What If I am a Witness in an Auto Accident?
Being a witness in an auto accident can be stressful and scary, as though you were the one who experienced the accident yourself. After you have witnessed an accident, you’re probably asking yourself if you need to do anything. Most people’s instincts tell them to help. But you should know how to help safely to avoid putting your life and the lives of people in the crash in further danger. Here’s what you should do.
- Make Sure You’re in a Safe Spot – If you’re a driver, park on the side of the roadway, make sure there’s room for emergency vehicles, and place hazard markers or activate your flashers.
- Call 911 Right Away – If you’re one of the first people to witness the accident and are unsure if the police have been called, call 911 to report the crash. Even if you haven’t seen the extent or nature of the injuries of the people involved in the crash, the police will create an official report if there’s vehicle damage. Provide as much information as you can about the nature of the crash and accident location.
- Do Not Give Medical Help Unless Really Necessary – It’s always best to leave medical emergencies at the hands of professionals to avoid making things worse, which usually happens when people move injured people in an incorrect manner. Most emergency situations can wait for a couple of minutes. You should also ensure that you don’t injure yourself while trying to help.
- Do Not Fear Potential Liability – If help is taking way too long to arrive and an injured person requires first aid that you are confident you can handle, Florida has Good Samaritan laws that protect good Samaritans against potential liability as long as they were providing emergency help in good faith.
- Cooperate With Emergency Responders and The Police – If you stopped and witnessed the car crash, even if you did not render any kind of assistance, you can help by telling the police and emergency responders the things that you witnessed. If you have a dashcam in your vehicle that recorded the crash, or if you recorded it on your phone, inform the police. If you don’t know the answer to a question you’re being asked, say so. Never make guesses about who caused the crash or what happened. Stick to what you saw.
- Give Your Contact Details to The Parties Involved – Injured victims can use your statement in a personal injury case to help them establish fault and liability. This will help them pursue compensation for their damages.
Speak to a Clearwater Auto Accident Lawyer
The legal team of Tragos, Sartes & Tragos have years of experience securing proper compensation for people who have been hurt in motor vehicle accidents. Our Clearwater auto accident lawyers provide top-notch legal services and representation to ensure that our clients can recover physically, financially, and emotionally. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Florida auto accident, call 727-441-9030 or send us a message online to schedule your free case review.