This is a sponsored guest post.
Witnessing a car accident can be just as frightening and disorienting as being involved in a car accident. One minute you’re cruising down the highway, one your way to work or to the store, preoccupied with your thoughts, and suddenly you hear, see or even swerve to avoid a car accident. Now, if you are a witness to a serious car accident… What are you supposed to do?
We spoke with a car accident lawyer and asked for some advice on the subject, to get some more perspective about this situation. His name is Michael Steinger and he is a big believer in working together to keep each other motivated in these tough times.
Try To Remain Calm
Witnessing a serious car accident could be traumatizing, but you need to stay calm while you’re on the scene. Try to be the source of comfort for the victims while waiting for paramedics and make sure that you remain objective so you can avoid making any wrong decisions that could jeopardize the investigation.
Michael says, “Of course remaining cam is easier said than done and you are going to be shocked and a little disoriented. But try your best to breathe and remain calm. You can be the voice of reason at this point. Do not get involved until you have had a moment to gather your thoughts”.
Pull-Over At A Safe Distance
Before you could call the police, make sure that you are pulled over to a safe location that’s far enough from the wreckage to make way for emergency vehicles to pass through. You should also stay in your car and put on your hazard lights, especially if you’re on a busy highway.
Michael says, “After you witness an accident, you want to be as much help as possible to the police and the drivers and passengers affected by the incident. But maintain awareness of the situation. Do not block traffic, or hinder emergency services”.
Call The Police Right Away
After you’ve pulled over and parked at a safe distance, you should call the police right away. Even if there are other people on the scene, you shouldn’t think twice about dialing 911 and relaying the details that you can provide to the dispatcher including the exact location, the types of vehicles involved, and the number of people who could be involved in the crash.
Michael says, “It is so important to get the police there immediately. And in the heat of the moment, you and those around you forget to call. It’s human nature to forget or to assume that someone else had made the call. If you are not sure, call again, because you could save a life”.
Survey The Scene
While you may want to help those involved in the accident, you need to survey the scene first to make sure that there are no imminent dangers to you or the victims.
Only then should you approach the scene and assess the situation more closely to know if you can offer any help before the authorities arrive. But you should never attempt to move injured victims because you could unknowingly make their injuries worse.
Michael says, “Be very careful not to interfere with injured passengers. Oftentimes, the best thing you can do is call the emergency service number and stay clear”.
Never Confront The Drivers
You’re a witness to the accident, so don’t put yourself in the middle of an argument or attempt to confront the drivers to see who caused the accident. Instead, take notes on the model of the vehicles, any visible damages to them, and other important details like their license plate numbers.
Michael says, “Your witness testimony can be so important to the outcome of an auto accident case. So don’t leave out any details when providing your description of the incident to the police. However, avoid speaking to the drivers if possible”.
Wait For The Police To Arrive
Since you called the authorities, you should wait for them to arrive at the scene so you can give an account of what happened. This will help authorities understand the accident better and you could also be called as a witness during the trial.
Since you’re going to play an important role during the trial if the victim files a case against the other party, you should also take notes of all the details that you’ve witnessed so you can easily recall them when you give your official statement.
Being in the middle of an accident is an experience that you’ll surely never forget.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least 8,870 people died in motor vehicle traffic accidents in the second quarter of last year Although this was lower than the fatality from the same period in 2019, you still can’t deny the fact that a lot of people lose their lives in serious car accidents.
If you feel you are traumatized after you witness a serious car accident, there is no shame in seeking out medical advice and counseling. Be sure to ask for help if necessary.
