Every year, more than 6 million car accidents occur in the United States, resulting in 3 million injuries and more than 90 deaths. When you consider the 330 million people who live in the United States, that may appear to be a modest percentage of the population. However, it means that your chances of being involved in a crash are greater than you may believe.
What can you do to improve your chances of surviving a car accident in various situations? We’ll start with the fundamentals and then go on to some less likely but still plausible circumstances you might encounter in your life. It helps to be prepared for anything in life.
What Should You Do Before a Car Accident?
The greatest method to surviving an accident is to avoid them entirely. However, even the most cautious drivers might be involved in an accident. Take these precautions before any danger appears on your radar, and you’ll be safer in the case of a collision.
- Wear your seat belt. In an accident, a seat belt can mean the difference between life and death, thus wearing one is the most important thing you can do to survive a car crash. Seat belts cut catastrophic automobile crash injuries and deaths in half, which is a good chance. You may not be able to control much of what happens in a car accident, but you can take this step well before you’re in danger. Make sure your seat belt is low on your hip bones and that your shoulder belt crosses the center of your chest. Place children in vehicle seats carefully.
- Drive the most secure vehicle you can afford. Every year, automakers introduce new technology such as automated braking and lane-departure warnings to make automobiles safer. They also improve and score higher on crash test ratings. When searching for an automobile, keep safety in mind. Examine official crash test ratings, study safety features, and keep these things in mind when choosing a vehicle. And, no matter what car you drive, be sure you understand the standard and optional safety features, such as where your airbags are located and whether or not you have ABS.
- Keep possible projectiles on hand. During a crash, anything can become a projectile. Hiking rocks, sports equipment, your laptop, and an overnight bag Objects that appear to be harmless can become lethal when tossed across your automobile at high speeds, striking you or your passengers. Even a can of soup in your grocery bag has the potential to be devastating in a car crash at 60 miles per hour. Make every effort to travel light, eliminating all unneeded items from your car every time you return home. When traveling with potentially projectile objects, properly store them in your trunk, covered back storage space, or wells behind seats. To secure stuff in the back of SUVs and minivans, consider utilizing a cargo cover or net. Unattended passengers and pets are also potential projectiles.
- Purchase an auto-survival tool and a first-aid kit. Always keep a seatbelt cutter and a glass breaker in your vehicle. If necessary, be prepared to cut your seat belt or break your window to escape. You should also keep a first-aid kit on hand in case of an emergency.
What Should You Do in the Event of a Car Accident?
In many accident situations, there is little you can do to improve the situation. In fact, you may not even notice the accident approaching, or it may happen so quickly that you are unable to make any adjustments to keep yourself safer. However, if you do have the opportunity to respond, consider the following ideas to decrease the severity of the crash and keep you safe:
- Trust your anti-lock braking system. Most modern automobiles are equipped with anti-lock brakes, a technology that will pump brakes quicker than you can in order to efficiently slow down your vehicle. If you need to brake rapidly, simply grip your brakes firmly and let the ABS pump them for you. You may feel the pedal vibrate to indicate that it is working. This method works best when your wheels are facing forward.
- Reduce your speed. One of the most deadly aspects of every accident is speed. The greater the impact, the quicker you or the other car is traveling. If you notice an accident coming, slow down as much as possible.
- Consider the following. More speed is frequently the last thing you want to add to the equation in an accident, but in other cases, it’s the best option. If you can accelerate up and get out of the way, this is a wise course of action to do.
- Keep or regain control of your vehicle. If your vehicle begins to skid, steer in the direction of the skid. Until your tires acquire traction, avoid braking or using the accelerator. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel at all times and try to remain cool.
- Avoid making quick movements. Respond to probable incidents swiftly but cleanly. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid yanking the steering wheel or slamming on the brakes, as these movements may lead you to lose control of the car.
- Aim for the object that will do the least amount of damage. If striking anything is unavoidable, try to steer into a region that will cause the least amount of damage. That is, if you have the option, choose the bushes over the incoming vehicles. Keep in mind, though, that large trees may be more dangerous to hit than other objects, and modern road signs may be engineered to snap off on impact. Finally, attempt to avoid colliding with other vehicles or colliding with immovable things such as concrete barriers.
- Maintain your normal driving position. Hunching, ducking, or doing anything else that takes you out of your typical driving position can aggravate your injuries, as vehicle safety systems are designed to protect you in this position. When you duck, your head may collide with the steering wheel or dashboard, putting you uncomfortably close to the airbag as it deploys. Moving your arms in front of the steering wheel may also place them in the path of your airbag. For the best protection, keep your head up and your hands on the driving wheel.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident?
Even if an accident has occurred, you may still be in danger. Rubberneckers, fire, and undiscovered injuries are all extremely dangerous. Use these tips to get help and stay safe.
- Call 911 for assistance. Call authorities as soon as possible to assist with your emergency. This will ensure that you receive medical attention and that the injury is cleared up as quickly as possible.
- Determine whether it is safe for you to leave your vehicle. Even after a collision, your car may be the safest place to be. If you’ve evacuated the automobile, getting out on the highway where there may be rubberneckers or other vehicles smashing around you in a multiple-vehicle pileup might put you at great risk. Determine whether there is moving traffic and whether you have any injuries that require you to remain still. If it is safe to leave, do so, but keep in mind that the safest place to be is in your seat with your seat belt still fastened.
- Reduce the risk of a fire by turning off your engine, avoiding smoking, and not allowing others to smoke. The catastrophe could have caused a spill of combustible elements like gas. Smoking in the area or leaving your car running can cause fumes to ignite.
- Use first aid. Locate your first-aid equipment and treat any injuries you can handle until emergency personnel come.
- If there’s a fire or you’ve landed in the water, you should evacuate your car and assist any passengers in doing so as soon as possible. This is especially difficult if you’re in water. Get out of your vehicle as soon as it hits water. Open your window as soon as possible to give yourself the best opportunity of escaping. Remember that opening your door with water pressure will be difficult, if not impossible. Side windows can be broken with your foot or a safety implement. Do not try to break the windshield because it is meant to withstand impact. Except for other individuals, leave everything behind.
Conclusion
There are numerous ways to crash your automobile and only a few techniques to keep safe while driving. Develop your defensive driving skills and be prepared for anything. Whatever the circumstances, the most important thing to remember if you are in an accident is to not panic. Keep a level mind and you’ll have a better chance of surviving anything the universe throws at you.
