Tips to Keep You Safe During a Rear-End Collision

Keep Safe During a Rear-End Accident

You’re at a stoplight waiting for the green light when you glance in the mirror and notice the car behind you is traveling faster than they should and not slowing down.  What do you do?  Do you place your feet on the brake in hopes you are not pushed into the car in front of you or into oncoming traffic?  Do you turn your wheel in hopes that you are pushed onto the side of the road and not into anything or anyone?

What If we told you that the best course of action is to prepare yourself for impact?

Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types seen throughout central West Virginia.  Driving in Morgantown and Fairmont, you see streets crowded with students, in Clarksburg you have big trucks hauling wastewater and in Bridgeport, you find heavy traffic during school hours.  Each of these situations leave you prone to a rear-end collision.  Unfortunately, you can not avoid most traffic situations, but you can be prepared when you see a car barreling towards you and you have no place to go.

5 Tips to Keep You Safe During a Rear-End Collision

1. When coming to a stop sign or stopped traffic, make sure you leave plenty of room between you and the car in front of you.  You should at a minimum be able to see the bottom of the rear tires of the car in front of you.  This will allow some space to move if you are hit from behind or need to maneuver your vehicle out of the way of a potential situation.

2. Place your hands firmly on the steering wheel and hold your arms in a slightly bent angle.  Experts suggest that this will allow you to maintain some control of your vehicle if you are hit and pushed forward.

3. Keep your head upright and against the headrest to reduce the potential of whiplash.  Although this action may not prevent injury, it will allow your head additional support so that it does not bounce back and forth during any type of collision.

4. Always, always wear your seatbelt.  Besides the legal requirement, the wearing of a seatbelt will help prevent your body from being jarred around in the vehicle during an accident.  As any impact will create a danger to you and your passengers, seatbelt has been proven time and again to reduce the amount of injury you sustain.

5. If when glancing in your rear-view mirror, you see a car approaching at a fast speed, feel free to warn them by tapping your brakes or turning on your hazards.  This should grab the attention of the vehicle behind you.

In a Rear-End Collision, Don’t Panic.

If you still end up in an accident, don’t panic.  Just get into a safe area and assess your injuries.  Make sure you have all of your injuries treated and file an accident report with the local authorities.  If you can not move your vehicle, call 911 from your car, or have someone else do it for you.

Take a look at these steps to ensure you protect your claim.  If you have any additional questions or you or your loved one has been in a rear-end collision, do not hesitate to contact our office.  We are available to discuss your case and answer any questions that you may have.