No one wants to think about scary possibilities like car accidents, but being prepared for the worst is a good way to reduce the trauma of these types of occurrences. Take a look at some of the things you can do to be prepared in the event of a car accident:

• Prepare a Post-Accident Checklist: you should always have a contingency plan. Write this plan down so that you don’t have to try and recall it from memory when you’re disoriented and deeply shaken.
• Clean Out Your Car Regularly: this will save you some gas and save you a headache if you should get into an accident. In a bad collision, things get slammed around and can cause further damage. You’ll want to avoid this by keeping only what’s necessary in your car.
• Leave a Spare Duffel Bag: just in case your car needs to be towed, you’ll have something to stow your belongings in.

For more about what to do before and after a potential car accident, head over to How to Prepare for a Car Accident.