How Can We Ensure Everyone's Safety in the Event of an Accident?

Nobody intends to be involved in an accident. However, you can be prepared if one does occur. It's natural to believe that this will never happen to you. That is not to say you should not travel. However, it is prudent to take precautions in advance to ensure the best possible outcome in the event of the unthinkable.

Wearing a seatbelt is one of the most effective methods of road safety protection. The Alabama Department of Transportation reports that 56% of people killed in car accidents were not wearing their seatbelts. While it is against the law to ride in the front seat of a vehicle without a seatbelt, it is also in your best interest.

If you are not restrained in a serious crash, your airbags will not protect you. To begin, airbag systems occasionally fail to deploy properly during a collision. Second, when your airbag system is triggered by an impact, a small canister explodes, inflating the airbag. It is not a gentle process, and if you are not wearing your seatbelt, the force of an airbag deploying can injure or kill you.

Keep an emergency kit in your glove compartment in case of an accident. Drivers should carry a cell phone, as well as a pen and paper for taking notes, a disposable camera to photograph the scene's vehicles, and a card listing any medical allergies or conditions that may require special attention in the event of serious injuries. In the trunk, keep a set of cones, warning triangles, or emergency flares.

Automobiles are designed to protect you in the event of a collision, as long as you sit with proper posture. When your body is out of alignment as a result of slouching, reclining, or bracing against the car, additional injuries may result.

Adjust your seat while driving so that your thighs are supported, your arms reach the steering wheel comfortably, and you can see out of your mirrors without craning your neck. Ascertain that your headrest is properly adjusted to provide adequate support for your head. The headrest protects you from whiplash and other neck injuries; it is optimal if it is directly behind your head.

Make every effort to avert future collisions. Unless approaching vehicles are properly warned, you may be liable for their damage. Avoid relocating your car too far. Turn on hazard lights and, if possible, place cones, flares, or warning triangles. If your vehicle is unable to be driven, request that emergency responders contact a tow truck. Obtain the towing company's name, address, and telephone number, as well as, if possible, the location of the towing company.

During a car accident, loose objects become projectiles. Previously innocuous items such as canned goods, a laptop, a metal water bottle, or even a cell phone can cause significant damage in a car accident. To be safe, secure groceries and other valuables in your trunk or truck bed, or behind your driver's seat.

Provide no information about who was at fault for the accident. You may believe you are at fault and then discover that the other driver is just as much, if not more, to blame. Consult your insurance agent, your Nashville car accident lawyer, or both first. Whatever you say to the police or the other driver may later be used against you.

Until you speak with your insurance company or lawyer, do not agree to pay for damages or sign any paper other than a traffic ticket.