Personal Injury Law

How to Survive a Car Wreck Sinking In The Water

By Brian F. LaBovick, Esq.

We are surrounded by water in Florida. It is almost impossible to drive on the roads and not be exposed to the dangers of your car somehow being sent into a canal. Recently, four South Florida  high school students escaped a sinking car  that landed in an Indian River County canal. Due to the quick thinking response of two of the teens in the sinking vehicle probably, all four survived the car accident.

There is no fail safe way to remain secure against  personal injury or wrongful death because of this danger, however, you can greatly increase your chances of survival by being prepared. Cars typically do not  immediately submerge after going into the water. You have a few moments in which a cool head and the right equipment can save your life and the lives of your passengers.

Here is our advice for surviving a car wreck that sends you into the water:

First, acknowledge consciously that this is a real danger and that it applies to you. Don't be like most  people and pretend that it just won't happen. Drive with the thought in your head that this is a possibility and you are going to execute your plan when it happens. Being prepared is half the battle.

Second, have the right equipment available for the moment of truth. There are easy to use seat belt cutters and window breaking hammer. You may also need some type of rag or towel to push away any glass. This is less important than breaking the window but will save you cuts and other injuries in your haste to exit the vehicle. These devices come in a single easy to use tool. Do not trust a mechanical device to break your window. I have read reviews of many of these devices and I am unimpressed with their actual results. Use the hammer type instrument and simply break the window when needed. Keep the tool in a secure and easy to reach location. That means you can reach it even if your seat belt is on and you are stuck to your seat. I carry one in the middle arm rest compartment of my car. My wife has one in the door pocket of her car.

Third, know the plan based on how the car slides into the water. Once the car is no longer moving rapidly you need to escape your seat belt. If you can't escape the seat belt you will need to cut yourself loose. Tell all passengers to get loose from their seat belts. If the car is in shallow water and sinking toward deeper water slowly, you may have time to actually open the door. This is the most useful exit but is rarely available. Most of the time the driver or passengers are ready to escape when the water is at or above window height making it almost impossible to open the door.

If the car is still running roll down the electric windows or break the window with your window hammer. It is far easier to break out the side windows rather than the rear view widow or front windshield. If you have manual windows you are driving a really old car, but that is good for you because you will be able to escape without the window breaking device. Once you have a window broken use the towel to cover your hand and push the glass out of the way. At this point the water will be gushing in and you will need to pull the glass toward you and not push it out of the car.

Finally, When the escape opening is large enough push through the water and get out of the vehicle.

This is obviously not a plan you ever want to employ, but simply thinking about it and actually planning the steps in your mind could save your life someday. Given that Florida is one of the most water intensive states in the country you should prepare for the worst and enjoy your safe driving.

 

Full post as published by LaBovick Injury Law Blog on November 09, 2010 (boomark / email).