Witnessing an auto accident can lead to a lot of complicated emotions. Traffic accidents are often a life-altering experience, in which victims may suffer physically and emotionally whilst witnesses can wonder if they could have done more to help. Not only that, auto accidents often involve a long process of insurance claims as well as fault determinations which can cause a lot of upheaval in the lives of everyone involved.
As a witness, your course of action greatly depends on the seriousness of the accident. Of course, stopping to help is your judgment call but you can get into legal trouble if you don’t. If you decide to help, make sure that you can do so in a safe manner.
In this article, we will explain the steps to take when you witness an auto accident in order to protect yourself and help all of the parties involved.
Step 1: Ensure Your Own Safety First
If you witness an auto accident when you are driving, it is highly recommended that you pull over to the roadside at least 100 feet away from the accident and turn on your hazard lights. Your safety should be your primary concern. It is especially important that you stay clear of the accident scene if you see smoke coming out of the vehicles and that you are aware of sharp metal and broken glass. Pulling over at least 100 feet away is a careful safety measurement as it gives you enough distance to avoid putting yourself in danger of flames or an explosion due to leaked fuel. Unless you have to offer help to the victims, stay in a safe spot away from the scene.
Accidents can lead to high tension due to physical harm and financial damages. The experts of bencelawfirm.com explain that sometimes the presence of witnesses can help to keep emotions in check. However, remember to keep yourself safe and avoid becoming involved in the conflict when appearing at the scene. Hopefully, the police will arrive swiftly in order to resolve the issue and calm everything down, but if it is getting heated, return to your vehicle and wait for the authorities. If any of the other parties threaten you in any way, simply leave the scene and contact the police later to explain what you witnessed and why you left.
Step 2: Make Other Road Users Aware of the Incident
Especially if it is late at night or there is not great visibility you want to take any steps possible to ensure that other road users are aware that there has been an auto accident. There are many incidents where after the initial crash, another vehicle ends up crashing too as a result of shrapnel on the road or failing to see the impacted vehicles. If possible, stop your vehicle on the side of the road before the scene of the crash. Then when you put on your hazard lights, other road users will be aware that they are approaching an incident. You may also want to leave your headlights on to illuminate the scene so that other drivers can avoid the wreckage or bits of metal that could damage their vehicles or cause further incidents. Whatever you do, do not stand in the road trying to alert or divert traffic. This is not your job and could put you in serious danger.
Step 3: Alert the Local Authorities
It is one of the common mistakes for witnesses to assume that someone else has already called for help. Even if the car accident seemingly appears minor, local authorities should always be notified. Details that you should provide to the police and other emergency services include the location of the incident, the number of people that are involved as well as any other important or notable details that you can provide. Remember that even if you are unsure of the seriousness of the injuries or the level of damage that has happened, the relevant authorities as well as the people involved in the auto accident will appreciate your help and the level of detail that you can give.
Step 4: Check On The Victims and Assist if Possible
After you ensure your safety and alert the local authorities, approach the accident scene cautiously to make sure that the victims are okay. If it is safe for you to do so, offer help to the victims while waiting for local authorities to arrive. Unless there is a possible and clear risk of a vehicle catching on fire, do not attempt to move an injured person as you can easily make injuries worse despite your good intentions. Unless you are trained in first aid, it is usually best that you leave injuries and wait for the emergency medical professionals to arrive. Recommended courses of action for witnesses can be offering kind words, helping victims contact relatives, and assisting with a detailed exchange.
Making detailed notes about the incident is a good option. For instance, important details such as the license plate numbers of the vehicles involved, the names of the different parties, the location of the accident, and the weather conditions at the time of the accident are things that you should write down.
Step 5: Provide Information and Give a Statement About The Incident
When the local authorities arrive at the scene, be sure to introduce yourself to them and provide important information and your contact details. In the following days and weeks after the accident, you may be contacted by legal offices, medical authorities, or insurance companies. Your testimony may be necessary for accident victims to file an injury claim to receive compensations for the injuries and auto damage that they sustained. After your statement is submitted, you should be free to leave the scene.
It can be a horrible thing to witness a serious auto accident, but by stopping and helping those involved, you could save somebody’s life. Additionally, what you saw from your perspective as a witness can greatly help the authorities and the parties involved in the accident to come to the right legal conclusions. Be helpful and honest and make sure that you keep yourself safe when you stop to help.
