What to Do In Case of An Auto Accident or Emergency #MasteringAuto

Whether we like it or not, the possibility of having an auto accident or some type of road emergency is quite a reality. More cars on the road, short tempers, distracted driving, lack of experience, and extreme weather can add to the risk.

A few years ago, my family and I were just relaxing at home. All of a sudden we heard a loud noise and the house seemed to shake. When we looked outside, we saw that someone had run over a small tree into our car…which was parked in our driveway!

Turns out that the person behind the wheel was an older woman learning to drive. As she turned the corner, instead of stepping on the brake she stepped on the gas pedal. No one was hurt, fortunately, but our car was never the same. The dangers of living near a DMV…

In Case of An Auto Accident or Emergency

A recent study found that 2.3 people are affected by auto accidents each year! That’s not surprising when we had the experience described above and the car was parked. This shows that it’s always good to be prepared for an emergency just in case. Wouldn’t you agree?

I’ve teamed up with MetLife Auto & Home to share tips on how to stay safe on the road and minimize any injuries that could related to a crash. This “Road Safety” video is part of the Mastering Disaster video series and has reasonable pointers we’d do well to keep in mind.

Did you make a note of the mental checklist? Maybe seeing it written down will help.  First of all, make sure to keep a car emergency kit in your trunk or cargo area. If your vehicle happens to break down, you should:

• Turn on hazard lights to warn approaching traffic from behind.
• Take nearest exit to seek help or pull off to the far right shoulder.
• Raise the hood of the car to let others know assistance is needed
• Set up emergency warning triangles to alert approaching traffic

MetLifeyourlife.com has additional information families can benefit from, including a list of safety features to look for when shopping for a used car and how to prevent theft during this busy shopping season. Of course, being insured for both will give you more peace of mind. You can request an instant quote here. Also, keep in mind that you might be able to take advantage of a group discount if the program is purchased through your work, which has saved some an average of $466 per year.

$100 #MasteringAuto Giveaway

To keep you warm and happy, thanks to MetLife, I am giving away a $100 American Express gift card and a MetLife blanket. To enter, you just need to share this video (http://bit.ly/MLRoadSafety) on Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag #MasteringAuto and share a car safety tip that is important to your family. Leave the link to your tweet or status update in the widget below.

I was compensated for this post as a MetLife Preferred Blogger. All opinions are my own.

MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates: Economy Preferred Insurance Company, Metropolitan Casualty Insurance Company, Metropolitan Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Company (CA Certificate of Authority: 6730; Warwick, RI), Metropolitan General Insurance Company, Metropolitan Group Property and Casualty Insurance Company (CA COA: 6393; Warwick, RI), and Metropolitan Lloyds Insurance Company of Texas, all with administrative home offices in Warwick, RI. Coverage, rates, and discounts are available in most states to those who qualify.