Driving is most obviously essential and the majority of our daily affairs are highly dependent on it. With that being said, after considering as to how a car is more a need than a want today, driving is a total phenomenon that comes with a risk. It is one of the reasons why vehicles are not generally handed to children under the age of 16 or 18 in many states only because it is not a toy to play with. All in agreement, the driver driving a car, bike or any other vehicle is subject to extreme responsibility. You need to be fully focused on the road, take measures whilst turning, shifting lanes and consistently look towards your side and rear-view mirrors for possible traffic. Unfortunately, despite being very vigilant and extremely cautious, there will be times when you might get caught in an accident because of another car driver on the road seeing that it is a whole chain. In all honesty it could happen to anyone which is why you need to be prepared. In the event of a car accident, here are the necessary safety measures that are absolutely crucial for you.
Keep your calm
Obviously it is very simple to just tell you to “keep your calm” but you actually will have to control your nerves seeing that it is best. An accident is without a doubt extremely hectic and the moment itself is not only traumatizing but it feels like a very grimy situation. Either way you need to control yourself and stay sharp, make sure to keep breathing and do not burst out in anger or frustration.
Step out of your vehicle
Just as to how important staying calm is, you cannot do that while feeling trapped after an accident. After an accident you need to step out of your vehicle. There are more than many reasons for this. First of all, you would want to park it on a side and then step out seeing that a road blockage would only turn the situation into more chaotic. If the magnitude of the damage done to the car is more than mild then it is okay seeing that it might not be able to move to the side. Be careful coming out of the door especially if you have collided with something or hurt yourself. Lastly Cars are dangerous because they are basically a packet of different oils which can be explosive and harmful. Such situations are very rare but you have to be careful which is why getting out of the car as soon as possible is best.
Check up on your passengers
If you are carrying any passengers such as friends or family members then you also need to keep a check on their well-being as to whether they are fine or not. An accident could impact people in the car differently depending where the contact is struck. In these situations, any of the people present could have possibly suffered more damage. Evaluate the situation as quickly as possible, step out of the vehicle and try reaching a sidewalk or the footpath where you are free from the traffic behind. Usually in mild incidents, a professional of the niche such as an accident injury doctor is recommended.Converge with the other driver involved:
A car accident is usually followed by a heated clash between both the drivers with them expressing their anger and frustration over each other. Try to prevent that and talk to them in a calmer manner seeing that the situation is already full of panic so it is best to try to keep it low. This conversation is extremely important because you would want to exchange information especially if you are at a huge loss and deserve the lesser blame of the two. The law might vary from country to country but at minimum take their phone number. Witnesses are important too so you can extract the contact information of any other people around who witnessed the entire scene and would be willing to comfortably confess for you if need be. Other than that, noting down the model number of the opposing car as well as their number plate/car number is also extremely essential.
Contact the police
The vastness of the accident obviously does matter but if you think that the situation is out of hand and of a gigantic magnitude then do not hesitate to call the police. In many cases this might be the most appropriate action to take. A neutral mediator who monitors the situation and is lawfully powerful and credible enough to take note of the whole incident is the best-case scenario, especially when you are in the clear.
Rush to the hospital if the injury is serious
We hope this is not the case but if it is then you need to rush to the hospital. Car accidents can be frightening and if the injuries suffered leave you struggling with motion and consciousness then you shouldn’t waste any time. The most common big injury within car accidents is a whiplash injury to your neck. It is most common to people who are above 40 and if the aftermath of the car clash is extreme then it could possibly damage your neck.
When driving a car, one really has to be careful and watch out for all possible threats so remember to always wear your seat belt, drive slowly and carefully as well as follow all traffic rules and regulations.