Accidents happen every day. Many people think that such an incident won’t happen to them, but the fact is that 34,000 people will die because of an accident this year, and it could be you or one of your family members. While accidents range from severe to deadly, there are a few things that you need to keep on hand. Here are four things that you should have in case you’re involved in a car crash.

License—Registration—Insurance Card

You need to exchange information with the other party. They will need data from your insurance, registration, and license. Additionally, if you need to call a cop to the scene and make a report, they will also use them to prove you are roadworthy and make the incident documents.

First Aid Kit

Carrying a first aid kit in your car is vital. If you have small children, these kits can provide Band-Aids and other things to assist you in the event of an emergency. You want to make sure you don’t put a kit in your car and forget about it. The contents need to be within the expiration and still usable. Often, they get ruined from years of constant heat.

Flares

Flares are a great tool to exclude an area as well as warn others of danger. You can use the flares to make an invisible fence around the accident to protect those passing by. Any car accident attorney will tell you that you should follow the protocols for your region on whether to move the vehicle and then light flares to warn others.

Smartphone

Most people don’t leave home without it, and a smartphone is a great item to have when you’ve been in a car accident. You can use the phone to call for help, but you can also use the camera to take pictures of the accident. Any information that you can gather that will help police to make a report is best. If you’re not at fault, then a car accident lawyer will need all the documentation that you collect to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Every 10 seconds in the United States, someone is involved in a car accident. The chances of it being you only increase the more you are on the roadways. However, making sure you have a few things with you helps to ensure that you are safe and can call for help when the time comes.

Author information: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball.