Can you ever really be prepared for a car accident? People will argue that being prepared for an accident isn't really worth bothering with as chances are you won't ever need them. However, on the flip side, knowing what to call should you be in a road traffic accident can help you mitigate the situation as best as possible and give you a head start in recovering and making sense of what has happened.

What exactly is involved n preparing for a car accident, and what can help you out should you be in an accident?

Supplies

We're not talking on the scale of Doomsday prepping but having a kit in your car that can sustain you will be hugely beneficial, especially if you have an accident in a remote location. It can take some time for emergency services to find you. Having a supply kit in the car if you have children is also recommended. Your kit should include one or all of the following;

• Water

• Energy drinks

• Dry snacks

• Protein bars

• Blankets

• Gloves

• First aid kit

• Torch

• Rain poncho

• Spare charger for electronic devices

• Emergency contact details 

• Pen and paper

Emergency Car Kit

An emergency car kit can include jumper cables, work gloves, puncture repair kit, spare bulbs for taillights/headlamps, deicer, water to top up, oil, bungee cords, tire iron, jack. These items can help you out should you have any type of emergency, not just a car accident.

Other great additions to emergency car kits are flares, warning triangles, and ones to alert others of an accident or breakdown so they can avoid a pile-up in reduced visibility or during the night. These items can be picked up at many retailers, in stores, or online and can be kept in the trunk along with the rest of your emergency kit.

List of Contacts

This is especially important if you are going on a long trip and there is a chance your phone might run out of battery or cannot communicate with emergency services.

Write down who you are, your age, any medical issues you might have, and your doctor's details. Replicate this for every passenger. Add in emergency contact details and your relationship with that person.  If you cannot relay this information to first responders, they can get any information they need from this piece of paper. Keep it somewhere handy, and in a place, they will typically look for it, for example with your documentation. Other handy information to have is the detail of the location you will be going to if traveling for leisure, contact details for Injury Lawyers should you be in an accident that wasn’t your fault and caused you an injury.

License and Insurance

Drivers must carry their license and insurance details with them legally when driving; in with this, you should include any other insurance policies such as health insurance so your details can be accessed easily in the event of an accident.  Keep your detail secure inside your car, so your details never leave the car, and there is no dispute as to if you have the right insurance or who is legally allowed to drive the car.

Escape Tool

This can be included in your emergency kits. However, it needs to be discussed on its own. An escape tool can be bought at many different auto outlets and retailers across the country. The tools are made of one sharp blade designed to cut through seat belts to release you from your seat and two steel tips that can assist in breaking windows should you be unable to leave the vehicle via the doors.

What Should You Do In The Event of An Accident?

Should you be unfortunate enough to be in an accident, it is important to remember to stay calm and, in the first instance, call for help should you require emergency services. If there are no injuries, but you have sustained car damage, it is important to ensure you document all the damage with pictures if possible and ensure you have taken and given all the relevant information to other drivers involved. If your car can't be driven, then you need to have it towed to a safe destination or a garage for repairs to allow you to continue n with your journey.

Get all the details of any witnesses who stopped n case you need to call on them. If you have broken down, you need to move away from the car to a safe space to avoid injuries from passing motorists and call the relevant services to arrange the removal of your car from its current location. Having a backup or emergency car kit can help you prepare and be ready for a variety of different circumstances and let people know exactly what has happened quickly and easily.