What do I do if I'm in a car accident?

WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE IN A CAR ACCIDENT

CRASH! The sound was piercing and unforgettable. It happened literally in the blink of any eye. Your heart is racing. Your mind is disoriented. There is mangled debris everywhere. There is smoke and the unpleasant smell of burnt rubber. You may be bleeding and injured, and dozens of onlookers have flocked to the scene to stare in fascination. So, what do you do next?

The simple answer is, stay calm. However, such an answer is both generic and uninformative. Staying calm is the right answer, but remaining calm in a crisis is not as simple as flashing a smile. What will follow are things you can do now to ensure you will be able to stay as calm as possible if you are ever in an accident.

Even if you have a perfect driving record, the odds suggest that you will be in an injury accident during your lifetime. There were over 6,500,000 police-reported crashes in 2021, based on data collected by the Federal Highway Administration. There were an estimated 3,200,000 people injured in car accidents in 2021, and on average, there are 90 fatalities every day. With an increase in speed, traffic and population, these statistics will likely only get worse.

The best way to remain calm after an accident is to have a predetermined plan. Without a plan, you are reduced to making critical decisions under severe stress. Listed below are the contents of an accident kit you should create and keep in your car in case you are ever in an accident.

ACCIDENT KIT CONTENTS

A notebook, ball point pen, and pencil (pens don't always work).
An “Accident Form” for gathering information, to be kept in your notebook. This is provided for you at the end of this section.
Camera on cell phone. Take photos of all cars involved in the accident, from all sides, including the roof. Take photos of the scene as well. Don't be shy, too many photographs are better than too few.
Cell phone, to call for help. Regardless of the severity of the accident, always call the police and demand that they prepare an Accident Report or a Traffic Collision Report.
First-aid kit and a bottle of water.

Armed with the above referenced accident kit, you will be prepared to act if you are in an accident. The accident kit will enable you to refer to something instead of having to remember something while under severe stress. It will also provide you with a checklist to ensure you obtain all the necessary information at the accident scene. Alas, the accident kit will allow you to conduct yourself in a systematic manner which will inevitably allow you to…..stay calm.

ACCIDENT FORM

DATE ____________________ TIME______________ AM / PM

WEATHER CONDITIONS _________________________________________________

LOCATION OF ACCIDENT _______________________________________________

OTHER VEHICLE(S) INFORMATION

YEAR___________ MAKE______________ MODEL__________________________

COLOR________________ LICENSE NUMBER_____________________________

YEAR___________ MAKE______________ MODEL__________________________

COLOR________________ LICENSE NUMBER_____________________________

YEAR___________ MAKE______________ MODEL__________________________

COLOR________________ LICENSE NUMBER_____________________________

OTHER DRIVER(S) INFORMATION

NAME (LAST) ________________________ FIRST __________________________

ADDRESS______________________________________________________________

CITY _____________________ STATE _______ ZIP _________________________

HOME PHONE ( )_________________ WORK PHONE ( ) ___________________

OTHER PHONE ( )____________________

DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER ____________________________________________

INSURANCE COMPANY _________________________________________________

POLICY NUMBER ___________________________ EXP. DATE ________________

OCCUPANTS