When we advise our clients that there are things they can do to prepare themselves for being involved in an accident they often give  a surprised look.  While there is nothing you can do to prepare for everything a car accident sends your way, there are some steps you can take to prepare for an accident.

1. Always wear your seatbelt: nothing can protect you more in an automobile collision than wearing a seatbelt.

2. Make sure your automobile insurance is up to date, and that it includes Personal Injury Protection Coverage or Medical Payments Coverage.  Click on the "Insurance Information" link to the left for more information.

3. Buy an inexpensive disposable camera and put it in your glove compartment, for taking pictures should you be involved in an accident.

4. Keep a pen and paper in your car to write down information and make diagrams of the scene of an accident and location of the vehicles.

5.  Keep your vehicle in good working order.  This discourages a defendant from claiming that something was wrong with you vehicle that contributed to the cause of the accident or contributed to your injuries.  Examples include taillight damage, malfunctions and cracked windshields or mirrors.