Car Accident Safety

Any type of car accident can be traumatic; practicing car accident safety immediately after a collision can help you avoid further harm. Based on hearing the details of hundreds of cases, our team of car accident lawyers recommend the following actions.

Car Accident Safety Tips

This list assumes that you are conscious and not in critical condition after the accident.

• Switch on your hazard lights. This alerts other drivers to the fact that you’re in trouble and improves your car’s visibility.
• If your car is still drivable, pull it over to a safe spot, out of the way of traffic. If the vehicle is too damaged or you are too injured to drive, stay in the car and keep your seatbelt on until help arrives.
• If you have any passengers, check them for injury. Do not move a seriously injured person
• Call 911 to have the operator dispatch police and an ambulance.
• Stay in the car — unless you smell gas. Car fires and explosions are relatively rare, but are a possibility. Deployed airbags can create smoke and a burning smell when there is no real danger of fire, but for car accident safety reasons, err on the side of caution.
• If you do get out for the car, be extremely careful to stay out of the way of oncoming traffic. If it’s dark, you’re on the side of the freeway, or stopped after a bend in the road, there is additional danger of further injury. Exchanging information with the other driver can wait until the police have diverted traffic.

Safe Driving Practices

Of course, the best way to ensure car accident safety is to avoid getting in a car accident. Here are some safety tips that should decrease the odds of you getting injured in an accident.

• Drive a safe car. Many newer cars are designed with advanced safety features like blind spot detection and crumple zones. Check vehicle safety ratings before buying a new car.
• Drive defensively. Be prepared to react to erratic driving of others on the road.
• Keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you, i.e. don’t “tailgate.”
• Always know the posted speed limit and obey it.
• Keep your brakes and tires in good working condition. Don’t skip vehicle maintenance appointments, or if you do your own maintenance, check for signs of wear on a regular basis.

Hopefully, it goes without saying that you should obey all traffic laws, like using your seatbelt. Review the California Driver Handbook if you need to brush up on the rules of the road.

When You Need a Car Accident Lawyer

Accidents do happen, and if they happen to you because of another driver’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated. To maximize your potential case settlement, contact us for a free case evaluation before you talk to any insurance companies. We’ll handle your legal issues so you can focus on recovery.