Why You Need A Car Accident Kit
No one wakes up in the morning and says “I am going to get in a car accident today.”
And even though the number of auto accidents are on the decline According to the NHTSA, accidents still happen every day. Having a Car Accident Kit can save your life and the lives around you. They can also help prepare you with claims with your insurance company. Make sure to talk with a Tulsa Auto Accident Attorney first, before you call your insurance company, and use the Tulsa Attorney Directory to find the lawyer that can help you. Should you find yourself or loved ones involved in a car accident, a Car Accident Kit can help you prepare for any event.
Your First Call
After being involved in a Tulsa Auto Accident, your first call should be to 911. This will allow the first responders to arrive on the scene as quickly as possible. Be prepared to give an exact location of the accident, if there are any injuries, property damage, and any other helpful information to the 911 dispatcher.
If Tulsa, Oklahoma is facing inclement weather, the Tulsa Police Department may announce “Operation Slick Streets” Meaning that TPD will not come out out investigate an accident unless one of the following conditions exists:
- Fatality or Injury
- Drunk Driver
- Hit and Run
- City Owned Vehicle
If the above conditions are not met, you will need to fill out a Traffic Collision Report and you must exchange the following:
- Name, address, and phone numbers of all drivers
- Driver license information.
- The tag year, state, and number of each vehicle involved.
- Insurance verification information.
- The year, make, and model of each vehicle involved.
- The name, address, and phone number of the registered owner of each vehicle involved.
Building Your Kit
Failing to prepare is planning to fail! Putting together a Car Accident Kit can seem overwhelming. There is a lot to consider, and if you are starting from scratch the price of your items can start to stack up. Fortunately, you can start small and build your kit piece by piece. Here is a List of Items that should be a part of your kit:
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Pocket Sized Notepad / Pen
- There is a lot of information that needs to be taken in a short period of time during an accident. Having Personal / Contact Information for all of the parties involved can make all of the difference when it’s time to file a claim
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First Aid Kit
- Useful for treating everyday wounds a first-aid kit is the foundation of any Car Accident Kit. Make sure you have plenty of gloves, bandages, gauze, alcohol wipes and something to treat minor burns. If you end up using any items, be sure to replenish it.
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Tool Kit
- If your car does breakdown having a hammer, adjustable wrench, pliers, multi tool, basic socket set, and tire pressure gauge can be helpful in a time of need. Keeping the tire gauge and multi tool in your glove box, and the rest of the items next to your spare tire is a great place to hide the tools until you need them.
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Phone Power Bank
- Not having enough battery in your phone is a real problem when you need to make phone calls. Having a Phone Power Bank is a great way to prevent you from running out. To make sure you have enough battery, try to get a power bank that will last up to 2X your normal usage. Remember to discharge and recharge on a monthly basis.
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Disposable Camera
- Having a Disposable Camera in your glove box can be a life-saver. If, for some reason, your cell phone doesn’t work, you can use the disposable camera as a backup. Try to keep the disposable in it’s packaging until you need it. Take pictures of all of the angles, tire tracks, car and property damage.
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Flashlight / Window Breaker / Seatbelt Cutter
- Most tactical flashlights are inexpensive and include a rechargeable battery and solid housing. Some include an indent on the lens to break a windshield. Make sure your flashlight has a lasting battery and it is bright enough for you to change your car tire at night. You should keep this and your seatbelt cutter somewhere you can access it easily, like the glove box.
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Blankets
- If you live where it gets below 50 degrees at night, it’s a good idea to have a blanket in your car. It can be used for all sorts of things, but should your car breakdown you can use it to stay warm in the winter.
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Battery Jumper / Cables
- If you don’t want to rely on others to jump start your vehicle, then you should look into a super capacity battery-less car jump starter. Most dead batteries have power, just not enough for your car to start. This device will store power from your “dead” battery into a super high capacity device, and when you have enough juice, you can start your car. This and jumper cables will help you jump start your car.
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Small Fire Extinguisher
- Having a Small Fire Extinguisher in your car may be the only thing that can save your life if a fire breaks out. Make sure you get a fire extinguisher that can handle all types of fires. Most car fires start out small, and by having an extinguisher in your car, you may be able to stop it before it escalates out of control .
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Duct Tape / Zip Ties / Corded Rope
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Duct Tape, Zip Ties, and Corded Rope are necessary tools for any emergency. You can use these items when needed to temporarily fix your vehicle, in an emergency. And while you may get to your destination safely, make sure your car is fixed properly soon. Relying on your own fixes can lead to a breakdown or another accident.
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Emergency Rations
- Having energy bars and plenty of water is something that we don’t think about, but having them in your reach can make all of the difference. If you are involved in an accident, even a minor one, your physical needs will change as your body processes what you are going through. Give your body what it needs with plenty of water and something to eat.
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ICE Contact information
- ICE (In Case of Emergency) labeled in your contacts on your phone can assist first responders contacting your chosen contacts if you can’t make the call yourself. Consider this label with three of the most trusted people in your life. Don’t forget to update this information as trusted people change places in your life.