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
George Garneau says,
This is good advice.
F. CHRISTINE A. says,
Thks.good tip and helpful.Good driver habits are:
No speeding under any circumstances except emergency.
No phone use
Be kind and yield while driving, if the other drive is not so nice perhalp he or she is having a bad day?
Followings the driving law.
I truly think these will help tremendously.Thanks.
Patricia says,
Thank you for those tips very helpfull
Glenna Barnett says,
I found this article interesting and helpful. I.like being a Geico customer but I hate your commercials
Catherine Hayek says,
I recently purchased a dashcam (driving on California freeways, it’s definitely worth the investment). They are inexpensive and if you are in, or witness, an accident, are far more valuable to both safety officials and insurers than verbal testimony.
John Godfrey says,
Good article. I have one question for Geico. Once I witnessed an accident and provided my contact info. I was called later by one party’s insurer (not Geico) to report what I saw. I did so. Then the insurer asked for my insurance info. Since I wasn’t a driver in the accident, only a witness,I didn’t see any reason for them to ask for my insurance info, and I declined. Was I right to be suspicious?
Zspoiler says,
As a professional truck driver of 25 plus years and a Marine Corps Veteran. I have seen many accident happen right before my eyes .Most of which are avoidable. People simply do not pay attention to their surroundings . Are in too much of a hurry etc… I have done many the things that you have suggested . Because of my experience and training. It would also be helpful for people to take first aid training to help calm yourselves and to help the people on seen until the first res-ponders show up.
Howard Breeding says,
Glood info
Alan Lynch says,
If you are going to render assistance, please take pictures of the accident scene. Then, go ahead and move the vehicles out of harms way, if possible. Also, many phones have voice memos on your phone. Use that to help record what you’ve seen verbally, so you don’t have to rely on memory alone.
Tycie Causwell says,
A very helpful article.I will certainly try to remember some of the dos and donts.
Jake Strus says,
Excellent advise!!!
Vlad says,
Always drive speed limit if your goin slower then speed limit pull over let other pass you, that way we won’t have angry drivers on the road
Migdalia says,
Thank you very much for all this wonderful information. Excellent!!!
Mark Banks says,
I dont drive with my text iT not safe while drive with text can cause accident or hit person not pay accent . Pls dont use text while u drive
Tonyajohnson says,
No one should be texting when driving
Donna Williams says,
I found this article to be extremely helpful. Great tips I will keep in mind.