Plenty of us have been there, and more of us will go there. Sitting there in your vehicle minding your own business until WHAM! You get hit from behind or perhaps from the front, or maybe even worse…
With slippery winter weather upon us, motor vehicle collisions will increase.
This article will hopefully give you a little insight and advice if you are ever involved in one. Unfortunately I could not possibly cover this subject in 450 words, so please visit our website for a longer version.
FIRST THINGS FIRST:
Here are some things you can do to help protect yourself before you are involved in a collision.
Check with your insurance company to find out what your coverage is. Many people’s policies are defaulted to the minimum coverage, and with just a little more money per month one can greatly increase one’s coverage.
Raise that “headrest!”
It’s not actually a headrest, but a head restraint. Its purpose is to keep your head from snapping backward in a collision. In order for this to work, the top of the restraint must come up at least to your mid head level. If you get hit from behind and the restraint is not high enough, your head will simply snap backward over the top of it – so raise it up!
Also, the closer to your head the restraint is, the safer you are!
Avoid driving with your arms crossed over the steering wheel.
If your arms are crossed and your airbag goes off, you will get smacked in the face with your own arms.
Most airbags deploy at 80 to 190 miles per hour!
Wear your seatbelt!
You can always google pictures if you need more convincing…
Keep loose items low in your car.
They become projectiles in a crash.
WHAT TO DO:
Here are some things to consider doing if you are in a collision.
- Both cars can try to pull over to the side of the road if it is safe to do so. If the collision is more severe, stay put! Safety is key!
- Police should be called as soon as possible.
- Exchange insurance information (you do have insurance right?) if you can.
- Get names and phone numbers of witnesses if you can.
- Call your insurance company and let them know what happened.
- Document everything! Take pictures of vehicle damage as well as pictures of your own visible injuries.
- Seek medical attention even if your injuries seem minor. Injuries often last much longer than you think, so get the help you need – sooner than later.
- The longer you wait, the longer it often takes to heal, and the harder it becomes to make a full recovery.
So stay safe out there, and call us here at Southern Oregon Sports and Spine if you have any questions.
Southern Oregon Sports & Spine
987 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
(541) 482-0625
Check out their website here
