It’s an unfortunate reality that random, unavoidable accidents will happen every day. Collisions between vehicles are one of the leading causes of car accidents in the United States today. Each year, more than a quarter of a billion people are injured in car crashes, and about 3 million people die as a result each year.
Fortunately, most car accidents can be prevented or minimized through smart driving practices and awareness of your surroundings. When you do find yourself in a collision in your car with another vehicle, however, you have to react quickly and efficiently to stay safe.
Slow down and stay alert
Driving too fast for the conditions, combined with not being cognizant of your surroundings, are two of the most common causes of car accidents. It’s important to remember that not only will you have more control and be more alert when driving slowly, but it’s a more energy-efficient way to travel as well. The faster you drive, the more energy you are consuming, and the more fuel you are using.
If you ever find yourself in a car accident, you’ll want to make sure you’re slowing down and driving at a more reasonable speed. Why does slowing down make you more alert? When you drive too fast, you are in a rush, you are stressed, and you are not paying attention to your surroundings.
When this happens, you are more likely to make mistakes, including driving too slowly and not paying attention to other vehicles and pedestrians who could be around the road. In a car accident, you want to be as aware as possible, so you need to cut down on the rush and stress of driving.
Take note of the other vehicle
If you are involved in a car accident, the first thing you’ll want to do is take note of the other vehicle, the driver, and their car. Knowing what vehicle you were involved with can help with accident investigation, insurance claims, and any potential lawsuits or traffic violations.
You should be able to get detailed information about the other vehicle, like the make, model, and color of the vehicle. You should also note if there is any damage to their vehicle, if there are any skid marks or damage to the other side of the road, and if any witnesses are around to help with information.
Stop your car as soon as you can
If you are involved in a car accident, the first thing you’ll want to do is stop your car as soon as you can. If you can’t stop your car, then you will be at a disadvantage if you have to try to get out of the situation on foot. If the other vehicle is in front of you, then you have to stop and get out of your car to get away from them.
If the other vehicle is behind you, then you can try to get out of your car and then run away as fast as you can to get away from them. The sooner you can get out of your car, the less chance there is that you’ll be in an accident. Once you are out of your car, you will have the advantage over the other driver and can try to get away from them.
Don’t get out of the car with your keys in hand
If you are involved in a car accident and your keys are in the ignition, don’t get out of the car with your keys in your hand. This could put you in danger and make it harder to escape. If you have to get away from the accident, you’ll want to have your car keys out of sight.
You can either put them on the ground or in your lap so you don’t have to take your eyes off them. The last thing you want is to lose track of them and get into another accident.
Make sure you are buckled up and wearing your seatbelt
One of the most important things you can do if you are in a car accident is to make sure you are buckled up and wearing your seatbelt. These are both important pieces of safety gear that could save your life in an accident. If you are in a crash, the force of the collision could cause your car to roll, causing you to be thrown from the car.
If the airbags don’t deploy, you could be seriously injured or killed. If you are wearing your seatbelt and your car is moving, you are less likely to die from the motion of the crash, but you are still at risk of being thrown from the car or getting thrown underneath the car.
Protect yourself from any potential injuries and be prepared to give information to the police
In any car accident, you’ll want to protect yourself from any potential injuries or be prepared to give information to the police. If you are in an accident and can’t move your car or walk away from the accident on your own, then you’ll want to make sure you are not getting trapped under the car or trapped under a trailer.
These could be serious injuries that you could potentially die from if you don’t get help as soon as possible. In many car accidents, the other driver is at fault, so you will want to make sure you are not wearing Personal Protective Equipment, like a helmet, or blocking traffic.
Bottom line
If you ever find yourself in a car accident, don’t panic. Take note of the other vehicle, the damage to their vehicle, any witnesses, the damage to the scene, and your car. Then, make sure you are slowing down and driving at a more reasonable speed.
Don’t get out of your car with your keys in hand, make sure you are buckled up and wearing your seatbelt, protect yourself from any potential injuries, and be prepared to give information to the police. If you do these things, you will be better off in the long run and have a better chance of getting out of the accident unscathed.
