I Witnessed A Car Accident; What Do I Do?

A car accident can happen in the blink of an eye and witnessing one can be scary. After an auto accident, all drivers involved are required to stay at the scene where information is exchanged for auto insurance purposes. But what should you do if you witness a car wreck?

1). Pull Over

Chances are, everyone around you will be focused on the car accident, so do yourself a favor and put your hazards on and pull off the road.

2). Call 911

Cars can act unpredictably in the event of a collision, so it’s important that help arrives as quickly as possible. Call 911 and provide them with location info, such as the intersection, nearby exit, or mile mark, and give them as many details as you can provide of the wreck.

3). Medical Treatment

It’s natural to want to help when you see someone in distress. Getting medically trained persons such as EMT’s to the scene is paramount! They know what they are doing and are trained for these situations. If you decided to jump in and begin performing CPR on an unresponsive person or help in any way before the police or an ambulance/EMT arrives, and your technique was wrong, you could be held liable.

Obviously, this should be taken on a case-by-case basis, but there is the Good Samaritan Law that does provide protection to a point. Good Samaritan laws generally provide basic legal protection for those who assist a person who is injured or in danger. In essence, these laws protect the “Good Samaritan” from liability if unintended consequences result from their assistance.

4). Give the Police a Statement

When the police arrive, identify yourself as a witness and provide them with as many details of the accident as possible. Police officers and auto damage experts specialize in looking at the aftermath of an accident and figuring out exactly who is responsible for what, so don’t assign fault. Just stick to the details of what you saw.

5). Provide Contact Info

If you’ve stepped up as a witness to a car accident, you may be contacted by insurance agents, medical professionals, and the police. Make sure that you can be reached by providing contact information.

Seeking Help With Nevada Insurance Enrollment

After an accident, everyone will be rubbernecking, (staring as they drive by) which increases the odds that another accident will take place. Drive carefully and be sure that you’re paying close attention to everything around you. You never know when you could be involved in an auto accident, speak to your auto insurance agent at Nevada Insurance Enrollment to stay prepared.