Blog

Auto & Vehicle Accidents

• Vehicle Malfunction Leads to Fatal Accident in Missouri; No Passengers were Wearing Seat Belts

View All

Ever Wondered How To Escape A Sinking Car? A Gladstone, MO Auto Accident Lawyer Explains.

It's a common scenario in movies, but it does happen in real life. Every year, more than 10,000 people become trapped in water after a car accident; 300 die. Could it happen here? Yes. A car that is going too fast for wet weather could go off the road and end up in the Missouri River. Do you know what to do if you find yourself in a sinking car?

We rarely think about drowning in a car accident; however, recent the wet weather and flooding throughout the Midwest makes drowning in a car accident a possibility. What can you do if your car goes off the road and into the water? Get out as soon as possible. Our Gladstone, MO auto accident lawyer gives these tips:

1. Always wear your seatbelt. Your seatbelt offers the best protection against injury and death, even if you are trapped underwater. Worried that undoing a seatbelt would take too much time? Just imagine how much harder it would be to escape a sinking car with a serious injury. In fact, if you lose consciousness, you may not escape at all.

2. Don't panic. Take a deep breath and stay calm. You have between two and ten minutes to get out. This is plenty of time as long as you can think clearly.

3. Unlock your door immediately and open the window. You want to do this as soon as possible because the electric systems of your car will stop working once they are wet. If the window won't open, you will need to either break a window or use the door. I'll write more about that in a minute.

4. Unfasten your seat belt. If your seat belt won't come undone, cut through it with a pocket knife or a LifeHammer. A LifeHammer is a tool that allows auto accident victims to cut through seatbelts and break windows in order to escape their cars. It is a great thing to keep in your glove compartment.

5. Get out. Once you are out, don't go back. Get to shore as soon as possible. Your life is more important than your wallet or IPhone.

6. Swim to safety.

So what do you do if the window won't open? Front windows are made of safety glass and are very hard to break. You will need to use a tool like the LifeHammer or ResQMe to break a side or rear window. If you have no tools, you can try hitting a corner of the window until it breaks. You can also try using a door, but the water pressure will make it very heavy. It will be easier to open if you wait until the car is almost full of water and pressure has equalized. You'll be able to breathe the air above the waterline.

The Gladstone, MO auto accident lawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys hope you never have to use these tips. Our Missouri personal injury lawyers represent accident victims throughout Missouri. We believe the best way to help an accident victim is by preventing the accident from occurring. If you are in an accident, our website is full of resources to help you. We even offer a free book, 10 Essential Steps You Must Take To Protect Your Injury Claim. If you'd like to discuss your claim with a Missouri personal injury lawyer, contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys at 888-348-2616.

Just Ask

Free Consumer Guides

Don't Wreck Your Injury Claim

Video

Who Pays for My Medical Bills After a Kansas Auto Accident?

Who Pays My Medical Bills After A Kansas City MO Car Accident?

What Is My KC Car Accident Injury Worth?

Do I Need a Lawyer to Handle My Claim

Devastating Impact of Drunk Driving

View All

click to enlarge

Testimonials

• I’m highly satisfied, I would call Victor again. I needed his help, and he has been a great attorney. I’m very comfortable recommending victor to other clients. Now that I’m happy with how much he’s helped me, I’m definitely recommending him to anyone that needed his help.
• Heather was very nice and polite and very informative. Heather was very responsive when I asked her questions and very informative. Yes, she was very aggressive with the insurance company. She was very aggressive trying to get a higher amount. Yes she was very nice. She is very informative and knows what she is doing.
• It was great to work with Heather, she kept me informed about everything, the dos and the don’ts and what everything was and kept me on track. she was very professional she told you what was going on, she kept you a breast of everything that was going on, she was an excellent lawyer. Ms Heather and the whole staff at the Accident Injury firm, I would recommend them to anybody across the world, that they are excellent, honest attorneys.

View All

Latest News

• Posted on 5/15/2012Paramedics Injured in Auto Accident Caused by Speeding Motorist Running a Red Light
• Posted on 5/15/2012Three Children Killed in Tragic Accident Caused by Blown Tire on Missouri Highway

View All

FAQs

Auto & Vehicle Accidents

• A car sped up when it should have slowed down and hit my car, causing me serious injuries. Clearly the driver hit the gas instead of the brake. Do I need a Kansas City auto accident attorney to help me recover damages?

View All

Web Resources

• Auto & Vehicle Accidents

more