have to stay overnight or require surgery, the costs can quickly escalate.

Out-of-state travelers should have a copy of their health insurance or Medicare card with them. Those traveling from another country should consider purchasing travel insurance or a supplemental health policy to pay for emergency care in the US if their own insurance will not pay for overseas treatment.

Travel insurance can help pay the costs of emergency medical treatment and, in cases of severe injuries, also help pay for emergency medical evacuations back to your home country. Without an insurance policy to help defray these costs, a medical evacuation can cost upwards of $50,000.

Steps to Take After an Accident

If you have the unfortunate luck to be involved in a car accident in Northern California, there are some steps you can take to help take care of yourself and preserve your legal rights.

The first thing you should do is seek emergency medical treatment if you need it. Keep in mind that you may be more seriously injured than you believe and even if you do not have visible injuries, you still should consider having a doctor check you out.

If you do not need immediate medical assistance, the next thing you should do is exchange insurance information with the other driver, if a second motorist was involved in the accident. Do not say anything else to the driver, however, including discussing fault. This is for your attorney and/or insurance company to sort out.

Next, take pictures of the accident, the damage to your vehicle, the damage to the other vehicle and the location where it occurred. If you do not have a camera or a camera on your phone, then make sure to write a full description of everything down. You also may want to purchase a disposable camera and go back to the scene of the accident. At a minimum, try to get pictures of the damage to your car.

If there were any witnesses to the accident, ask them for their names and contact information. Their statements may be invaluable if you later have to fight the insurance company for benefits or file a personal injury lawsuit.

Contact the police and file a police report. Generally, you only are legally required to contact the police to report an accident when there is a minimum of $500 worth of property damage and/or someone was seriously injured in the crash. However, it is a good idea to report the accident even if your incident does not meet these requirements, especially if you are an out-of-state or out-of-the-country driver.

Contact an experienced attorney to discuss your legal options. After a motor vehicle accident, it is important to begin working with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. If another driver is responsible for causing the accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, including payment of your medical expenses. If you are from out of town or another country, the attorney may be able to handle most of your claim without you being present so you do not incur additional expenses extending your stay.

For more information on how an attorney can help you with your motor vehicle accident claim in Northern California's wine country area and throughout Napa and Sonoma valleys, contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney today.

Article provided by Shapiro, Galvin, Shapiro & Moran PC
Visit us at www.tadshapiroinjurylawyer.com