Crashes and accidents are a fact of life when it comes to vehicles and driving.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater says that a big thing that drivers can do to try and prevent those accidents is to reduce the number of distractions they may face. This includes leaving phones alone, and trying not to take your eyes off the road for too long. Vandewater tells Raccoon Valley Radio what individuals should do should they be involved in a crash.

“Generally speaking, obviously, if there’s an injury involved and medical attention is needed, you need to communicate that right away. You know, be aware of your surroundings. There may be a difference between hitting a deer on a gravel road that has minimal traffic versus on Interstate 80 in heavy traffic.”

Vandewater mentions that after a crash, and after emergency services have been notified if needed, contacting your insurance company should be the next step. He adds that all drivers involved in a multiple vehicle accident should make sure to exchange insurance information as well.