Car Accident Injury: How to Be Prepared

While no one likes to think about being in a car accident, the fact is that car accidents are incredibly common. Worldwide approximately 50 million people are injured in some type of vehicle related accident every year. According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT), in the U.S. alone more than 37,000 people die in car crashes annually. An additional 20 to 50 million people a year are injured or disabled from an accident.

Car accidents are not only extremely dangerous, but they are also very costly. Car crashes cost the U.S. approximately $230.6 billion dollars annually. After a car crash, things can feel quite hectic. Most people are caught off guard and feeling scrambled to figure out what exactly happened. There are some things you can do in advance, however, in the event that you are involved in an accident, to be as prepared as possible.

Six Things You Can Do To Be Prepared in the Event of a Car Accident

While being in a car accident is never easy, there are some things you can do in advance that may help you cope in the unfortunate event that you are in an accident. Here are six recommended tips to follow:

1. Have some type of emergency signal. Keep orange cones, emergency triangles or flares in your trunk. If you are in a car crash, it is helpful to be able to alert oncoming traffic to the incident.

2. Keep your car insurance information up-to-date and accessible. One of the first things you will need if you are in a car crash is easy access to your car insurance information. Make sure to keep this information with you in a convenient location at all times.

3. Write down any relevant medical information for you and your family. In the event that you are in a car accident with injuries, having fast access to any important medical information for you and other family members who travel with you frequently is highly recommended.

4. Have a phone and a phone charger with you. Whether you are in a minor fender bender or a more serious car accident, chances are you will want access to a telephone to make phone calls after the accident.

5. Travel with pen and paper. If you are in a car accident, there is some important information you will want to gather immediately following the incident including the names of the people involved, addresses, car insurance information, phone numbers, email information, and car make and model.

6. Know who you will contact in the event that you are in a car accident. If you are injured in a car crash, chances are there are emergency contacts you will want to call. In addition, you will likely want the help of a skilled personal injury attorney. Having a good reference for an experienced personal injury attorney is advisable in the event that you are in an accident.