by Kathrine Mills

Created on: May 21, 2010   Last Updated: June 01, 2010

Most people, following a car accident, are shaken and scared. Even if no one got hurt there is a sense of urgency and hyper-clarity comes on almost immediate. This being the case, one must prepare themselves with a plan on how to deal with an accident, no matter what the circumstances.

1. Preparation is crucial in the case of an unexpected accident. Keeping an

accident kit under your driver’s seat help one to function a bit more calmly at the scene of an accident and give them the things they need to be safe.

2.When on the scene, shut off your car. Take some deep breaths and allow yourself to calm down. If you have been in a major accident it may not be able to move.  Assess your physical condition before attempting to do so. Leaving your seatbelt secured, do your best to see if there is a cell phone accessible to call for help if you are stuck. 

3. Check on any passengers. Check children in car seats first, but do not attempt to remove them from their car-seat. Try to wait for emergency medical teams and if there is any sign of head injury do not pick up the child.

4. Check on the other party's physical condition and proceed to call the emergency services. If the police don't come you will be responsible to go directly to the police station and file a report concerning the accident.

5. Document the situation carefully. If there are any witnesses, get their information. Take pictures and write on how the incident occurred. Get shots of the direction each car was traveling when the impact took place and write a detailed account of the accident. Remember to check the road/ground for skid marks or tire tracks and be sure to document all road signs and even the weather/road conditions present at the time of the accident. This is an important step as not all drivers will admit if an accident is their fault.

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