When you are in an auto accident, your first concern is the safety of your passengers. Thoughts of automobile damage and collision repair are a distant second. Therefore, it makes sense to do all you can to minimize injuries in the event of a crash by following the guidelines below.

Do:

Wear your seatbelt.

The seatbelt is the most effective device for preventing automobile injuries among front-seat passengers. It reduces the risk of death by 45% and the risk of serious injury by 50%. Failure to buckle up also increases your chances of being thrown from the vehicle.

Move the seat back.

The airbag deploys at a rate between 100 and 220 miles per hour, so you want to be as far away from it as possible to lessen the impact. Adjust your seat as far back from the dash or steering wheel as you can. If you are in the driver's seat, make sure you can still reach the pedals easily and grip the wheel securely and comfortably.

Don't:

Leave loose items lying around.

Store loose items in the trunk or secure them to the seat or floor. Otherwise, inertia will turn them into deadly projectiles if you should be involved in a front-end collision. A 10-lb laptop bag striking the back of your head at 70 miles per hour could break your neck. 

Drive while drowsy or distracted.

The best way to avoid collision repair and accident injuries is to avoid the crash itself. Distracted and tired driving are two of the main contributors to automobile accidents, so you should avoid them at all costs. If you feel yourself nodding on the road, pull off and find a place to rest for a while. Often, a half-hour snooze will refresh you completely. Even more dangerous, never check email or texts while driving. If you must use the phone, operate it in hands-free mode.

If you’ve been involved in an auto accident and need collision repair, bring it to Premier Collision Center in Broken Arrow, OK. They serve customers from all over Tulsa County and are proud of the number of word-of-mouth referrals and repeat customers they've earned. Their services include auto painting, paintless dent repair, and car scratch removal. Visit their website to message them or call (918) 258-9595 to schedule a collision repair appointment.