What to do if you’re in a car wreck during a winter storm

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- If you have to hit the roads during the winter weather, Colorado State Patrol and AAA are warning drivers to be prepared for the possibility of a crash.

Both agencies advise drivers to slow down and leave plenty of space between vehicles. They also recommend having winter driving kits in your car, including warm clothes, water, and non-perishable food. CSP recommends bringing something to keep you entertained if you get stranded, like a deck of cards. They also recommend keeping your gas tanks full and your phones fully charged.

During the storm, AAA said it's not a bad idea to let people know where you're headed and when you're expected to be home in the event you do get into a crash.

Even if you're completely prepared and driving carefully, you may still get into an accident while driving. It is the law in Colorado to notify law enforcement when you are in a crash, regardless of road conditions. If there are snowy conditions, you have 72 hours to report the accident as long as no one is seriously injured, the vehicles aren't blocking any roadways and impairment isn't believed to be a factor in the crash. However, if the accident is more serious, you should still call 911.

Both AAA and CSP want you to be prepared for the possibility that it may take longer for emergency crews to get to you, which is why they recommend having a winter driving kit ready in your car.

CSP said if you do get into an accident, the safest place for you to be is inside your vehicle.

"Don't be eager to jump out. Don't be eager to go and talk to the other driver or try and wave anybody down anything like that," CSP Trooper Josh Lewis said. "The best thing you can do at that point, stay in your vehicle, contact the authorities. Obviously, if you need any type of medical attention, make sure they're aware of it."

AAA also wants to remind you that if you don't have an emergency, it's best to wait to contact AAA or other services if you need help -- things like if your battery is dead in your garage.

"Priority number one for everybody right now who's working the roads is getting to those folks whose safety needs need to be met," AAA's Skyler McKinley said.

Mckinley also mentioned that everyone is still dealing with labor shortages, which will be especially impactful during storms like these.

"Our resources are always strained, that's law enforcement, tow truck companies -- everybody's dealing with the driver shortage right now, it's a function of the pandemic," he said, adding that AAA will always try to respond as quickly as possible, but they have to prioritize safety concerns.

To report a non-serious accident during the storm in Colorado Springs, click here.