You’re driving home on a busy road after work one day approaching a traffic light. Just before you reach the intersection you see an auto accident unfold right before your eyes. What should you do? It’s been a long day and your first instinct is to drive away and ignore what you saw. But then you consider how you’d feel if the tables were turned and you were one of the shaken drivers still strapped inside your freshly-damaged vehicle. So as a good citizen you decide to stop your car and lend assistance. But doing the wrong thing when you’re at a crash scene can actually make the situation worse for all parties involved, and even endanger you. On the positive side, there are some actions you can take that will help ensure the victims’ safety, and that the authorities have the information they need. Based upon the advice of insurance industry experts, here are some key steps to take after witnessing a car accident.
All around the damaged vehicles could be broken glass, coolant, metal debris and leaking fuel. There will also be passing cars to contend with. To protect yourself from danger, pull your car to the side of the road at least 100 feet from the accident scene, and turn on your hazard lights. Make sure that your vehicle is well away from moving traffic.
Never assume that another party called 911, and especially if one or more vehicles is on fire. Call 911 immediately and tell the operator you’ve witness an accident, the location, number of vehicles and persons involved, possible injuries, and any other useful information.
Remaining calm, walk over to the vehicles and check on the victims. Look for small children and infants in the back seat. Calmly ask the drivers to place their cars in “park” and to turn off the ignition. Don’t play judge regarding who’s at fault, but rather focus on the initial safety of all parties involved. If there’s an immediate fire risk try to get the victims out of harm’s way. Otherwise, never attempt to move an injured person, but instead comfort and reassure them until trained medical personnel arrive.
Once the police arrive at the scene, let them know you are a witness and provide them with honest, relevant details about what you observed leading up to the accident. Do not mention anything about who might have been at-fault to the involved drivers, as there could be backlash directed towards you later. Instead, give the police those details so that they can conduct an accurate investigation. They will also want your name and contact information. If you have specifics that would benefit the medical personnel at the scene, let them know as well. Always remember to tell the truth based upon what you saw.
Even after your leave the accident scene, you could be contacted later for a statement by medical authorities, insurance adjusters or police officers. Always honestly and factually relate what you observed to the best of your ability. In the end, rest assured that you did the right thing as a responsible witness, and that someday someone might repay the favor for you!
When you’re involved in a car accident it’s stressful. The first step is to ensure that you and your passengers get the medical attention you need. After that’s done, bring your vehicle to a reliable auto body shop in your area and they’ll fix the collision damage expertly and promptly, while restoring your peace-of-mind. Body shop technicians have the experience, know-how and training to get your car looking and performing like new again, and quickly get you safely back on the road. To search your zip code now for a better collision repair shop in your area, visit: www.carwise.com.
