In driver’s education, you learn all about road safety procedures and how to operate a motor vehicle but not always What To Do If They Get Into a Car Accident.
Unfortunately, they do not go into significant depth about what happens if the unfortunate event occurs of getting into a car accident.
It’s scary to get into an accident – but it can be even scarier if your teenager finds themselves in a car wreck once they have gotten their license.
As a parent, you’re likely already struggling with letting them into the real world of adult responsibilities.
They are your babies and you want only what is best for them.
This is why it’s important to start teaching your new drivers all about what to do in case an emergency happens on the road.
They’ll need to be prepared to learn about how to exchange proper information with the other drivers, who to call, and even when it is time to hire a car accident lawyer.
Here are a few tips to help you get your teenager prepared in case of a car accident.
Table of Contents
Safety First
The very first thing you want to teach your child as a new driver when an accident happens is making sure they are safe, as well as the other passengers in the vehicle.
Tell them to first check themselves for any injuries.
Then, ask their friends in the vehicle if they are safe as well.
Never move them unless they are in immediate danger.
More damage can be done if the person is severely injured; the need to be properly moved by a medical professional, such as a paramedic or firefighter.
Afterwards, check on those involved in the accident in the other vehicles.
Once they are safely out of the way, if possible, they will want to move the car out of any traffic.
More accidents can occur if the car is in an intersection or does not allow proper flow of traffic.
If it is unsafe to do so, leave the cars where they are.
After everyone’s safety is ensured, call 911 to inform the police and emergency response team to come assist the situation.
Exchange this Necessary Information
This is where young, new drivers are often uncertain of what to do.
It’s important to teach your children what information to get from the other drivers and what information they need to give back.
Inform them to exchange:
- Insurance information such as the company, policy number, insurance phone number, and address.
- Contact information including their full name, phone number, and email address. This also includes anyone else who was involved in the accident as well.
- Do not provide any critical or sensitive information such as your social security number. This is not necessary information that needs to be provided to anyone and could result in a scam.
Document the Scene
Documenting the scene means taking photos and videos of the accident.
Take far-away photos of the scene along with close-ups of your vehicle as well as the others that are involved.
Make sure to capture proper details of any property damage that was done.
Teach your child that these will be used in respect to the insurance claims that will be made as well as used in court if the accident requires the need of an attorney.
Your child needs to understand the full repercussions of an accident.
That way, if it occurs again as an adult, they will be ready and prepared when the time comes to hire an accident lawyer.
In many cases, adults will ask witnesses nearby to provide statements.
In the case of a child, it’s important to be safe and not speak to strangers who are at the scene.
This should be left to the authorities, such as the police officer, who will be in charge of writing the official police report.
If the accident happens in Florida, you can look for the FLHSMV crash report online after it has been filed.
All you need is some of the incident’s basic information, such as your car’s VIN, the collision’s date, and the ZIP code.
Stay Calm
A critical element for anyone who has been in a car accident is remembering to stay calm.
As a young sixteen-year-old driver, they are more than likely not only terrified by the situation that has happened, but also considering the repercussions at home from their parents.
Your teen does not want to disappoint you, but might also be concerned about the trouble they will get into at home.
Both you and your child need to remember the importance of taking deep breaths to be able to work through the situation calmly.
Reinforce that the most important thing you care about is their safety, rather than making them feel like they will be reprimanded if an accident happens.
You want them to be able to come to you in an emergency, rather than avoid telling you.
