How to Avoid or Lessen Injury in a Car Accident

A few easy things to do that can help if you are involved in a car accident.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Always buckle up and make sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up. In an accident unbelted occupants can be thrown against other people in the vehicle with such force as to seriously injure or kill them.

2. 
    
   Dog Safety Harness

   If you regularly drive with a pet, get them a safety harness so they are also restrained.

3. Make sure that your seatbelt is snug around you and that you pushed the lap portion below your belly. The seatbelt should keep you in place by your pelvis. A seatbelt worn over the belly is more likely to cause internal injuries.

4. 
    
   Adjustable seatbelt upper anchor

   If your seatbelt has an adjustable upper anchor, then adjust it so it passes over your shoulder, not in front of your neck (too high) or next to your shoulder (too low).

5. 
    
   From addonheadrest.com

   Ensure that the headrest comes up at least to the top of your ears. If it is equipped with forward-back adjustment, adjust it as far forward as possible. A too-low headrest can act as a pivot for your head in a rear-end collision, causing serious spinal injury.

6. Do not carry heavy objects in the passenger compartment; put them in the trunk, as they can become deadly projectiles in an accident. If you must carry something heavy or bulky in the passenger compartment, secure it with the seatbelt.

7. 
    
   Volvo cargo gate in down position

   If you drive an SUV or a wagon, get a loadspace barrier, also called a cargo gate or a dog gate. This will prevent object in the back from entering the passenger compartment and possibly hitting someone.