Witnessing a car accident first-hand requires a calm, cool, and collected response under traumatic circumstances. Your course of action will largely depend on the severity of the crash and the extent of the injuries, but there are some general guidelines to keep in mind. By following these tips, you’ll be better prepared to help your fellow drivers until the professional emergency responders arrive.
Ensure Your Safety First
If you are driving when you spot a car crash, pull over to the side of the road at least 100 feet from the scene and put on your hazard lights. You want to give enough distance so you don’t put yourself in danger of broken glass, leaked fuel, or flames.
Call 911
Never assume that someone else already called 911. Even if the wreck doesn’t appear severe, the authorities should be notified. Let the 911 operator know you witnessed a car accident, the location, number of people involved, and any other pertinent details.
Check On The Victims
Once you’ve ensured that it’s safe to approach the scene, check on the condition of the crash victims to make sure they are okay and offer help, if you are able. While this can be an emotionally taxing time, try to stick to the facts and remember that this is not the time to assess who is at fault for the accident or make judgments on what the other driver must have been thinking. A good rule of thumb is to never admit fault at the scene. Unless there’s a risk of the vehicle catching fire, do not under any circumstances move an injured person. Despite your best intentions, you could accidentally make the injury worse. Let the trained medical professionals tend to the injuries, but you can provide comfort by reassuring victims that help is on the way.
Stabilize The Vehicles (If You Can)
If the accident is minor, ask the driver to put the impacted vehicle in “park” and turn off the ignition. This will eliminate the risk of fire, especially since chances are good that the crash has caused an oil, fuel or coolant leak. If it’s safe to do so, enlist help to move the car out of further harm’s way and to leave space for other vehicles and emergency responders. If that’s not possible, set up flares or traffic triangles to warn other drivers of the accident.
Give A Statement & Provide Your Contact Information
When the police arrive, provide the relevant facts and your contact information. In the days and weeks following the event, you may be contacted as a witness by legal and medical authorities and/or insurance claims agents. Be honest, factual, and consistent with your statements.
Car accidents can be upsetting for the victim and the bystander alike. The best way to deal with an accident is to stay on the scene and report what you’ve seen. Only exit your vehicle to render aid if it is safe to do so. Your clearheaded actions to safely assist or protect the victims until emergency assistance arrives can make an enormous difference in the overall outcome.
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By Stephanie Levis
Sinforoso Padilla says,
Excellent advice
William Warren says,
The senior driving classes should in clude facts about not hanging items from rear mirror and specify they are blocking their view of a possible child entering their path etc. I viewed a car that had a religious set of beads collide with a motorcycle killing the driver and he did not see him because of the beads.
John J. Meeks says,
Good to know & practice if needed.
SECoop says,
Please underscore this important point: UNLESS the vehicle is in danger of fire, DO NOT move injured victims. Even they may not know the extent of injury – urge them to stay put.
Equally important – should you find children at the scene – calm them, soothe them if you can, particularly if the Mom/Dad are injured.
Alberto says,
Very useful
Orlando Choco says,
what about if the police is involved in the accident?
Donald says,
I know exactly what to do get out and check to make sure the vehicle who was not at fault the occupants were ok call an ambulance if they need it and get outta ther before the cops come
Chandra says,
Awesome information, thanks. I did not quite understand the fender bender fraud though 🙂
P. Muthyala says,
Very useful tips. Thank.
Dr. Kerr says,
Some accidents are staged and they don’t want witnesses!
Dora J. Mose says,
This is good advise, I’m a first responder, a fire fighter and EMT, and any information that can be gotten or called in to dispatch, 911, is helpful. Then if citizens would move out of our way so they don’t get harmed while we do “our thing” is helpful. Also might be a good idea in another info post, to educate people on down power lines. The basics of what to do, and not do, to ensure their safety as well as others.
Paul, NJ-CPA says,
Almost everyone has a phone with a camera, so take pictures. Particularly if it is your car. My sister was in a minor Car A, hit Car B, which hit Car C, accident. She was in car B. While car C had minor damage at the scene of the accident, after it go to the ‘repair’ shop the damage became a lot worse and the drive of car C, claimed she was thrown around inside the car with the impact. The pictures would have proven differently. Insurance fraud my sound like easy money in your pocket, but not so easy out of everyone else’s.
James holt says,
I’d make sure everybody was okay and call 9-1-1 but you also gotta be careful if somebody threatens you is a lot of crazy drivers out there these days some of them want you to mind your own business so in the near future people be careful who you approach
T says,
Yes I would always try to help if is real accident and the people need help.
Just yesterday I witnessed two young girls (one of them pretended) to be hurt,. They went off the sidewalk to the roadway while seeing one driver backing up, one of the stepped behind his car and the jumped quickly out and the whole thing became a big scam against the driving man as there was no crosswalk for the girls to be there. In this case the two girls don’t deserve to be help at least I wouldn’t, this example shows how some people are looking to make easy money . T
Dora J. Mose says,
In this case, your witness account could help the driver.
Larry says,
As a ex-first responder I can honestly say this is all very good advice but would like to add the importance of not making a bad situation worse especially by the improper use of flares at an accident seen. Please remember to always light and place flares away from the damaged vehicles and never down hill from the accident because depending on the quantity of fuel that may be leaking it flows like water. Also never leave a flare in the roadway with out securing it from rolling by placing rocks or gravel next to it. The last thing a firefighter wants to do before seeing to victims of any car wreck is to fight a large grass fire getting to them. Yes, I’ve seen it happen.
Dora J. Mose says,
Hi Larry,
Good advise. I too have seen this happen.