No one plans to be in a car accident. If you’ve ever been in a minor fender bender, I’m sure that you can remember the experience well. After establishing the fact that everyone involved was okay, you may have been left wondering what you should do next.
Questions like:
- Should I move my car?
- Should I get out of my car?
- If I get out of my car, where should I wait for the police?
Unfortunately, there is no universal answer. Safety experts from AAA recommend remaining inside your car and to move it out of the flow of traffic, if it is possible. The right hand shoulder of the highway is best, but if you have to, use the median.
If you exit your vehicle, you should do so very carefully. Be sure to watch for oncoming traffic. It is better to get hit inside your vehicle while buckled into the seat, then it is to get hit as a pedestrian. Be sure to get away from the road. Never stand in front of or behind the vehicle where it is hard to be seen.
If you smell gasoline, exit the vehicle immediately.
If you cannot exit your vehicle safely, stay inside and buckled up. Minor accidents are often the cause of multi-car pile-ups and if your vehicle is still in the flow of traffic, it is likely you will be hit again.
Call 911 and stay on the phone with the operator until the police arrive or until the operator tells you that you can hang up.
If you are injured in an auto or pedestrian accident, call Paul Thomson of The Thomson Law Firm today for a free consultation. (540) 777-4900.
