What to do when witnessing a car crash?

I_can_drive_stick_now · 01-19-2010, 10:58 AM

Some moron ran a red light at 40+ mph and hit a truck right in front of me this morning as we were all turning left at a busy intersection.

I pulled to the side and call the police, but left shortly after since there is oncoming traffic.

Should I have gotten out of the car and check on all people involved in addition to calling the police? How does everyone handle situations like this to ensure safety of everyone involved?

Dan in PA · 01-19-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_can_drive_stick_now

Some moron ran a red light at 40+ mph and hit a truck right in front of me this morning as we were all turning left at a busy intersection.

I pulled to the side and call the police, but left shortly after since there is oncoming traffic.

Should I have gotten out of the car and check on all people involved in addition to calling the police? How does everyone handle situations like this to ensure safety of everyone involved?

If conditions allowed, I would have checked on the safety of the drivers...when I wrecked my car, quite a few people stopped to see if my gf and I were okay.

Mk23 · 01-19-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_can_drive_stick_now

Some moron ran a red light at 40+ mph and hit a truck right in front of me this morning as we were all turning left at a busy intersection.

I pulled to the side and call the police, but left shortly after since there is oncoming traffic.

Should I have gotten out of the car and check on all people involved in addition to calling the police? How does everyone handle situations like this to ensure safety of everyone involved?

I (along with my Mom and sister) were hit by a red light runner a year and a half ago and had no witnesses stop to give us their information, the police had no way of determining who was at fault so they just wrote down that we were both at fault i.e. "Careless Driving". Had a very long court battle and in the end the girl who hit us got off because there were no witnesses.

Also, it's only decent to at least see if someone is okay after an accident. I had an EMT get out of his truck and see if we were okay when I was in the accident, he was very nice and comforted me a bit, unfortunately he didn't stick around for the police or write his info down, so in the end we got screwed.

Moral of the story? When you see an accident happen you should always stop, get out, write down your name and phone number and give it to the victim of the accident. It may save their financial life.

Scorpion · 01-19-2010, 11:43 AM

I would check to see if everyone was ok. It would probably bug me if I would have left knowing that I could have helped out or been by their side. Nice username by the way lol.

Couch · 01-19-2010, 11:44 AM

I would contact the police again and tell them you witnessed the accident and tell them your account.

jlstyle · 01-19-2010, 12:13 PM

I would stop and call the police, check the drivers, ask for ambulence if needed then leave my numbers to drivers to give witness statement if needed (only if I like the drivers).

Last time I got into an accident in middle of major highway at night on blind spot, one UPS driver stopped and parked his truck behind my car with his emergency sign tools to avoid direct hit by another oncoming vehicle until police arrived, and another van stopped and had me be in his vehicle (as it was sub freeze raining). After that, I always try to do my best when I witness an accident.

Memphis1 · 01-19-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlstyle

I would stop and call the police, check the drivers, ask for ambulence if needed then leave my numbers to drivers to give witness statement if needed (only if I like the drivers).

i would help, but not offer my info or to be a witness...

Spec 1 · 01-19-2010, 12:29 PM

As an agent myself, I'd check on everyone's condition to make sure they were ok. I'd call the police if there were injuries and pass my information on to both parties as a witness. If time allowed and there WERE injuries, I'd stick around for the police to bear witness on the report.

I_can_drive_stick_now · 01-19-2010, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scorpion

I would check to see if everyone was ok. It would probably bug me if I would have left knowing that I could have helped out or been by their side. Nice username by the way lol.

Yeah.. bugged the hell out of myself for being indecisive the entire morning

Hopefully won't happen again, but definitely will stop to see if i can help if it happens again

Nifty · 01-19-2010, 01:20 PM

I think the good ole' golden rule applies here. If you were in an accident would you want someone to see if you're ok, call for help if needed, and or give you their information as a possible witness?

To the OP, dont beat yourself up over it, you had a moment of indecision, you're human. Like you said, next time you'll know what to do.

UncleWede · 01-19-2010, 02:44 PM

Many times when there is a bad accident, the next day I see signs to the effect "If you saw it, call 555-1212" so go ahead and call tehpolice if you think you saw something difinitive.

01-19-2010, 03:28 PM

At those types of accidents, witnesses are lifesavers. I had similar situation and thank God there were some witnesses who stayed behind and waited for the cops to come to give them the story. Pretty nice of them to. They led me out of the car and sat me down on the grass, gave me water, some cookies, a banana, and all their information so I could contact them if they needed a witness at a court hearing ( wasn't needed though since the cops decided on the spot it was the other drivers fault because there were so many witnesses). Now whenever i witness an accident I do the same.

spectrumphoto · 01-20-2010, 03:32 AM

Ditto to the idea that a good person would stop and check to see if everyone was OK. If you could, stay around and give a police report. If you can not stay then leave your contact info with the person who was hit.

graider · 01-20-2010, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mk335i

I (along with my Mom and sister) were hit by a red light runner a year and a half ago and had no witnesses stop to give us their information, the police had no way of determining who was at fault so they just wrote down that we were both at fault i.e. "Careless Driving". Had a very long court battle and in the end the girl who hit us got off because there were no witnesses.

Also, it's only decent to at least see if someone is okay after an accident. I had an EMT get out of his truck and see if we were okay when I was in the accident, he was very nice and comforted me a bit, unfortunately he didn't stick around for the police or write his info down, so in the end we got screwed.

Moral of the story? When you see an accident happen you should always stop, get out, write down your name and phone number and give it to the victim of the accident. It may save their financial life.

great advise. didn't really though of that before to be honest. now I know.

McMuffin · 01-20-2010, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_can_drive_stick_now

Some moron ran a red light at 40+ mph and hit a truck right in front of me this morning as we were all turning left at a busy intersection.

I pulled to the side and call the police, but left shortly after since there is oncoming traffic.

Should I have gotten out of the car and check on all people involved in addition to calling the police? How does everyone handle situations like this to ensure safety of everyone involved?

..

McMuffin · 01-20-2010, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mk335i

I (along with my Mom and sister) were hit by a red light runner a year and a half ago and had no witnesses stop to give us their information, the police had no way of determining who was at fault so they just wrote down that we were both at fault i.e. "Careless Driving". Had a very long court battle and in the end the girl who hit us got off because there were no witnesses.

Also, it's only decent to at least see if someone is okay after an accident. I had an EMT get out of his truck and see if we were okay when I was in the accident, he was very nice and comforted me a bit, unfortunately he didn't stick around for the police or write his info down, so in the end we got screwed.

Moral of the story? When you see an accident happen you should always stop, get out, write down your name and phone number and give it to the victim of the accident. It may save their financial life.

That sucks!! Here in California both parties can't be at fault; only one party gets the bodshop bill.

Mk23 · 01-20-2010, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by memphis2012

i would help, but not offer my info or to be a witness...

People like you are why this country is going down the tubes. No one wants to get involved, so everyone is on their own in this society.

Blake · 01-20-2010, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mk335i

People like you are why this country is going down the tubes. No one wants to get involved, so everyone is on their own in this society.

i don't get why that's such a big deal. he doesn't want to be involved in someone else's suit. i wouldn't either. i might give a short statement to a cop, but i wouldn't want them contacting me later on in case of a lawsuit.

01-19-2010, 10:58 AM	#1
I_can_drive_stick_now Private 14 Rep 77 Posts Drives: 2007 E92 335 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dallas iTrader: (1)	What to do when witnessing a car crash? Some moron ran a red light at 40+ mph and hit a truck right in front of me this morning as we were all turning left at a busy intersection. I pulled to the side and call the police, but left shortly after since there is oncoming traffic. Should I have gotten out of the car and check on all people involved in addition to calling the police? How does everyone handle situations like this to ensure safety of everyone involved?
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01-19-2010, 11:43 AM	#4
Scorpion Major 162 Rep 1,210 Posts Drives: Nothing Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nowhere iTrader: (0)	I would check to see if everyone was ok. It would probably bug me if I would have left knowing that I could have helped out or been by their side. Nice username by the way lol.
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01-19-2010, 11:44 AM	#5
Couch Colonel 142 Rep 2,900 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [0.00]	I would contact the police again and tell them you witnessed the accident and tell them your account.
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01-19-2010, 12:13 PM	#6
jlstyle Lieutenant Colonel 355 Rep 1,762 Posts Drives: Porsche Panamera Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Audi S7 [0.00] 2015 BMW X5 [0.00]	I would stop and call the police, check the drivers, ask for ambulence if needed then leave my numbers to drivers to give witness statement if needed (only if I like the drivers). Last time I got into an accident in middle of major highway at night on blind spot, one UPS driver stopped and parked his truck behind my car with his emergency sign tools to avoid direct hit by another oncoming vehicle until police arrived, and another van stopped and had me be in his vehicle (as it was sub freeze raining). After that, I always try to do my best when I witness an accident.
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01-19-2010, 12:29 PM	#8
Spec 1 Faster in the Corners 52 Rep 1,062 Posts Drives: '91 E30, '05 ZX6-R, '06 300C Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	As an agent myself, I'd check on everyone's condition to make sure they were ok. I'd call the police if there were injuries and pass my information on to both parties as a witness. If time allowed and there WERE injuries, I'd stick around for the police to bear witness on the report. __________________ '91 M42 E30 - All sorts of goodies.
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01-19-2010, 01:20 PM	#10
Nifty Second Lieutenant 74 Rep 267 Posts Drives: 2022 AWD M3 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Illinois iTrader: (1)	I think the good ole' golden rule applies here. If you were in an accident would you want someone to see if you're ok, call for help if needed, and or give you their information as a possible witness? To the OP, dont beat yourself up over it, you had a moment of indecision, you're human. Like you said, next time you'll know what to do.
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01-19-2010, 02:44 PM	#11
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18031 Rep 9,378 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	Many times when there is a bad accident, the next day I see signs to the effect "If you saw it, call 555-1212" so go ahead and call tehpolice if you think you saw something difinitive.
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01-19-2010, 03:28 PM	#12
my92 Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	At those types of accidents, witnesses are lifesavers. I had similar situation and thank God there were some witnesses who stayed behind and waited for the cops to come to give them the story. Pretty nice of them to. They led me out of the car and sat me down on the grass, gave me water, some cookies, a banana, and all their information so I could contact them if they needed a witness at a court hearing ( wasn't needed though since the cops decided on the spot it was the other drivers fault because there were so many witnesses). Now whenever i witness an accident I do the same.
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01-20-2010, 03:32 AM	#13
spectrumphoto Just another peanut in the Turd! 92 Rep 598 Posts Drives: g16M850;f30M550;f80M3-ED;e90M3 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Hollywierd, SoCal iTrader: (2)	Ditto to the idea that a good person would stop and check to see if everyone was OK. If you could, stay around and give a police report. If you can not stay then leave your contact info with the person who was hit.
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