Car accidents happen every day. When there is bad weather, the number of accidents goes up. Over a recent holiday weekend, the Johnson County Post reported that 60 crashes happened in Johnson County during a snowstorm. These are the kinds of chain reaction accidents that you might be involved in. Even if you aren’t part of the accident, you could find yourself stranded on the road until the accidents are cleared. Would you know what to do after a roadside emergency in Kanas?
Steps to Take in Roadside Emergency
If you experience a mechanical failure such as engine overheating or a flat tire, you need to take the following steps to ensure your safety:
Step 1: Pull Off the Road
If possible, you should try to pull off to the side of the road to get out of the flow of traffic. This will ultimately benefit you because it will allow better access to emergency vehicles.
Step 2: Turn on your Hazard Lights
Turning on your hazard lights is essential if you suddenly find yourself unable to move in the middle of a road. You should also turn your lights on when you pull them off to indicate you are in distress.
Step 3: Call for Help
You should call for roadside assistance. That assistance can come from a family member, friend, or professional mechanic like the American Automobile Association (AAA).
Step 4: Stay in Your Vehicle
Unless you are able to fix the immediate mechanical problem, you should stay in your vehicle until help arrives. That is especially true at night on dark roads and in bad weather.
Step 5: Notify the Police
If you need to leave your car to get help, you should notify the police or highway patrol what is happening and why you are leaving your car. You can dial *47 to reach the Kansas Highway Patrol or *KTA (582) while on the Kansas Turnpike for the Kansas Turnpike Authority.
List of Emergency Supplies
How long do you think you could survive in your car? You could be stuck behind cars for several hours in a major collision accident. It might also be difficult to keep your motor running for that time. You need to prepare for any scenario by having a fully stocked emergency kit. This is what you should carry:
- Cell phone charger
- First-aid kit
- Blanket
- Drinking water
- Snacks
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Rags, paper towels, or pre-moistened wipes
- Basic set of car tools
- Road flares and reflectors
- Ice scraper and snow brush
- Jumper cables
- Traction aids such as sand, salt, or non-clumping cat litter
- Raincoat
- Mini shovel
What To Do After an Accident
Getting involved in an accident is different than being stranded. The first step in both situations is to call for help. If you’re in an accident, you want to have authorities respond to the scene. They can generate a crash report that can be an important element in your future claim.
In addition to calling the police, you’ll want to do the following after a car accident.
Collect Evidence
It is important to take as many photos and videos as possible of the accident scene. You want to document the damage, position of the cars, road conditions, weather, and time of day. All of those factors can be part of your accident claim.
You can also take photos of the insurance cards, license plates, and driver’s licenses of the other motorists involved in the accident. Later on, you’ll want to take photos of your injuries.
Talk to Witnesses
If there are any witnesses to the accident, you need to get their contact information. You can also ask to make a video recording of their statement. That will help them recall the events later on if they are called on to testify.
Seek Medical Treatment
After an accident, you’ll either be able to “walk away” or need to be taken away in an ambulance. With the former, there might not be obvious injuries, but you should still see a doctor within 24 hours of the accident. You might not experience any pain until the following day. It is important to document your injuries.
Talk to an Attorney
Most insurance companies require you to report an accident even if you aren’t going to make a claim. The other person you’ll want to talk to after an accident is an attorney. You might not need their services in every car accident, but it is essential to understand all of your options.
The experienced attorneys you’ll find at Prochaska, Howell & Prochaska LLC Law Firm can explain the challenges you might face with filing a claim, pursuing a civil case, and what is needed to achieve a fair resolution. Every decision you make needs to be an informed one.
