No matter how prepared you may want to believe you are, when it comes to accidents, being fully prepared seems next to impossible. Indeed, no matter how well-trained you may be to face any given scenario, following through with the training you received is typically far harder than it looks. Therefore, rather than simply waiting until you are in the situation to try to figure out how to get out of it, taking the time to prepare for it can be the best method of ensuring that you are prepared for anything. Since going underwater is one of the last things any driver wants to consider, taking the time to train for this scenario can be one of the few ways to prevent serious injuries or fatalities from occurring as a result. With that in mind, here is a list of tips on how to break a car window underwater.
Tips for Breaking a Car Window Underwater
When it comes to getting out of a car that is underwater, there are plenty of things to be considered. First of all, you need to be sure to act as quickly as possible. When it comes to emergencies such as these, time is of the essence, and you must act as quickly as possible to save your life as well as those in tow. Here is a list of other tips when your car goes underwater.
Open the Window
One of the first things you need to do when you realize your car is going underwater is to open the window as quickly as possible. If possible, opening the window before you are fully submerged in the water is one of the best ways to ensure that you and your loved ones can escape the vehicle. On the other hand, if you can’t get the window down before you enter the water, try to do it as soon as you can after the fact. Either way, the most important thing to know is that the sooner you can get your window open, the better. This is the easiest way to exit the vehicle and the more deeply submerged in the water your vehicle becomes, the more difficult it will be to open the window.
Remain Seated
Although it may seem counterintuitive, the next thing you need to remember to do is to stay seated. Unless you can manage to get out of the seat before your car has been submerged in water, you will need to remain seated until the water has reached your chin. As hard as this sounds, this is what experts assert needs to be done in order to give you the best chance at surviving: remain seated with your seatbelt on, take several slow deep breaths and hold one. Otherwise, you could end up in a life-threatening situation that is worse than what you were originally facing.
Leave the Door Alone
Next, you will want to remember to leave the door alone until the flooding has stopped. This is because all of the initial pressure outside will make it incredibly difficult to open the door. However, if you stick to these tips, around the time you start taking deep breaths and preparing to hold your breath, the pressure will start to become neutralized. Once the pressure has let up, it will be much easier to open the door.
Go for Side Windows
If possible, opening a door is one of the best ways to escape a car that is submerged in water. However, this is often not possible. If you are not able to open a door and need to break a window, make sure you go for a side window. The windshield will be far too thick, which can make it very difficult to break, and this is especially true when the car is underwater. So, if you find yourself in a predicament in which you are struggling to break free from an underwater vehicle, always go for the side windows.
Overall, if you are someone who is concerned about potentially needing to break a car window underwater, this short list of tips will tell you everything you need to know. Moreover, it will also help you know what to do and what not to do to give you and your passengers the best chance of surviving. Either way, if you have recently been involved in a water-related accident, you may need the help of a legal professional.
Rather than going it alone, getting the proper legal help can ensure that you receive the assistance necessary to receive any damages and other issues that can be caused by such accidents. Especially if your accident is caused by a careless driver, contacting a qualified attorney can be your best option for moving forward and protecting yourself and your assets.