When I say "assess the situation," I simply mean take a moment to calmly evaluate the situation before you act. I know, it's easy for me to say that you should stay calm. I'm not the one who just looked up, saw a car speeding right at me and thought I was about to die . . . or who just had a glass window or windshield explode into my lap . . . or the one who is in excruciating pain from an injury.
Yes, it's easy for me to say this as I sit safely in front of my computer typing these words. It is much harder to carry out this advice in the middle of the chaos of a car accident. But, as much as you can, after the dust of your car accident settles, stay calm and focus on what you have to do. Take stock of what has happened and figure out what needs to be done.
Evaluate Your Medical Condition
First, after you calm yourself, evaluate your medical condition. Of course, if you were knocked unconscious and wake up in a hospital bed later, the rest of this information about what you should do at the scene of your car accident does not apply to you. Just skip ahead to the section that talks about what you should do AFTER your car accident.
Or, if you are seriously hurt, stay as calm as you can and wait for help to arrive. Don't worry about the other things that you should do at the scene. Take comfort from the fact that the more serious the accident is, the more thorough the police investigation. If you can't do the things I recommend because you are seriously injured, don't worry because the police will probably do most of it and you can get their report later.
So, back to the subject of evaluating your condition. Are you hurt? How badly are you hurt? Be particularly careful about head injuries and neck injuries. If you think you have a head injury or a neck injury, don't move until help arrives and your injury is stabilized. In you have what seems like a serious injury to some other part of your body, do the same thing. Don't move until help arrives and your injury is stabilized. Sometimes, movement can make your injury worse. Don't take any chances. Of course, this "don't move" advice assumes it is safe to stay in your car. If it would be dangerous to stay in your car . . . such as if the car is on fire . . . get out of the car if you can and move to a safer place to wait for help.
Fortunately, in most car accidents, you will not be disabled. You will be able to move around the accident scene and follow much or all of the advice that I give. You don't have to spend a great deal of time assessing the situation. This could all happen in a moment. But be sure to take however much time you need to calm yourself, steady your nerves and evaluate your situation before you do anything.
You're O.K. What Do You Do Next?
After you evaluate your condition and determine that you can safely move around, what you should do next depends on the circumstances of your car accident. Prioritize and start with the most urgent need, whether it is helping someone who is injured, protecting the scene or calling the police or an ambulance. Usually, you will have help. Others involved in the accident or witnesses may appear. If that happens, don't be afraid to take charge and assign tasks to them. For example, ask someone to direct traffic away from the accident scene while you call for an ambulance and then assist or comfort someone who is injured.
