The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-15
MOST EFFICIENT
CARDRIVER MAY
MEET ACCIDENT
Expert Gives Advice on
How to Act in Case of
A Mishap.
By H. CLIFFORD BRoKAw.
Technical Director. West Side y. n
C. A. Auto school,

Iecnufcnl Dircctors Nrst Sioc H me-
C. A. Auto school.
1t is a great help to the motorist
who may be involved in an acci-
dent to know what to do. Those
who are most expert In handling
an automobile and use the utmost
care In driving may. at some Tins.
have that misfortune. Even the
most efficient man at the wheel Of
a car may not be able to avoid a
crash when other drivers on the
same road are reckless. Certain
knowledge OF how TO act in case
Of a wreck having been assimilat-
ed may mean the saving of lives
In a time of emergency. There
are several good books on first aid.
one of which should be read and
understood b ythe owner of a car.
In case of accident, the motorist
should see that first aid to the In
jured Is administered to all who
need IL. Every driver should have
some knowledge of first-aid meth
DDS, and carry as q part OF his cars
equipment a small case of first-aid
materials. Those who seem to be
injured most should. of course. re-
ceive first consideration. II there
are serious injuries, an ambulance
should be called or another car Sc
cured to hurry the injured one to
tie nearest hospital or physicians
Office.
II any bones are broken, relieve
at once the tension any clothing
may be causing and get the patient
to lie down and remain as quiet
as possible. See that some one
watches such a person closely, as
he or she Is apt to faint. Should
there be any bad cuts indicating
that arteries or large veins have
been severed and that life blood is
rapidly flowing away, 1t Is impor-
tant to tie something around the
arm or body which will stop the
how at least to some extent. A
handkerchief may answer the pur-
pose. 1t should be tied between the
wound and the heart.
Undertake to get the names and
addresses of all who actually saw
the accident. This may be difficult,
as many persons are opposed, to
going on the witness stand to tes-
fifty regarding an accident and will
IeaVe crowd as soon as any one
starts to take names. II possible,
Sail Tor policeman. II the acct
dent takes place in the city. IL
may attract the attention OF a
police officer. Request him to hold
all witnesses until the names and
addresses of the onlookers have
been collected.
Make a sketch of the exact no.
sitfon of the cars with measure
ments from the cars to the curb or
edge Of the road and show the d.
rections in which the cars were
moving. II a camera can be se-
cured. take pictures of the wreck
age from different points of view.
They will be good evidence. II the
wheels of a car were locked by the
brakes there will probably be a
mark on the road or pavement In
dictate this on the sketch,
Clear the road SO that traffc, IL
II Is restricted or blocked, can be
resumed. This may mean moving
one or more cars and therefore the
destroying Of evidence. II a gar
age can be got in touch with, a
wrecking car may have to be Sc
cured to restore the traffic. Avoid
letting members of the crowd thar
may have collected change the.po-
sition Of anything until all neces-
sary data are secured. Be sure to
include In the memoranda taken the
names and numbers of all cars in
volved, together with the. license
numbers and the names and ad.
dresses OF owners, drivers and all
occupants and any others injured.
II car that has become involved
in an accident is covered by insur-
ance, get in touch at once with the
insurance agent who has authority
To settle a claim The data that
have been collected will be of value
in helping him adjust the matter.
Damage and collision insurance has
perhaps helped some drivers to take
chances, which would not have been
taken il the driver thought the
Damage cost had to come out of his
own pocketbook.
A case recently came to my at
tention where a man was doing
foolish stunts with his car on a wet
| street. He was driving his car
down this street at a high rate OF
speed and then attempting to skid
Il around the corner. He was able
to accomplish the trick to his COM
plete satisfaction for a dozen times
He then became conceited about
the expertness of his handling a
car and offered to bet he could dc
double turn on the street. He
not only succeeded in doing two
turns but five. And he succeeded
in landing in a ravine after a fall
OF twenty feet. Then in his as
surance that the accident would
cost him nothing, because of his
damage insurance. he proceeded to
demand that the insurance COM
pany buy him a new car. 1t did
not do SO, and he found out that
there is no insurance written to
cover loss from such -fooihardiness
Watch the Pump.