We hope that you never break down on the road or are involved in a collision with another vehicle. However, it if does happen, then you’ll want to be prepared for the worse case scenario and that includes equipping your car with an emergency kit that will cover both accidents and breakdowns and allow you to be prepared no matter what happens. Most of the items that you should keep in your emergency kit are found around the house or can be bought at the five and dime store for a dollar or two, but some you’ll want to spend some money and get the best quality possible.
The necessities: If you break down because of a dead battery you’ll want to make sure that you have a pair of jumper cables on hand that are long enough to reach between two cars. What you will find is that most drivers don’t carry jumper cables and that if you have limited traffic on a road and someone finally does stop, you don’t want to lose the opportunity to get your car going again. Also, you’ll want gasoline, water, antifreeze and oil, stored in the proper containers as well as a tire-inflator-in-a-can such as the name brand product Fix-A-Flat.
Tools: Tools will be required to make minor repairs or adjustments to your car, and they include a pair of pliers, vice grips, a flat head and regular screwdriver, as well as a good quality flashlight with fresh batteries that will allow you to see at night. It also goes without saying that you should have a spare tire, jack and lug wrench in case of a flat tire. Make sure that you have some extra fuses in your car as well so that you can replace one on the fly. Another good item to keep handy is an adjustable wrench, for removing bolts of various sizes.
Specifically for Accidents: You should also include some road flares that burn for ten or fifteen minutes, as well as a disposable camera and pens and paper, or a digital voice recorder to take down statements of those who witnessed the accident. Video of the accident scene is even better if you can afford a video camera solely for your vehicle. You should also have the number of your insurance agent and a cellphone with you at all times, even if you have to keep one of those disposable cellphones in the glove compartment just in case.
First Aid: Much of the equipment that you’ll want to have in your vehicle consists of first aid supplies, which can be for an accident or a repair. You should keep a standard first aid kit in your vehicle, as well as a fire extinguisher, and include aspirin, Tylenol, bandages, scissors, a blanket and heat and ice compresses as well as medical tape, gauze and antiseptic. Also make sure you have information available in an easy to find location that lists you and your families information including ages, pertinent medical information and allergies, and an emergency contact person.
And last but not least….print out our 800#….to be used after you call 911. Law Offices of Ledger & Associates 800-300-0001.
