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Your Collision Response: 3 Ways To Be Prepared For Car Accident Safety

By Jacob Sherman

Car accidents happen to all of us when we least expect them: that's why we call them accidents. We never want to think that an automobile accident is going to happen, but it's a great comfort to know that we're prepared for the worst. The last thing any of us wants is to end up in an emergency situation without knowing what to do or having the emergency supplies we need, so here are 3 easy tips so that you can feel prepared and confident if the worst case scenario happens:

Have Your Cell Phone With You at All Times!

Priority #1 when your car crash is safety, so you don't want to have any delays in getting the emergency response paramedics on the scene if needed. Always have your cell phone with you! You can, of course, play the devil's advocate and ask, "but what good will a cell phone do if I'm knocked unconscious? Is there, as the saying goes, an app for that? In a word, yes. If you haven't heard of automatic crash response on your phone, it's time to look into it; such apps automate the whole process from detecting a crash to alerting the paramedics unless manually cancelled. This method is becoming highly recommended because it takes the "what if" worry out of the equation. In addition to an automatic crash response phone app, a camera phone may come in handy after the danger has passed so that you can document the accident to help the insurance process.

Don't Drive Without the Basic Supplies

You don't need much space in your car to fit some simple safety items in your car. Just keep a simple first-aid kit, a flashlight, and some reflective cones and road flares in a corner of the trunk. You will feel much better knowing that you have these things on hand in case of injury. When accidents happen at night, simply being able to see what you're doing is a commodity that it's easy to take for granted. In the case of a roadside emergency, especially on the freeway at night, visibility means safety- just as much as you want to be able to see, you want other drivers to see you.

Know How to Respond When You Crash

Every accident is different, but all are stressful. It is important to be able to evaluate your situation quickly. Often times car crashes are simple enough to resolve: get off the road, exchange insurance info, and the rest is paperwork. But what happens if someone's hurt? Or what if the car is disabled and it's still in the road? For these reasons it's essential that emergency response personnel be alerted as soon as possible, be it by automatic crash response or a standard 9-11 call. Your top priority is always safety- get out of danger. It is important to note that, if you are unable to leave the car because of car damage or personal injury (like a broken leg), it is possible that the safest place until help arrives may be in your seat, with the seatbelt on. Be aware of this possibility, as you don't want to be halfway out of the vehicle when it's hit by another car unable to stop in time.

If you follow these simple tips, your worst case scenario gets a lot better. The idea isn't to live in fear of car accidents, the idea is to feel confident in an emergency. If you have your phone, some simple emergency supplies, and know what to do the minute a car accident happens, the dangers involved are greatly decreased.

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