For many of us who have been lucky enough to avoid collisions or roadside emergencies, it may seem easy to think of what to do. Get out of the road, call 9-1-1, get the other person’s information. But what if you’re scrambling to write on a napkin, or don’t really know what to ask? What if it’s freezing outside and you’re lost? Make sure you’re prepared by keeping a small, already prepared package in the trunk or floor of your backseat (in case you can’t open the trunk).

Picture this: You’re driving down a dark highway, listening to music, and watching all the road signs. Maybe you turn the radio station, or yawn, or scratch your leg. Maybe you don’t even do anything differently at all, and just hit a patch of black ice or a deer, or are hit by another vehicle. Suddenly, you see a flash of headlights and your body is rocked with the shockwave of a high speed collision. Your car spins and goes in the ditch, showering you with glittering glass. All you see is your white-knuckled hands clutching the steering with for dear life; all you hear is your heart beating out of your chest, and your panicked breathing. Your brain releases adrenaline as a response to the trauma; you may not feel much pain for a few hours, and things seem to move a little slower. The adrenaline will impede your ability to remember details, so it is important to write down anything you can remember, or turn on the voice memo function on your phone and start talking.

Because of the shock and subsequent adrenaline release, logic and order is not really at the forefront of your brain’s main focus. As a result, many people say things they really shouldn’t, forget to get details they should, and fail to make preventing further injury a priority. Having a car accident/emergency kit can make an enormous difference in your safety and the result of the claim, as it will provide all the products you need to use and walk you through the process of what to do.

Your Emergency Kit should contain:

Safety Items:

• Flare, Cones/Reflective triangles, Reflective Vest, Flashlight

Survival Items:

• Blanket, Hat, Leather gloves, Water, Nonperishable food items, Gas can

Information Gathering Items:

• Disposable camera, Tape recorder, Extra cell phone charger for car

A small 3 ring binder containing:

• Extra copy of insurance and registration
• Pen AND pencil
• Accident report form (see below)

You can purchase a kit like this one, available at Amazon.com, that contains many of the items you'll need.

Every vehicle in your household should have a complete kit, readily available and not pushed to the back of the trunk. It makes a thoughtful gift for a new driver you know, or a graduation or wedding present. Do you drive a company vehicle or have a commercial fleet? An Emergency Kit is simply a must for any driver.

Click here to download a printable Accident Report Form.

I recommend keeping a copy of the accident report form in the glove box and also one in your emergency kit box. You never know which part of your car you might not be able to access after an accident.

Have a question for Emily? Email her at emilyh@lymansheets.com, or follow her on Twitter @AgentEmilyHarte, become her friend on Facebook, and connect with her on LinkedIn.