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What To Do If You Witness A Car Accident

Author: Mac Addison
by Mac Addison
Posted: Sep 16, 2014

Nothing is more unexpected or frightening than witnessing a car accident. Suddenly, you may have an emergency situation where lives are at risk and fast action must be taken. Obviously, your location and that of the accident will play a role in what you should do. Although the first thoughts after the accident occurs are not of contacting an auto injury doctor for anyone who has been injured, your initial response as a witness could have an impact on whether the responsible party in the accident receives the compensation they need for their medical bills down the road.

  1. If you are behind the wheel when the accident occurs, slow down and turn on your hazard lights. Keep in mind that the vehicles behind you may be focused on the accident scene and not on the back of your car. Do not stop or change direction suddenly or your will be at risk of being in another accident.
  2. If there are already a lot of vehicles stopped or stopping to help, there is no need to add to the congestion unless you are a medical professional who may help. If not, pull off the side of the road out without getting close enough to interfere with emergency response vehicles when they arrive.
  3. If you have a cell phone, call 911. Don’t wait to find out if anyone else has already called. If you don’t have a cell phone and you are the first person on the scene, you may have to wait until the next driver comes by to have them call for help. Stay on the phone with them while you investigate to see the number of victims and how severely injured they are.
  4. Never move a victim unless there is an immediate danger to them in their current location. Otherwise, they may end up seeing an auto injury doctor for a much worse injury including paralysis.
  5. If needed and you are qualified, apply CPR and/or emergency care.
  6. Once the immediate concerns for the victim(s) have been addressed, think about what you witnessed and talk to officers when they are on the scene. The facts of the accident will be fresh and they will be needed if the individual goes to an auto injury doctor in order to get compensation if the other party was at fault. Determining the cause of the accident is an important part of who is responsible.
  7. Be prepared to testify if the accident leads to a court case. Witnesses of car accidents are important to personal injury cases where a person has been injured at the fault of another.

There are hundreds of car accidents that occur each day in this country, often causing injuries that prevent an individual from being able to work and pay their bills either short-term or permanently. High medical bills may not be paid by health insurance. As a result, the treatment offered by an Auto Injury Doctor should be recorded as evidence for a personal injury claim. The witness will provide testimony to back up the claims and validate the fact that the accident was the cause of the injury.

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Author: Mac Addison

Mac Addison

Member since: Sep 07, 2014
Published articles: 25

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