As a crash survivor, I’ve learned firsthand how crucial road safety is. One moment can change everything, and being cautious behind the wheel can make all the difference. Preventing crashes, protecting yourself, and knowing how to recover if you are injured can make all the difference. Here’s a comprehensive guide on what every driver should know to avoid collisions, to protect themselves, and how to recover when you are injured in a crash.
Preventing Crashes: Safe Driving Habits
- Stay Alert and Avoid Distractions: Never use your phone while driving. Keep your focus on the road, avoid eating, or engaging in other activities that can distract you. Preventing a crash means you need to focus on the road at all times.
- Observe Speed Limits: Speeding reduces reaction time and increases the severity of crashes. Always follow speed limits and adjust your speed to road conditions (rain, fog, etc.).
- Maintain Safe Following Distance: Keep enough space between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
- Use Turn Signals and Check Blind Spots: Always signal your intentions and check your mirrors, especially before changing lanes or turning. This helps avoid sudden collisions.
- Adjust for Weather Conditions: In rainy, snowy, or icy conditions, reduce your speed and increase your following distance. Poor weather increases stopping time and the risk of losing control.
- Obey Traffic Signs and Signals: Stop at red lights and follow all traffic signals. Running red lights or ignoring traffic signs can cause a crash or even lead to a fatal incident.
- Drive Defensively: Expect the unexpected. Be aware of other drivers’ actions, even if they are erratic, and try to predict potential hazards.
- Maintain Your Vehicle: Regularly check your brakes, tires, lights, and other critical systems to ensure the vehicle is in good working order. A well-maintained car is safer to drive. Preventing an unnecessary collision is key.
Protection: Minimizing Injury During a Collision
- Buckle Up: Always wear your seatbelt, and ensure all passengers do the same. Seatbelts dramatically reduce the likelihood of severe injuries in the event of a crash.
- Adjust Your Seat and Headrest Properly: Ensure your seat is positioned so that your knees are slightly bent, your back is supported, and you can easily reach the pedals. Your headrest should align with the top of your head to prevent whiplash in rear-end crashes.
- Use Child Safety Seats: If driving with children, make sure they are in the correct car seat, booster seat, or seatbelt for their age and size.
- Do Not Drive Under the Influence: Never drive while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or fatigue. Impaired driving significantly increases the risk of a crash.
If a Crash Happens: How to Respond
- Stay Calm and Check for Injuries: After you have been involved in a motor vehicle crash, try to stay calm. Check yourself and passengers for injuries. If anyone is hurt, immediately call emergency services.
- Move to Safety: If the car is still operational and it’s safe to do so, move it to the side of the road to prevent further collisions. Turn on hazard lights to alert other drivers.
- Call the Police: Even if the crash seems minor, always contact the police. A police report is critical for insurance claims and legal matters.
- Document the Scene: Take photos of the damage, road conditions, and any relevant details (such as nearby signs, skid marks, or weather conditions) if you can. Exchange information with the other driver(s) (names, phone numbers, license plate numbers, insurance details).
- Don’t Admit Fault: Avoid admitting fault at the scene, as the situation might be more complex than it appears. Let the police and insurance companies handle liability.
- Seek Medical Attention: Even if you feel fine, it’s wise to see a doctor after a crash. Injuries like whiplash, brain injuries or internal injuries may not show immediate symptoms.
- Notify Your Insurance: Report the incident to your insurance company as soon as possible. Provide them with accurate information and documentation to facilitate claims.
Recovery: Physical and Emotional Healing
- Follow Medical Advice: If you’ve been injured, follow your doctor’s recommendations for treatment.
- Manage Pain and Stress: Injuries from a collision can be traumatic both physically and emotionally. Be patient with your recovery and seek support from a therapist if necessary.
- Know Your Legal Rights: If you’re involved in a serious crash, especially one with significant injury or damage, consult with a personal injury lawyer to ensure you’re properly compensated.
- Document Medical Expenses: Keep track of any medical bills, medications, or treatments related to the crash for insurance purposes and potential legal claims.
- Stay Patient: Recovery can take time. If you’ve suffered an injury, don’t rush back to normal activities. Prioritize your health and follow the guidance of healthcare professionals.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Driving safely can have a big impact. By taking our pledge and encouraging others to do the same, you are contributing to a safer community. Your pledge to drive safely is a crucial step in preventing crashes and protecting lives. Each person who commits to safe driving contributes to a larger effort to make our roads safer for everyone. Take our pledge today: PLEDGE TO DRIVE SAFELY
It’s time for us to step up. To make the road a safer place, not just for us but for everyone. Road safety is important – trust me, you don’t want to be injured in a motor vehicle crash. The recovery process from injuries is a long journey, it can be painful, financially draining and full of numerous challenges. It’s so much easier to prevent a motor vehicle crash than to deal with the aftermath. Safety on the road is essential for everyone. Adopting good driving habits and knowing how to respond in case of a motor vehicle crash can reduce the risk of injury. Let’s keep the road a safer place for everyone.
S. Dawne McKay is a survivor of a horrific crash that changed her life forever. Dawne shares her personal journey as a Crash Survivor Blogger and also collaborates with crash survivors as Guest Bloggers allowing them an opportunity to share their stories. Dawne is also the author of the book, “Talk Crash to Me – What to Expect After Surviving a Collision and How to Manage Your Recovery” which is available for purchase on Amazon.
The Crash Support Network is a unique one-of-a-kind website consisting of an online support group, a crash survivor blog, a quarterly newsletter, “Sharing Our Recovery” as well as highly informative articles. Our website is based on relationship-building and puts the needs of survivors first by creating a helpful resource for victims and survivors of motor vehicle crashes.
