These events occur every day, which makes it imperative to understand the appropriate response if found in an accident situation.
Safety. It’s the single most important thing considered when purchasing a vehicle, and then when driving it. Unfortunately, safety is not always guaranteed on the road. Each year, approximately 2.35 million people in the U.S. are injured or disabled due to road crashes. These events occur every day, which makes it imperative to understand the appropriate response if found in an accident situation. Specifically, bystanders or nearby drivers must comprehend the correct actions to take, as they are often the first to help.
Initial Response
If you just witnessed a serious car or truck accident, there will be a variety of thoughts going through your head. It’s a traumatic moment, so take a deep breath and recognize that your current actions can not only help in the present, but also in the future. After calling emergency authorities, assess the situation and understand that safety always applies.
- Do not stand in the road.
- If you see someone is seriously injured, do not move them (unless they are in danger of oncoming traffic). You may feel like it’s the best course of action, but it’s better to let the ambulance team be in control during that process.
While Waiting For Authorities to Arrive
The time between the car accident and first response should not take long, but there are proactive steps you can take during that period to help the victims of the crash. For the legal process down the road, any immediate information in the moment will be helpful. In some cases, witnesses to the crash may leave the accident site before police arrive. The best thing to do would be to collect the names and emails of fellow witnesses as fast as possible. In the future, this ensures the most accurate description of the event. Finally, there are two additional steps to take:
- Remember the weather at the time of the accident, as well as the level of traffic and road conditions.
- If available and possible, take pictures of the scene with your phone. This gives the most immediate visual of the event.
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