How to Evacuate and Survive a Sinking Car

The Hollander Law Firm wants to keep you and your family safe it you are trapped in a submerged or overturned car or truck. Most people survive the initial impact with minimal or no injury at all.
 
Feb. 2, 2012 - PRLog -- Contact
Gregg Hollander, Hollander Law Firm
(561) 347-7770
ghollander@hollanderlaw.com
Kim Sailer, BARD Marketing
ksailer@bardmarketing.com

How to Evacuate and Survive a Sinking Car

Boca Raton, FL – The Hollander Law Firm (www.hollanderlawfirm.com) wants to keep you and your family safe it you are trapped in a submerged or overturned car or truck. Most people survive the initial impact with minimal or no injury at all. It’s what you do during the next minute that will determine whether or not you will survive.

According to insurance and automotive groups, more than 11,000 accidents occur each year in which a vehicle ends up in the water. An estimated 300 people drown each year in their car or truck, many of them needlessly.

The Florida peninsula is surrounded by water. There are more than 11,000 miles of waterways in the state, and more than 7,700 lakes greater than 10 acres. No wonder that many more of the deaths occur in Florida than any other state. What you many not know is that driver’s education classes aren’t required to teach vehicle escape and the Official Florida Driver’s Handbook doesn’t mention it.

Our South Florida car accident attorneys urge you to heed the following tips to improve your chance for survival in a submerged vehicle:

* Always wear your seat belt. This will ensure that you will be kept in place during the initial impact. Some people worry they will not be able to free themselves from the seat belt if they crash into water. But this isn't true. Further, not wearing your seat belt puts you at risk for head injuries. If you lose consciousness, you can't help yourself or your passengers.
* Try not to panic.
* Unbuckle your seat belt.
* Check on your other passengers, and unbuckle them too.
* If the vehicle is sinking slowly, roll down the window. You should be able to crawl out the window and swim to safety.
* If you are sinking rapidly, you need to wait for the water pressure inside the vehicle to equalize. Stay calm. Allow the vehicle fill with water. Take off your shoes and any other bulky clothing items. When the water is half way up the window, begin rolling down the window. When the water begins to rush in, try your best to stay in the air pocket at the top off the car. Then take a breath of air and swim to safety.
* Keep a hammer in your vehicle. If you have electronic windows, you may not be able to roll them down. Having this tool within reach could be your best option for survival. It probably won't work on the front windshield, but it may work on the back or side windows. Swing at the bottom of the window, and push out.

You need to always be thinking about what you would do if you were submerged. You have the ability to survive but must be prepared (have a plan and practice the plan) and remain calm.

The window hammer mentioned above is available at most auto parts stores and can often be found in an emergency kit. This device has a pointed end like a punch, and its forceful spring action will shatter automotive glass. You may also want to pick up a seatbelt cutter in case you are unable to unbuckle your seatbelt.

The Hollander Law firm is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, at 7000 W. Palmetto Park Road, Suite 500. The firm also has offices in Naples and Fort Myers. The attorney can be contacted at (561) 347-7770. Additional information about Hollander Law Firm may be obtained from the firm's website at http://www.hollanderlawfirm.com. Also visit our Facebook page for additional automotive and product safety resources and news.

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Beyond All Reasonable Doubt Marketing is a strategic marketing firm focused on helping law firm clients become more successful through increased business. For more information, contact (561) 637-2576, info@bardmarketing.com, or www.bardmarketing.com.
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