How to Stay Safe in a Car Accident

You just heard and felt the crunch of hitting another car. What do you do now? Follow these simple steps to stay safe in a car accident.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pen
• Camera
• Medical card
• Safety kit
• Accident form
• Cell phone
• Insurance
• Flashlight
• Cones or flares

1. Stay calm. Remember that neither of you planned for this to happen. Gather your composure and feel good knowing that you have everything you need if an accident happens: cell phone, camera, pen, accident form, insurance, safety kit, cones or flares, flashlight and medical card.

2. Clear the roadway. If no one is hurt and the cars are driveable, drive off the roadway. Other drivers will appreciate you for this, and so will emergency workers. If the cars are not driveable, you are now a potential hazard to yourself and other drivers. Put your hazard lights on, remain in the car with your seatbelt fastened and call 911 for help.

3. Look around. Be aware of oncoming and passing cars. When safe, get out of the car, stay out of the street and set out cones or flares to warn other cars of the accident.

4. Exchange information with the other driver. Document the following information: driver's name, address, telephone number, insurance company, policy number, car make, car model, car color, license plate number, time of accident and place of accident. Take photos of the car damage and get contact information for any witnesses. These will be vital in the event there is a dispute as to who is responsible.

5. Call 911 or not? Since we're dealing with minor car accidents here, it is unlikely that law enforcement will show up unless injuries are sustained. When all information is exchanged and cars are drivable, get back in the car, watch for traffic and safely re-enter the roadway.

Tips & Warnings

• Check your insurance company for specifics on how they'd like for you to handle a car accident.
• This is not the time to blame or find fault. Likewise, this is not the time to settle the accident. Do not accept payment on the spot for damages.

Resources

• Buy a preassembled accident kit at DocuDent

[Starlet72]

on 5/7/2008 If it is not a minor car accident, and there are injuries sustained, be sure you stay in your vehicle until medical help arrives so that you do not further injure yourself. Some injuries may not be readily apparent, such as neck or back injuries but you will feel them the next day. Also call a personal injury lawyer if you sustained injuries so that you can get money to pay for your medical bills and time you may have missed from work as a result of your injuries. You can call my lawyer, Dan Buttafuoco at 1-800-Now-Hurt or check him out online at www.1800NowHUrt.com for more info. It was the best phone call i ever made and now i recommend him to everyone. Tell him Kristen sent you!