Being in an accident is difficult enough but when you have your dog in the car at the time, it can increase the stress substantially. You need to keep a level head for your pup so that you can ensure he or she gets out safely and gets help.
The Dogington Post explains that if you have the ability to, the first thing you need to do is check on your dog to see if it is okay. Treat your pup like you would any other passenger.
Getting assistance
If you are unable to check on your dog yourself, make sure that anyone coming on the scene knows you have an animal in the vehicle. Describe your pet and explain any issue it may have when approached by strangers. This can enable others to help without frightening your pup and making it run off.
Care for your dog
Once you locate your pet and do a quick visual check of its condition, you need to take it to the vet. This is true even if it was a minor accident or if you do not see any injuries. The vet needs to check it over to ensure there is nothing wrong internally.
While broken bones are the most common injuries, your pup could also suffer from head trauma or internal bleeding. You may be able to get insurance to pay for some or all of your dog’s medical bills as policies usually list pets as property, which it should cover.
Future protection
To avoid similar issues in the future, you should make sure to keep your pet safe when riding along with you by crating it or using a pet seat belt or harness.